To The Reader’s Forum:

It was interesting to see the “core principles” of the tea party listed in this morning’s Post-Journal, headed by an item titled “decreased regulations.” I started to wonder what regulations the group wanted to be rid of. Does the list include:

Food and drug rules that make sure our food is not contaminated and our drugs safe to take?

Safety rules that constrain manufacturers from operating machinery that won’t cut off the operators’ fingers or hands?

Banking rules that hem in banks’ propensity to destroy the economy, as they have done twice now – once starting the Great Depression in 1930, and again starting the almost great recession just a few years ago?

Labor rules that prohibit employers from working their people 15 hours a day, or children any hours a day?

Rules relating to highway construction and safety?

Regulation of our complex civil aviation system, including requirements to qualify as pilots of passenger airplanes, navigational aids, construction of runways, ramps and terminal security?

They also want to lower taxes. We would all like to have a lower tax burden, but we also have responsibilities of maintaining highways, aviation facilities, bridges, public buildings, national parks and any number of other items that I would guess Americans would not like to see rotting away.

There was mention of national debt in the article. Let’s look at this bug-a-boo scary thing. Thirty percent of the debt is owed to 230 federal agencies – mostly Social Security, military retirement fund and others. One-fourth of the debt held by the public is held by the Federal Reserve and state and local governments. Some is held by mutual funds, private pension funds, banks and insurance companies. There is about $174 billion in U.S. Savings Bonds. Maybe not so scary after all.

They also want less spending. Get real! Costs are always going up – not down. To meet our responsibilities for all of the above – and more – we will have to spend more money, not less. When I came back to Jamestown in 1961, I thought it was outrageous if beef cost over $1 a pound at the market. What is it now?

My conclusion – the tea party is living in a dream world.

Samuel C. Alessi

Jamestown