For the past several months the public has been presented with a multitude of debates by both Republican and Democrat candidates. Unfortunately, the Republican debates have been inundated with far too much name calling and personal attacks, and have not had nearly enough discussion and debate on substantive issues. The Democrat debates seem to be an exercise as to which of the two remaining candidates can promise the most free things with very little explanation as to how to pay for these excesses, except for saying the top percent of wage earners will pay for them. An article in the Wall Street Journal revealed as of April 2015 that the top 20 percent of wage earners pay 84 percent of income taxes. I do not feel the citizens have been provided enough genuine explanations of either party’s intentions or how these new programs would be paid for.

All citizens and their families are faced with a national debt that is now in excess of $19 trillion and is still climbing. The fact is that the United States is now the largest debtor nation in the history of the world. It should be understood that no nation, business or family can have a productive life without living within their means. There are several major factors and they must be dealt with in a responsible fiscal manner and soon.

1. Social Security and Medicare must be reformed now and not kicked down the road to another time. Those under 55 will need to have their retirement ages increased gradually until the age of 70. This will allow those affected to adjust their financial planning prior to retirement. All individuals over 65 today and those approaching retirement age will not be effected.

2. Welfare must be reigned in. Consider that the issue of food stamps has increased by 70 percent since 2008. Other elements have also increased significantly, but not as much as food stamps. It is a must that this trend be stopped and turned around and it can only be accomplished by reforming the tax code and providing a serious reduction of strangling business regulations so the private sector can produce more and better paying jobs.

3. The problems of the “Affordable Care Act” must have a major overhaul or be repealed. In a Dec. 22, 2015 article by John Geyman, professor emeritus of Family Medicine at the University of Washington, in the Huffington Post, he explained the lower the premiums, the higher the deductibles. A review of the premium projections for 2016 by Blue Cross/Blue Shield, a market leader in many states, is seeking increases of 23 percent in Illinois, 25 percent in North Carolina, 31 percent In Oklahoma, 36 percent in Tennessee, 37 percent in Kansas, and 51 percent in New Mexico. It should be noted that both United Health and Humana are considering dropping out of the plan.

Regardless of these serious problems facing our economy, the Democrat candidates are:

1. Promoting free tuition at state universities and colleges and debt free credit for relief on student loans

2. Free health care for all

3. Either a $12 or $15 minimum wage depending on the candidate

4. Expansion of Social Security

5. A 12-week paid medical leave

Sen. Sanders has proposed a series of taxes that would be on upper income taxpayers but also on businesses, both large and small. Most of these, if passed into law would have a debilitating effect on business, which is struggling today or lay still more of a tax burden on the middle class. I ask you remember that in today’s tepid economy more than 50 percent of the workers make less than $31,000. Mrs. Clinton has proposed the promotion of very similar remedies, but to date has not indicated anything of a serious nature on how to pay for these further expansions of the federal bureaucracy.

To complicate this maze of problems, there exist these groups of potential voters:

1. Today a significant percentage of the electorate qualifies as the “uninformed voter.” They are usually well meaning people, but are simply too occupied with their own personal situations and do not comprehend the serious situation our country faces.

2. There is also the millennial, who either has been indoctrinated by liberal teachers or perhaps has pursued courses that lead to very poor job opportunities. They end up frustrated and live at home with their parents.

3. Unfortunately, there are individuals who have been encouraged to believe that the world owes them a living and that they should depend on the government to take care of them. To these people, personal responsibility does not exist.

All of the above mentioned groups, if they vote, can have a profound effect on the election this November .Therefore, it is exceptionally important that all citizens who care about the future of our nation spend time and effort to be informed on the issues and work aggressively to see that they are properly funded. Where do you fit?

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Another View, a Maine Press Association award-winning column, is written on a rotating basis by a member of a group of Midcoast citizens that meet to discuss issues they think are of public interest.