Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) writes: “According to many politicians, we got here by not spending enough, not consuming enough, and not regulating enough. Now government, like some mythical white knight, is going to ride in to save the day by blanketing the economy with dollars, hiring an army of new bureaucrats, creating make-work jobs, and sending everyone some form of a bailout check. The debate seems to focus on whether this will cost enough to save the economy, or if this is just a “down payment” with much more government spending to come. Talk like that would be comical, if the results weren’t going to be so tragic.
The results will be worsening economic woes until we learn our lesson. But instead Congress is behaving like drug addicts who must hit rock bottom before they are ready to face reality. They are playing foolish games with the economy now because they are thinking only of political expedience.”
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I couldn’t agree more. Since when does spending more help a broke person? Folks, our country is broke. We just don’t want to say it and accept it. A business is broke when it can’t fund operations any more because bills/expenses outpace revenue, month after month, year after year. At some point that business owner has to face the music and “hang it up.” This usually happens when the business is unable to continue borrowing to float. At some point, the banks or investors look at that business and say, “you’re not viable and lending to you anymore is way too risky.” At that point, it’s over.
It’s the same with the American family. If you’re spending more than you make, any responsible person would say that you’re being irresponsible and you need to reign in your spending. We should spend no more than 90% of what we make/have. If you spend 110% of what you make you won’t last long.
Our government has been spending more than it has for decades. We as Americans have known it too. We commonly refer to it as the “federal deficit.” Our government is on drugs folks. Really, they’re addicted to a spending drug. We spend more than we have. Period. The only reason the government can do it when a family can’t is because the government can print more money to neutralize it’s irresponsible, addict behavior. The government has fostered this “consumerism” and “materialistic” society we live in today. Everyone of us enjoyed the “high” of 2004-2007.” We are all collectively guilty. We must all take responsibility. We should do it now. The worst thing we can do is keep spending.
But that is exactly what our government is doing. We all know it deep down… this bailout stuff is more than wrong. It’s grossly irresponsible and selfish. We are damaging our country that may go to the level of being irreparable. Our kids and grandkids are really in trouble.
The American taxpayer has become the “bank” for our government. We are literally lending our money to Congress and they are spending it irresponsibly. What power we would all have collectively if millions of Americans and businesses decided on one common day that we would no longer fund this government. There’s our vote and the power of it. Remember folks, they work for us, not the other way around but the roles have been switched because we’ve been lulled into a materialistic high. Because it “feels so good” we haven’t done anything.
The crisis isn’t bad enough yet. We’re still pointing fingers. Some think that they’re not respsonsible… Some still think that printing money and letting corrupt politicians who are “on the take” with big corporate America have a blank check will actually rescue our economy.
I predict that we will wake up, as a country, WHEN the crisis becomes dire. Our biggest threat isn’t terrorism. It’s complacency on the home front. Our biggest threat is our own government. We are killing ourselves.
I’m a patriot and I love this country. I love what America is about – traditionally that is. I believe in the convictions of our Founding Fathers. I believe deeply in freedom – freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, etc. I truly believe that the majority of you reading this feel almost exactly the same.
When the crisis reaches the tipping point, our journey as a country, back to greatness will begin. But, as Ron Paul said, we will have to hit the proverbial bottom first; and we ‘aint there yet. Unfortunately.
