Creative labels mask unpleasant realities
The president and like-minded members of Congress are using labels and political talk to disguise reality. For example: A “budget cut” does not mean getting less than the previous year, but merely less than the expected increase. It’s an increase nonetheless.
Spending is labeled an “investment” without any mention of the rate of return. “Investments” during the last few years increased the budget deficit to $1.4 trillion and the national debt to $14 trillion. Not very good “investments.”
Extending the same tax rates is referred to as a “tax cut” that will cost $700 billion and add to the deficit. But leaving money in the hands of those who earn it doesn’t add one penny to the deficit. Government spending that is not paid for does that.
Politicians should stop such devious wordsmithing and playing class warfare to protect their seats. They should concentrate on meaningful spending cuts and real tax cuts that history shows spur the economy.
Frank Medico
Mount Vernon
No debate on two biggest budget busters?
After listening to endless talk from politicians about budgets and deficits, I was shocked to read that the House voted $160 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with no debate and almost no coverage in the media.
It amazes me that the two biggest budget busters of them all are either ignored or glossed over when it comes to budget discussions by the very people whose job it is to debate such matters, and that the American people don’t seem to care.
Sean Crain
Germantown
Use abortion funds to help the poor
Re: “Christmas decorations waste money, energy,” from readers, Dec. 19
Mr. Doerr wants to darken Christmas lights on the grounds that Jesus would not want His birth celebrated. He sounds just like the traitor, Judas, who complained about that expensive oil used to anoint Jesus’ feet.
Mr. Doerr is a longtime supporter of federal funding for abortion to reduce the need to support the poor, and funding for population control policies — including the forced abortion practiced in China.
The federal budget contains over $700 million for population control and over $350 million for Planned Parenthood to help kill the preborn of mostly poor blacks in the United States. How about using all of that money to help the poor instead of killing their children?
John Naughton
Silver Spring
