Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
This is an open letter to Senators Baucus and Tester and Congressman Daines.
Agreeing to raise the debt ceiling yet again, in my opinion, was a terrible mistake. Not raising it would have basically put our nation in the same predicament that we citizens face daily ... trying to live within our means. Develop a budget, and stick to it.
Refusing to raise the debt limit would not have put us into instant default. There is sufficient income into our treasury to pay the interest on our current debt, giving us time to decide how the remainder of that income should be allocated on a prioritized scale. Some programs, obviously, will have to be scaled back or eliminated.
There is nothing in our Constitution that says we have to fund, much less fully fund, every program that has been taken on. There are departments that have reached Cabinet level, that do not have to be there.
Example: Why do we still have a Department of Energy? It was created in the 1970s to address our nation’s dependency on foreign energy sources. That has failed miserably. Since then, we have discovered massive deposits of coal, oil and natural gas, yet we still remain dependent on foreign sources - oil from some nations, whose policies are not in the best interests of the United States.
We must continue to develop our domestic sources. Government (you guys) has to weigh the immediate against the long-term economic and environmental and defense needs of our nation. Instead, both houses of government (you guys) and the administration seem set on a course to stifle growth and development of those fossil fuels. Pass legislation and laws that best serve the legal citizens of America. Quit giving Wall Street and businesses entitlements and advantages to the detriment of the rights and future of this country’s greatest asset, “We the people.”
President Obama said that raising the debt limit would not bring more debt. It would simply allow the government to pay its bills on time. Check the numbers. Since that action last month, our debt has risen to historic high levels.
Technology in America has proven that it can conquer tough challenges. We achieved the goal set by the then newly elected Pres. Kennedy to put man on the moon within a decade. Quit the partisan posturing and infantile squabbling on both sides of the aisle. Join together. Do the job you were sent to Washington to do. Serve the people. Protect and defend the Constitution ... against all enemies – foreign and domestic. Restore and preserve the rights of all our citizens. We are Americans first, not Democrats, Republicans or whatever your party affiliation.
Lastly, pass no laws from which you yourselves are exempted. Laws that are fair and apply to all. What makes representatives “special? It should be because the voters saw some something “special” that convinced us that they were the right person to do the job on our behalf. Not because they (our representatives) consider themselves “special” and deserve special treatment, exemptions and benefits not granted to all Americans. Be the solution, not the problem.
Robert D. Lipscomb
Glasgow
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