Letter: Nation’s leaders failing at basic economics

Editor:

Congress is failing basic economics. The largest business in the United States is taking in $6 trillion dollars in revenue and is projected to spend $8 trillion. The CEO of this company should be fired, correct?

Well that business is the United States government! How do our nation’s leaders maneuver around this deficit spending? By passing continuing resolutions to fund the government for short periods. Each branch of government has a person and/or committee in charge of the budget: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse and ranking member Charles Grassley, and House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington and ranking member Brendan Boyle.

Here’s a novel thought: how about each government department reviews its expenditures and submits budget requests to the two committees and the treasury secretary. Together they arrive at an annual balanced budget. You know, like how every business in the United States operates.

I suggest all voters in Berks County write to your senators and representatives and demand that we begin spending within our budgetary means.

Kudos to Rep. Angie Craig, who introduced legislation to withhold the pay of Congress during any shutdown. I would extend it to their staff members as well. If this legislation were law, it would certainly reduce the chances of a shutdown in the future.

David Haughney
Spring Township

Source: Berkshire mont