Looking for millions in the seat cushions

I saw an interesting news segment on CNN this afternoon. Correspondent
Joe Johns (a solid veteran reporter, by the way) was reporting on how
the State Department is asking each of its embassies around the world to
squeeze more efficiencies out of their budgets. One idea, to paint the
ceilings of every embassy white, would save a reported $5 million.

The CNN anchor sort of scoffed at such a notion, as if to suggest that
$5 million was a drop in the very large pool of debt we’re all swimming
in. Granted, saving millions towards a budget that is measured in
trillions — and a debt that is so large there may be a new word
introduced for its size — is akin to repaying a $250,000 loan in
pennies. But hey, it sure beats the alternative.

I gave this administration credit when President Obama proudly announced last January from his Cabinet Room that he was instructing each of his members to find an immediate $100 million in savings. Many scoffed at that. And while it seemed small, it was by no means petty.

And neither are these latest examples. The point here is everyone needs to scour the seat cushions of this government and find savings wherever it may hide. Think about it — that $5 million could save tens of thousands a few hundred dollars in extra taxes from being paid. Or it could be redirected to paying down our monstrous debt.

Folks, we need to get serious about this debt. There are about 10 states in the union right now that are in default. They’re bankrupt. Yes, I said it. Because it’s true. They’re just shuffling dollars around to keep the debt collector at the door.

I daresay the United States is not far behind. And while it would be disastrous for talk like that to perpetuate and cripple markets, we’ll be facing a heck of a lot worse if we don’t start SOMEWHERE.

Now is the time. I am beginning to sense a shift in the American psyche that they understand just how critical of a time this is. They are willing to absorb the pain that will come with meeting these debt obligations. But they want that pain to be evenly spread, and they want to never have to go through such a thing ever again.

It’s up to our leaders — Democrat and Republican alike — to ensure that once is enough. A country as rich in so many things as ours shouldn’t have to rummage through the sofa to do the right thing.

Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.