Officials must spend like the rest of us

For those of you who don't believe that our government's spending habits are driving our country to financial ruin, let's put things in perspective.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, for the 2009 fiscal year, the federal government had receipts of $2.1 trillion and outlays of $3.5 trillion, resulting in a deficit of $1.4 trillion. Our national debt is now $11.9 trillion.

Based on those numbers, if your family modeled the federal government, last year your family income was $50,000, but you spent $83,333, increasing what you already owe in loans for your house, car, education, etc. to $283,333. And you plan to continue that trend for the foreseeable future. That's called bankruptcy.

THAT is the problem with all of the proposed bills, budgets and spending habits of our elected officials. The government simply cannot provide everything for everyone. The government needs to start living within its means, just like the rest of us, before our country is ruined.

Rich Przybylski

Grayslake