Letter: Suggested budget cuts for Congress

Saturday, Nov. 26, 2005 | 7:22 a.m.

Are we stupid?

No we are not. However, Congress seems to think so. But it seems that we are lazy, or in some cases we have just given up rather than let them know what we think.

Currently our Congress is discussing how to save $51 billion over the next five years. They are planning to reduce the rate of increase in spending on various programs to which many of us might object.

They could save much, much more on other programs.

I think a few of these are as follows:

Put in mothballs the massive and increasingly expensive program to put a man on Mars as just one step in even further space explorations. The people losing their high-paid jobs are well educated, innovative and problem solvers. In most cases these people would end up in their own or related business ventures that would enhance our economy and contribute to the tax base.

Discontinue the federal financial support to benefit the performing arts. A drop in the bucket? Well, one drop plus one drop equals two drops; 2+2=4; 4+4=8, etc.

Require the senators from each state to reduce their pork barrel programs until their pork is reduced to about 30 percent of the original amount.

The above is just the tip of the iceberg. However, they won't even consider these cuts because we just don't get around to getting in touch with them. Sure, I'll send something to Sens. John Ensign and Harry Reid, and a member of their staff will send a meaningless reply. I am 82 years old and running out of steam, so that's about the end of the story.

Larry Johnson

Las Vegas