Your Say: 'Fiscal cliff' plans need big dose of reality

Comments from Facebook:

I'm a liberal, and I think there have to be changes to entitlements. But I would like to see some humanity and common sense included in the proposals.

As a computer programmer, I sit at a desk. It isn't that hard for me to work for an extra year or two before getting Medicare. But many people in physically demanding jobs can't wait an extra two years, as the GOP has proposed.

There are better ways to cut costs in Medicare. Means testing comes to mind. Change entitlements, but think about real people working real jobs.

Douglas Pease

The Republican plan is being treated as serious? There are few specifics on what spending to cut or what tax loopholes to close.

I'm not defending President Obama's plan; that's extreme, too.

Paul Barkowitz

Here is the problem with both plans: Neither will prevent the need to increase the debt ceiling in the new year, or ensure we don't have another deficit or increase our debt. Nor does the plan project enough job creation, for example getting unemployment under 6%.

Anthony J. Bruno

USA TODAY's editorial is right in that Speaker John Boehner finally proposed something that gets more revenue.

The problem is that the revenue is insufficient, and therefore even large entitlement cuts, which will hurt the middle class and working poor, will be necessary. The GOP needs to give up its supply-side argument. The richest 2% continue to hoard their tax savings, which does little for job growth. In contrast, hitting the middle class with entitlement cuts plus loss of deductions would be a blow to the economy. We have a demand problem, not a supply problem.

John Petz

Letters to the editor:

President Obama is irresponsible to think part of the "fiscal cliff" solution is to give him the power to unilaterally raise the debt limit.

That just gives him the freedom to spend more and not care how much debt we have because he can just raise the limit! Should we call our country the United States of Greece?

If the politicians took all the energy they used pointing fingers at the other party and used it for constructive negotiations, this would have been over by now. It is difficult to not go into deep apathy regarding our so-called leaders.

Wendy Russell; Belleair, Fla.

Cutting Medicare and reducing Social Security benefits are not the answer to the fiscal cliff problem. The problem is the Republicans and Democrats will not work together because they have nothing to gain by doing the right thing. This election proved that they are selfish and seek only what is important to them.

Rita A. Keller; Macon, Ga.