A wise man once told us, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. " You need not have been a religion major to understand the origin or importance of this counsel. I would like to again present the same advice to our country, though in a completely different and much more topical context.

Few can ignore the current status and strength of our economy. It has slipped well into the "realm of uncertainty, " as the president likes to call it, and continues to weaken. If you 're not feeling it yet, chances are you don 't own a home, don 't have children, or you 're not driving a big enough car. Maybe it 's all of the above.

Many economists, historians and politicians have offered plenty of reasons why we 're experiencing such economic weakness. And many have pointed fingers at those supposedly responsible for our economic woes and worries.

I recently read an article in Foreign Policy magazine that cited a host of reasons for our looming recession: Poor regulation of mortgages; a lack of transparency about complex financial products; misguided incentive schemes; poor risk management by lenders and financial institutions; oil prices; and the list went on and on.

I immediately took issue with the list, for it was missing the most important reason for our situation, the most willing accomplice in this crime, and certainly the guiltiest party: The American People.

As our credit ratings drop, as we default on our loans and mortgage payments, and while bankruptcy ruins our families for generations to come, it is time to talk openly about a dirty little habit of "We the People. "

The fact is, we like our credit cards. We enjoy buying things we do not have the money to pay for -- today. And we bask in the splendor of living outside of our means. Perhaps, then, it is ironic that the only thing we are paying for are the consequences of our actions: A crumbling economy.

It 's hard to decipher exactly which social and cultural nuances are responsible for the way we have come to live, but the most important way to affect change, remedy the problem, and strengthen our economy is to be honest about what the problem is and who is at fault. It 's us.

I had to cast my denial aside when I could no longer stand the biting words our campaigning politicians were casting toward the government about running up the deficit, working outside a balanced budget, and spending money we did not have.

It 's humorous actually, as many citizens make a life out of such practices. How can we as Americans expect our government to operate any differently than we do?

If hypocrisy is the lowest of vices, perhaps the quickest way to hush this critical crowd is to point out they 're not gaining political points by insulting the government, they 're losing support by insulting every constituent in the nation. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

If the economy worries you as much as it does me, and you practically succumb to nausea just thinking about it, maybe the only certainty in this "time of uncertainty " is the strength of Pepto-Bismol 's stock. It 's a buyer 's market!

Davis is a columnist for Dells Events newspaper.