Everyone is worried about the skyrocketing national debt, yet no one wants to cut spending. Both Republicans and Democrats warn of a national debt crisis just over the horizon, yet both parties continue to spend record amounts on the military and domestic entitlements. China, formerly our biggest creditor, is slowly beginning to dump US bonds as it grows increasingly concerned with America's profligate policies.
Now, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is the latest DC figure head to talk a big game. Substantively, she is spot on. Our $14 trillion debt is undoubtedly a grave national security threat, but in classic government double speak, she has requested $5 billion more for her foreign policy department. She offers the usual creative explanations, but in the end, no matter how one spins it, it's an increase, and it's part and parcel of Obama's record "defense" budget.
As long as Republicans and Democrats continue this charade, a debt explosion of monumental proportions is a virtual certainty. Whether it comes in 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years is immaterial. Our course must be reversed before it's too late. At some point, spending must be cut, and it must be cut across the board. Policing the world, fighting open-ended wars, bailing out banks and car companies, passing repeated "stimulus" bills, and spending endless amounts on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are unsustainable, not 5 years from now, but right now.
There's no need to create a new government commission to analyze the deficit and national debt. It's pretty simple. Cut spending, and cut it everywhere. It's common sense. And yes, it will hurt bad in the near term, really, really bad, but we are a tough nation. We can handle it for the sake of our families, friends, children, and grand-children. We got through the Great Depression. We got through World War II. We got through 9/11.
We can get through this too, if we want it bad enough.