Deficit

What a shame many of the presidential candidates are such financial dunces.

We elect a President to make tough decisions for the benefit of the whole nation. Any candidate who doesn’t want a balanced budget amendment and line-item veto authority over the budget doesn’t want to be the nation’s chief executive, just the political power which comes with the job.

While it is helpful to learn which candidates are for and against these important issues, it would be far more helpful to learn which candidates would only submit a balanced budget to the Congress if elected.

Our next President will have a formidable job running the world’s largest debtor nation. How do you reverse the new national pasttime--overspending?

Life (for everyone) after debt will not be pleasant. Our next President will have to be a leader in this area of living within our incomes and still repay our past obligations.

PAUL RICHARD

San Diego