Need to raise taxes
In the excellent and thought-provoking article by Walter Pincus [“Budget lesson from 1917,” CloseUp, Dec. 12], the last paragraph states: “Where are leaders like those in 1917? Where are the American people who willingly shared new tax burdens, at least to pay for their forces fighting overseas?”

Support the troops. Raise taxes.

—Sara Amber, Burien

Learn from history
What a concept. Pay for wars versus putting them on the credit card. A company whose profits increase enormously by war pays more tax. Sell bonds. Spread tax burden across the population.
So it can be done. But wait, we need a Congress and president that can work together, putting the country’s needs ahead of their own.

Come on, guys. As history shows, it's not rocket science. I thought we were supposed to learn from history not ignore it.

—Eddie Wilson, Seattle