I feel like the changes being made are necessary and I welcome the current administration's willingness to admit the mistakes and excesses of government, but the huge amounts being pledged to "fix" things is making me nervous.

I always ask my wise and informed mom (who has very different political leanings than I) about these things to see what she thinks. Recently she asked (R) Senator Lugar via email to vote no to the stimulus package. Of course he replied that is what he intended to do. She wrote him back to have her view clearly stated and on the record. Here's what she said...

Dear Senator Lugar,

Thank you so much for your sensitive response.  I am one of those who fall below the radar. 

I am retired, earn $1500/mo. SS, and $1400/mo PERF.  I own an

old house (1865),  paid off my mortgage; I am widowed since 1987.  I have raised four children, sent them and paid for their college education.  I survived lung cancer (8 years), the Indiana tornado of 2005, several economic downturns, and still have maintained my independence.

I don't want to adopt another 50% of the population, pay their mortgages off, send their children to college, and pay their transportation and utility bills.  I want my pitiful nest egg back and left alone.  I am willing to wait for the turnaround,  but I don't want to be forced to finance the utopia of the future that is being piled on all of us under the guise of  "The Fix" for the economy.

Do you see any future for an antique like me?  What can I do to help slow this juggernaut?