Mitt Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as running mate underscores harmful fantasies Republicans promote about taxes and spending. Although unwarranted government spending should be eliminated, it's only partly responsible for our deficits. Even with large spending cuts and optimistic revenue projections, Ryan's budget plan maintains large deficits and adds trillions of debt. The simple fact is the tax cuts enacted by Presidents Reagan and Bush provide insufficient revenue to address the debt and to fund programs that benefit our nation and that even most Republicans support.
Currently, military and security spending and interest costs consume almost 90 percent of income taxes. Even slow debt payoff leaves nothing for anything else funded by general revenues.
Although I disagree with some of President Obama's policies, his position of both cutting spending and restoring taxes is responsible and necessary. If Romney and U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack believe current tax levels are appropriate, they should identify all cuts they would make to balance the budget so voters can decide whether they have good plans or are just blowing smoke to benefit rich supporters. They're harming us with unrealistic and irresponsible tax positions and by encouraging us to not truly support our country.
Russell Erickson
Duluth
