Over the past 70 years I have seen some great presidents (like Franklin D Roosevelt), some good presidents (like Harry Truman), some bad Presidents (like Jimmy Carter) and some that just sort of let things happen (like Dwight Eisenhower).  However, never have I seen a more worthless bunch than the current Congress and President when it came to looking out for the citizens of the United States. 

It just isn't enough to say we should clean house in Washington; we should put most of them in jail.

It is not my intention to make this a political column because an op-ed piece in a military publication should focus on the military.  So, I'll stick to what the current financial markets, housing market, unemployment rate, ravaged retirement system, stock market, oil industry gouging, automobile industry disaster and the pending 15 trillion dollar deficit will do to the military departments and the overall security of the United States.

Every economic downturn brings huge reductions in government goods and services due to the lack of incoming tax dollars from companies, product sales, services and higher unemployment levels. 

Since 1946, every financial crisis has resulted in a severe degradation of the United States Military Forces—most notably during the Carter Administration.  Military readiness, weapons systems acquisition, maintenance, troop levels, training requirements, infrastructure and combat efficiency all deteriorate.  

The Department of Homeland Security burns off billions of dollars a year in an attempt to keep us from attack and to provide aid and assistance (through FEMA) for those people and areas devastated by nature.  When funding drops so will Homeland Securities capability to function at the level required, and demanded by the American people. 

More billions are spent by other government agencies, like the CIA, FBI, Secret Service, and National Security Agency that were all designed to provide security at home and defense from outside attack.  None of these agencies will be immune from massive budget cuts.  They will be required to conduct lay-offs, delete programs, forego purchases of needed security systems and decrease intelligence gathering.  These kinds of actions will lower effectiveness and, perhaps, cause the loss of ability to deal with increasing threats to our way of life.

The looming budget cuts—and they will come soon and often—will reduce our protective agencies to a shell of their former selves.  We have seen this scenario over and over, brought about by administrations that believe social engineering is more important than national security.

State governments are already cutting deep into the services they provide their citizens and the deeper the cuts the more the middle and lower income earners will be hurt.  Always hurt worse are those who have the least.  Food banks dry up, free medical care goes away and homeless people are completely deserted.  The State government melt-down is a direct reflection of what will happen at the Federal Government level in the coming weeks and months.

Regardless of whether the stock market is high, or low, no Nation, regardless of size or former strength, can use deficit spending to return to prosperity.  The piper must be paid.  Budget cuts are coming and they will be horrific.

Troop cuts are usually the first item sliced out of military budgets.  Next is the re-supply capability, spare parts and human resources programs.  PCS and training budgets are also reduced early in the process.

New cruisers and aircraft carriers may not be built, or even renovated with the latest technology to make them top of the line.  Critical submarine forces, with nuclear and conventional attack capability could be sunk.

Transport aircraft and refueling tanker production will be stopped or postponed—space technology will languish in the labs.  The long overdue upgrade of bomber wings with post B-52 technology will be further delayed.  The continuing production of Joint Fighters and F-22s will be delayed or cancelled.

Unmanned Surveillance and Attack Vehicles will be taken off the production line, or off the drawing boards.  New or improved tanks, guns, protective equipment, beefed up transport vehicles and other ground combat necessities will be delayed or cancelled.  Marines could lose their rapid response air and sea transport to insert and extraction combat units.    

Without maintaining a strong national security capability the United States will be hard pressed to provide for the continuing freedom of the citizens of the greatest country in the history of mankind. 

There is only one United States of America.  If she is lost, along with the principles for which she stands, there will never be another.