To the Editor:
I am responding to Donald Kelly’s letter to the Editor “To spend or not to spend” in the Aug. 16 edition of the News. Mr. Kelly says “this is the only question one need answer before voting this November.” I disagree.
Without belaboring the point of how we got into this mess, the question is how do we get out of it? Spending cuts are one part of the formula, generating revenue is the other. “Over spending is what causes programs to be cut” says Mr. Kelly. I quite agree. But why did we, in this case the Bush administration, over spend? It was because they did not pay for the expenses they incurred (wars, Part D Prescription Drug Program, etc).
“Do not vote for a spender,” Mr. Kelly continues, “this is the year of fiscal responsibility.”
Well, that responsibility includes providing revenue responsibly, and I don’t believe that is what the Republicans want to do. Increasing income taxes on the wealthy is responsible. Cutting loopholes is responsible. Reducing and eliminating subsidies is responsible. Invigorating the economy through public works programs is responsible.
Also, please don’t tell me that trickle down economics works. It doesn’t. If you choose to support that position please list the times it has affected the economy. (Remember: Reagan lowered, then raised taxes, so at the end of his eight years they were about where they were when he took office, and he all but tripled the debt.)
Mr. Kelly, would you agree that the defense budget needs substantial cutting? I don’t think we need 2500 midrange nuclear missiles, or the F-22 fighter program, to name two.
One last point, I believe, as does the President, that there needs to be shared sacrifice at this difficult time. Besides it being good policy, history over and over demonstrates that building the economy from the bottom up is far more productive than relying on the rich to make growth happen.
I had an employer once who said “business is down, use the phone less.” In that sales organization the correct practice would have been to use the phone more, but responsibly.
Phil Miller, South Bristol
