Warren Buffet and Bill Gates are two billionaires who have sense. There are others who realize that even if they become wealthier and wealthier but our economy tanks because there aren't enough people with money to spend, what good is that?
Perhaps the best example of a politician who has thus far shown little or no sense is Eric Cantor, Republican Congressman from Virginia and the House Majority Leader. He recently proposed no FEMA funds for natural disaster victims until congress makes other offsetting budget cuts, a process that with this gridlocked congress could take months, even years.
But there is a ray of hope. In the morning news as this is being written, there were reports that Cantor was softening his adamant budgetary stance. He issued a statement that those suffering injury and damage from the quake and the storm and the flooding should get federal disaster assistance as per usual.
He has finally shown some sense. But his seeing the light took more than the recent East Coast natural disasters that included his congressional district. It took pressure from those in his party with more sense than he, such as East Coast Republican governors asking for needed FEMA help.
(James Lein is a community columnist for The Minot Daily News)