Vote GOP and watch the slide continue

There have been a number of opinions written in the Herald regarding what has led to our budget deficits. Let’s start by trying to agree on a few truths. 1) Our country’s massive debt is a huge problem. 2) The vast majority of this debt has been accumulated in the last 30 years. 3) Many very difficult decisions must be made by both parties to resolve this critical issue.

Republicans feel the entire problem is spending related and, even though our top federal tax rates are low based on the last 80 years, virtually all have gone as far as signing a “no new tax” pledge. Democrats feel we have both spending and revenue issues and there must be a “shared sacrifice,” although they are far less willing to cut social programs which help our less-fortunate citizens.

Clearly, if you believe people making millions (or even billions) yearly are taxed at too high a rate and you believe people making less than $50,000 should be taxed more, vote Republican. If you believe the defense budget should not only not be cut but instead actually increased and you believe social programs should be drastically cut, then vote Republican. If you believe the free markets will govern themselves adequately following the financial crisis of 2008 and you believe we should have let GM go into bankruptcy, then vote Republican.

There was a recent Herald letter titled “Plenty of money is there for the truly needy.” If you believe the maximum yearly SSI benefit of $8,400 is “plenty of money,” and you’re not aware of millions of elderly Americans barely existing on relatively small Social Security payments, and they would not mind their Medicare and Social Security benefits being drastically reduced, then vote Republican. I guess we’ll find out on Nov. 6.

Phil Williams

Palatine