Letter: Let's start acting like Americans and fix our woes

To the Editor:

Now that the election is over, we all face the most daunting financial problem in the history of this great country — a growing $16,000,000,000,000 debt.

Without a major course correction, the national debt will reach $20,000,000,000,000 in four years. A debt impossible to repay. A debt that will bankrupt this country.

This suggests a “Sandy” type disaster in the financial world that will affect every citizen, every pension, every 401K.

That is fact whether you are a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent. Another fact is our federal government spends nearly twice as much as it takes in each year. No household — rich, poor or middleclass — can survive with a financial situation as bad as that.

What is the solution?

Americans have elected a populist president who is a charismatic politician but doesn’t understand basic economics 101.

Concurrently, we have elected representatives who get nothing done to solve serious financial problems.

So it's our fault. We all elected them.

How do we turn this mess around? We first must stop the partisan cheering, bickering and whining. We must all send a clear message to our president, senators and representatives demanding that they fix this problem in a reasonable, structured, adult manner.

"Taxing the rich" gets votes and airtime but won't solve our financial problem. Why? Because 100 percent of "rich people’s" money won't put a dent in $16 trillion debt. Sole draconian government program cuts won’t work either and would likely put the economy into another tailspin recession.

Maybe there's a compromise somewhere?

We are broke, plain and simple. So there must be both short- and long-term solutions to solve this mess. Here are a few starters:

• fix the long-term spending binge caused by both parties.

• pass a "balanced budget” constitution amendment.

• keep essential programs only.

• improve or overhaul all federal programs worth saving.

• become energy independent by 2020 by using all forms of safe energy development. Yes, coal and oil too.

• demand government/industry job creation cooperation, not antagonism. Every private sector manufacturing or high tech job creates seven to eight other good jobs and raises revenues for our treasury.

• minimize government jobs as they require seven to eight private-sector job taxes to pay for just one employee.

• overhaul and simplify the onerous tax code and loopholes.

• eliminate ridiculous regulations on small business.

Let's start acting like Americans again. Stop the polarization and realize this is the best place on earth to call home. Let's talk with one another in a civil tone and have respect for each other's position.

Let's roll up our sleeves and Git-r-Done. We are American!

Bob Spielman

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters