Much of U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby’s (R-Ala.) visit to Selma Tuesday revolved around talking dollars and cents with those in attendance.

During his visit to the St. James Hotel, sponsored by the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, Shelby threw hard numbers at the crowd to stress how serious the country’s financial state is becoming. The U.S., he said, has a $14 trillion debt that will soon grow to more than $25 trillion. In 1980, he said the national debt stood at $900 billion. Instead of taking measures to pay down the debt, he said it continued to grow.

Shelby said he is in favor of any measures necessary to bring that number down.

“I’m ready to do whatever it takes to save this country,” he said. “We’ve got to put everything on the table, including defense. We have to examine all programs and see what is essential.”

The economy, Shelby said, is beyond a quick-fix solution. A long-term plan is needed along with drastic cuts.

“Cutting a small amount on the margins isn’t going to fool the market and it isn’t going to fool the people,” he said. “We know what we’ve go to do, it’s just a matter of doing it.”

One of the biggest problems with the growing budget concerns is that a small percentage of Americans are footing the bill. Shelby said 5 percent of the people are paying 57 percent of the income taxes. He said one idea for restructuring the nation’s tax structure would be to eliminate the income tax, replacing it with a national sales tax. Although he is intrigued by the idea, he does not think it will pass. Shelby is also a proponent of the often-discussed flat tax system.

Over the last two years, healthcare reform has become a hot issue in Washington, Shelby said. He said he feels the current system, while not perfect, is the best in the world.

“The people that think Canada has the best system need to go to some of these border-states,” he said. “We have a number of Canadians in our hospitals and clinics. Our healthcare system isn’t perfect, it never has been. But the proposed healthcare plan wouldn’t save money and the quality will go down.”

Many senators and representatives have either beefed up security or reduced the number of visits in their districts and states following a Tuscon incident where Jared Lee Loughner targeted U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.). However, Shelby said he will continue to visit all 67 counties with no bodyguards.

“I absolutely plan to continue to have these meetings,” he said. “I think it’s important for people to have access to me.”