If you're reading these pages, I'm sure you've heard of the budget sequester, which will reduce government spending by $85 billion this year. President Obama has spun all sorts of doomsday scenarios if the sequester (that was his idea originally) is allowed to occur.
Let's put things in perspective: $85 billion is a lot of money even in Washington, but it is only about 2.4 percent of the $3,600 billion annual federal budget. That's like that average American earning $50,000 per year having to cut about $100 per month from his budget, which is about what happened when the payroll tax holiday expired at the end of 2012. Yes, it hurt a bit, but if we're hurting, isn't it about time that Washington felt some of our pain? If we're tightening our belts, shouldn't the federal government be expected to do the same?
Jim Craig • Wildwood