Lovely, Mr Friedman–since Trump et al are chopping corporate taxes (which you approve) and increasing already gargantuan military spending without adding the taxes Friedman wants to see, the debt is skyrocketing…and therefore we will soon need “politically painful measures” like cutting Social Security and Medicare.

What a reeking pile of recycled oats! No, we need the measures that are ACTUALLY politically painful, as well as glaringly obvious: cut the military budget and corporate welfare, increase taxes on corporations and the rich– but that can’t be done because Congress would face the anger of the constituencies they actually answer to–corporations and the super-rich.

The voters are of no concern, have no power in this system.

Mary Wildfire, Roane County, WV