Community Corner

Thoughts on the National Debt and Unfunded Liability

Tiverton resident Joe Sousa writes a letter to the editor.

Created by Congress, it is turning America into a nation of slaves.

For years we have heard Congress talk about a balanced budget. The U.S. national debt is now just over $15 trillion dollars. The unfunded liability just under $117 trillion. These numbers can be seen on the U.S. National Debt Clock real time.

So what does this mean for the average person? It means jobs will continue to move out of our country. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will not be there for future generations. Taxes will go up locally and nationally. America will become a third world nation.

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The middle class is shrinking fast. Incomes are stagnate, while inflation caused by Congress borrowing billions raises prices. Oil prices and other goods are going up faster because the national debt has made our dollar worth less. Remember, we deal in a world market now. 

Sixty-one percent of Americans "always or usually" live paycheck to paycheck. Thirty-six percent of Americans say that they don't contribute anything to retirement savings. A staggering 43 percent of Americans have less than $10,000 saved up for retirement.

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Good jobs create wealth and opportunity. Massive amounts of debt creates what we have now.

Local Congressional leaders will tell you the answer is to tax the rich. That plan chases jobs out of our country. We need to cut the size and scope of government. We need leaders who are willing to change the path of destruction we are on. 

I am asking people to get a little more involved in this coming year. Look harder at where this nation is going, and where the current Congressional delegation from Rhode Island wants to take us. Many have friends or relatives who are out of work, or working out of their profession just to put food on the table.

They can blame wall street. They can blame the rich. They blame every one but themselves. In the end, they are to blame! God Bless.

Joe Sousa 
Tiverton


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