Time for shared sacrifice

We applaud Adam Smith’s views on fiscal issues as reported by Danny Westneat [”Rep. Smith: ‘Cliff’ deal is bad math” NWSunday, Jan. 6].

While supporting President Obama, we consider his pledge to 98 percent of Americans not to raise their taxes “one penny” as irresponsible as the pledge many legislators made to Grover Norquist never to vote for any tax increase.

True, tax laws in recent years have vastly and deliberately benefited the very rich. This must be rectified. Still, our country’s debt belongs to all of us, as do the children whose lives it will blight unless we arrest it. Every taxpayer in the country must help in the effort.

More revenue and more spending cuts are both necessary. Let these be fair and reasonable; let them take into account people’s ability to pay; let them spare those who truly cannot afford to help more.

But let our leaders once and for all educate themselves and us on what must be done and let them do it, without holding the debt limit or anything else hostage, without lines in the sand, without clutching at every political advantage.

Adam Smith sounds like a leader who will do this. We welcome him to Seattle!

-- Michael and Beret Kischner, Seattle

Much-needed common sense

Reading Danny Westneat’s column Sunday, I was heartened to see one of our own politicians of the Democratic persuasion, Adam Smith, introducing some needed common sense into the discussion of sound math and fiscal responsibility.

Why does it seem so difficult for the rest of our representatives (and voters) to make two plus two equal four, not seven? It is nonsensical not to accept the fact that higher taxes and serious spending cuts, including entitlements, are the only way out of the fiscal mess we find ourselves in.

As a conservative-leaning voter I find Smith to be someone who deserves all of our support.

-- Frank Stull, Sammamish