Senator Ted Cruz has been giving impassioned speeches about national debt. I found this older speech and was encouraged to take him on his challenge.
Sen Ted Cruz (R) Warns of the Rapidly Growing National Debt
Please examine my draft letter. I want to send the polished copy on Wednesday, 12 noon Houston time. I appreciate comments and factual corrections.
The letter starts:
Your recent speech on the national debt was startling and refreshing. I had no idea that the national debt was $31 trillion. It was refreshing because Republicans are serious about spending cuts. For many decades, the only time that Republicans talked about the national debt was when they were looking to slash the safety net for the non-rich. When they proposed tax cuts for the billionaires they did not talk about raising taxes to compensate.
I ask you to look at the bloated Pentagon budget, the world’s largest prison system, health care, the IRS and the second Marshall Plan that will eliminate poverty everywhere in the world.
The Bloated Pentagon Budget
Before the Ukraine War, the Pentagon budget was equal to the next 10 countries in line. Cut the bloated budget by 50%. Close most overseas military bases. Since a nuclear war between India and Pakistan will induce nuclear winter, keep 1,000 nuclear weapons and decommission the rest.
The World’s Biggest Prison System
The US has more prisoners in absolute numbers and per capita than anybody else. Introduce alternative sentencing and legalize many drugs that are currently prohibited. Regulate marijuana and some others like we do for tobacco and alcohol.
US Health Care
Most countries in the European Union cover all citizens at about half the cost as Americans pay. Look at the ways they organize things and copy them.
Collect Taxes from the Rich
When Eisenhower was president, the highest marginal tax rate for individuals was 91%. Tax havens did not exist. I was a child when Ike was president and I remember the prosperous times. Trickle-down economics has failed. Humans are now looking at the biggest wealth inequality in history.
The rich are the big cheaters. Look at the Panama Papers and other scandals. Properly fund the IRS to collect from everybody.
The Second Marshall Plan
The first Marshall Plan was a resounding success. The second Marshall Plan will be one too. Eliminate poverty in every nation. This action would reduce the terrorists’ recruiting base. This would be a big step in solving our difficulties with illegal immigrants. When they have good jobs at home, they will not cross deserts in northern Mexico and risk shipwrecks in the Mediterranean.
My background is that a teenager and young adult, I read Readers Digest, US News & World Report on a regular basis. Senator Barry Goldwater and William F Buckley were my heroes. I read Conscience of a Conservative and Up from Liberalism. In the 1960s, my views on the world have become more nuanced. Even though I look at some things differently, I share your desire to reduce the national debt.
What I offer today reflects my work as a certified public accountant and economics courses at UT-Austin when I was obtaining a master´s degree in Latin American Studies.
May you be successful in changing the attitudes in Washington, D.C. and everywhere else.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Edward T. O´Rourke, Jr.