MURCHISON: About Gramm's 'gaffe'

Unfortunately, Mr. Gramm is correct. We have become a nation dominated by whiners. From the Executive mansion to the ballpark. So what is to be done? The solutions is to pull up our pants and take care of our own problems. Look in the mirror folks, at one time Americans looked first at the end of our arm for a helping hand, then family, then neighbors, maybe the Church and the State was last. Now the State is first and we are daily reaping the results. I am ashmamed of all of us, we cannot begin to whip our real problems in the world til we whip our own whiny #%$#$# attitude. Russ Ramey Ashamed of us in Lima, Ohio

I also can't disagree at all with Mr. Gramm comment - and I don't much care for Mr. Gramm. We have for far too long relied on low gas prices and a strong economy with the belief that it would last forever. We have struggles and there's plenty of whining: at our government's and our ineptitude. At least on this topic he was correct. As far as him being Secy. of the Treasury...I hope that day never comes. Mr. Gramm has far too big a hand in the economic meltdown we're battling to have any possible position in future government.

Taken out of context, his statement is certainly true, namely, that we are a nation of whiners, himself included. But putting the quote back to the context of his intention, that those who are upset with the present economic meltdown, have little or no cause for complaint, is to underestimate not only the damage the current situation has had on many Americans, but denigrates their hopes, aspirations, and sense of security- hardly sensitive or empathetic of him. Phil Gram has so much to blame for the current economic situation as he had sponsored the deregulation bill of 1998 which resulted in the Enron fiasco that destroyed the financial security of thousands of hard working people. He spearheaded and promoted the current lack of governmental oversight of big business that has resulted in the current mortgage crisis. If anything, he should be horse whipped in public and pilloried at the stocks. The man is a disgrace to the economy of this nation and to the people of the state of Texas who perpetrated this joke on the rest of us.