With the recent problems in Europe boiling over an election that have drew the socialist party into power in France for the first time since the 1980′s. I find myself half-afraid and half-intrigued. In America, the idea of having a socialist party legitimate enough to gain power is laughable.

One of my most shocking experiences abroad occurred in Vienna. I visited Austria after my classes had ended and before my flight home. While I visited, the Austrian Labor Day occurred, and to celebrate all of the Socialists in the surrounding regions paraded through the city. This was a huge event for me. I could never imagine something like this occurring in Indianapolis, for example. At the very least, I can’t envision itbeing without incident.

Socialist Party Colors

This granted me a bit of perspective. Although I’m still in the process of discerning my own political affiliations, I can appreciate what we do have here in America. Call me sentimental, but I like the idea of a man pulling himself by his boot straps, working hard and being rewarded in the end. I can’t bring myself to support a system which levels all people. Not that I want to make this post a political statement–my point is moderation is great, and I believe America works very hard between its two parties to achieve this.

But it all raises the question of how should a country deal with fiscal problems? Is it a matter of spending more to heal an economy, or should the spending of a government be restricted to its means? I sometimes fear that the standard of living in our country is a house built on the sand of trillions of dollars of debt, waiting for a storm to sweep us away.

What I urge my readers is to inform themselves. Nothing is more harmful to a political or economic crisis than ignorance and a population willing to believe anything it hears. I’m trying to work through this. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s quite difficult. Good thing I have a place to turn to.