Politicians, tell us truth about debt

Between now and the November presidential election, would it be too much to ask of the presidential candidates to actually tell the electorate the plain truth on issues that relate to our everyday lives? They could start with Social Security. FICA taxes do not go into a Social Security "lockbox." Social Security taxes are lumped into general revenues, and then the federal government writes IOUs to the Social Security Trust Fund.

Secondly, total unfunded liabilities, i.e. Social Security, Medicare and all other entitlements, plus the national debt equal an estimated $55 trillion. So, let's not talk about increased spending as if there was a money tree ready to be plucked. There is no money, even if taxes were raised or tax cuts were eliminated.

Lastly the cost of climate change. President Bush advanced a goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 80 percent by the year 2050. Some environmentalists have complained that it wasn't good enough. By 2050 the U.S. population will have increased by 120 million people to 420 million (source: Wall Street Journal, April 28). In 2006 per-capita carbon dioxide in the U.S. stood at 20 tons. To meet the 80 percent reduction, not counting the 40 percent increase in population, would require per-capita carbon dioxide levels to drop to 2.5 tons. Switzerland, which generates most of its electricity through hydro instead of fossil fuels, currently emits 6.5 tons of carbon dioxide ... TODAY!

Can we be told the truth and not be pandered to?

Steve Sarich

Grayslake