Cut all federal programs by 10 percent

Aurora Forte, Smithtown: Waste is endemic in the public sector, but Congress does not need to cherry-pick programs to cut. Choosing specific budgets to cut results in vitriolic outrage by the parties concerned. No one group is prepared to admit to poor management.

In truth, I don't know that Congress is equipped to make such choices. Members would simply be reduced to earmarks competition. Let's cut all budgets by 10 percent.

No program would be singled out. We would all simply have to tighten our belts. We have nothing to lose but the squandering of our taxes.

Perhaps at the same time, we would be sending a personal message. Each of us can easily cut back 10 percent in our expenditures. We could be inspired to use less energy, eat fewer expensive snacks and perhaps add to our savings.