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PITTSBURG —
At least one issue that’s sure to come up during the next 77 days is no longer political by nature. It belongs to the left, and to the right. It’s not an Obama issue; it’s not a Bush issue. It can’t be solved with rhetoric, and it’s very, very real.
Our country is in debt. Almost $16 trillion in debt – including $1 trillion from the current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.
Hyperbole will not change a thing. We state this fact because we believe voters have come to the realization that our country is in real trouble. In fact, most voters, at least those in this part of the country, fully understand the gravity of the debt situation and have come to grips with what needs to be done.
We’re going to have to learn to do without.
This isn’t just about Obama care, the war in Afghanistan, or education funding. To balance our annual federal budget, we have to cut spending across the board by 40 percent, and keep it there until our debt is paid.
We do not pretend to think everyone supports massive cutbacks in government spending. But the number of people who support them is far greater than politicians think. And that number is growing every day.
Spending cuts must come before anything – tax hikes, tax breaks … anything. The cuts must be across the board, too. Defense, entitlement programs, social programs, and government payroll … nothing can be exempt. It will be harsh on all of us, but there simply is no other choice.
We cannot grow our way out of this mess. We all want lower taxes, but cutting tax rates while $16 trillion in debt makes very little sense. Government revenues are up 6 percent this fiscal year, and we’re still $1 trillion in the hole for FY 2012. The dreaded mandatory spending cuts set to trigger at year’s end only cut $1 trillion over 10 years. That’s $100 billion a year, a mere 10 percent of our current annual deficit.
They don’t even touch the national debt.
Sadly, no politician you hear from over the next couple of months will tell you the truth when it comes to government spending or taxes. Lower taxes will spur growth, but not enough to pay down debt. Higher taxes will hurt growth, and shouldn’t even be considered until the real problem is dealt with: Spending.
It’s not a political issue any longer.
- Steve Boggs
At least one issue that’s sure to come up during the next 77 days is no longer political by nature. It belongs to the left, and to the right. It’s not an Obama issue; it’s not a Bush issue. It can’t be solved with rhetoric, and it’s very, very real.
Our country is in debt. Almost $16 trillion in debt – including $1 trillion from the current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.
Hyperbole will not change a thing. We state this fact because we believe voters have come to the realization that our country is in real trouble. In fact, most voters, at least those in this part of the country, fully understand the gravity of the debt situation and have come to grips with what needs to be done.
We’re going to have to learn to do without.
This isn’t just about Obama care, the war in Afghanistan, or education funding. To balance our annual federal budget, we have to cut spending across the board by 40 percent, and keep it there until our debt is paid.
We do not pretend to think everyone supports massive cutbacks in government spending. But the number of people who support them is far greater than politicians think. And that number is growing every day.
Spending cuts must come before anything – tax hikes, tax breaks … anything. The cuts must be across the board, too. Defense, entitlement programs, social programs, and government payroll … nothing can be exempt. It will be harsh on all of us, but there simply is no other choice.
We cannot grow our way out of this mess. We all want lower taxes, but cutting tax rates while $16 trillion in debt makes very little sense. Government revenues are up 6 percent this fiscal year, and we’re still $1 trillion in the hole for FY 2012. The dreaded mandatory spending cuts set to trigger at year’s end only cut $1 trillion over 10 years. That’s $100 billion a year, a mere 10 percent of our current annual deficit.
They don’t even touch the national debt.
Sadly, no politician you hear from over the next couple of months will tell you the truth when it comes to government spending or taxes. Lower taxes will spur growth, but not enough to pay down debt. Higher taxes will hurt growth, and shouldn’t even be considered until the real problem is dealt with: Spending.
It’s not a political issue any longer.
- Steve Boggs
