It’s conference time for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Twice a year we sit down to listen to the prophet and apostles. At this evenings session the prophet, Thomas S. Monson, counseled as us as they often do to be prudent with our finances and to avoid excessive and unnecessary debt. He also assured us that the church is conservative and careful with their finances because they understand that the tithing money collected by the church from the members comes with sacrifice by the members and is therefore sacred.

If only our government realized that our tax dollars also come with sacrifice, despite their being mandatory, as opposed to the voluntary tithing dollars. Perhaps they would be spent more prudently if congress considered the blood, sweat, and tears that went into earning the money that the government takes from each of us in order to support the children’s wooden bow producers, refund wool duties, and securing rural schools, among the millions of other pet programs that we the people are paying for. Our elected officials really our out of touch.