Feeding crocodiles

Dear Editor,

One penny doesn't buy much. As a child, I looked forward to buying penny candy. You can't do that any more.

Our trillions of dollars of national debt is quite frightening. The cost of living increases constantly.

First Timothy 6:10 of the New Testament states that "money is the root of all evil."

Early civilizations didn't use money. They traded and bartered for what they needed. Persia (now known as Iran) introduced the idea of money to the Hebrews. They began minting the silver shekel to obtain goods. In Rome, a silver denarius was a widely used coin.

Over the years, each country has had its own monetary system. In the early days of America, paper money wasn't worth much. Actual coins were more valuable.

The Spanish silver dollar was used. Sometimes it was cut into pieces to make change.

Benjamin Franklin tried to remedy this problem by printing paper money.

Unfortunately, we don't recognize the danger of overspending before it is too late. We borrow and charge, thinking we can pay later.

Recently I read a story about a visitor to Africa. He couldn't understand why thirsty animals did not drink from a water hole. Instead, they kept their distance from it. Then he saw a large crocodile waiting in the mud for an unsuspecting creature.

Are we feeding the crocodiles by extending the national debt?

Helen Ruth Arnold,

Trenton, Nebraska

-- References: First Timothy 6:10; World Book Encyclopedia 1979-1979, Deseret News, Oct. 1, 2011 by Gerry Avant (Church section).