Editor, Times-Union: On July 31 I was returning from the park with my three children. Two of my children were on bikes and the other in a stroller. We were waiting at the corner of Harrison and Sheridan for traffic to clear so we could cross. The roads were very busy and a police officer waiting in line on Sheridan called out to me from his window and said he'd get us across. When he pulled to the corner and onto Harrison he turned on his lights at the cross walk and stopped traffic. All of us safely made it into our neighborhood and he waved and drove on.
I don't know this police officer's name, but I want him to know he became a hero that day. My boys were so excited and thought it was so neat that a police officer would do something so nice for us, when we didn't even ask. So, thank you, Mr. Policeman, whoever you are. Thank you for taking a few seconds to ensure our safety and influence two little boys and their mother.
Gloria Esch Warsaw
Burkett Questions Budget
Editor, Times-Union: We need to ask Congress and the president to take the "Weight Watchers" test (paradoxically a number of people think I should take it also, but that's another matter).
The Weight Watchers test is to "put it on the scale." Let's put the recent assurances that spending and the size of the federal government has been brought under control on the scale.
Federal spending by year, current year (1997) $1,622.1 billion; (1998) $1,692.2 billion; (1999) $1,753.9 billion; (2000) $1,811.1 billion; (2001) $1,858.5 billion; (2002) $1,889.1 billion.
Does this pass the test of spending and size reduction? I think not.
Will the budget balance? Yes, if you believe that in 2002 three congresses and one president hence will have anything but a dim memory of the 1997 budget deal. Remind yourself that the 1990 budget deal ("Read my lips," etc.) was supposed to produce a surplus in 1993.
Will the budget balance? Yes, again, if you assume the economy is going to continue to cook right along.
Will the budget balance? Yes, yet again, if you assume that Congress and the president will have the resolve to cut spending if revenues don't meet projections or raise taxes if spending limits are exceeded. I might mention that this Congress had a chance to impose that discipline and rejected it overwhelmingly.
Will the budget balance? It might, but I don't think I'd bet that way. Even if it doesn't, we'll have the memory of all the civility, congratulations and bipartisanship and the band playing on such a fine, sunny day in August.
