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Comments on Guest opinion
Grijalva: Destroying economy to save it
Posted Feb 18, 2011
Raúl M. Grijalva U.S. Representative
Republicans who control the House have proposed what's called a "continuing resolution" - not quite the same as a real budget - to keep the government running. The resolution includes drastic cuts to more programs than I can name, and it's important to understand what that means.
With respect, and in fairness, Rep. Grijalva, it’s impossible to address this issue in so few words and without providing additional context. You and I are on the same page in re PBS and NPR, but do you really think that the proposed elimination of those national institutions will ever come to pass? No, it’s political posturing, and you must know that well.
You cite a handful of proposed budget cuts, but those proposed cuts cannot be evaluated unless they are seen in a broader context (to my regret and mild shame, I can’t be bothered to Google the “continuing resolution” to ascertain the details). For example, what cuts are proposed to the country’s bloated defense budget, if any? If none, that’s a travesty. If several billion dollars, well, that’s something else entirely.
Your opinion piece does a good job of sounding the alarm – letting citizens know that important matters are being decided by their representatives – but what we really need (in addition) is a transparent guide to the proposals, a guide that spells out what the proposed cuts will be and what areas are NOT slated for proportional cuts.
Right-thinking Americans (and legislators) understand that politics require compromise; in order to compromise we need to clearly understand our choices.
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1 comment on this story
With respect, and in fairness, Rep. Grijalva, it’s impossible to address this issue in so few words and without providing additional context. You and I are on the same page in re PBS and NPR, but do you really think that the proposed elimination of those national institutions will ever come to pass? No, it’s political posturing, and you must know that well.
You cite a handful of proposed budget cuts, but those proposed cuts cannot be evaluated unless they are seen in a broader context (to my regret and mild shame, I can’t be bothered to Google the “continuing resolution” to ascertain the details). For example, what cuts are proposed to the country’s bloated defense budget, if any? If none, that’s a travesty. If several billion dollars, well, that’s something else entirely.
Your opinion piece does a good job of sounding the alarm – letting citizens know that important matters are being decided by their representatives – but what we really need (in addition) is a transparent guide to the proposals, a guide that spells out what the proposed cuts will be and what areas are NOT slated for proportional cuts.
Right-thinking Americans (and legislators) understand that politics require compromise; in order to compromise we need to clearly understand our choices.