Middle-class spending vital

The United States needs a Balanced Budget Amendment like a marmot needs a mandolin. What’s needed is money in the hands of average people who will spend and thus create jobs.

Start by ending our futile wars before they bankrupt us, as Afghanistan did to the USSR, make corporations such as GE and Exxon contribute their fair share of taxes on their huge profits, have the super-wealthy pay a slightly higher tax rate and eliminate weapon systems that even the Pentagon doesn’t want.

The auto industry used bailout money to put people to work. The banks hoarded their bailout money and did not stimulate the economy. Each dollar of unemployment insurance returns $1.30 to $1.40 to the economy. Stop being bamboozled by the tea party and their ilk who get people to vote against their own best interests and for the interests of corporate riches by screaming, “Socialism!” “Gay marriage!” “Job-killing spending!”

These groups will do anything, including tanking the economy, to remove Obama from the White House. Tell Cathy McMorris Rodgers to come to the aid of regular people or get out of the way before your 401(k) gets beaten up any more.

R. Steven Heaps

Spokane Valley