To the editor:

Every economic disaster is the result of poor government policies. The current recession is no exception. Ten years ago, President Clinton and Congress were rejoicing because they had successfully repealed the Glass-Steagall Act. The result of this repeal was nothing more than a subsidy for the rich at the expense of the middle class.

Wall Street investment banks gambled with taxpayer dollars without impunity. Wall Street successfully bought off Congress with a few million dollars worth of campaign contributions. An incompetent Congress returned the favor by bailing out Wall Street with billions of taxpayer dollars. Wall Street wins, incumbents remain in office, and present and future generations are left with a national debt approaching $12 trillion. In my opinion, this is nothing less than treason.

The current administration has done nothing to reverse the situation. They have, in fact, accelerated the problem. During the past year, the largest Wall Street banks have become larger and pose an even greater risk to the economy.

The next election will allow independent voters the opportunity to form a court of common sense. Common sense implies that we elect leaders rather than career politicians. No more incumbents. There will be no such thing as “too big to fail.” Bailouts will not be in our vocabulary. Elected and appointed officials that make policy decisions based on personal self-interest rather than for the good of the country will serve their next term in prison.