Responsible spending is key, not raising taxes

The federal government will spend $32,137 per household in year 2011. Of this total, 32.5 percent will be spent on Social Security/Medicare, 20.1 percent on Defense, and 16.7 percent on anti-poverty programs.

The defense expenditure covers everything from military paychecks, to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, to research and development and acquisition of new technologies and equipment.

Anti-poverty covers subsidies to state Medicaid, health services to poor, assistance, food stamps, housing subsidies, child-care subsidies, supplemental incomes and low-income tax credits.

Note: The government spends nearly as much on anti-poverty programs as it does for the defense of the United States and much of the world.

Not to mention how much money is spent (robbed) from the Social Security/Medicare programs to support those not qualifying for Social Security benefits or those not legally citizens of the America, which should be reported as anti-poverty programs.

To make matters worse, the federal deficit for 2011 is caused by too much spending. The federal government collects $18,295 per household and spends $32,137 per household. The net result is a federal “deficit” of $13,842 per household, Contact the Public Interest Institute of Mount Pleasant for more information.

The federal government must operate in a responsible manner regarding finances in order to prevent America from becoming a Third World country. Increasing taxes is not the answer; it would further damage the private sector - the hen that lays the golden egg (creation of wealth, real jobs and tax receipts for the government).

Gary C. Young

Cedar Rapids