Untreated, federal debt could destroy U.S.
In 2000, the federal budget was balanced, and federal debt was under control. Total debt was 54 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Now, it is 105 percent of GDP. Current laws will produce a much greater figure — one never before experienced.
Any accomplishments of presidents Bush (W), Obama and Trump and their Congresses are heavily tainted by the growing debt. For the fiscal year ended in 2018, the Congressional Budget Office reported interest on the debt was 11 percent of federal revenue, and that’s anticipated to rise to 17 percent in 2028. The slow-growing cancer could destroy the nation. The CBO and Government Accountability Office have said the debt will eventually lead to something very bad. It’s just a question of when and how bad. When things do get bad, it would be fair to place the blame where it belongs — on past politicians and us.
ALLEN BUCKLEY, ATLANTA
GOP hewing to misogynistic view of women
The most obvious takeaway from the Kavanaugh fiasco is how thoroughly imbued with misogyny the Republican Party continues to be. At its core is the myth used in the West for millennia to subjugate and oppress women – that women are inherently sinful temptresses who, given the opportunity, will lead men astray and into the arms of Satan. Christianity’s response to this perceived threat has been to keep women subjugated in their domestic and procreative roles. From this perspective, all women are seen as potential seductresses controlled by their emotions rather than rationality, a view that invariably requires a patriarchal society to keep women in their proper place. The Kavanaugh hearings clearly demonstrated that, despite the best efforts of the women’s movement, including most recently #MeToo, the GOP remains perhaps the most misogynystic institution in America and shows little sign of changing.
LUCAS CARPENTER, CONYERS
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