Well, the Republicans finally came up with a proposal for the “fiscal cliff” calamity. It is now very clear how they want to hit the entitlement programs rather then increase revenues by reinstating the Clinton era tax structure and reducing military spending.

They propose $600 billion in health savings, including Medicare reform. (Pay into Medicare all your life and enjoy the program when you are 80.)

They propose $600 billion in overall spending cuts. (But not a clue about what is being cut.)

They propose to save $200 billion by revising the Consumer Price Index — a new way to stop any increases in Social Security payments and raise the age requirements once again.

There has to be a better way to dig the nation out of the Bush-induced mess other than attacking Medicare and Social Security, all the while providing no explanation of “overall spending cuts.”

The majority of voters supported President Obama and his plan. Republicans better realize his plan is better than anything they have come up with that makes any sense, unless a person is making more than $250,000 a year.

The next election is two years away for most of them.

Al Pelletier, Norway