To the Readers' Forum:
More than ever, a whole series of issues need addressing that the right or left can't or won't solve because of their deep ideological divide. As an independent voter, it's clear our deeply dysfunctional government is in need of sweeping changes. Our next president and Congress must embark on immediate tax and entitlement reform, which focuses on establishing a leaner, performance-based government that invests prudently in education, infrastructure and R&D.
For starters, our energy policy needs to take an all-aspects approach, including drilling in ANWR, NPR-A, offshore and building the Keystone pipeline, along with pursuing alternative energy sources. We need a government that embraces Simpson-Bowles in a very serious way to address our annual deficits and crushing debt.
We must cut discretionary spending by a 4-to-1-spending/revenue-increase formula recommended by Obama's debt commission, which regrettably he chooses to abandon.
Cheryl J. Clarity
Jamestown