National Debt

If the Bowles-Simpson commission deficit reduction plan is dead, somebody evidently forgot to tell Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson. Their proposal to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the next decade fell one vote short of the majority needed to force congressional action, and President Barack Obama, though saying nice things about the effort, didn't pick up the plan and sell it to the American people. But now, nearly two years later and on the eve of a presidential election, the framework Messrs.

Letter writer Ron Wirsing seems to have a conveniently short memory when it comes to gas prices ("Obama's policies mean we will soon see $5 gas," Feb. 24). He wants to "go back to 2008 prices. " I remember 2008 gas prices well, as I had a service business at the time. Gas was $4.20 a gallon for regular. This was duringGeorge W. Bush's presidency. When President Bush came into office in 2002, gas was only $1.40 a gallon. So gas tripled in price during the time Mr. Bush was in office.

The Baltimore Sun's editorial about the need for sweeping financial reform ("Finally, market medicine," July 20) would have been more believable if the writer hadn't shown that he or she doesn't even know the difference between annual deficits and our ongoing, accumulative national debt. The editorial writer failed to mention that the national debt grew at a much faster rate during the first eighteen months of Obama's administration than it did during "the George W. Bush years."

How forgetful can those of us getWho think we won't this time regretTurning over the gameTo the party to blameFor three-fourths of the national debt?* * *The Chung interview sprang a glitchWhen a whispering mama told whichCanine noun from her sonDescribed Lady One --It happens to rhyme with Gingrich.

Letter writer David Gosey makes the statement, "During the administration of President George W. Bush, the national debt increased from $5.7 trillion in January, 2001 to $10.7 trillion by December, 2008" and then questions why is it that now "Republicans get religion" on the subject ("Raising debt ceiling has long bipartisan history," June 7). By Mr. Gosey's own numbers, during the Bush years the debt rose $5 trillion in eight years. Under Obama, the debt has grown $4 trillion in three years.

Any president proposing to reduce class size by one-third in Baltimore primary grades can't be all bad.Ending deficits means little. If they don't reduce the national debt and interest payments, they aren't doing anything.When Bill suggested Monica come up with a cover story, he didn't mean a Newsweek cover.Bombing Baghdad might not make us feel better for long, or Saddam feel worse.Pub Date: 2/04/98

Monica should testify in the well of the Senate so the American people can see for themselves what Bill saw in her.First pay off the national debt, then argue what to do with surpluses.If we help subsidize Marriott for Montgomery County, maybe it will help pay for the channels and cranes to lure the big ships here.Don isn't in this job a week before he's angling to move on.Pub Date: 2/03/99

Republican tax cuts and Democratic spending increases are equally irresponsible until after they bring down the national debt.Now NASA wants to crash a space vehicle into the moon. The moon can't sue.When Mother Nature flushes the Jones Falls, she forgets to clean out the Inner Harbor.Psst, buddy, wanna live in the Bromo Seltzer Tower? You get to see ball games free and the Fire Department is just next door.

Save water. Drink prune juice.If the U.S. Treasury actually wants to pay off the national debt, Congress should let it.Cheer up. Blacks are coming out for O'Malley, whites for Bell and Stokes.Candidate Bell has put forth no issues or position papers but he did send his goons to disrupt a rival's street theater, so that must be his message, his promise and who he is.Pub Date: 8/09/99

Our murder rate is starting so high that if a police management change actually made a difference, citizens could tell. If Congress declared Elian Gonzalez a citizen, American law and family values would still award custody to his father. Psst. Federal budget surpluses don't count until we pay down the national debt. Derek Jeter earns so much playing Yankeeball, he may merge with American Online.