My letter to the NY Times re: A balance government budget is NOT the definition of success

Re: Economy and Crime Spur New Puerto Rico Exodus

Dear Sirs:
Reporter Lizette Alvarez makes the common mistake of equating a balanced government budget with success.  She lauds new Puerto Rican president Garcia Padilla for reducing the deficit by seventy percent, mostly through new taxes.  Real success is not a balanced budget but a peaceful and prosperous economy.  To achieve this Puerto Rico needs limited government.  For starters it should sell its inefficient, state run electricity and water companies, close down its public schools, cut public workers, and cut taxes (definitely do not RAISE them), then get out of the way.  In short, Puerto Rico needs economic freedom.