In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. government spent $882 billion on net interest payments to service the national debt, now in excess of $36.2 trillion. This was more than the discretionary spending on national defense and it nearly tripled the amount spent on interest in 2020.

Surely if Gov. Tina Kotek and U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley et al are concerned about federal cut backs in Oregon, they should also insist Oregonians support our own programs, now facing severe cut backs for libraries and other local services, and/or push for a state sales tax and other taxes necessary for stuff we consider vital but refuse to support with our abundance.

Don McLean
Wonderland