I received an allowance as a kid. It was a reasonable weekly wage equivalent to the amount of chores I completed. Like clockwork, my dad handed me crisp bills every Friday night, usually after dinner, and I felt such satisfaction. I could do whatever I wanted with the money because I earned it.
When I went to the store and found a toy or a new bracelet I wanted to buy, I pulled open my wallet to see what I had. Too often a wave of disappointment came over me when I realized I didn't have enough. Back to the shelf that gold bracelet went. Even if I tried to pull the old "puhhlleeaassee!" with my parents, their response always included a certain four-letter word: save. You can't spend what you don't have. As much as I hated to hear it back then, I appreciate that lesson today.
It's unfortunate our members of congress didn't have parents who gave them an allowance to manage.
This week, the House approved a short-term $290 billion extension in the nation's debt ceiling, postponing a decision until February about a larger increase in the borrowing cap. Once the House realized that a larger increase may not pass the Senate because of a lack of support, they decided to pass a smaller increase for now. In February they will address a "need" for a larger increase, possibly the $1.8 Trillion increase in the ceiling House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D., Md.) wants.
This increase in the debt limit raises the total debt the federal government can hold to $12.394 billion from $12.104 billion. Okay, let's go back. Steny Hoyer wants to raise the debt ceiling by $1.8 Trillion ... $1.8 TRILLION. How can any country survive if it is trillions of dollars in debt? How does any average Joe survive if he is billions of dollars in debt? He doesn't. Average Joe knows he can't increase the limit on his credit card to buy a new plasma TV. If his credit card is maxed out, he must deal with that issue first before making a new purchase.
Anyone who has debt understands that you become a slave to those you owe money to. Someone will come after you if you don't pay. Not only is America in debt slightly over $12 trillion dollars, but our interest just on our debt alone is $367 billion. Whose coming after us, and when? The Wall Street Journal writes, "[i]ncreasing the debt ceiling is largely symbolic as the public debt is the accumulation of past deficits, or money already spent. But were the U.S. to breach its debt limit, it would default on its obligations, potentially lose its prized top-shelf credit rating and have to pay significantly higher interest to its creditors. Such a scenario, albeit an extremely unlikely one, would have tremendous ramifications for the wider financial markets."
Getting past the notion that the U.S. has a "top-shelf credit rating," I can't help but wonder why our government believes it is a good idea to spend more money we don't have. Average Joe can't do that, so why does the federal government? I understand I am taking a complex situation and simplifying it to compare with one person's financial lifestyle. But that's why I simplify it. Because it is that simple. Behind every decision lies a principle.
Don't spend what you don't have.
Don't borrow what you can't pay back. In fact, don't borrow more than you can pay back with your next paycheck.
Waste not, want not.
Congress is operating under an entirely different set of principles. Dangerous, frivolous, and destructive. One of my favorite principles is this: he who is faithful in little will be faithful in much. I would vote for Average Joe who balanced his checkbook and successfully managed his personal finances to handle the national budget over such characters as Hoyer, Pelosi and Reid. Just because they are "congressmen" and "senators" does not make them smarter than you or I. They have no right to run up our debt, borrow more than we can pay back and throw our children into financial bondage. We demonstrate daily in our personal finances that we are smarter than that.
Let congress prove they can one run program --one-- successfully, within budget, before we allow them to fiddle with health reform or any other massive program. Let's give them an allowance and see if they can be faithful in little before we give them much-- if at all.
Don't stare too long at this website, it will make you nauseous:
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126099939736594429.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_news
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
I took my dog to the dog park recently. As I threw his soggy tennis ball and watched him slide through the muddy grass to scoop it up, I overheard a fascinating conversation taking place between two college students.
A young man stood against the fence and introduced himself to a young woman sitting on the wood bench watching her poodle bounce around. After a few minutes of general conversation, they quickly found a mutual topic to discuss: politics.
Their intellectual prattling intrigued me.
"I don't know why all these people are freaking out about what Obama is doing. At least he's actually doing something, unlike Bush who only wanted to fight a pointless war." The young man shook his head in disapproval.
"Oh, I know. Like hello! There were no weapons-of-mass-whatever. Like we totally wasted all that money and all those people died for nothing." (I forced myself to not count how many times she would use the word 'like.')
"And then there's Fox News out there acting like a reputable news source, when everyone knows it's made up all those conservative whack jobs. Does anyone actually listen to them?" Okay, I thought to myself, he's completely unaware of the size audience Fox News has. He's never watched it. "What news do you watch?"
"Oh, me? I don't know. I don't watch much news. It's so depressing."
"Me too. I pretty much get all my news from 'The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.'" Did he just say he gets all his news from a show on Comedy Central???
"Oh, yea, that's a good one. Did you see last night when he was making fun of Sarah Palin and the whole 'death panel' thing?" She chuckles, obviously replaying the skit- I mean script- in her head.
"No, I missed it."
"Oh, it was soooo good! Sarah's so stupid. Like, you can tell she has no education like whatsoever, because 'death panel' isn't even in the bill. How scary would it have been if she were like in the White House."
"Everyone who is against the health care bill should just...die. That'll save us lots of money!" He grabs his beer belly and laughs.
"I totally agree! Like, seriously, and everyone who says we want to pull the plug on grandma. Well...maybe we should. I mean, old people don't exactly help us out that much anyways. The only people who should get health care are those who actually contribute to society, ya know?"
"I know. It's the same thing as socialism. Everyone freaks out when you say it's actually a good idea, but that's just because they don't understand it."
"Oh my god, totally! Like, I totally support socialism. Everyone would have a job, and money, and health care- so why is that bad?" The woman calls her poodle and stands to her feet.
"I support it also. It's the only fair way for everyone to have a chance. And just because it didn't work well for other countries doesn't mean we can't do it good here." They shake hands, leash up their dogs, and walk to their cars.
Biting my lips and debating whether I should chase them down and unleash upon them any and all common sense they apparently lack, I remind myself that it would do no good. Years of liberal education cannot be undone in a two-minute rant by some crazy woman at the dog park. (Common sense...okay, I would need way more than two minutes.)
I genuinely felt bad for them. Nothing is more oppressive than not knowing what you don't know.
And nothing is more liberating than knowing you're learning the truth.
A young man stood against the fence and introduced himself to a young woman sitting on the wood bench watching her poodle bounce around. After a few minutes of general conversation, they quickly found a mutual topic to discuss: politics.
Their intellectual prattling intrigued me.
"I don't know why all these people are freaking out about what Obama is doing. At least he's actually doing something, unlike Bush who only wanted to fight a pointless war." The young man shook his head in disapproval.
"Oh, I know. Like hello! There were no weapons-of-mass-whatever. Like we totally wasted all that money and all those people died for nothing." (I forced myself to not count how many times she would use the word 'like.')
"And then there's Fox News out there acting like a reputable news source, when everyone knows it's made up all those conservative whack jobs. Does anyone actually listen to them?" Okay, I thought to myself, he's completely unaware of the size audience Fox News has. He's never watched it. "What news do you watch?"
"Oh, me? I don't know. I don't watch much news. It's so depressing."
"Me too. I pretty much get all my news from 'The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.'" Did he just say he gets all his news from a show on Comedy Central???
"Oh, yea, that's a good one. Did you see last night when he was making fun of Sarah Palin and the whole 'death panel' thing?" She chuckles, obviously replaying the skit- I mean script- in her head.
"No, I missed it."
"Oh, it was soooo good! Sarah's so stupid. Like, you can tell she has no education like whatsoever, because 'death panel' isn't even in the bill. How scary would it have been if she were like in the White House."
"Everyone who is against the health care bill should just...die. That'll save us lots of money!" He grabs his beer belly and laughs.
"I totally agree! Like, seriously, and everyone who says we want to pull the plug on grandma. Well...maybe we should. I mean, old people don't exactly help us out that much anyways. The only people who should get health care are those who actually contribute to society, ya know?"
"I know. It's the same thing as socialism. Everyone freaks out when you say it's actually a good idea, but that's just because they don't understand it."
"Oh my god, totally! Like, I totally support socialism. Everyone would have a job, and money, and health care- so why is that bad?" The woman calls her poodle and stands to her feet.
"I support it also. It's the only fair way for everyone to have a chance. And just because it didn't work well for other countries doesn't mean we can't do it good here." They shake hands, leash up their dogs, and walk to their cars.
Biting my lips and debating whether I should chase them down and unleash upon them any and all common sense they apparently lack, I remind myself that it would do no good. Years of liberal education cannot be undone in a two-minute rant by some crazy woman at the dog park. (Common sense...okay, I would need way more than two minutes.)
I genuinely felt bad for them. Nothing is more oppressive than not knowing what you don't know.
And nothing is more liberating than knowing you're learning the truth.
Obama held his job summit last week. Or should I say, Professor Obama gave a lecture last week in his "Capitalism: Greed, Pollution and Poverty" course at the White House.
What Obama said: "I need everybody to bring their A-game here today. I'm going to be asking some tough questions, I will be listening for some good answers and I don't want to just brainstorm up at 30,000 feet. I want details in our discussion today. I'm looking for specific recommendations that can be implemented that will spur on job growth as quickly as possible. I want to be clear. We won't overcome our unemployment challenge in just a few hours this afternoon. I assure you there is extraordinary skepticism that any discussions like this can actually produce results. I'm well aware of that. I don't mind skepticism. If I listened to the skeptics I wouldn't be here, but I am confident that we'll make progress..."
What I heard: "Now, good students, do your work while I go the teacher's lounge to watch Sports Center. Union members, career politicians, Google management team and environmentalists, don't be afraid to help out your less fortunate classmates- yes, you guys in the back from Wall Street. Stop playing on your Blackberry's like spoiled rich kids (Wall Streeters apologize emphatically).
Bring me the best ideas on how I can fix this economic problem, and turn in your assignment by the end of the day. Does anyone have a red pen? And for those of you who need extra credit to pick up your grade before the end of the semester, ahem ... those in back, write an essay answering this question: (writing on the black board) 'If you spoke to the state-organized media, how would you spin our economic and environmental woes to place the blame solely on small business and the wealthy?' The amount of extra credit you earn will be based on how well your response makes me look." (He leaves the room)
What Obama said: "Despite the progress we've made, many businesses are still skittish about hiring. Some are still digging themselves out of the losses they incurred over the past year. Many have figured out how to squeeze more productivity out of fewer workers. And that cost-cutting has become embedded in their operations and in their culture. That may result in good profits, but it's not translating into hiring and so that's the question that we have to ask ourselves today: How do we get businesses to start hiring again?"
What I heard: (Walking into the classroom) "Sorry it took me so long to come back. Michelle wanted to go shopping for a new cocktail dress before we go to dinner with the Jolie-Pitt's tonight. I see you all turned in your papers here on my desk, and I will be reading and grading them for the rest of the semester.
(Students groan). Now, now, it takes time to solve such severe problems that I didn't cause. Let me tell you a little story. (Students groan again and slump in their chairs) When I was a community organizer in the heart of Chicago, standing face-to-face with mothers who can't feed their babies because of their high cell phone bills, and young brothers who were given guns instead of a chance to succeed because we don't have a national gun ban, I saw how evil America is. That's why I decided to get into politics. I wanted to become your leader and to make America the darkened village on the backside of a hill.
And that's why I brought you here today. Americans everywhere are crying out for a job, but what we need to show them is that they don't need a job. No, they need me. They need my administration. They need their government to blame small business owners for making them slave away for $13/hour wages (cheers from the labor union students). Private business isn't the answer, because private business doesn't hire people (confused whispers amongst students). That may sound weird, but that's just because you haven't been in college long enough. Trust me, soon enough, it'll all make sense. Why do you think I'm a supporter of "W12" (womb-to-12) Schools?" (Winks)
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=514131
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/jobs_summit_will_not_produce_j.html
What Obama said: "I need everybody to bring their A-game here today. I'm going to be asking some tough questions, I will be listening for some good answers and I don't want to just brainstorm up at 30,000 feet. I want details in our discussion today. I'm looking for specific recommendations that can be implemented that will spur on job growth as quickly as possible. I want to be clear. We won't overcome our unemployment challenge in just a few hours this afternoon. I assure you there is extraordinary skepticism that any discussions like this can actually produce results. I'm well aware of that. I don't mind skepticism. If I listened to the skeptics I wouldn't be here, but I am confident that we'll make progress..."
What I heard: "Now, good students, do your work while I go the teacher's lounge to watch Sports Center. Union members, career politicians, Google management team and environmentalists, don't be afraid to help out your less fortunate classmates- yes, you guys in the back from Wall Street. Stop playing on your Blackberry's like spoiled rich kids (Wall Streeters apologize emphatically).
Bring me the best ideas on how I can fix this economic problem, and turn in your assignment by the end of the day. Does anyone have a red pen? And for those of you who need extra credit to pick up your grade before the end of the semester, ahem ... those in back, write an essay answering this question: (writing on the black board) 'If you spoke to the state-organized media, how would you spin our economic and environmental woes to place the blame solely on small business and the wealthy?' The amount of extra credit you earn will be based on how well your response makes me look." (He leaves the room)
What Obama said: "Despite the progress we've made, many businesses are still skittish about hiring. Some are still digging themselves out of the losses they incurred over the past year. Many have figured out how to squeeze more productivity out of fewer workers. And that cost-cutting has become embedded in their operations and in their culture. That may result in good profits, but it's not translating into hiring and so that's the question that we have to ask ourselves today: How do we get businesses to start hiring again?"
What I heard: (Walking into the classroom) "Sorry it took me so long to come back. Michelle wanted to go shopping for a new cocktail dress before we go to dinner with the Jolie-Pitt's tonight. I see you all turned in your papers here on my desk, and I will be reading and grading them for the rest of the semester.
(Students groan). Now, now, it takes time to solve such severe problems that I didn't cause. Let me tell you a little story. (Students groan again and slump in their chairs) When I was a community organizer in the heart of Chicago, standing face-to-face with mothers who can't feed their babies because of their high cell phone bills, and young brothers who were given guns instead of a chance to succeed because we don't have a national gun ban, I saw how evil America is. That's why I decided to get into politics. I wanted to become your leader and to make America the darkened village on the backside of a hill.
And that's why I brought you here today. Americans everywhere are crying out for a job, but what we need to show them is that they don't need a job. No, they need me. They need my administration. They need their government to blame small business owners for making them slave away for $13/hour wages (cheers from the labor union students). Private business isn't the answer, because private business doesn't hire people (confused whispers amongst students). That may sound weird, but that's just because you haven't been in college long enough. Trust me, soon enough, it'll all make sense. Why do you think I'm a supporter of "W12" (womb-to-12) Schools?" (Winks)
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=514131
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/jobs_summit_will_not_produce_j.html
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