We can’t spend money we don’t have.
Stop spending so much money! Stop spending what we do not have! The reason the federal government does not have enough money is because it is doing too many things. We cannot keep spending money we do not have for things that we want to do. Just like your family, my family has to make choices about what we can and cannot afford. We prioritize what is essential. Congress must do the same thing. Our national debt will not recover until we cut the size and scope of the federal government and free up American business.
Stimulus spending? My grandparents would NEVER have said, “Things are tough, so I think I will make it easier on me by making it tougher on my grandchildren.” But that is exactly what current Washington leaders are doing. They don’t like today, so they make their lives easier by making it tougher on my kids. Taking money from one family through taxes and debt spending and distributing it to another family is redistribution of wealth, not economic stimulus. Federal government policies should not encourage more personal or national debt.
By law, all spending bills must originate in the U.S. House of Representatives. This is one of the primary areas in which I can make a difference. We must cut spending and stop going deeper and deeper into debt.
In 2010, Republicans in the House of Representatives pledged not to request any earmarks for one year. That pledge should be extended indefinitely and the earmark process should be abolished from the House rules. Agencies like the EPA, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, and even the Department of Education must be evaluated for effectiveness and Constitutional authority. Spending is out of control because the federal government is doing too many things.
You are so right about what our parents and grandparents would have done/not done. Perhaps today’s out-of-control government spending reflects our entitlement-minded society. It’s a shame.
While we spend more we borrow more. We borrow from countries that are not friendlies, like China. I don’t see how borrowing from a possible foe is a good idea because then we hold a liability to that country and they now have power over us. Proverbs 22:7
Spending to prop up our bloated Federal govt. costs over 18% of GDP. We can start cutting spending there. Here are some ideas:
Shut down NASA, and rename the the FAA the Federal Aerospace Agency, transferring the productive centers (JPL, Ames, Langley) to the new FAA’s research arm, closing down the fiefdoms in Houston and Huntsville.
Shut down DARPA. This agency brags that 99% of its projects are failures, supposedly because their research is so “bleeding edge”, when in reality it’s because they insist contractors ignore the laws of physics (I know, as I was one of those contractors). Transfer research responsibilities to military services.
Shut down the Dept. of Education, which has become a stooge for the NEA. Make block grants to the states temporarily, letting them know they have an eight year period to start funding their own education systems without Federal aid or interference.
Shut down HUD. All of its programs have failed.
Shut down the HHS. Use Federal interstate commerce laws to enable competition in all states for health insurance. Enact tort reform to lower malpractice costs, like either the Texas or Oklahoma laws.
Transition Social Security from income assurance to income insurance, whether or not Fair Tax is enacted. Funds to be used to purchase commercial retirement insurance, paid out only if the recipient meets a means test. That way it’s truly a safety net.
Hope these ideas help.