Why are our politicians so weak when it comes to supporting the ideals of what made America great. Why are we now in so much trouble? Why is our national debt so high? When considering the national debt, why is it that the only solution that Congress can come up with is about is when they can raise the debt ceiling? Our representatives seem to have no spine. They are incapable of making the hard decisions. There are some things in our government finance that is fundamentally wrong. Why is it that the top 10% of the population pay almost 80% of this country's taxes while the bottom 50% pay nearly no taxes at all? Why are we saddled with so much unemployment while the economy continues to falter? If I had anything to do with the whole scheme of things, things would be very different. I'm pretty sure that I could balance the budget, fix the debt, and at the same time bring things back in reason. I could bring back fairness in taxation, and at the same time, make America stronger and more productive. Here's a few ideas to aid the homeless and to better encourage the unemployed.
If I were in charge of food stamps, I would first make sure that everyone who was without a job and without money enough to buy food was well fed. In doing this, I'd get rid of the Oregon trail cards; no cash for Ding Dongs, Ho Ho's, or moon pies. Oregon public assistance would only supply money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans. You could also get blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away. If you want steak, frozen pizza, potato chips, or candy, then get a job and work for all that extra stuff like the rest of us.
If I were in charge of Medicaid things would be different. First and foremost, I would not restrict anyone who truly needed healthcare. All men on Medicaid would receive a vasectomy and all women would get Norplant birth control or tubal ligations. Then, all recipients would be tested for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. All tattoos and piercings would be documented. If you want to reproduce, use drugs, alcohol, smoke pot or cigarettes, or get tattoos and piercings, then get a job and pay for your child yourself.
Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military barracks? You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair. Your "home" will be subject to inspections at anytime. All possessions will be inventoried. If you want a flat screen TV, stereo, or Xbox, then get a job and pay for your own place.
There will be no "unemployment payment". If for some reason you lose your current job, you will either present a check stub from a new job so that taxes can be paid or you will report to a "government" job. Everyone who receives any type of government money will do some sort of work. Your temporary job may be cleaning the roadways of trash, painting and repairing public housing, pulling weeds, or whatever we find for you. We will sell your 22 inch rims, low profile tires, and your blasting stereo and put that money toward the "common good."
Before you write back and yell that I've violated someone's rights, realize that all that I have listed is completely voluntary. No one is forced to take government money. Everyone is free to seek employment on their own and pay for their own personal goods. However, if you want our money, you must accept our rules… Before you say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their "self esteem," consider that it wasn't all that long ago that accepting a welfare check or government money for doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem.
If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at least attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system not only doesn’t allow for people to learn from their mistakes, it rewards and encourages them for continued bad decisions.
This finance problem of spending considerably more than we take in cannot sustain itself. The problem will most certainly be fixed sooner or later. I pray that our government leaders grow a spine and fix this problem sooner. For I fear that if they wait until later, this problem may fix itself through anarchy.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Is it the End of the World if the Government shuts Down?
Congress is having late night meetings, Obama and the Democrats want to raise taxes and the debt ceiling while the Republicans want to cut spending, balance the budget, and leave the debt ceiling well enough alone. They all are crying that the other is party is holding up the works. Obama went on air with his radio address saying that if we don’t get things going and work through this
stalemate soon, the government might shut down. I ask, what if the government does shut down? I say, let it shut down. What has the government done for me? What really constructive thing has the government done for anyone lately? I pay my taxes and get nothing but waste corruption. I guess if I were a federal employee and my livelihood depended on a tax dollar sponsored paycheck, well then, I would probably be worrying a lot more right now. We all know that the government bureaucracy is rife with waste and is in desperate need of thinning. But, as a private citizen of this great country, I say “what could possibly happen that is so horrible if the government were to shut down? What nightmares would a government shutdown cause Americans in general? Witness the horror….
Social Security will continue. The government would continue to make Social Security payments to the 53 million beneficiaries. “We will continue to process applications for benefits, but it might take longer if a shutdown does occur,” said Mark Hinkle, a spokesman for Social Security. “The local offices will open for limited services. We are working on the long term specifics.” With a smaller workforce, the backlog of applications for Social Security disability benefits would grow larger, an agency officials said. Healthcare will continue. Medicare, the program for people who are 65 and older would continue to pay doctors and hospitals for several weeks, using money from its trust funds…
Passports may be put on hold. As a national security agency, the State Department would continue operations, but some activities, like issuing passports for travelers and visas for foreigners coming to the United States, could stop or face significant delays. Emergency consular services would continue.
The Post offices would maintain their regular hours and mail delivery would continue.
The food stamp program will continue. Since the government makes the money available to states by the beginning of each month, advocates for food stamp recipients predicted no immediate impact on benefits. “They should be O.K. for at least an additional thirty days after a shutdown,” said Stacy Dean, a food stamp expert at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The military will continue. Active-duty personnel would continue to work and earn pay during a shutdown, but would generally not receive an actual paychecks until Congress appropriated money at some later date. While troops already in combat zones might not get additional payment until a new budget is approved by Congress.
The Department of Homeland Security expects to keep its “frontline” officers on duty during any government shutdown. This includes all immigration agents, border-patrol officers and airport screeners. About 80 percent of the agency’s employees are considered frontline and therefore protected from furloughs.
Members of Congress would also continue working.
Most national museums and parks are considered as non-essential would be closed through the shutdown.
Federal courts will remain open, although court officials say the loss of “non-essential” personnel could slow operations.
Most small-business lending programs of the U.S. Small Business Administration will come to a halt. However, work on disaster loans will continue, as well as some of the Inspector General’s investigative work, the preferred security bond program for builders and work on previously approved real estate loans to small firms will still go forward.
Most federal campgrounds in National Forest areas will close and the grass will grow long at Arlington National Cemetery.
All federal agencies have been required to have a plan in case of a government shutdown, and to regularly update that plan, since 1980, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget.. “Our expectation is that it’s not going to have a big impact,” said LaDonna A. Pavetti, of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Write your congressman and tell them all to man up, spend
less , waste less, and be responsible!
stalemate soon, the government might shut down. I ask, what if the government does shut down? I say, let it shut down. What has the government done for me? What really constructive thing has the government done for anyone lately? I pay my taxes and get nothing but waste corruption. I guess if I were a federal employee and my livelihood depended on a tax dollar sponsored paycheck, well then, I would probably be worrying a lot more right now. We all know that the government bureaucracy is rife with waste and is in desperate need of thinning. But, as a private citizen of this great country, I say “what could possibly happen that is so horrible if the government were to shut down? What nightmares would a government shutdown cause Americans in general? Witness the horror….
Social Security will continue. The government would continue to make Social Security payments to the 53 million beneficiaries. “We will continue to process applications for benefits, but it might take longer if a shutdown does occur,” said Mark Hinkle, a spokesman for Social Security. “The local offices will open for limited services. We are working on the long term specifics.” With a smaller workforce, the backlog of applications for Social Security disability benefits would grow larger, an agency officials said. Healthcare will continue. Medicare, the program for people who are 65 and older would continue to pay doctors and hospitals for several weeks, using money from its trust funds…
Passports may be put on hold. As a national security agency, the State Department would continue operations, but some activities, like issuing passports for travelers and visas for foreigners coming to the United States, could stop or face significant delays. Emergency consular services would continue.
The Post offices would maintain their regular hours and mail delivery would continue.
The food stamp program will continue. Since the government makes the money available to states by the beginning of each month, advocates for food stamp recipients predicted no immediate impact on benefits. “They should be O.K. for at least an additional thirty days after a shutdown,” said Stacy Dean, a food stamp expert at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The military will continue. Active-duty personnel would continue to work and earn pay during a shutdown, but would generally not receive an actual paychecks until Congress appropriated money at some later date. While troops already in combat zones might not get additional payment until a new budget is approved by Congress.
The Department of Homeland Security expects to keep its “frontline” officers on duty during any government shutdown. This includes all immigration agents, border-patrol officers and airport screeners. About 80 percent of the agency’s employees are considered frontline and therefore protected from furloughs.
Members of Congress would also continue working.
Most national museums and parks are considered as non-essential would be closed through the shutdown.
Federal courts will remain open, although court officials say the loss of “non-essential” personnel could slow operations.
Most small-business lending programs of the U.S. Small Business Administration will come to a halt. However, work on disaster loans will continue, as well as some of the Inspector General’s investigative work, the preferred security bond program for builders and work on previously approved real estate loans to small firms will still go forward.
Most federal campgrounds in National Forest areas will close and the grass will grow long at Arlington National Cemetery.
All federal agencies have been required to have a plan in case of a government shutdown, and to regularly update that plan, since 1980, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget.. “Our expectation is that it’s not going to have a big impact,” said LaDonna A. Pavetti, of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Write your congressman and tell them all to man up, spend
less , waste less, and be responsible!
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