From: mpye@netcom.com (Michael Pye)
Subject: Perot Says It All
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 09:06:50 GMT

PEROT SAYS IT ALL     
By Charles Donnelly  NYTimes OPED Oct. 2, '92

Whether or not Ross  Perot is elected President is not as important 
as the fact  that he continues to demand that our political system 
focus on and solve crucial problems.  The  election issues fall into 
three priorities; the debt, what the deficit means and how we are 
going to stop deficit spending.  Our deficits, servicing the debt and 
how and when we deal with it will determine how we live and what 
priority we give to other issues.  You may think the deficit is being 
managed and that George Bush or Bill Clinton will solve the problem.  
I doubt it.  Why haven't they worked on it til now?   
 
When I look at the deficit, I can see good or bad news.  The 
accompanying fiscal 1992 data, compiled from information provided by 
the Financial Management Service of  Treasury Department and the 
General Accounting Office, shows our Government's principal 
expenditures.It provides an idea of how the debt service affects the 
Federal1992   
 
                     U.S. BUDGET RECEIPTS AND OUTLAYS
 
        Total Receipts                   $1,073,600,000,000
        Total expenses                    1,407,100,000,000
        Deficit                             333,500,000,000
        Interest expense on debt            294,485,000,000
        Defense Department expense          298,170,000,000
        Social Security expense             281,100,000,000
        Health and Human Services           263,100,000,000
        Education expense                    29,092,000,000
        Food Stamps                          22,350,000,000

The more than $4 trillion national debt is about four times our 
receipts in fiscal 1992.  We spend more on servicing the debt than 
anything else.  We spend less on defense, Social Security, health and 
human services.  We spend 10 times more on the debt service than we 
spend on education.

The good news is we can fix the problem if we all sacrifice.  We must 
avoid the Catch-22 of excusing deficit spending because the economy 
is too weak to survive fiscal restraint.  Our economy (and the 
world's economy, the International Monetary Fund says) is weak 
because  of our huge Federal Debt.

Solving the deficit problem will require sacrifice, if we confront 
the issue now, or drastic sacrifice later.  Our elected 
representatives believe Americans are unwilling to sacrifice.  
Granted, it is difficult to accept sacrifice when imposed by public 
servants earning more than three times the average national income 
and enjoying extraordinary perks at the public's expense.

Ross Perot says it all.  Sacrifice has to start at the top.  If this 
sacrifice is a true committment, it will send a message  that America 
is changing and finally putting its financial house in order.  The 
renewed confidence  would strengthen the dollar, stabilize the 
economy and encourage long-term investment.

Sacrifice now means our children and their children will have a 
chance to help lead in the global market-place.  Sacrificing now is 
more a matter of changing your mind than it is about changing your 
status.

Many believe Ross Perot's personality is not fit for the job.  Name 
calling is a waste of time.  We are not going to find a perfect human 
being.  Let's elect the best human who will talk about the issues, 
has a meaningful program and will work hard and sacrifice with the 
rest of us to get it accomplished.

Yes, many people worked hard to get Ross Perot on the ballot in all 
50 states and many were disappointed when he stopped campaigning.  
Yes, it is confusing.  But what is not confusing - what is perfectly 
clear - is the trouble our country will be in if we don't talk about, 
plan to solve and solve our national debt problem.

Washington and the major parties fear that by reentering the race Mr. 
Perot is disrupting their political environment.  Well, the political 
arena needs a little disruption.  The politicians would then 
understand the disruption taking place in the downsizing of our 
employment rolls.  At least, Mr. Perot's got focus.

Another fear is that Congress won't work with a President Perot.  I'd 
like to have some hard evidence that it has been working with or 
would work with George Bush.  Or that a Democratic President would 
end pork-barrel politics and pandering to special interest.

Ross Perot for President?  Great idea! But if he wins or not is not 
as important as the fact that he is not going away.  Neither will we. 
 Thanks Ross.

Xref: sparky alt.politics.perot:2017 alt.politics.elections:16336 talk.politics.misc:51223