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Since the economic downturn began, Congress has extended unemployment benefits nine times. The measures lengthened benefits to up to 99 weeks, just short of two years. None of the extensions was "paid for." Every penny spent has added to our national debt.

While Wickham's column neglected to mention it, Republicans have argued that any additional extension should be paid for with spending cuts from unspent stimulus dollars. He argued that unemployment benefits have proved to be the most effective stimulus for our economy. Yet, when Congress extended jobless benefits in June 2008, the unemployment rate was well below 7%. Before President Obama proposed his stimulus bill in February 2009 (and Congress again extended jobless benefits), unemployment was 7.7%.

Americans were told it wouldn't go above 8%. Since then, government has extended benefits six more times without paying for them and spent $1 trillion on "stimulus."

Notwithstanding these extensions, unemployment has been above 8% since February 2009. It increased from 9.6% in October to 9.8% in November.

Washington Democrats and Keynesians claim that unemployment benefits and government stimulus spending will stimulate the economy and reduce unemployment. They haven't.

The recent financial crises in Greece and Ireland and those facing Spain, Portugal and Italy prove no country can go on forever spending money it doesn't have.

Any extension of benefits should be paid for.

Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz.; Washington, D.C.

Military policy on gays

I am shocked that our Senate voted Saturday to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy about gays serving in the military ("Debate goes on as military's gay ban nears end," News, Monday).

What the senators did was reject God's teachings. What they also did was to tell heads of the Army, Marines and Air Force that they rejected their advice on the matter of gays.

Well, I want everyone to know, based on these anti-God votes, I will actively campaign against all legislators who supported this repeal.

Evidently, minority special interests are more important to Congress than what the vast majority of the God-fearing citizens of this country believe in.

All those who voted to repeal ought to hang their collective heads in shame.

Dick Morrissett; Davison, Mich.

Another view on right to serve

As someone who lived through the Vietnam War era, I watched with interest the recent debate about gays in the military.

Back then, it would have been hard to imagine that serving in the military would ever be discussed as a civil right. In those days, there was a military draft, and many young men where looking for ways to avoid being inducted into the Army. One common strategy was pretending to be gay.

Although I agree that gays should be able to serve in the military, I can't help but wonder what will happen if the military draft is ever revived. Will this newly acknowledged right suddenly become a unwanted obligation?

Don't be surprised if, sometime in the future, many young gay men find themselves sitting in a foxhole somewhere longing for the good old days of "don't ask, don't tell."

David Rusyn; Las Vegas