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Our country has been in a worse debt crisis then the present one. In 1946 the debt was 122 percent of GDP. The big difference was in the past both Republicans and Democrats worked to solve the problem so the deficit came down to 32 percent in 1981. Then Reagan and Bush 1 were elected and the deficit shot back up to 65 percent under Reagan's trickle down theory of tax cuts which didn't work. Clinton increased taxes and the deficit started back down and then Bush 2 was elected. He cut taxes and the deficit increased to 83 percent and he created the worse recession since the great depression.

It is now frightening the way the tea party has converted the Republican party from one based on facts to one based on faith so they believe what they are told no matter how false the positions are. Republicans are now like Lemmings following its leaders into the water even if it "...is so wide as to stretch their physical capability to the limit" and they all drowned. Polls show that 50 percent of Republicans believe Obama wasn't born in America even though there is not one fact to show otherwise. They don't believe in global warming in spite of the melting ice pack, worse storms, and what scientists tell us. I fear if the country continues as it is we will end up in a depression.

You do not solve problems by ignoring conditions and distorting facts as Jan Schultz does in her letter of June 21, 2011. Even Rep. Larry Howes (R4B) states "The figures don't take into consideration $2.3 billion in federal stimulus money or the $1.9 billion in delayed payments owed to schools." Howes also states "Right now the governor is at $35.8 billion, down from a high of $3.9 Billion. The Republicans are at $34.2 billion, from a starting point of $32 billion. We both have moved; perhaps the governor a bit more then we." Surprise !! An honest politician.[[In-content Ad]]

Howes also says he would rather tax a nickle a drink statewide then increase income or corporate taxes and this shows the difference between Republicans and Democrats. Studies show that the wealthy pay a lower portion of their incomes in taxes then the rest of us do. Dayton wants to increase the tax rate only on those with taxable incomes over $250,000 for married couples and $150.000 for individuals. I don't know anyone making that much money in our area. There are 2.4 million tax filers in Minnesota and this would increase taxes for only 44,000 of them.

Jan Schultz's comment "For all of you who are struggling to pay your bills but still live within your means, the DFL thinks your principles are extreme and irrational." is a ridiculous and untrue statement. I suspect that there are far more Democrats struggling then Republicans. The difference is in how we solve our problems.

Republicans believe Bush was correct to cut taxes which lead to the worse recession since the Great Depression. Democrats believe Clinton was correct to raise taxes which reduced our deficit and lead to the best economic conditions I can remember. Were we better off under Bush 2 then we were under Clinton?

Republicans fear government and think it is bad and should be made as small as possible while Democrats believe the private sector can do some things better then government, while the government can do some things such as Social Security and Medicare much better then the private sector can.

The only reason a company hires people to build a product is to sell it. If there is no demand for a product it doesn't get built. This is so obvious I don't understand why anyone could think otherwise. A Tribune article states "...private employers have added roughly 1 million jobs...governments have cut 1.1 million jobs..." You don't create demand this way. People also forget the so called multiplication factor where spending by government employees is multiplied throughout the economy and creates private sector jobs also. How many tourist staying here in the summer and spending money in our stores are teachers or other government employees? Who will come here without good roads?

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