The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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October 31, 2009

Your View: Recovery mostly about fiscal responsibility

By Wayne Comstock, North Mankato

Kudos to The Free Press editorial Thursday, “A warning not to be ignored.” It addressed our countries unsustainable fiscal path and our leadership being short on long-term planning.

I believe our dysfunctional legislative and executive branches of government have been the primary cause of our economic problems. Consequently, the public continuously gets misinformation blaming something or someone else. Investigative reporting and quality journalism has been replaced by lazy reporting and media political agendas. With some strong exceptions, most news media have become “wimpy” and no longer hold our government accountable.

Our area U.S. representative has voted for stimulus, and consequently more debt. He now seems ready to vote on a health care bill that he says “is coming together” and “reduces the deficit by $61 billion.” Spin.

The bipartisan Congressional Budget Office says the bill will increase the deficit (Oct. 24 Free Press). A public option is unnecessary. Simply fix coverage for pre-existing conditions, malpractice lawsuits, those changing/losing jobs and those unable to afford.

I believe our economic recovery is primarily about fiscal responsibility and creation of permanent private sector tax-paying jobs. New job creation will not happen by appropriating non existent tax dollars to stimulus and various pork barrel projects. That only adds to our now unsustainable national debt, more public employees and/or temporary jobs on short-term projects.

Over two-thirds of all jobs come from small businesses. Small businesses don’t need low interest government loans. They need to get the government off their backs and to reduce the outrageous tax rates imposed upon them. Unlike large corporations they are unable to recover those tax burden dollars by raising prices.

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