After the failure of Lehman Brothers and the purchase of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America, now the media and most everyone in America is concerned about the condition and reliability of financial institutions. It is unfortunate that there has been no clarion call by our elected officials or media pundits concerning a far more pressing and sustainable problem. America has more than the current financial industry upheaval. I cite specifically the current and deteriorating condition of the federal government’s finances and its oppressive debt burden on current and future taxpayer generations.

Most Americans can recall exactly what they were doing seven years ago today.Following news of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, numerous Madison County residents responded by flooding an already-scheduled local blood drive and organizing prayer vigils around the community. One local resident, Lisa Davis of Locust Dale, also remembers the exact moment when she heard the news about the attacks, although she wasn’t living in the county at the time.