Debt is a threat to future of America

America's financial future is threatened by federal budget deficits and by a national debt of staggering proportions. That was the point of Sen. Jim Risch's recent oppiece in the Idaho State Journal (April 11). The senator wanted to make it clear that he is concerned about this excessive spending.

Well, here's news: So are most of the rest of us--really concerned, regardless of whether our political sentiments lean left or right. Just about all of us know that

private debt may be justified on occasion, but debt dependency can easily turn into a devouring monster. We are smart enough to see how that also applies to government spending.

In fact, denouncing the debt and federal spending habits is easy, about as easy as being in favor of motherhood, apple pie, and the American flag. Politicians on both sides of the aisle--some more than others--love to posture about these matters. The trouble is, ideological posturing is easier than cooperative action. The trouble is, very few of our elected representatives have the political courage to do the unpopular thing and advocate realistic solutions.

The facts are clear enough. We can't begin to get the deficit under control, let alone pay down the debt, simply by waging war on earmarks or eliminating the odd domestic program here and there. What about foreign aid? It's a pittance. Etcetera. Targets such as these constitute only a small fraction of the budget pie.

If we want to get beyond posturing and make a serious dent in budget deficits and debt, we must acknowledge where most of the budget is spent: Social Security and other pensions, 21 percent; Medicare , Medicaid and health, 23 percent; defense, 24 percent; other welfare, 12 percent. That adds up to 80 percent. Tack on another 7 percent interest for servicing the national debt, and you have only 13 percent for everything else (source: usgovernmentspending.com). So the spending freeze on that 13 percent that President Obama has proposed, while laudable, won't get us very far.

LET THAT SINK IN. Most of the budget goes for entitlements and defense. And that budget isn't even balanced against income. Our senators and congressmen have got to muster the courage to finger those sacred cows, so fiercely defended by those who milk them, and then say to us self-interested voters, their constituents: "Let's get real. Re-elect me or not, but we can't afford everything we've gotten used to having the government do for us unless we're willing to pay more for it. Sacrifices are going to be necessary. Take less, or pay more, or both. Get used to it. That's what putting our financial house in order means."

REALITY concerning health care entitlements: The recently passed reform bill promises some very desirable improvements, but it doesn't attack the elephant in the room, i.e. costs of health care provision. What desperately remains to be done is for legislators of BOTH parties to rein in excessive health care costs--obscenely inflated hospital charges, unwarranted expensive tests, inequities and some excesses in compensation for providers, and out-of-control drug prices. Do something about tort reform. Wealthier Medicare recipients should pay more for benefits. The system is still brokenand it's not because the recent health reform bill (a first step merely) passed.

REALITY concerning Social Security entitlements: People are living longer, and demographics have too many drawing benefits, too few paying in. The eligibility age must be gradually raised; wealthier retirees (those who can afford it) should receive lower benefits.

REALITY concerning defense spending: We have taken leave of our senses here. Military budgets are so inflated , with insufficient surveillance , that no one can wrap his mind around them, let alone rein in their excesses. The military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned us to beware of is firmly in the saddle. We spend as much on our military as the next 15 first-world countries combined (source: Internet, passim).

Is that really necessary for our defense? Why aren't the next 15 terrified?

We have more than 700 military installations around the world. What's that all about? It's about imperial domination and manipulation to secure our interests as some ideological bureaucrats see it, including access to the oil that we use prodigally (see Chalmers Johnson, "Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic ," 2006).

Our congressmen need to stand up and say, "Enough already! This military budget is killing us and it's prime for cutting. Or would you like us to raise your taxes to support this egomaniacal profligacy?"

So, here's a request to Sen. Risch.

The next time he feels inclined to write an op-ed piece about budgets and debt, how about going beyond the "duh" generalizations and courageously advancing some concrete proposals for reining in entitlement and defense spending?

How about asking Idahoans and all Americans to make some specific personal sacrifices for the sake of our future and that of our posterity?

How about showing some leadership in the Senate in breaking down the ridiculous ideological party-line gridlock that prevents real solutions, painful and unpopular though they may be?