Is there any hope for reducing the national debt?

The Tea Party gathering held recently in Duluth and subsequent reporting caused me to do some thinking.

Would an individual opinion be worthy of expressing, stimulated me to think — why not?

The big theme seemed to be reducing government, which has become too large. The problem is that most groups have areas they would be willing to cut, but some others are sacrosanct. This standoff has continued too long and seems to be gaining no ground. Has an across the board cut been discussed and if not, why not?

Everybody seems to agree that we can’t continue on the path of mortgaging the future of our offspring. I have five, very young, great-granddaughters who should not have to suffer, in future years, for our recalcitrance. In our present mode, we are willing to have other areas of the budget cut; the problem is when some of the others want to cut areas of the budget that we believe just, under any circumstance whatsoever, cannot.

Would everyone agree to an exact same cut for everyone? There can be no exception, for anyone, receiving government funding or services of any kind. Why not?

Let’s, for discussion purposes, say that cut would be 5 percent. Every department, every budget, every individual, every service, every contract being considered — everything. Not only the large ones like military and medical, but every individual employee of the government.

Senators, for example, would not only lose salary, but pension, health, mailing privilege, all the way.

One exception only would be taxes. We need the income to pay off the debt. In fact, the Buffett increase should be implemented to supplement the gains from the 5 percent cut in spending. Why not?

Bernie Hughes, Ed.D, is a retired educator who resides in Superior. He can be reached at bernie3024@centurytel.net.

Tags: opinion, money, politics, seniors