Dear Editor,

I write to you after recently reading the editorial on Governor Rick Snyder’s budget proposal. I find it interesting how many people are pointing fingers towards Governor Snyder and the cuts he is proposing in his budget. This state is in a debt crisis. It has gotten this way from unnecessary spending at all levels in the government. Us, as citizens, allowed this to happen because we only cared about that extra dollar on our tax return or that bridge card we knew deep down inside we could have done without. I’m not saying all programs enacted by the state have not helped people out in a very positive way. Many have helped and helped immensely. Let’s also be honest and recognize the out of control spending that has also gone on. Look around here at Grand Valley. For a state in as much debt as we are, is everything on this campus essential to our learning? We all need to cut back. On top of that, your telling me that by taking some money away from colleges that I can’t learn the same as an individual? If money is the key to my college education then something is wrong. These are desperate times because we are in drowning in debt. I don’t like all the sacrifices that are going to need to be made to get out of that pile of debt but it has to be done. Michigan is just a small example of what is happening at a national level. Before you blame Governor Rick Snyder for cutting back all across the board, just think about how bad of shape our state government is truly in. Cuts have to come somewhere and we all have to take initiative. I’m up for the challenge of becoming innovative so that my children can, one day, live in a land that’s not slumped on it’s knees in debt. I ask everyone else: Are you going to do nothing but point fingers at the governor for taking initiative and doing what unfortunately needs to be done or are you going to take the initiative yourself and dig out of decades of horribly mis-managed government? If we ever want a strong government again, there is only one solution to this question.; and we can’t keep spending money in this state the way we have. Look around this once greatly energized state. It just doesn’t work.

I write to you after recently reading the editorial on Governor Rick Snyder’s budget proposal. I find it interesting how many people are pointing fingers towards Governor Snyder and the cuts he is proposing in his budget. This state is in a debt crisis. It has gotten this way from unnecessary spending at all levels in the government. Us, as citizens, allowed this to happen because we only cared about that extra dollar on our tax return or that bridge card we knew deep down inside we could have done without. I’m not saying all programs enacted by the state have not helped people out in a very positive way. Many have helped and helped immensely. Let’s also be honest and recognize the out of control spending that has also gone on. Look around here at Grand Valley. For a state in as much debt as we are, is everything on this campus essential to our learning? We all need to cut back. On top of that, your telling me that by taking some money away from colleges that I can’t learn the same as an individual? If money is the key to my college education then something is wrong. These are desperate times because we are in drowning in debt. I don’t like all the sacrifices that are going to need to be made to get out of that pile of debt but it has to be done. Michigan is just a small example of what is happening at a national level. Before you blame Governor Rick Snyder for cutting back all across the board, just think about how bad of shape our state government is truly in. Cuts have to come somewhere and we all have to take initiative. I’m up for the challenge of becoming innovative so that my children can, one day, live in a land that’s not slumped on it’s knees in debt. I ask everyone else: Are you going to do nothing but point fingers at the governor for taking initiative and doing what unfortunately needs to be done or are you going to take the initiative yourself and dig out of decades of horribly mis-managed government? If we ever want a strong government again, there is only one solution to this question.; and we can’t keep spending money in this state the way we have. Look around this once greatly energized state. It just doesn’t work.

Sincerely