Just Tell Us The Truth!

The campaign is almost over.  Only 19 days until Election Day.  There is still time…

…TO TELL US THE TRUTH!

It is really a sad state of affairs when the two men running for the most powerful position in the world cannot tell us the truth for fear of losing the election. 

Today the two candidates traded barbs about binders and Big Bird all the while knowing that there are some very tough conversations lying ahead.  But nobody wants to have that conversation until after the election.

Mitt Romney is a bright guy…a very successful businessman…a money guy.  He knows full well that his tax program doesn’t work unless you pay for it by eliminating deductions for mortgage interest, charitable deductions, state and local taxes and health care cost.  Even then you need to raise taxes on the middle class to make it “revenue neutral.”  He knows that we cannot afford to increase defense spending to the highest levels in our history.  He knows this!  But he won’t tell us the truth because it will kill him at the polls.

The president isn’t a dumb guy either.  He knows that the only way to reduce the deficit and the long term debt is to drastically reform Medicaid and Medicare.  And the only way to save Social Security for future generations is to raise the retirement age and freeze benefits.  He knows this!  But he won’t tell us the truth because it will kill him at the polls.

Candidates are often heard saying:  “The American people are smart.”  But then they treat us like we are stupid…like we cannot comprehend the “complexities” of: if you keep spending more than you earn you will find yourself in very deep doo.”  They act like we are mushrooms that need to be kept in the dark.

Any serious plan to cut the debt/deficit and grow the economy must include an increase in revenue in the short term and spending cuts in the long term.  It's math!  We get it! 

There are some very hard decisions that are going to have to be made very, very soon.  On January 1^st there are severe mandatory cuts in defense and a broad spectrum of government social programs that will automatically kick in unless someone orchestrates a compromise in Washington.  These cuts will be devastating to the middle class and working poor.  On that same day the Bush tax cuts will expire; raising taxes on millions of struggling American families.  Nobody wants to see any of these things occur.  But we cannot wish them away.  So somebody is going to have to grow some brass and tell the American people the cold hard facts. 

Barbs about binders and Big Bird may make for great headlines.  But they won’t solve the problems facing everyday families.  We need the truth.  We can handle the truth.  We’re not stupid!

(Well, except for the three people on the street asked by one of the late night shows  who they thought won the debate between Michelle Obama and Ann Romney!!!   The one guy said Michelle really connected with the audience.)