I have heard a lot about deregulation on the news lately. Apparently it is the key to ending this recession, according to republicans. They seem to forget how much damage deregulation can do.

One example of needing regulation is with home loans. The housing bubble was partially caused because people could get loans more easily and receive more money. When the bubble burst, many were living in houses that they could never afford, even when economic times were strong. Deregulation says that the market will work everything out itself. However, that is assuming people are honest. Although the USA is a supposedly religious and God-fearing nation, we have many, many people who are willing to take advantage of the system and to live beyond their means. It's already happened.

Another case where deregulation would be bad is in education. If education were not regulated, standards for becoming a teacher would disappear and perhaps people would not need to have a degree in the area they teach, or be finger printed, which could endanger children. That, of course, is an extreme example. However, if education were deregulated, grade-level standards would be topsy turvy across the nation. If children were to move into new states, they might enter a curriculum a few years behind or ahead. While I don't believe in over using standardized tests, I believe that consistency across states is important in education and testing is a fairly efficient way of doing so.

Lastly, if becoming a politician were deregulated, then Arnold Schwartzenegger could become president. An 18-year-old could go into Congress with barely any knowledge of how government works. Let's face it: experience counts. While some politicians have been in office for years and have messed things up, usually more experience means more control and knowledge for dealing with tricky situations. Being intelligent, loyal, and working hard are GOOD qualities, not bad ones.

So please, stop singing the deregulation song. We tried it while Bush was in office and that dug us into a deep hole. You don't use the tool that got you into a mess to get you out of it. Try something else. Even if it goes against your political party's belief.

Lastly, stop playing politics. I don't care your party background as long as you help the majority of Americans to get back on their feet again. Not big corporations. I want politicians to help their people. That is how the Constitution began: a country for the people, by the people, and of the people. It's classic, it's over 200 years old, but it still holds true.