Dear editor:

We all live with choices and priorities, especially keeping our fiscal house in order at home or with business.  Having a budget. Living within our means. Avoiding excessive debt. Making adjustments and tough choices when necessary. That is except for the federal government.

There was much hype about the so called “Big Beautiful Bill” passed in July.

What was largely lost was a complete and responsible accounting. One exception was

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who was once an accountant by trade. Here is his report at the time, which is worthwhile reading: ronjohnson.senate.gov/services/files/800B1EC1-4DA0-4C09-8F95-6544A9959AD1.

As shown in the executive summary, the bill adds approximately $2 trillion ANNUALLY to the national debt. Our national debt at the time of this writing is nearly $38 trillion dollars (usdebtclock.org). That equates to $326,000 per taxpayer. Our national debt was under $10 trillion as recently as 2008. But then it skyrocketed under all subsequent administrations and Congresses.

The United States is now the seventh most indebted country in the world due to Washington’s reckless spending (visualcapitalist.com/visualized-govern

ment-debt-around-the-world/). I remember the Greek debt crisis back in 2010 when Greece’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio was 146%, and thinking we were in relatively good shape at 84% and will never get like that. Now the U.S. ratio is around 120% (fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GFDEGDQ188S). We are financially worse off than nearly all Third World countries. And the clean “Continuing Resolution “(CR) being discussed just keeps the high levels of Biden-Pelosi spending going. It is a pyrrhic victory if and when it passes.

Fiscal responsibility should be priority No. 1 for our electeds. But sadly it is not.

There are a few exceptions, like Sen. Johnson, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ken.) and Senator Rand Paul (R-Ken.) who made this a front and center issue. The vast majority of electeds focus on spin, partial and misleading accounting, avoidance, promoting secondary and tertiary issues, the needs of their donor class, a prime spot in front of the cameras, and perks like going on overseas trips when Congress is out of session. “Go-along-to-get-along” enables their political futures and aspirations for other offices. None of our Wyoming elected stood with Johnson, Massie and Paul. All voted for the Big Beautiful Bill.  

The D.C. politicos will argue they can’t do anything: They are just one person, Congressional makeup, have to go along with leadership, be patient and the  savings will occur five or 10 years down the line (FYI they can’t obligate future Congresses), or any other number of reasons. But if all our electeds took a principled stand at decisive moments, then responsible spending and control would be possible. What would the founders have done or even statespersons just a few decades ago? This country and our children need better in D.C. with the fiscal spending crisis we are in.  

Jim Vetter

Cody