PATRICIA WILKES: Follow the people, not the party

The citizens of this country know the next conservative president must seriously address a dangerous debt left to us by a progressive president and his party.

It would have been better if the writers of our Constitution had required a balanced budget except in times of war and crisis, but they could not have imagined how decades of politicians would change congressional rules of order, resulting in a weakened and neutralized system of congressional checks and balances. These rules should be reformed so proper representation of both parties is possible.

The debt will accelerate unless Congress begins immediately designating one or more avenues of revenue to reduce the debt in a manner that will not take away revenue from necessary expenditures. One possibility, among others, would be to use the profits from drilling on some public lands for this purpose.

Other goals that should be a priority:

n Cut bureaucratic waste

n Eliminate replicated programs

n Enforce stricter rules for welfare

n Repeal repressive regulations

n Reform entitlements

n Form an economically friendly energy policy

Congress' actions to reduce the debt are only a small bandage on a serious wound. Too many lawmakers follow party leaders rather than legislating with a conscience for the good of all Americans.

PATRICIA WILKES

Picayune

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 7:01 PM with the headline "PATRICIA WILKES: Follow the people, not the party ."