Dave Walker won't win an oratory award any time soon, but he knows of which he speaks.
Have you ever had to put a freeze on your personal finances? We have, in fact, we're kind of in that mode now as we try to save for our adoption. Several times in our marriage we've had to sit down and determine how to go forward in a financially responsible way. This often meant cutting out things we were buying or activities we were doing.
So why can't our government act responsibly in this way? Our current trajectory is leading us to absolute bondage to debt.
Dave Walker has been sounding this alarm for the last 2 years, especially in light of the recent balloon in spending (like the crazy $8 trillion dollar prescription entitlement George Bush promoted and signed a few years ago). Amazingly, NO ONE is stepping up to disprove his projections. Clearly, with all things being equal, we're heading for economic disaster.
I wish I could require all government officials to take the Crown Ministries small group study!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Talk about an inconvenient truth...
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7 comments:
How about some good news Tony! As I have witnessed my business erode to almost nothing, I know I am not alone. Many in our Covenant body are experiencing the same hardships. But for me, I will continue to keep my gaze upon Him and trust only in the Lord! However, I must confess, it has become very difficult to remain positive when all we read, see, and witness is gloom and doom. My conscience bears me witness that regardless of how bad things are now or might become, I must always “Never let kindness and truth leave me, I must bind them around my neck, write them on the tablets of my heart. So I will find favor and good report in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with ALL MY heart, (not my head) and do not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways, I will acknowledge Him. And HE WILL make my paths straight. I will not be wise in my own eyes; but fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” You know the passage; we have all read it many times. I have memorized it…. Now it’s time for me to live it.
Don't worry, just like Clinton in the 90's, President Obama will balance the budget within 4 - 6 years, but it won't be due to a lack of spending. Get ready to adjust your withholdings.
No doubt. Get ready for some serious tax and spending.
If Congress and the President had a significant percentage of their pay deducted as payment on the national debt, I bet the budget would get balanced very quickly!
One of the great voices of Conservatism and my political hero passed away William F. Buckley Jr. http://www.nationalreview.com/ When Buckley wrote that the magazine would “stand athwart history yelling, ‘Stop!’” his point was to challenge the idea that history pointed left.
Even when I was a liberal, I always enjoyed Buckley and like Reagan, I grew to appreciate him more when I became a conservative.
I have been a Federal Employee for over 18 years now. When asked why a Socially Conservative, Fiscally Libertarian is still a Government Employee. I remind them that it is the only way to ensure that every tax dollar taken away from me will come back to me.
The problem with our U.S. Government is "us" the American People. Yes, we are the Government, we demand from the Government services that up until March 4, 1933, were the responsibility of churches, families, and the individual.
I always loved it when Government Employees Union, which I am not a member of, always tells mind numb robots of the left how programs are being slashed and cut back. I remind them all there has never been a Government program that has been slashed or cut back, only the rate of growth has been reduced. For example if the union or government agency requested a 4% increase. The Democrats would say lets make it a 5% increase. The Republicans will say lets make it 2%. Congress agrees to a compromise and its 3% increase. The unions and the government agency will cry they cut our budget or pay raise by 1%.
To break that example down further, the agency or union got $10 last year and wanted $4 more for this year. The Democrats were willing to give $5 more, the Republicans $2 more. Congress agreed to a compromise and said OK will give you $3 more. Now simple math tells me the agency or union now gets $13 a year, $3 more than last year. Where is the cut I ask? There is, was, and never will be a government cut in spending ever.
Move it over to taxes. John Kennedy the last intelligent Democrat to have been President, cut taxes, and revenues increase, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush did the same and revenues increased. Proving a rising tide lifts all boats. However as Buckley reminds us:
“I think Mr. Bush faces a singular problem best defined, I think, as the absence of effective conservative ideology — with the result that he ended up being very extravagant in domestic spending, extremely tolerant of excesses by Congress, and in respect of foreign policy, incapable of bringing together such forces as apparently were necessary to conclude the Iraq challenge.
There will be no legacy for Mr. Bush. I don't believe his successor would re-enunciate the words he used in his second inaugural address because they were too ambitious. So therefore I think his legacy is indecipherable.”
Buckley again reminds us that we should consider this November. “I will not cede more power to the state. I will not willingly cede more power to anyone, not to the state, not to General Motors, not to the CIO. I will hoard my power like a miser, resisting every effort to drain it away from me. I will then use my power, as I see fit. I mean to live my life an obedient man, but obedient to God, subservient to the wisdom of my ancestors; never to the authority of political truths arrived at yesterday at the voting booth. That is a program of sorts, is it not? It is certainly program enough to keep conservatives busy, and liberals at bay. And the nation free.”
One realize that the top 2% pay over 50% of all government expenditures. So why not a fair tax or a flat tax, say oh I don’t know 10% across the board has seemed to work for God all these years.
Like John Knox, we realize that there should be safety nets for those who cannot fend for themselves due to no-fault of their own. This is when we should turn to our families, neighbors, and churches to assist those people and make them self sufficient and less dependent on government if possible.
However, again Buckley reminds us, “Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.”
An example of our Entitlement Mentality
A person in line in front of me was using WIC, Women, Infants, and Children. Don’t get me wrong for those who truly need it I have no problem with it. I told the cashier you are the most efficient person I know to process the WIC Vouchers. She said well soon I would be doing that for you. I told her not if I have a say in the matter. Although I am not sure of all the requirements, I am sure if I wanted to Dorothy and I could probably qualify for it. However, we are not applying for it. Why? Um, because Dorothy is breast-feeding, I am still working, and although we are far from being rich, we are not destitute. Just because a program is there does not mean you are entitled to it. Remember Thou shall not steal. In order for the program to exist, it must take money from each of us. If Dorothy needed to use formula to feed John Patrick, I will find legal ways to obtain it, such as oh I don’t know get a second job if need be. Alternatively, cash in my retirement and savings. You see there are ways where you can take care of yourself and your family without resorting to federal government to bail you out at every corner.
It is time to remember what William F. Buckley Jr. stood for and to paraphrase John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your government can do for you. Ask what you can do for yourself.”
I think Brother Rick should run for President?
Rick, my favorite Buckley quote was "I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said"
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