Letter: Mixed messages to those serving

I can’t be the only one to feel the irony in the headline, “Debt makes you powerless,” on the story regarding Suze Orman’s appearance at Beale Air Force Base.

During my time at Beale I’ve heard this message dozens of times, and I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, it’s all too common for new airmen to enter the service and immediately saddle themselves with crushing debt, usually in the form of credit card charges and vehicle payments. Our saving grace is the fact that the Air Force puts a high priority on fiscal responsibility, with free financial counseling available to all service members. Financial matters even have their own place on our feedback forms, to help supervisors stay on top of any issues their airmen may have.

Now the painfully ironic part hits home. Servicemen and women are taught that debt should be avoided, while the nation they defend tells the world that only more debt will save us. Borrowing trillions and spending it is the only way out of this crisis, even as America reels from the effects of thousands of loans gone bad. But this time will be different, right? Right? Anybody?

Frank Bellingerr
Marysville