Here is the way I see it: I think it's time for our "leaders" to earn their pay or forfeit it! Enough is enough. Quit the party line baloney and start thinking about the nation they were hired to think about.

It's time to trim the federal government, and I know that will affect a lot of people and jobs. However, our current economy cannot afford higher taxes for all the government programs. We, the people, have to balance our budgets and live within our means, and I see no reason that our governments, federal and state, should not do the same.

When are the people of this country going to wake up, look around and see that we are in serious trouble? We, the people, have got to start demanding that our elected officials do their jobs. And we need to start doing it now.

I am also sick and tired of our elected officials trying to alter our Constitution, the one they took an oath to protect! Leave our Constitution alone, and that includes the Second Amendment. If you don't want to protect it, then resign your government payroll job and let someone in office who will uphold and protect our Constitution.

DALE R. DAVIS, Kennewick