The deal that purports to solve the Fiscal Cliff….at least for a few months…..is really no more than yet another “gimme” package.
Spending cuts? Ho hum. What are those? Real tax reform? Ho hum. Who needs it? A bill actually read, in its entirety, BEFORE signing? Ho hum. Who reads those things anyway?
We have become so accustomed to handouts from the Government that no one questions where the money truly comes from…or bothers to read legislation before passing it. And, certainly, no politician trusts the American people to read what is being proposed. Oh, no. We are supposed to trust them to do the right thing! Unfortunately, neither Obama nor the Congress are prepared to do the difficult job of creating a fair economic environment for everyone. A fair economic environment would create more equal opportunities than this mumbo jumbo mix of ridiculous programs funded by our tax dollars. Let individuals make decisions on where to spend their own money, not politicians in Washington.
Let’s admit it. I, and my fellow taxpayers, and our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, have become little more than a handy source of money for Obama’s arcane projects and public giveaways. Remember Solyndra and GM? It’s sad that few people who are on the take care about where the welfare money comes from. Surprised? No matter how Obama talks grandly about “doing” for others (as if his trip to and from Haiwaii helped the economy), the hard fact is that ALL Government largesse is from OUR tax dollars! Oh, yes, Virginia, those dollars did NOT come from President Obama nor his cronies in Washington. And, whether admitted or not, those tax dollars taken from taxpayers will actually result in LESS jobs and a HIGHER DEFICIT. Extending unemployment benefits means that people become ever more dependent on Government and less likely to accept that they might have to make adjustments in order to survive. This welfare mentality is pervasive throughout America now.
And, it’s not just individuals begging in Washington. EVERYONE expects the U.S. Government to bail them out of emergencies. Even Governor Christie is begging for money to solve his state’s economic problems. (http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/01/02/lawmakers-outraged-after-house-gop-scraps-vote-on-sandy-aid/).
He is irate, as usual, that Congress didn’t just wave the bill through and begin paying through the nose. As Bill Crystal mentioned last night, on FOX News, the total amount demanded far exceeds the New Jersey state budget. And, the Congress was in the midst of dealing with a highly contentious, and unfortunately misguided, bill to avoid the Fiscal Cliff. But, Christie doesn’t care about that either! He sees a chance to use public guilt as a source of funding to make HIS budgets balance.
It’s pathetic that Christie and other welfare addicts don’t stop to think of the resulting chaos that their selfishness has caused for our economy. Welfare benefits and entitlements are destroying us financially, with little possibility of cutting those welfare addicts off. And, for those of us who have religiously paid into Social Security and Medicare, our benefits are being indexed, based on our current income. Social security and Medicare were state-mandated pension funds for us and yet, due to the welfare society syndrome, they are now considered entitlements…………if you are too “rich”.
The sad fact is that “takers” seldom care where the money comes from. They are all too ready to follow anyone who promises them more free money and, that is what Obama does best. He continuously harps that everyone should pay their fair share. Well, those of us in upper income brackets have ALWAYS PAID OUR FAIR SHARE. In fact, we pay the majority of the taxes. Not only are our tax rates higher, but there are very few deductions allowed to us. Our Social Security and Medicare premiums are raised and the payouts reduced. We cannot deduct insurance premiums, and on and on. AND, if we happen to have a deduction that would help lower our tax rate, why then, the Alternative Minimum Tax cuts it down to size.
The “gimme” society is determined to make everyone the same, even if everyone is NOT the same. Remember, America’s promise was the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, NOT the guarantee of Happiness. That means that everyone should have equal opportunity, not equal pay, equal living standards, and, definitely not “equality” based on taxing the stuffing out of others.
It’s definitely time for individuals in the “gimme” society to start earning their own way. And, it’s past time for Congress and Obama to stop politicizing issues and begin acting like responsible statesmen!
The “gimme” society is failing us, themselves, and our heirs.