America’s Problems Require A Moral People
Two articles are out today that would make me laugh if the stakes weren’t so high.
From Reuters we get this:
President Barack Obama must work with a deeply skeptical partner as he tries to undo painful spending cuts and set U.S. finances on a more sustainable course: the liberal wing of his own party.
While Republicans have dug in their heels against further tax increases, many of Obama’s fellow Democrats have refused to consider cuts to popular health and retirement programs that are projected to eat up a growing slice of the nation’s resources.
And from the Wall Street Journal:
House Republican leaders, faced with the daunting task of writing a budget that would eliminate deficits within 10 years, are backing away from a proposal to revamp Medicare for more Americans than previously suggested.
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) has in recent weeks floated the idea of rolling back the GOP promise that people 55 and older would be exempt from his signature plan to offer future retirees a subsidy to buy private health insurance as an alternative to traditional Medicare.
Now, we all know what the Democrats want, and we know they’ll lie, cheat and steal to get it. So I won’t waste my time on that.
But, here’s what makes me want to scream.
Romney – at root – based his entire campaign on a singular promise that has been a structural part of every one of Ryan’s budget proposals:
“If you’re over 55 we will NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER cut your Medicare or Social Security benefits.”
If I’ve heard Romney and Ryan say that that once, I’ve heard it a thousand times.
I repeatedly said they were lying at the time and I refused to vote for them. I was called every name in the book by family members and friends. I was told I was unpatriotic, and accused of nothing less than helping Obama get re-elected. In short, I was told to get in line and go with the party, otherwise I was…
WASTING MY VOTE.
Well guess what Republicans:
I was right. You voted for a LIAR. And on top of that – you LOST.
So, who’s vote was wasted? Not mine.
Now, how about we get down to REALITY folks?
For all the teeth-gnashing, political grandstanding, complex explanations and ever more fantastical “solutions”, the problem with America’s economy is actually quite simple; our debt is growing faster than our income. Likewise, the solution is simple. Stop spending more than you make, stop making promises you know you can’t keep, quit living in denial, accept reality and live within your means.
As I’ve previously shown using simple math, to end the US government’s borrowing and printing (i.e. – balance the budget), and to begin to repay our national debt without raising taxes we would have to cut Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and Defense spending by something greater than 40% each. I say “without raising taxes” not to inject politics but simply because there isn’t enough money that can be peacefully taxed at a high enough rate to make up the excess spending.
I have also, continually and readily, told you this approach would throw America’s economy into a recession that would last at least five years and possibly 10 or more. Yeah, it sucks when they come repossess your car or foreclose on your house or force you into bankruptcy, but that’s the price you pay when you spend more than you make. To be sure, it’s a price (and pain) you cannot avoid – short of lawlessness – for living beyond your means and making promises to people that you simply cannot keep.
Every American who runs a household can easily understand everything I’ve said above as truth.
So what’s the problem? Why can’t we get moving in the right direction? And who’s to blame?
While many blame Washington or politicians in general, the answer to all three questions can be found by looking in the mirror.
It has been said our Constitution will only work for a moral people. I happen to believe that’s true.
So if you voted for Romney/Ryan don’t tell me you support the Constitution.
Lying to get votes is immoral. Voting for said liar is not only immoral, it’s reprehensible and ultimately destructive to our nation.
Wake up and take your medicine. You got the government you voted for.
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