Addressing the debt issue

Our nation has just survived the greatest crisis of recent decades by postponing a government shutdown attributable to the mushrooming public debt.

This reader has argued for years that the solution is a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. Since the beginning of our republic, this solution has appeared not politically feasible for our politicians.

The next best solution will be possible in just a matter of days, i.e., refusal to increased the $14.3 trillion public debt limit. The Congress has never before denied the increase. A denial at this time will not eliminate the existing debt, but will extinguish current efforts to increase it.

This suggested action will precipitate pain and sacrifice for most of us, but should fall short of a government shutdown. Hopefully, however, the foundation will then exist for the solution noted in the second paragraph of this letter.

BILL D. BURLISON, Wardell, Mo.