Our federal government did not get $14.3 trillion in debt by spending too little - and the general public now seems to recognize that. A McClatchy-Marist poll finds that by almost a 2-to-1 margin, the American people want to cut our national debt rather than spend more to supposedly "stimulate" the economy.
Only 33 percent said more government stimulus - which President Barack Obama wants - is what the economy needs. Nearly 60 percent said the focus should be on reducing debt.
Even among Democrats, support for more stimulus is only 50 percent. Overwhelming margins of independents and Republicans favor debt reduction instead of more spending.
Congress should bear that in mind as the president and Democrat lawmakers continue to push for higher taxes, more spending and an irresponsible increase in the debt limit.
The remedy for the outrageous levels of federal spending that have hobbled our economy is not even more waste of our tax dollars. It's less spending.