Our debt and deficits have surged out of control and our unfunded liabilities threaten to bankrupt us ever sooner. Our legislators grandstand over pennies and diversions while the fiscal situation exacerbates unemployment and slows economic recovery, both of which would reduce the deficits.
David Brooks and others are disappointed by Republican cuts to discretionary spending and Democratic efforts to raise spending while neither addresses the structural fiscal problems. Brooks urges an adult conversation about the role of government. So, I’ve thought about that.
As I see it, government gets too big for a few key reasons:
1. The things we do never get undone – we just do more.
We should consider sunset laws on almost all legislation. “But Congress would be tied up reconsidering stuff all the time,” good, that’s what we sent them there to do.
2. Governments cannot do anything well – if government does something, it will always be inefficient and corrupt.
Outsourcing is little better than direct government management because government remains in charge – think Fannie and Freddie. When we cannot get ourselves to do something, we shouldn’t turn to government, that something just shouldn’t be done. And see number 1.
3. America is a big complex nation – doing stuff is expensive.
We should require an itemized tax line for major government undertakings – for example, imagine a war tax item on your pay check each week specifically charging you for a Libyan no-fly zone. Another nice thing about a line item would come when the Libyan endeavor is over – see number 1.
4. Democracy requires compromise – I’ll vote for your boondoggle if you’ll vote for mine.
We need legislators who simply want to do less. And we need to remember number 1.
5. Do-gooders abound – not just the perennially counter-productive Christians and progressives but tens of thousands of little local groups saving everything from snail darters to the last outhouse in town.
Do-gooder stuff like feeding the poor and supporting a symphony should be done locally or not at all. Remember number 1.
It is a simple human fact that people are greedy and people can become dependent. To the very fullest extent possible, government should do less – see number 1 – and when government must act, it should act at the lowest level possible. It makes no sense for us to send money to the feds so that they can send it back to us.
Look at this chart of federal spending versus federal tax dollars paid by state.
A couple of lefty internet sites point out that it’s mostly blue and purple states that are supporting mostly red states. So cut it out lefties.
This study by The Tax Foundation is for 2005 data. The Tax Foundation, “a nonpartisan tax research group based in Washington, D.C.”, is “currently seeking funding to update this study.” LOL.
The big loser is New Jersey where taxpayers get back 61 cents on their tax dollar. The winner state is New Mexico that doubles its money. We South Carolinians get back $1.35; thank you Illinois, Maryland, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and Washington. The eye catcher and the line item that should demand pause and reflection is Washington DC; they get back $5.55.
I couldn’t find the data but I think we all know that Medicaid is a major factor in federal funds to states. Uncle Sam says, you now have to give free healthcare to the kids of families that earn $68,000 a year but cheer up, we’re going to give you $millions which will pay part of the cost.
· Does that make sense to you?
· Is it ok for a couple of crafty Senators to get hundreds of millions for their states in exchange for their votes?
· Are you aware that when entitlement programs – such as the recent health insurance reform bill – mandate spending by states that money is not considered as a cost by the CBO?
· The highest median household income in any state is New Hampshire at $57,352 – 2005 data again. So SCHIP basically mandates free insurance for children in well over half the families in the nation. That is so unworkable that waivers abound and are increasing rapidly.
· The national median income is $44,473 and the lowest median is in West Virginia at $32,589. Why do we use a single number for mandates rather than indexing?
· Why do we insist on giving things away to people who are clearly not needy?
Don’t get me wrong, I think the Federal Highway Administration and interstate highways are a good idea and they are certainly a cause for federal tax dollars to come to states. Government has a role.
It’s my considered opinion that over the decades we’ve allowed the federal government to get too big. Inefficiency is bad and lots of inefficiency is worse.
It is also my conviction that since the Depression, our trusted liberal party has been hijacked by do-gooders and communitarians who have abandoned American values and worked to move the nation in a socialist, European direction. Our courts in particular have been allowed to run amuck.
While sensible citizens recoiled from politics and slumbered, opposition forces have cynically worked with the left to get their share of the plunder and protect their interests over the nation’s – look at the corporate tax code.
Either we need to liberalize one of our two parties – these guys don’t believe in democracy, they believe in single party rule – or we’ll have to create a new party of centrists. The superior option is to liberalize both parties by throwing the bums out. I fear the deadlock of three parties and never more a simple majority.
N thinks that the parties are too powerful for change due to their gerrymandering, the primary system and the disgust normal people feel for politicians. She might be right but she’s also nailed the targets. Keep your mad on, demand open primaries, take redistricting away from legislators and vote.
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