A recent guest editorial you printed suggested as its closing statement that the debt ceiling should be settled by raising the ceiling and then discussing budget cuts. History proves that such an approach is fruitless.

President Bush said, “Read my lips. No new taxes.” That promise got him elected. Then at the behest of the Democratic leadership he reneged. He reneged on that promise because the Democratic leaders promised budget cuts in exchange for the tax increase. Taxes were raised but the spending was not reduced!

The double cross from the Dems led to Bush losing the election.

That is memorable to most people even after all these years have passed. That is typical of several negotiations in political history.

So don’t fall for such tactics. The negotiations are critical for our country.

— James H. Page, Rome