U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby doesn’t want our country to experience sequestration, a popular term referring to automatic government cuts that will take place on Friday.

“If we allow sequestration to happen, it will hurt our economy tremendously. It’s not a good way to do business to make these Draconian cuts.”

While Shelby doesn’t want to have across the board cuts, he does understand that the nation’s long term debt is unsustainable.

“We currently have $16.5 trillion,” Shelby said. “Before 1980, we didn’t even have $1 trillion of debt. Now, we’re adding $1 trillion to the national debt each year.

“The danger is to our children and grandchildren if we continue this level of debt.”

Shelby instead wants to review each program and make cuts for the programs that aren’t needed.

“We need to examine everything,” Shelby said. “We don’t need to just go from crisis to crisis.”

During a question and comment period, Bill Rabb said he hoped that lawmakers would show some leadership to help turn the country around.

“It’s going to take some courage to make these decisions,” Rabb said. “We need leaders that will show courage.”

Shelby held his annual visit to Morgan County at the Freight House in Hartselle last week.