I'm submitting this as a writing sample to a political blog being developed that is affiliated Baltimore City Paper. Similar opportunities are available with similar papers in D.C. and Philly.
The blog will have a liberal slant and is more formal than the actual newspapers, but don't think Huffington Report or anything like that. At the end of the day it's still associated with an alternative weekly.
I'd love for you all to read it and let me know what you think. Thanks.
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These are mind-boggling numbers. The U.S. national debt was about five trillion almost eight years ago when President Bush inherted a budget surplus from the Clinton administration, now it's about nine-and-a-half trillion dollars.
The White House is now predicting the budget deficit next year will be close to a half-trillion dollars, $482,000,000,000.00 to be exact. It equals about $1,500 for every person in the country. Add to that another eighty billion. That's the costs of the war that aren't included in next year's national debt projections. And add to that the $53 trillion in unfunded liabilities out there in front of the retiring baby-boomers for Medicare, Social Security.
The debt accumulated on George Bush's watch exceeds the national debt accumulated by all the previous presidents of the United States.
This country is broke. And there's only one way to solve that problem. You have got to either tax people more or spend less money. Politicians don't want to talk about either one of those.
Look at Fred Thompson and his performance in the primary. It's interesting to hear Fred Thompson about entitlement reform. He was quite passionate about it and said the things that one would expect to hear from someone who really wants to get things done. And we all know what happened to Fred Thompson's candidacy.
You know the mistake that politicians are making this time around, the public gets it. The public understands we're broke. The public understands $200 billion a year interest on the existing national debt. They know that we don't have the money to fund the wars or social security or universal health care. They get it. They want somebody, I think, to stand up and say, look, we got problems and I have solutions.
The White House is now predicting the budget deficit next year will be close to a half-trillion dollars, $482,000,000,000.00 to be exact. It equals about $1,500 for every person in the country. Add to that another eighty billion. That's the costs of the war that aren't included in next year's national debt projections. And add to that the $53 trillion in unfunded liabilities out there in front of the retiring baby-boomers for Medicare, Social Security.
The debt accumulated on George Bush's watch exceeds the national debt accumulated by all the previous presidents of the United States.
This country is broke. And there's only one way to solve that problem. You have got to either tax people more or spend less money. Politicians don't want to talk about either one of those.
Look at Fred Thompson and his performance in the primary. It's interesting to hear Fred Thompson about entitlement reform. He was quite passionate about it and said the things that one would expect to hear from someone who really wants to get things done. And we all know what happened to Fred Thompson's candidacy.
You know the mistake that politicians are making this time around, the public gets it. The public understands we're broke. The public understands $200 billion a year interest on the existing national debt. They know that we don't have the money to fund the wars or social security or universal health care. They get it. They want somebody, I think, to stand up and say, look, we got problems and I have solutions.
5 comments:
Its solid writing, but what is the sample for?
I can believe what the numbers are saying, I am wondering where the money will come from. If you find ways to generate money, and keep the process going, maybe things will iron themselves out with time...
Again I say Bush is sending us all to the poor house!
I'm with Corey - I think the writing is solid. You have impeccable skills in that area.
But, I think we need to know what the writing sample is for - you know, to determine how appropriate your choice of words are.
Sorry guys. It's a writing sample for a blog I'm looking to write for. I'll edit the post and add a sentence to that effect.
Thanks for the feedback.
You can't refute the numbers, however, what I do have a problem with which you somewhat addressed is the fact that Congress needs to cut spending. The issue is that the bigger government gets, the more money they want to take. As you know I am a firm believer in smaller government.
I think the writing was sound. I can't wait to read the finished product.
~Damnit!
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