Opus 2019-108: Kicking the Can, part 2 of 2

We still have a lot of problems in our country today.  Many will admit them but few are willing to take the steps to make it happen.

Think of the federal deficit.  It is out of control.  It keeps getting bigger.  Logic and common sense tells us that we need to do something about it.  There is a limit to how high you can raise taxes without destroying the economy.  The big missing piece of the puzzle is cutting spending.  The question that no one wants to answer is “Where?”

Most people will admit we need to cut spending but they always want it to be on someone else’s dime.  The reason they are not willing to do anything is because it might hurt them.  Think about all the ways that many of us are on the public dole.  I was a public school teacher.  Because I worked for the government in a government controlled system I made about twice what teachers in private schools made and had an awesome health care package.  How many teachers do you know who are willing to cut back on education?  After all, it is for the kids, right?  And don’t look at the man behind the curtain making a lot of money.  And have you seen the obscene amounts of money university people make? 

How about all the tax loopholes we have.  I bought a home and had a mortgage.  I was allowed to write off the interest.  I accept the fact that some tax deductions make sense.  The cost of new equipment is an expense that should be deducted but board of directors meetings in resort areas?  You can get the same business done at the local school cafeteria. 

For me and millions of other elderly it would have to do with Medicare.  We want the cost of our drugs reduced.  There are a lot of crony capitalism things that could be changed but in reality we just want the cost to go down.  It doesn’t matter if those still working pay more or the government has to borrow the money, I want relief.  See the way it works?  And this at a time when the elderly are the ones who have most of the disposable income.  I still can’t figure out why I get a discount when the working stiff with three kids pays full price.

We need to start voting for people who will pledge to cut spending even if it means I have to give up going out to eat.  Eventually when someone goes to kick the can down the road they will find it has a giant rock behind it.

homo unius libri