Amanda Dixon wants help to retain government benefits.

Amanda Dixon (3/18/11 - DesNews family section) advocates everyone telling her neighbor how adversely certain government cuts will affect her family. That, of course, is exactly why our Federal budget is out of control. Congressmen quail before the prospect of the angry constituents back home, who are hurt by budget cuts. If we cut the budget enough to come anywhere near balancing it then everyone’s bull will be gored one way or another.

If one reads on in the letters section, same paper, he will see Beth Evans expounding on our need for more self-reliance and less dependance on entitlements. But where is the congressman who will vote for such drastic cuts, knowing he risks being booted out next election? Perhaps Senator Hatch (a sponsor of the balanced budget bill) who is past retirement age anyway? Just try to get new Senator Lee (who is hot for budget cuts) to make a list of the Utah benefits from Federal programs that he would be willing to forego to make up Utah’s share. You will get no list, because he wants re-election more than he wants a balanced budget.