OPINION:
Tuesday’s Commentary and Editorial sections contained no fewer than three pieces regarding our budget, the deficit and the $34 trillion debt this country is facing (“Republicans must break their addiction to federal funds,” “Are we in for another housing collapse?” and “Fading majority of House GOP opens dark possibility for November election,” web, March 25). Just pile these on the many like op-eds appearing elsewhere nearly daily.
However, nothing has changed. We spend and increase the debt and never pass a balanced budget. Why? Because the American voters have no effective way of understanding the federal budget. The debate is always about mandatory and discretionary spending and the ’top line.” What we need is a gateway into the budget that helps voters understand what they are paying for and what they are borrowing for.
Families budget by talking about three things: how much money they have, what they’re going to buy with it and what they’re willing to purchase by borrowing. Around the kitchen table, it’s far easier because the needs and resources are identifiable and lend themselves to meaningful discussion, leading to a set of clear priorities. We can bring the same clarity to the voters regarding the federal budget.
Require the administration to submit the annual budget in three volumes that identify the priorities. They are simple. What are we willing to buy from annual tax revenues, and what are the items we must borrow to buy? The green-colored volume would contain items to be financed only by actual annual tax revenue; the red one would identify programs that would be financed solely by borrowing; and yellow would hold those programs to be funded by annual tax revenues and borrowing.
This approach would force the administration and appropriators on Capitol Hill to set priorities he same way we do around the kitchen table. I wonder which of the three volumes a taxpayer would open first.
ED OBLOY
Bristow, Virginia
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