Las Vegas Sun

May 12, 2024

Letter to the editor:

Elected officials forget their duty

During the recent coronation of King Charles III, the Archbishop of Canterbury said, “With the privilege of power comes the duty of service.” Our country’s leaders should take heed of such poignant and sage advice as the United States once again teeters toward the debt ceiling deadline June 1.

President Joe Biden and the Republican leadership are playing with fire. Our country is facing financial Armageddon. Experts predict that defaulting on our national debt would immediately result in a drastic fall in the U.S. dollar, a surge in domestic interest rates, severe decline in global stock markets, a surge in commodity prices and a desperate run for everyone to purchase food, water and other essentials. In short, the United States (and perhaps the whole world) would spiral into utter socioeconomic chaos.

Yet our elected officials continue to prefer playing a dangerous game of political chicken rather than prioritizing the health and well-being of the average American citizen. Where is their duty of service? Are we simply expendable pawns or do we deserve better?