Bankruptcy is part of the American fabric

I am writing this letter not in defense of Mr. Will Dunn, but as a response to the purposeless and maybe ill-intentioned comments of Mr. Robbie Olson.

Bankruptcy is part of the American fabric, and is a tool that has helped many famous and not-so-famous Americans get back up. My father used to say that when people who didn’t owe any money it was because nobody would lend them any.

We are a country of pioneers. United States has distinguished itself for many firsts in the world. I am sure that those many firsts didn’t come with at least 10 times as many fails. If anyone goes bankrupt because they were trying, they deserve a second, and why not a third, opportunity.

I am sure that prior to filing for bankruptcy, Mr. Dunn had so many issues to think about; however, feeling ashamed should have not be one of them. The history of bankruptcy in the United States dates back to the founding fathers. These gentlemen had the foresight to include provisions for bankruptcy in our Constitution.

Over the years, many famous people have had to file for bankruptcy protection. Maybe you have heard of Thomas Jefferson, Walt Disney, Larry King, Redd Foxx, Wayne Newton, Abraham Lincoln, Burt Reynolds, Donald Thrump, Mark Twain or Johnny Unitas. Bankruptcy is put into a different light when you know that men of the caliber of Abe Lincoln and Walt Disney were able to achieve so much after filing bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy should be used as a financial planning tool. If used properly, bankruptcy will put people onto the road to recovery. You know that in order to be financially free, you cannot have debts. So, if people use the bankruptcy process to manage existing debts, they are on the road to recovery whether they know it or not.

Let’s focus on the issues that affect Maricopa such as education, the real estate crisis (yes, there are things we can do as a town), business retention, and economic development, amongst many other issues.

Mr. Dunn has a long enough record as a City Council member that voters can evaluate and decide to keep him or vote him out without resorting to dirty politics.

I want to reiterate that I am not endorsing Will Dunn, the candidate; I am just standing for Will Dunn, the person.

Jake Romero is a financial advisor who lives in Senita.

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