It's broke . . .
There is a real lack of accountability when it comes to government spending.
If you ask the average person (by that I mean those with a job, and not self-employed) what they make, they will most likely give you the net amount. If you ask them what their gross is, they wouldn't have a clue.
I too, am an average person by that criteria. But, to be honest, without actually looking it up, I couldn't tell you what I made in gross OR net. That kind of info never seems to stick in my Etch A Sketch brain.
The difference between the gross and the net on your paystub is shown as a list of deductions: (where applicable) 401(k), medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, AND (always applicable) a multitude of taxes: local, state, and federal.
Once upon a time, we working stiffs would get a paper paycheck, along with a paystub attached that gave you all those deductions. Then one day the paychecks went direct-deposit to your bank and the paystubs became a thing you could only see if you logged into an account online and brought them up.
So, what does this have to do with the lack of accountability when it comes to government spending? Plenty.
Most folks have no idea how much they are sending to the government each pay period. Out of sight, out of mind. Because of this, the HOW money is spent by our government becomes less impactful. Don't think so? Remember back in 2009, when President Obama's stimulus spending was kicking into gear? When asked, some people thought it was "Obama's money". They had little-to-no idea that the money being shuffled around was coming from their paychecks, or of someone close to them.
Because of this lack of connectivity, people have very little understanding of WHY the government shouldn't be spending money on whatever sounds good. Your grandma was right: money DOESN'T grow on trees!
Like I say in the bio of my blog, I am socially liberal, but fiscally conservative. What does that mean? I'm okay with the government providing social services to better society, but they had better be financially sound (a.k.a. "in the black") when they do it. And we are NOT financially sound. How much is the deficit? Remember when the multi-trillion dollar deficit was trumpeted on the news? Do you have any idea what it is now? Take a look. And WHY isn't it cried about anymore?
Because it is gone! No more debt! It was completely wiped away with "Obama's money".
(Okay, I kid, I kid!!)
So, what's the solution? You are not going to like this (but the self-employed people already know what I'm going to say): Eliminate automatic deductions of payroll taxes. Make people write the checks.
Do it for one year. Each payday make people have to pull out their checkbooks and write a check to EACH of their governments (federal, state, AND local). And, since it is normally taken off the top, make them write the checks FIRST! BEFORE they put gas in their car, or food on their table, or pay for the roof over their heads. Write it first.
Only then will people feel the impact of what they send to their governments, and only then will they force their representatives to be a little more responsible with "YOUR NAME's money".
. . . time to fix it!
© Emittravel 2015
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Stuff My Brain Says #45
I've read quite a few articles concerning how our government wants to know/control after-tax money held in foreign banks. Apparently our "evil rich" store money there and our government believes that it needs to get its hands on it. Understand, if you are an American citizen working over seas, many banks will not allow you to open an account to manage your after-tax income. In a lot of cases, people are giving up their citizenship because the hassle to live there is not worth keeping the American "label". It is only "so convenient" to keep your money in mason jars behind the cereal in the kitchen cupboard (and no, that's not where I keep it . . . )
So why does this line of thinking, the government's insatiable appetite for your money, exist? Because our government outspends every dollar it gets, it is constantly looking for sources of revenue to outspend. Are you one of those who believe that the "evil rich" are not paying their fair share and should be punished? Than understand that you are dangerously close to the camp that believes that the government owns it all. The line that says "net income" on your pay stub is the amount the government LETS you keep (albeit, temporarily). They can take that (back) anytime they please.
Now, think about running a business with THAT in the back of your mind.
Now, think about running a business with THAT in the back of your mind.
© Emittravel 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Stuff My Brain Says #33
I really would not have a problem with paying taxes if the government was a better manager of my money. And I'm not alone in this. Think about it: why do the "wealthy" spend so much time and money AVOIDING taxes? Because they KNOW what a lousy investment the government is! That is one of the main
reasons I laugh at people like Warren Buffet who say that the wealthy don't pay enough - HE takes every tax loophole available! Because Warren Buffet didn't become Warren Buffet by throwing his money away with bad investments.
Get a clue Washington. You want more tax revenue? Jesus said it best: "Whoever is faithful with very little is also faithful with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with very little is also dishonest with a lot. So if you haven't been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?" Luke 16:10,11
© Emittravel 2012
Get a clue Washington. You want more tax revenue? Jesus said it best: "Whoever is faithful with very little is also faithful with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with very little is also dishonest with a lot. So if you haven't been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?" Luke 16:10,11
© Emittravel 2012
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
It's Broke. Time to fix it. Article #2
It's broke . . .
1. Lock the Federal budget for 2011 at the actual 2010 budget amounts. Actual budget amounts, not projected budget amounts. No new spending allowed for anything. Anything. Not one dime for any new projects; no current department increases. Nothing.
Understand, when Congress, or the President, brags about cutting the budget by, say, $250 Billion, what they really mean was that they were going to INCREASE the budget by $1 Trillion dollars, but decided to cut out $250 Billion and only INCREASE the budget by $750 Billion. See? You can always tell when a politician is lying: their lips move.
2. After one year reduce that budget amount by one percent - across the board. Not equal amounts, but equal sacrifice. No special interests. Nothing. This means not "punishing" the military and "boosting" education - or visa versa! Every line item on the budget gets a one percent reduction. Like real businesses do, review what you are doing and cut the fat. A real business doesn't last very long swimming in red ink. If a department/project isn't working, quit throwing more money at it!! Give it a polite funeral instead.
3. Reduce that budget by one percent across the board the next year, repeating each year until the country is in the black. That means, the outgo is less than the income, the country owes no one anything, and the complete elimination of the deficit.
This would force Congress to "balance the budget" and get us back on track. We USED to be the world's largest lender, and NOW we are the largest borrower. I always wondered what would happen if countries like China decided they wanted us to pay them immediately, in full, for what we owe them . . .
4. Oh, and shut down that damn printing press! Now, you have to understand that one of the ways the government can get out of debt is printing more money. They then pay off the debts with that money. In reality it also has the benefit of lowering the value of that money by flooding the market, in other words, INFLATION.
If someone outside the government prints currency it is considered counterfeit. Why? It doesn't have the full confidence and backing of the United States. It has less worth than Monopoly money. But if the government keeps printing money to represent money it doesn't actually HAVE, THAT is worth less than Monopoly money too.
There is an old proverb that says if you are faithful with little you will be faithful with much. Congress has proven that they have not been faithful with the PEOPLE'S money - they should not have more of it until they PROVE themselves otherwise.
. . . time to fix it!
©Emittravel 2010
1. Lock the Federal budget for 2011 at the actual 2010 budget amounts. Actual budget amounts, not projected budget amounts. No new spending allowed for anything. Anything. Not one dime for any new projects; no current department increases. Nothing.
Understand, when Congress, or the President, brags about cutting the budget by, say, $250 Billion, what they really mean was that they were going to INCREASE the budget by $1 Trillion dollars, but decided to cut out $250 Billion and only INCREASE the budget by $750 Billion. See? You can always tell when a politician is lying: their lips move.
2. After one year reduce that budget amount by one percent - across the board. Not equal amounts, but equal sacrifice. No special interests. Nothing. This means not "punishing" the military and "boosting" education - or visa versa! Every line item on the budget gets a one percent reduction. Like real businesses do, review what you are doing and cut the fat. A real business doesn't last very long swimming in red ink. If a department/project isn't working, quit throwing more money at it!! Give it a polite funeral instead.
3. Reduce that budget by one percent across the board the next year, repeating each year until the country is in the black. That means, the outgo is less than the income, the country owes no one anything, and the complete elimination of the deficit.
 |
| ...and we'll give you the key when you've cleaned your (the country's) room!! |
This would force Congress to "balance the budget" and get us back on track. We USED to be the world's largest lender, and NOW we are the largest borrower. I always wondered what would happen if countries like China decided they wanted us to pay them immediately, in full, for what we owe them . . .
4. Oh, and shut down that damn printing press! Now, you have to understand that one of the ways the government can get out of debt is printing more money. They then pay off the debts with that money. In reality it also has the benefit of lowering the value of that money by flooding the market, in other words, INFLATION.
If someone outside the government prints currency it is considered counterfeit. Why? It doesn't have the full confidence and backing of the United States. It has less worth than Monopoly money. But if the government keeps printing money to represent money it doesn't actually HAVE, THAT is worth less than Monopoly money too.
There is an old proverb that says if you are faithful with little you will be faithful with much. Congress has proven that they have not been faithful with the PEOPLE'S money - they should not have more of it until they PROVE themselves otherwise.
. . . time to fix it!
©Emittravel 2010
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