What about the U.S. debt crisis?

Responding to John Lewis’s letter of March 23 to the editor, on the subject of Medicare and the national debt:

Mr. Lewis seems to have a problem with math, or an understanding of the debt problem, or is it just outright lying? Let’s look at the current liability of the U.S. government on just entitlements. By the way just for reference the national debt is $17.5 trillion.

Now for the entitlements: Social Security liability $16 trillion, prescription drugs liability $22 trillion, Medicare liability $89 trillion!     Total, Mr. Lewis, is $128 trillion! That comes out to more than $1.1 million per taxpayer!    

 I agree, Mr. Lewis, that Medicare is a good system for those of us using it! But, sir, you’re asking our children and grandchildren to pay for what we use, if they can! We are in the process of “doing in” our country with debt.

It’s becomes very obvious, you have no understanding of what is happening in this country and yet you want to lead! You have the same thinking that has gotten America to this point in history.

All of the above numbers can be verified from the U.S. National Accounting Office!

Peterson is a resident of Polson