November 21, 2011

Mr. Xxx Xxxxx

xxxxx SE xth Street

Midwest City, Oklahoma 73130

Dear Mr. Xxxxx,

Thank you for your message regarding the plan I released in July 2011 to eliminate $9 trillion in deficit spending over ten years, Back in Black. It is good to hear from you, and I apologize for my delayed response.

As I am sure you know, right now the national debt is one of the gravest threats to our nation’s future. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, the government is expected to spend over $3.6 trillion, nearly $1 trillion of which will be deficit spending. This means currently, Congress borrows 27 cents out of every dollar it spends, constantly adding to our $14.8 trillion national debt at a rate of $35,000 every single second.

Back in Black includes more than 700 detailed, specific deficit-reduction proposals, which together would eliminate $9 trillion in spending over ten years, balancing the budget and producing a surplus so we can start paying back the national debt.

Over ten years, the plan eliminates $4 trillion of low-priority or wasteful spending from the budgets of Congress, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies. It reduces Medicare and Medicaid costs by $2.6 trillion, eliminates $992 billion in unnecessary tax breaks and special interest giveaways, and saves about $1.4 trillion in interest costs on the national debt. The plan also makes Social Security solvent by directing all savings back into Social Security rather than the general budget. This plan provides Congress with a detailed list of real savings to meet deficit reduction goals and put our nation on a sustainable course.

Please know I am the last person who would disrespect the tremendous sacrifices of our veterans. The proposals in Back in Black are not designed to harm veterans-they are designed to protect them, and all Americans, from the debt crisis that will inevitably devastate our great country in the coming years if we do not fix our budget. Our nation’s fiscal crisis is so dire that it will take shared sacrifice from every citizen of this nation. I understand that those who have served in the military may feel they should not be asked to sacrifice once more. However, less than 2 percent of my budget options would affect veterans and military retiree’s health care. The other 98 percent of the savings I propose deal with other areas of the budget.

I understand your concerns about changes to Medicare. Please rest assured that few in Congress are proposing dramatic, immediate changes to Medicare. Virtually everyone in Congress is aware that any reforms to the program must be implemented very carefully and gradually to minimize disruption for the millions of seniors who depend on them.

You should know, however, Medicare is facing serious financial problems. Today, the average senior currently on Medicare receives benefits that, on average, are three times greater than the taxes they paid into the program throughout their career. This imbalance has happened because the average Americans’ life expectancy has increased, the number of workers supporting each beneficiary has declined, and Congress has repeatedly expanded Medicare to cover new benefits and populations without finding a way to pay for the new programs. As a result, the program currently has an unfunded liability of more than $36.8 trillion in projected benefits that politicians have no idea how to pay for. We will begin feeling this shortfall very soon. According to the program actuaries, if no changes are made, Medicare as we know it could be insolvent in as little as five years.

Fortunately, if we act now, there is no need to cause any major hardships for those who depend on Medicare. The proposals in Back in Black would implement new techniques to fight waste and fraud; streamline and simplify the current unpredictable and unfair maze of premiums, deductibles, and co-pays; slightly increase the Medicare Part B premium; allow seniors to opt-out of Medicare Part A without losing Social Security; requires high-income individuals to pay the full cost of their Part B and D coverage; increase Medicare’s eligibility age by two months every year until it reaches 67; and permanently fix the Medicare physician reimbursement formula. If Congress will act now, these modest changes will be sufficient to keep the program solvent for roughly the next decade.

We are at a very critical time in our history. If we act now to cut the deficit, it is possible to balance the budget without any major hardships for middle class families, the military, retirees, or the most vulnerable citizens in our country. There is only a small window of time for Congress to act, however. Every year we delay, the choices will become harder and harder. If we wait until the last minute, for many Americans they will be devastating. If the debt continues to grow at its current rate, there is no question we will reach a point where investors will decide the United States is incapable of paying back its loans and refuse to lend us additional money. When that happens, we will have no choice but to impose harsh cuts and high taxes throughout the country, weakening our national security, imposing great suffering on the poor, disabled, and elderly, and dealing a crippling blow to the economy.

The alternative to this situation is for Congress to take the initiative and get our spending under control now. If we wish to preserve America as country that is safe, prosperous, and free, it is imperative we take this course without delay. I will continue working with all members of Congress on a comprehensive agreement that will put our nation on a sustainable course. I will also continue working to return the federal government to the limited role defined for it in the Constitution.

Thank you again for writing. Best wishes and God bless.

Sincerely,

Tom A. Coburn, M.D.

United States Senator

TC: cak

I could go into the reasons and details of why I believe this to be true, but, most will just respond that I’m just one of those “Conspiracy Nuts” and wouldn’t listen anyway…. The problem is that all of the really revealing evidence was locked away by court order for 75 years, but there is enough out there for anyone who would care to know the “Truth” to fit the pieces of the puzzle together…. By the time the “Real Truth” becomes Public, no one will care and anyone directly involved will be long dead….

I’m not Posting this to start a big debate….. You will believe what you want to believe…. I just think it would be appropriate to remove your hat at 12:30 p.m today and spend a few minutes thinking about what might have been if JFK would have lived, and why Robert F. Kennedy, who would have almost assuredly been elected President in 1968, was also assassinated…..

A few facts:  U.S.P.S. is one of the few Government agencies that is required to generate it’s own revenue to support itself…..  The problem is they are so over-regulated by that same Government, that that’s impossible…..  Big Business (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc) wants them out of business, and, stupid us, are letting them get away with it…..

They have already laid-off 150,000 Postal workers and plan to lay off an additional 250,000…. They are condensing down Post Offices and closing small Post Offices all across the Nation…. The ultimate plan is that YOU definitely will not get home delivery of your mail – You will have to go to the local grocery store or somewhere similar (sound like the 1800′s?) to get your mail….. That’s just what I want – A unskilled pimple-faced teenage stocker going through my Mail….. People have started protesting about Wall Street – Don’t Stop there – Let’s take our Country Back!…..

The government today, announced that it’s changing its emblem from a Union jack to a CONDOM, because it more accurately reflects the government’s political stance. A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of dicks, and gives you a sense of security while you’re …actually being screwed. It just doesn’t get more accurate than that! ..

Since we were originally Colonies of the British Empire, I think we should follow suit, and, besides our current government fits the description to a T!…….

Today’s the day to give it all away….. Back to the big spenders in Washington…..  Have a Nice Day….eh?…..

There are laws “We the People” have to abide by, and there are laws Washington runs our country by – THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!!!….. We have about two (2) to Five (5) percent of the population living off the fat of the rest of us….. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting REALLY Skinny these days……

It’s time to get our country back to the land of a government ran “By the People, For the People”….. There should be no such thing as a “Career Politician”…… Our country was not founded on that belief, and if things continue as they are, there will be no country left to worry about….. How’s your survival skills?……

EXIT SOAPBOX – STAGE LEFT, RIGHT, and CENTER……

Shortly after the Primaries, Mr. Calvey, who was definitely peeved over the situation, went ballistic and started a series of mud slinging you would not believe, including fake polling calls that berated Mr. Langsford (Of course, he denied having anything to do with it), and an extensive TV commercial barrage of how he was much more qualified, etc…..

His biggest mistake was agreeing to a televised debate….. It was something to see – It was the Bully against the Nice Guy….. Calvey kept getting louder and more boisterous, making all kinds of accusations against Langsford as to his qualifications for the seat, including some remarks about his mother and family….. Mr. Langsford kept his cool, and, in a calm voice, more than proved his qualifications and his ability to deal with loudmouths…..

Well, I’m happy to say, Langsford prevailed with a 65% to 35% win! Restored my faith in Oklahoma voters, and, maybe, just maybe, voters nationwide will take the time to research the candidates they vote for and we can save this nation from itself….. What a concept!…..

I dismissed this UNTIL I started noticing an abnormal amount of POLITICIANS on TV wearing, you guessed it, RED TIES….. Known as the “Red Power Tie”….. The person I’ve seen most often wearing the glaring Red stripe is none other than Mr. Obama….. Those Politicians don’t miss a trick…… I wonder if they have palm readers and soothsayers on the payrolls too?….. PLEASE, PLEASE, vote these career self-servers OUT of office…..

Here’s a couple of the projects: $70,000 to study the effect of cocaine on Monkeys (Yeah, I doubt the Monkeys will see much of the coke)….. $500,000 to replace the windows in the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center….. The only problem is that the Center has been closed for some time and is scheduled to remain closed for an indefinite amount of time….. Anyone know when they closed it?…. I think it was 2003 the last time I visited the Volcano and it was open then…. Got lots of cool pictures from in and around the Center….. If they’re not going to re-open it, why replace the windows?….. Augh!!!….

Just remember, your Government is working for you, just ask Big Business, and, Why don’t you grab up some of that beautiful, well oiled Beach front property for sell on the Gulf Coast…..