To the editor:

I refer to T. Oceno’s letter in “The Call” of Aug. 27, 2026, regarding the national debt. No issue is more important than the national debt.

T. Oceno said tax cuts lead to an increase in the national debt. He’s right. When the government cuts taxes, it gets less income. So it sells Treasury bonds, borrowing from individuals and foreign governments to cover its expenses. The national debt goes up.

Borrowing isn’t cheap. You have to pay the principal back, plus interest. T. Oceno is right again when he indicates that as the U.S. government pays more interest on bonds, interest rates go up for everyone.

Sooner or later, when you owe money, the bill has to be paid. U.S. administrations over the last 20 years have been totally derelict in running up the national debt. Young Americans are the ones who are going to pay for this dereliction.

All we can hope for is for someone to come along who has some answers. I worry that one day China will make harsh demands on the U.S. in payment for what we owe. Land could be involved.

Joy Renisch

Sappington