State of the Union:American Politics Part 1
Okay. Maybe I'm crazy, but I am inclined to believe, we are at a point in this country where all power has been centralized; does it not seem that ALL power is flowing through Washington D.C.? It seems to me, We have a fundamental problem here; one that can't be solved by adding a new program, or by cutting an old one.
I have no problem with the concept "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." In fact, I am willing to give all I have for the survival of this great nation, but let's use some common sense here.
If your friend came to you and asked to borrow money; stating: he doesn't have enough money for groceries, because he bought brand new golf clubs. Would you want to give him money? Never mind the fact that you only have money to give, because you didn't buy brand new golf clubs. That would be taking advantage of your willingness to help. Is that not the same situation we have with our federal government?
They are asking us to give more out of our pockets, simply because they want brand new golf clubs. In my home we live on somewhat of a budget; if I were foolish enough to create a debt that exceeded my income; I would have two choices: 1) I could raise my income, or 2) I could cut my expenses, and with the economy we have now, I believe the later would be the likeliest route. While it is true you have to spend money to make money; it's just as true, you can't borrow your way out of debt.
So if we as citizens live by these simple, yet time honored principles, why do economics work different in D.C.?
Now, if their solution to a budget shortage is to take it from us, in the form of taxes; wouldn't it stand to reason that we would then have a budget shortage, and therefore, more dependent on them? Seriously, maybe I am just crazy, but it seems to me we are confronting the issues in this country in a backwards direction.
Let's take social security for instance: I began earning income at the age of eighteen, so by the time I begin collecting social security, I will have been paying into the system for 49 years. Assuming they invest that money, there should be a lot of interest made by my payments.
The life expectancy for me right now according to webmd is 76 years. That means I will draw on my social security retirement for a maximum of 9 years; provided to me in monthly payments.
Now, truth is. I'm getting the short end on that deal. That's okay, I know it cost money to run a nation. All I ask is, please don't act as if you're doing me a favor, that's an insult to my intelligence; at the very least it's an insult to my ability to reason.
I know I could take the same amount of money over a fifty year period, and acquire a substantially larger retirement through investment. In fact, I could probably retire with more money than social security will provide me, simply my putting it in a drawer.Part 2
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Photo by: Megan Mock
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