Listening to talk shows, reading newspaper articles, and listening to Wall Street “junkies” has made me realize there is a reason Congress has less than a 12 percent trust factor and that the public is fed up with fiscal cliff talks.

Congress has known the Bush tax laws would expire, that we need to reduce spending and raise taxes to help pay for the deficit, but why does Congress wait until the last minute to get any deals done, or doesn’t reach any agreements, and keep the public in suspense?

When did our representatives decide that their “party platform” and/or signatures to “not raise taxes” are more important than the people they represent? If the American public was the boardroom and Congress was the staff, pink slips would be handed out! The American public and businesses cannot work without trust, compromise, long-term planning, and the realization that sacrifices have to be made. Congress should have the same work ethics and practices the public must have to be successful.

While Congress is throwing the American people under the bus, they should not get pay raises, and should take fewer days of vacation, pay more for health insurance plans, and work more hours for less money.

We should discuss paying Social Security on all income, not just the first $113,700, plus term limits of Congress, and adding tort reform to the Affordable Health Care Act.

Kathy A. Rickertsen

Cedar Rapids