Warren Buffett, in an interview with CNBC, offered one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling: "I could end the deficit in five minutes," he said. "You just pass a law that says that any time there is a deficit of more than 3 percent of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election."

The 26th Amendment (granting the right to vote for 18-year-olds) took only three months and eight days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. If a young man was old enough to be drafted to fight and die for his country, he was old enough to vote for the government that made those policies. That was in 1971--before computers, email, cellphones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven took one year or less to become law of the land--all because of public pressure. This country was founded by people who did not agree with the status quo of accepting laws as handed down as final statement. They demanded a voice in government. It is time we were heard.

It is time to pass a law like that mentioned by Buffett. This would do two things: (1) initially clean the dead weight out of Congress and (2) keep the country at or near a balanced budget, with a manageable deficit if not a regular surplus.

Charles Vroman

King George