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You fix the budget deficit

Screen grab of New York Times web page
Screen grab from the New York Times
The New York Times "You Fix the Budget" interactive tool

It's easy to criticize. Now you're in charge.

The New York Times has created a slick little interactive tool that displays different solutions to the country's projected budget deficits.

  • Raise the Social Security retirement age to 70? You shave $247 billion off the 2030 projected deficit.
  • Allow the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy to expire? You shave off $115 billion

The tool gives you a clear picture of which measures put a big dent in the deficit, and which ones are a drop in the bucket. They also show you how a combination of measures are necessary if the deficit is to be tackled.
So go ahead, see if you can wipe out the deficit, and then ask yourself, "can I get myself re-elected, or did I dissappoint my base?"

By the way, if you're interested in making a contribution to reduce the debt yourself. Here's what the U.S. Treasury Department says you can do:

  • You can make a contribution online either by credit card, checking or savings account at Pay.gov
  • You can write a check payable to the Bureau of the Public Debt, and in the memo section, notate that it's a Gift to reduce the Debt Held by the Public. Mail your check to:

    Attn Dept G
    Bureau of the Public Debt
    P. O. Box 2188
    Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188

Can anyone out there write a check big enought to take up one of the little blocks?

Mark Brush was the station's Digital Media Director. He succumbed to a year-long battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in March 2018. He was 49 years old.
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