"Stand Firm!"

During a critical battle between the British and Napolean's forces, the Duke of Wellington was sent a message that unless his troops withdrew they would lose. He gave the order to "Stand firm!". His Officer replied, "But we shall all perish!", to which the Duke replied once again, "Stand firm". His forces followed his orders and miraculously, they were the victors.

This is the advice that I would give members of Congress who are being pressured to accept a political fix to the United States Budget crisis. You know what is right so 'stand firm'.

It is wrong to engage in out of control spending, borrowing and taxing. It weakens our Nation and harms its citizens. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, I listen to our Prophet and he and those before him have always counseled us to: 1. Get and stay out of debt. 2. Live within our means. 3. Be self-reliant 4. Adhere to moral principles of right and wrong.
This is the advice I give Congress, if they truly want to see the United States of America thrive and prosper:
1. Help us get out of debt--not just on paper, but for real. Propose and support real debt reduction plans, even if you believe they don't have a chance of passing. If you stand firm to your principles and take seriously your oath, you'll forget about party politics, elections and do the job you were sent to Washington to do, "though all Hell rage against you".
2. Help us as a nation live within our means. Help us balance the budget and not spend beyond what we take in. We are in a precarious position because of these dangerous practices and they need to be stopped.
3. Help us be self reliant by not borrowing from others and by limiting our dependence on other nations, especially foreign ones who might use our dependence to control us and take away our liberties.
4. Help us get back to the principles which made America the greatest nation ever to exist. Uphold our Constitution and the principles of government it promotes. Help us get out from under a bloated and ballooning federal bureaucratic government which slowly erodes our freedoms and destroys the American Dream for future generations.

If you'll do this, America will be the victor.