The Times West Virginian

Opinion

January 1, 2012

Majority hopes Congress saves money in 2012

Times West Virginian

FAIRMONT — Is 2012 the year of the new you?

As you read this piece, are you already craving something you vowed to give up as a New Year’s resolution? Perhaps a piece of that Christmas fudge? A cigarette?

Or maybe your resolution has more to do with actively doing something — like exercising. Hit the treadmill or sleep off last night’s merriment? Save money or take advantage of New Year’s sales?

We all make resolutions — even those of us who resolve to not make a resolution at all. It’s quite the tradition, and who knows how far it dates back. Maybe the religious observances of Yom Kippur or Lent, which are about making commitments to deny yourself of something in order to remove obstacles in your relationship with God, helped to create this tradition of making resolutions.

A new year, a new you. No more chains! No more guilt! Look fabulous for that upcoming high school reunion. Feel better about the person you see in the mirror every morning. Stop having to worry about whether your credit limit won’t cover the items in your shopping cart.

Quit! Save! Exercise! Lose weight!

Those are among the most popular resolutions made across the country. According to a study recently conducted by Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, despite a struggling national economy, only 8 percent of respondents said they resolved to save more money in 2012.

And that might be a good thing ... as one of the surest ways we can get out of a slump is for consumer confidence to rise and spending to increase.

That same study found that 42 percent lose weight. And that may be a good thing, too. Since more than half of the country can stand to shed a few pounds, or a lot of pounds, weight loss is probably a good idea.

According to a recent Thomson Reuters-NPR health poll, of those who admitted to being smokers, 42 percent said they resolved to quit smoking in 2012. Again, how can you argue with such a noble resolution?

The same study found that 50 percent said they resolved to exercise more.

We thought we’d take a different spin on the Top Four Resolutions for our online poll, which can be found each week at www.timeswv.com. Last week, we asked our readers not what their 2012 resolutions were, but what they thought Congress’ resolutions should be.

And here are the results:

• Quit smoking — Every single bill doesn’t have to be a partisan debate — 5.49 percent.

• Exercise more — Let’s fix some issues that are hurting the nation by working together — 16.46 percent.

• Lose weight — The 2012 elections will remove congressmen if they continue to forget about constituents — 26.83 percent.

• Save money — A balanced budget bill is what we need — 51.22 percent.

There’s certainly a sense of frustration about Congress felt and expressed by the American public — people like Harold Ash who responded to the poll question directly online.

“I think they should make America happy by resigning,” Ash wrote. “They don’t do a darn thing except screw around and spend (I mean waste) money. Biggest bunch of losers ever. All in it for what they can get out of it. Nothing for the poor public.”

Pretty blunt, but probably a widely held belief.

Let’s hope Congress and its members can keep some 2012 resolutions.

This week, let’s talk about the thus-far mild winter. Did you miss having a white Christmas or are you enjoying extended use of light-weight jackets?

Log on. Vote. Email me or respond directly online, like Mr. Ash.

Misty Poe

Managing Editor

mpoe@timeswv.com

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