Jim Mitchell writes a very interesting article in the Community Forum of March 4 (Time for U.S. to circle the wagons). I am in agreement with most of it, and thought it was a creative and provocative essay.

Basically, he recommends increased money for Social Security recipients when in a depression, bringing our military troops home and closing embassies in countries where they don't like us. All of this would save us billions of dollars. In general, I would agree with that. I would also recommend that we consider the following:

1. Start protecting our borders … get serious. There is a war for drug turf along the border with Mexico. Thousands have been killed. Phoenix (next to Mexico City) is becoming the kidnap capital of the world. Place elements of the National Guard and military personnel along the border. Our government was set up to protect us, not provide for us, and to promote the general welfare, not provide for it.

2. Stop trying to buy peace around the world. Most countries do not appreciate it anyway. Just recently, we agreed to provide almost $1 billion to the Palestinian Authority and Hamas in the Gaza Strip to rebuild their cities, or whatever. Why is this the responsibility of the U.S. taxpayers? If Hamas does not want to be destroyed, just stop shooting missiles into Israel.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is going all over the world promising money to every Tom, Dick and Harry. This is more money for the U.S. taxpayers to cough up. We promised approximately $60 billion to reduce the rate of HIV/AIDS around the world. This goes into the pockets of tyrants and dictators, and not to the people in need of it. Better to send a corps of 1,000 retired teachers to go to Africa and other countries to teach the villagers, go on TV, etc., and we pay their salaries.

3. Return to balanced budgets and stop senseless spending. We need to live within our means, and not mortgage our children's future.

4. Get tough on crime. Crime and criminals will decimate our culture. Hardcore criminals need to be executed, and not pampered in the jail system -- which has become the perfect welfare state for the cons -- while the state sends the taxpayers the bill of $30,000 to $50,000 per prisoner per year for their upkeep. Liberal judges/lawyers and brain-dead jurors are the problem here.

5. Focus on character education. If you get no character education, and become "educated," instead of hitting up the local 7-Eleven, you will hit up the First National Bank.

It is sad that we stripped Christian education from the culture and curriculum -- and now you can see the results in our society, one in which corruption goes to the highest levels of government. Surely there are character traits that we can all agree upon that need to be taught and emphasized in our schools -- honesty, respect for others, respect for elders, respect for property, etc.

These are just a few of the things we can do to make it a more sane place for all of us.

Edward N. Vargo lives in Temecula.