newbuzz...People in my community are very anxious about the economy. Many folks have lost their jobs, and many others are worried about losing their jobs. I am not immune to the negativity but I try to keep it in perspective. We are still in America after all. We still have more opportunity here than most people in the world will enjoy. But, with the blatant encouragement of the mass media, many Americans have lived beyond their means for the last couple of decades. Now it is time to tighten our money belts. Some people will be forced to downsize and change their lifestyles drastically. This will be difficult but not impossible. With fewer things to keep track of, Americans will be able to focus more on our people and our environment. As we look around at others who are in need, we will learn to share. I believe that now is the time to take stock of our own positions in life and to make changes in our habits. We do not gain anything with worry, and we cannot be complacent. We must remember that we are the government and we must be involved in the decisions of our politicians and lawmakers.