Letter: Disheartening dispute in Congress over national budget

It's so disheartening to see Republicans and Democrats locked in such a bitter dispute about revenue increases that are inconsequential when compared to the size of our annual federal budget deficits.

Rather than fight the president's plan to increase taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans, fiscal conservatives should be seeking tax increases across the board, including the 47 percent of Americans who pay no income taxes. Broad tax increases will be very bad for the economy, but since we have proven at the polls that Americans want big government, it's about time we began paying for it instead of leaving outrageous debt for our children and grandchildren.

Democrats have got to accept significant spending cuts, including reductions in the entitlements they prize so much. You can't fill a bucket that has no bottom, and there simply isn't enough money available to sustain our extravagant government spending. Falling off the so-called fiscal cliff will be fun compared to the trauma we can expect if we don't soon set our financial house in order.

Steve Fillerup

Salem