While you were sleeping

Sometime while we were all sleeping last night, the U.S. National Debt quietly surpassed the $13 trillion mark. That's over $42,000 for every man, woman, and child in this country. $42,000 is your personal share of that debt.

Unfortunately, that is not the worst part. The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that under current Democratic policy proposals and projections, we are on pace to borrow $1 trillion each year over the next decade. That means we will be borrowing more over the next ten years than we borrowed cumulatively from the years 1776 through 2000, our country's first 224 years of existence.

Since the Democrats took over Congress in 2007, the national debt has increased by more than $3.5 trillion, a 35% increase in just four years. And this despite the following promise from Nancy Pelosi in her January 2007 acceptance speech to become Speaker of the House for the new Democratic majority:

"After years of historic deficits, this new Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: pay as you go, no new deficit spending. Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt."

Since she made this statement, what have we witnessed? New deficit spending. Mountains of debt for future generations. I don't know that it would be possible to find a more fitting example of hypocrisy and broken promises than this.

The sad thing is, the state of affairs was no better under Republican rule or Republican leadership. President Bush presided over a more than $2.5 trillion increase in the national debt during his eight years in office. The only thing that makes him look frugal is the fact that his successor eclipsed that mark in just his first two years in office.

Many have asked me why I am running as an Independent. To answer that simply, all I can say is I'd rather say what I mean and follow through on it, than tie my fate to any party that says what voters want to hear, and then spends recklessly. And this latter group includes both of our major political parties. We need more people loyal to doing what is right, rather than simply being loyal to a party.

Now you'll have to excuse me as I get back to work – I've got a $42,000 debt to pay off.