Regarding sequestration, the issue is the president's refusal to recognize the need for fundamental reform of entitlements; he has stated and is acting on his determination to redistribute wealth, to expand vastly the control and intrusion of government in our lives, and move us far down the road to European-style socialism--a political and economic model that fails miserably.

The Democrats--and some Republicans--in Congress are willing to go along with this. Shame on them.

End the hype about the effects of sequestration--they're only talking about reducing actual growth of spending in this year's budget by a fraction; they're not cutting the deficit in any meaningful way.

They should tell the truth: Sequestration is a smokescreen to force a socialist agenda on an unwilling population. The real need: Reform Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. They were solvent in years past, but are now victims of political manipulation by administrations and Congress, who have for years underfunded growing requirements and spent the funds accumulated in trust on other budget issues. Get rid of the insanity that is Obamacare: The goal of affordable health care is not served by a vast, government-run health care system.

These programs can be fixed if we get beyond the ideology of the left, to which the president panders. There are models of reform: Simpson-Bowles, Heritage, and Cato are three sources that have laid out road maps that make sense and get to the heart of our economic woes.

The president and leaders of Congress (primarily the Democratic left) must get on with the work of the people, for the people, and not for an ideological agenda that will forever alter this great nation, for the worse.

Alan Clune

Locust Grove