Enough of the continuous whining about the fiscal peril that awaits us all. The Republicans as usual insist on entitlement reform. Why are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid labeled entitlements? All of these things are taken straight out of your paycheck; look at your pay stub. You pay into these programs your entire working life. You have no choice in that. Then if you live long enough to collect on these, you are considered a society parasite.

These useless, overpaid political scumbags always want to take from everyone else but never sacrifice anything themselves. They consider themselves elite and above such nonsense. Congressional and Senate salaries and pensions and free medical never seem to be part of the chopping block.

Don't tax the rich anymore because they are the job creators and that hurts small businesses. More lies. If any government body was serious about fiscal spending, it would do away with political charge cards, gas cards and taxpayer-funded vehicles for politicians, their wives and mistresses. Do away with unneeded luncheons and so-called business trips. These are the real entitlements and waste to me.

Of course it will never happen; sacrifices are for the rest of us insignificant nobodies.

Never mind the fiscal cliff, I want the politicians to drive off an actual cliff. Better yet, do it right and make it the Grand Canyon.

Steve Vandever

Cahokia