Original Editorial

The country is about to face critical times once again. The last time we witnessed an event this dramatic was the Great Depression in 1929. Today, in 2008, the signs are staring us in the face; collapse in the housing market, increase in gas prices, and sudden decrease in the economy. The unemployment rate is higher than it has been in a long time and most leading economists are saying we are closer to being in another recession than we have seen in many years.

So, did we learn our lesson after the Depression, or for that matter, from any other economic "disasters"? Of course not, and that is why industries, corporations, small businesses, and the general public are in a panic. Maybe the government should do some brainstorming before it gets too bad and we cannot get out of the hard times.

One key factor leading to this economic crisis is the high price of oil. The country is very dependent on oil. With so many innovative and creative inventions developed by leading scientists, why haven't we discovered an efficient alternative way of transportation, heating costs, and other needs for this high-priced commodity? Tue, the government has decided to spend more money to drill in other less know areas of the world such as the Arctic. But that doesn't solve the problem that we need to depend less on oil. The increase in oil has had a trickle effect on the economy. Many are spending more of their earnings on gasoline and cutting back in other areas such as basic living necessities which now have had a dramatic effect on the country's overall economy.

It makes me wonder why we don't come up with back up plans or a plan B when we see our country walking down these troubled and familiar paths? I think there would be file after file of fool-proof plans. Unfortunately, we continue the same mistakes time after time.