THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507140006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
One letter writer recently blamed the Republicans for running up the national debt during the Reagan-Bush years. What this revisionist conveniently forgets is that throughout ``Republican rule'' in the 1980s, the Democrats ran the U.S. House of Representatives and consequently controlled the power of the purse. It was liberals like former Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski who spent every penny of the so-called Reagan-Bush debt. This in no way is an attempt to absolve Messrs. Reagan and Bush of all blame, but let's realize both parties are equally guilty.
Even the liberal Washington Post admitted on June 19 that growth in social spending - ``bigger pensions, more generous medical insurance, better housing and all the rest'' - has far exceeded our ability to pay for it.
With taxes devouring more than 35 percent of the average American's income, I am glad the Republicans are attempting to reduce the growth of welfare, Medicare and Medicaid. The alternative, my liberal friends, is to let these programs grow out of control, bankrupt the country and destroy our children's future.
FRANK GORSKI
Virginia Beach, June 30, 1995 by CNB