An alternative who cares about debt

I find it curious that neither the Republican nor Democratic candidate has anything to say about the federal debt, now at an astonishing $35 trillion. However, on the Daily Herald’s Opinion page recently, columnist Debra Saunders wrote a short piece that underscored the absurdity of the issue (absurdity, not seriousness). The interest alone stands at a whopping $892 billion, according to a spokesperson for the Committee on a Responsible Federal Budget, more than what the federal government spends on national defense and all spending on children’s programs.

At the moment, with a national economy purring along pretty well, no one wants to talk about the debt. But what happens when the economy doesn’t purr along nicely? What will happen to all the fine programs that both candidates say they will support? Won’t these programs have to take a hit? There are some who will say, “Don’t worry; the U.S. will find a way to solve this.” For those who believe this, I hope you are right. But wouldn’t it be wise to find ways to resolve the federal debt now? Everyone I know has to live within their means but apparently not the federal government.

Even though neither the Republicans nor Democrats say anything about the debt in their platforms, I discovered that a third-party candidate for president, Chase Oliver, is part of a party that writes the following on its platform: “Government overspending and reckless money printing are fueling skyrocketing costs, hurting those who can least afford it. By slashing spending and balancing the budget, we can crush inflation and ignite a stronger, more vibrant economy that works for everyone.”

Is Oliver’s party the only one which is not like an ostrich with its head stuck in the sand ignoring the elephant in the room?

William A. Decker

Des Plaines