Do the Research: Vote Intelligently

To The Editor:
What information do we need as we face the monumental decision of what direction we, the people, want to see America take? Must-have information includes: the total number of Americans unemployed and under-employed; the government’s deficit spending that increases our national debt; our current debt; and who owns our debt. We can not depend on politicians for complete and unbiased information. But, what we need to know is easy to access from the reliable sources such as Unemployment: Visit http://www. bls.gov /news.release/empsit.t15.htm; updated monthly. For family, our friends, neighbors, and us the most meaningful measure of unemployment is the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) U-6, its broadest definition. It includes the short-term discouraged and other marginally attached workers and those forced to work part-time because they can not find full-time employment, as well as the characteristics in the U3 measure. January’s U6 Unemployment was 15.1 percent, down from 15.2 percent in December.
The Federal Government and most media use the U3 figure from the BLS. It includes anyone age 16 or older who is not institutionalized and is not currently employed, but able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work. January’s U3 Unemployment was 8.3 percent, down from 8.5 percent in December.
Deficit Spending: The deficit for the first four months of FY 2012, October, 2011 through January, 2012, was $349 billion according to the Congressional Budget Office. Every month, visit http://www.cbo.gov/. In the search box on the upper right side of the page, type 2012 deficit spending. This will provide updates on year-to-date overspending by the federal government. Americans use budgets to avoid spending that may put us into debt we can’t repay. The federal government continues to overspend and has not had a budget in three-plus years.
National Debt: Visit http://www. brillig.com/debt_clock/; updated continuously. Our debt has increased at an average of $4 billion a day since September 28, 2007. As of March 7, 2012, the day this was written, our national debt was close to $15 1/2 trillion, $49,618 of debt for every American. Although the federal government creates debt and uses it in ways we may or may not agree are appropriate, we have to repay it with the taxes and fees it imposes on us.
U.S. debt owners: Visit www.fms.treas.gov/bulletin/index.html; updated quarterly. Scroll down the page and click on “Ownership of Federal Securities”; then scroll down to Table OFS-2, “Debt Held By The Public”. It will be updated in March, 2012 to show figures through 2011. The current table listing 2001 through September, 2011 shows a consistent pattern of who owns our debt. Column one is our total debt. The second largest owner of America’s debt (Column two) is the Federal Government at 42.8 percent. The largest holder of America’s debt (Column three) is “Private Holders” at 57.2 ercent. Of the “Private Holders” share, 31.4 percent is held by foreign owners (Column 11). What countries make up that group can be seen at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Documents/mfh.txt.
Monitor this information to track America’s economic health through October. Look at all candidates’ achievements and experience. Decide if their morality is what you want in our leaders. Evaluate their desire to serve us, not themselves. Use the information you gathered and your analysis of candidates to decide whom to vote for in November. Politicians must protect our freedoms, security and ability to maximize our lives through our efforts; not force us to live under government dominance. Vote intelligently. You must participate to keep America strong and go in the direction you want.
KATHLEEN DYNAN
Cape May