Recently on one of my trips with my grandchildren, I took them to Aruba. When I reconfirmed my return flight I was told to make sure we were at the airport three hours before the flight.

Checking in I had a local man help us with our luggage. I asked him why we had to be there three hours before the flight. He explained at this airport after check points we would also go through American Customs. I thought how convenient that was instead of doing it in the USA.

He then told me it was a good thing I was not there the day before. Thousands of people were backed up into the streets. The reason was because “America is running out of money,” his words not mine. Normally the customs booths have eight people, yesterday only two. He heard that his government told our government if they don’t properly man the booths they would not be allowed to have customs there.

Our country was forced to accept the sequester because the two parties and the President could not reach an agreement on the debt. The President decided to use threats and scare tactics to convince us he could not run the country if we cut out two cents of every dollar spent in the budget. By the way, the sequester idea was his.

Instead of being a leader and working with Congress to make sure the cuts came from wasteful spending, excess department budgets, useless programs, like meals for Mars, and $250 million to Egypt, he decided to punish us.

FDR said “there’s nothing to fear but fear itself.” Seems like all we have to fear is lack of leadership. I thank Congress for taking a stand against weakening our air safety and putting back the controllers.