Time to take the budget seriously

To the editor:

The year 2014 flew by and, in no time at all, candidates will be passing through our hometowns. We'll see the advertisements, we'll cheer the debates, we'll discuss with one another which candidate is the best choice.

For me, the candidate who will get my support will be the candidate who treats our national debt as a critical, immediate problem. The most recent election proved that our economy is a priority issue for voters. However, the rising federal debt as a share of the economy has not gotten enough attention from voters or candidates. The rising national debt has the potential to slow our economy just as it is recovering from the recession. Our overall standard of living will fall as interest rates rise and wages stagnate with the slowing economy.

This affects everyone, particularly younger generations. These young people face enough difficulties entering the workforce and addressing their personal budgets without being burdened by an economic downturn spurred by the rising federal debt. By not taking responsibility for the debt crisis, by not promising to fix this issue, we place an increased level of financial stress and instability on ourselves. I plan to take responsibility for my personal finances and I will only support a candidate who plans to do the same by fixing the debt.

Renee Schulte

Cedar Rapids