Spending too fast to debate

Professor Cornell Clayton (“Facts matter more than tone,” Letters, Sept. 17) stated, “Democracy thrives on reasoned debate and contestation of ideas,” which got me thinking about what I feel is wrong with the present U.S. political climate: Where’s the reasoned debate?

As a nation, we have in one year’s time digested too much legislation impacting tax revenues: TARP (bank and Wall Street bailouts), bankruptcy of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (housing), government takeover of a portion of the U.S. car industry, cash for clunkers and the stimulus package.

To take on so much financial liability in healthy fiscal times would be worrisome enough; to take on so much when the country was already in deficit one year ago is a whole lot of worry for Americans. With so many big issue decisions being made, how can reasoned debate possibly be taking place?

Chris Stewart

Cheney