Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna represents the majority of American people who understand that a society supported by burgeoning entitlements is unsustainable.
Our Constitution was written to protect us from the government – not to allow it to control our private, personal decisions.
Present U.S. national debt combined with the unfunded liabilities of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is approximately $117 trillion before adding the monstrous health care program. Over the years the federal government has piled up promises to pay that amount with no visible means of support to do so.
Just for comparative purposes, that much money would make 336 stacks of $100 bills, each of which would reach the International Space Station from the earth’s surface. A baby born today owes about $381,107 with its first breath as does every other living American.
Democrats like to borrow from future generations or dragoon money from those who earn it and give it to those who don’t. Republicans often do the same in support of earmarks, subsidies, and anything they think will buy a few votes. Who will be holding the debt sack when the music stops and China quits funding our shortfalls?
Hint: Many of them are not born yet.
The supporters of health care reform insisted the program was deficit neutral. However if one were to take a sensible look at the broken promises of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid costs over time, a reasonable person could only expect the same future cost explosion with health care. The duplicity of double counting Medicare “savings” and separating out the $209 billion “Doc Fix” are obvious to all who wish to see. Larding the bill with bribes and payoffs like the “Cornhusker Kickback” and “Louisiana Purchase” to assure passage stinks to high heaven.
My beloved little goddaughter will be paying for this myopic foolishness long after we who squandered her future are gone. Our elected officials are present-time oriented and refuse to consider history or contemplate the future. They exist in the here and now; caring only about what makes them feel good in the moment and what it takes to cling to office. Playing Robin Hood with other peoples’ money provides instant gratification along with votes. They care not a whit about the damage their inane spending and massive borrowing will eventually lead to.
Folks who choose to believe in this massive “entitlement” nonsense and support it are welcome to do so. However, please remember that the proverbial road to Hades is paved with good intentions.
The European Union is desperately dealing with a half dozen member states that are drowning in debt largely caused by excessive entitlement spending. Current U.S. programs are growing exponentially at the same time the number of workers paying in is shrinking relative to the recipient burden. Now we are told that 30 million more people can be insured basically at taxpayers’ expense and it will not increase the deficit?
Perhaps the Tooth Fairy may step in to assist.
A Redmond resident since 1959, Jeff Howard works in real estate and property development. A University of Washington graudate, he writes about politics and the economy on http://oldiron2020.wordpress.com.
