Spending Our Way to Oblivion

If you think the southern border represents a breakdown in our country’s security, just wait for the cracking that accompanies the crushing debt service we are amassing. The trade-offs between the proverbial guns or butter, will eventually lead to a severe deterioration of the country’s defenses AND its social net. Despite this dire outcome, we have politicians of all stripes continuing to preserve their power through doling out “candy to we children”.

The point of deteriorating defenses and inability to satisfy just the current social network is upon us. Entitlements are eating up nearly 70% of the current budget and growing. That huge amount crowds out the single most important thing the Federal government is supposed to do according to our Constitution; provide for the common defense! What are current “leaders” doing? They are adding to the problem and ignoring the obvious solutions because they suspect the fixes will threaten their hold on power.

We have brought this upon ourselves. Every group seems to have their hand out and the politicians are only too happy to throw dollars at them…in return for that almighty vote. If reported accurately, our esteemed Senator McConnel commented, “No one was ever thrown out of office for spending money.” Every one of the people in Congress knows the problem. They also know that they don’t have to deal with it because they can continue to send the issue further into the future by extending yet more credit.

Until we demand corrective actions on entitlements, we will continue to braid the rope that will hang us, our children, our grandchildren and now, even our great grandchildren. Ideas that have already been vetted include:

• Increase retirement age for those still able to make lifestyle changes.
• Allow for more tax exemptions for money set aside for retirement outside of Social Security.
• Increase the allowance for tax exempt money to be set aside for health care
• Limit, not expand, the numbers of people eligible for Medicare/Medicaid.

It’s up to us to get change including electing real leaders.