Mar 2, 2013 1 min read

I must take issue with both David Brooks column that appeared Monday and the Paul Krugman column of Feb. 24 on the issue of sequestration. They both talk about spending cuts as if the government will spend $85 billion less this year than last year. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The federal government has a system called baseline budgeting which means that every year the budget is increased by about 8 percent even if inflation is near zero. Under the sequester, the federal government will still spend $15 billion more in 2013 than 2012. The rate of increase will be slightly reduced.

How many citizens are making 8 percent more this year than last? How many families are borrowing 46 cents of every dollar they spend? When will it stop? Should I look for another country to live in?

John Loughman

Claysville