It is with great hope and promise that America will overcome the economic challenges that we are facing.  The issues facing our nation are massive and it requires everybody to become a part of the solution instead of ranting and whining about the problems.  There was no single point of failure that caused the economic devastation in 2008 and 2009, which experts deemed the worst of the historic downturn.  Many experts agree that an economic recovery is occurring, but at an extremely slow pace.  The experts predict that getting the unemployment rate below 5 percent won’t happen in the next few years.  So does that mean we are still in a recession?

I recall reading that “a recession is when your neighbor loses his/her job; a depression is when you lose yours.”  That statement says a mouth full.  Yes, we have a job crisis and we also have a government spending problem.  Both areas require practical solutions, but it appears there’s no easy answer or we would have fixed it already.

Contrary to some beliefs, excessive spending of public tax dollars at the national level cannot be blame on a political party or Presidential Administration.  Without argument, there was plenty of blame to go around.  Yet, we cannot resolve our national problems until we start fixing the problems at the State and local levels.  Remember, all politics are local.

Our elected County and municipal officials will make decisions that will affect you quicker than the public policies at the national level.  Since the alleged $6 million theft involving a former college president, the former Florida House Speaker and a local developer; the compensation bonus kick-back scheme in the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the wasteful distribution of bonuses at the Tax Collector Office, the public interest in knowing where our local tax dollars are spent have somewhat dropped off.  This appears evident by the reduction in OCA membership.

Now is not the time to fall asleep again.  Like many other citizens, I have done my share of complaining.  Yet, the only way to make a difference in our community is to get and stay involved in the local government process.  OCA offers you the opportunity to work collectively with others in a nonpartisan effort.  We continue to be a part of the local solution while simultaneously educating the public on matters of public interest.

I encourage you to join us or renew your membership so we can help our local elected officials better serve us.  As the local culture become more prudent and efficient with our tax dollars, it is our hope and promise that the economic challenges at the State and National levels will also be fulfilled and we will have a working America again.

Michael J. Barnes

President