I’m responding to Sandra Bruns’ letter to the editor published in print May 13 titled “Republicans holding the US hostage should be criminal.” 

The flip side of that coin could read: Democrats’ irresponsible spending, which crushes future generations, should be criminal.

For the record, I am a registered Independent and educated (doctoral degree), and I have a basic understanding of economics. I see the fallacies of both political parties’ philosophies. I often hear Ms. Bruns’ Democratic talking point of tax the wealthy its fair share, but I never hear their definition of what is fair.  

The most recent data available confirms the top 1% of earners pay 42% of federal income taxes. Recent excess spending has fueled runaway inflation, which I feel every time I go to the grocery or the gas station. Biden’s policies are a detriment to our energy independence, sovereignty and financial well-being.

Our nation had one of its greatest expansion periods following John F. Kennedy’s term, where the tax rate was decreased from a top rate of about 90%. I strongly encourage the adoption of a balanced budget amendment, along with a plan to start paying down the national debt.

To accomplish this, let’s vote out the extreme right and the extreme left and elect some common-sense moderates of both parties that can work together for our benefit. This constant raising of the debt ceiling creates a house of cards that will inevitably come crashing down — and that will be criminal.