Bailing out Wall Street is morally irresponsible. This is what Congressman Barry Goldwater emphasized in his lecture at Moorpark College Monday, Oct. 6. Former Congressman of the 34th Congressional District, which includes Moorpark College, Goldwater told a large crowd of students that it is fine to hold the government accountable for the recent bailout on Wall Street, as well as for the current struggling economy.

“That’s my take and that’s my story and I am sticking to it,” said Goldwater. Born into a political family, Goldwater knows what it takes to be a Congressman. He was the son of former Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, Sr., who ran against Lyndon Johnson in the 1964 Presidential Election. His father taught him what it took to be in politics. At first he did not want to be a politician, working for Wall Street as a stock broker, until friends convinced him to run for Congress. Stepping away from his career, he took on the daunting challenge in 1968, winning the election at thirty years old.

Today, an experienced politician, he simply stated reality, telling the room full of students the wrongdoing of Congress. He sees the younger generation suffering from the ineffectiveness of Congress. He believes that our government should be held accounted for. “It is fine to hold our government accountable,” he said. “It was Congress who decided to take a risk.” People panicked and Congress took a risk, immediately carrying out the $750 billion bailout.

Although it is the American way to take a risk, he preached his dissatisfaction with their position on how to help the crippled economy. Referring to Congress as politics, with poly meaning many, and tics meaning blood-sucking creatures, Goldwater got his point across to a room full of students confused about our current budget crisis.

This lecture is one of many events being held by Moorpark College for its Year of Democracy theme. The Moorpark College faculty wanted to help students participate in their campus community. Since 2006, the “Year of” theme has been implemented to meet this goal, helping students become better educators and citizens of this country. For more information on future events for the Year of Democracy, simply visit the Moorpark College website at www.moorparkcollege.edu/yearof.