Letter to the Editor
The first step to start our country back on track to economic fluidity is to immediately stop monetary and any other foreign aid to countries that have expressed hatred or dissatisfaction toward our wonderful nation.
Check with the Bureau of Economic Analysis to determine the countries and staggering sums of money we send overseas; it will make heads spin.
Next, determine which countries are democratic, and delete all the rest from the rolls of support from the international grab-bag of our dollars. That money is needed by our own people, and would support many of the programs that are now in difficulty.
In conjunction with this, there should be an amendment to the Constitution requiring a national vote for any monies that are requested by a foreign entity. It's time our representatives in government listen to us. We elected them, and it is not solely for them to decide what is best for us.
If any elected member of our Congress goes counter to what is the wish of his or her constituency, let's have a vote of confidence, and get rid of those who are running us into the ground.
Our taxes are, first and foremost, for the benefit of our own country.
There also should be an amendment regarding the pay our representatives receive. No government official should be in control of his or her salary. What other group of workers can give themselves a 33-percent increase in pay?
Additionally, members of Congress should not receive retirement pay for serving in an elected position; that service is an honor. No other working group gets retirement pay after less than about 20 years. The cost of this perk is a tremendous burden on our economy.
Paula Schwartz
Augusta
