When the nickels, quarters and dimes were all counted, there was $5.50 to buy some ice cream. It was a simple pleasure, a gift from me to me after weeks of scrapping by and trying to live within my drastically reduced means.
Such was the dichotomy between me and the two politicians who hoarded the evening discussing America’s rising debt on national television, that I had to write about it.
Despite the protesting from the President that most Americans had not heard of the nation’s debt ceiling until recently, I recalled an informative story on National Public Radio about the history of America’s debt ceiling.
In the two months since listening to the story, my belief has coarsened to the posturing of both parties. As much as both want to claim innocence, not funding two wars of choice and ratifying, then signing two pieces of flawed budget-bursting legislation convicts both major parties to some degree.
Monday, President Obama and Rep. John Boehner (R- Ohio) laid out their thoughts on this so-called debt crisis.
I call this a so-called crisis because at the end of the day some agreement will be made for America to pay its substantial bills — even if it forces the President to think about more pressing things other than his upcoming 50th birthday.
During Boehner’s remarks he noted his House of Representatives recently passed a bill that might lead to passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. My question is why such an amendment is necessary?
We the people are also to blame.
Collectively we are so materialistic that we want to be like our neighbors up the street.
Yet, most of our neighbors are too prideful to mention that their new house has mortgaged their future to the point that one missed paycheck or unforeseen circumstance will send them crashing toward life in Section 8 housing. Our friends do not mention that the new car their purchased has put such a wallop in their credit, or access to it, they cannot buy a new home for a decade.
Instead of electing representatives who are supposedly the best and stateliest among us, we send people to our capitols and Washington and the White House who have the most lumbar flexibility with their positions.
Two sentences after assailing the previous administration for wasting the surplus it was gifted in 2000 President Obama uttered “To make matters worse, the recession meant that there was less money coming in, and it required us to spend even more. …”
Read that again.
“To make matters worse, the recession meant that there was less money coming in, and it required us to spend even more. …”
Yes, this country needs teachers, police officers, firefighters and other essential municipal
employees. Yes, those who lost their job through no fault of their own need and deserve some compensation in the weeks it takes them to get on their feet.
However, when we do not check our elected figures for thinking it is acceptable to spend more than we make, we are allowing them to mortgage our future so they can continue to pay the bills of their lives of relative luxury.
(Obama, whose best-selling books made him a millionaire, will earn $400,000 this year. Boehner will earn $223,500 for his role as Speaker of the House. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid makes $193,000 annually, while the anonymous congressman earns just under $175,000.)
With those salaries, is it little coincidence that politicians discuss “the American people” and it leaves you wondering whether this person is talking about you, or just those that contributed to their campaign?
So while both sides quibble about a manufactured situation and attempt to be the most pious in their closing remarks, I just wonder whether the two Midwestern politicians who have requested for God’s blessing over America have truly remembered that no debt should remain outstanding, except the continued debt to love one another.
Laughs and liveliness,
-Wb
Such was the dichotomy between me and the two politicians who hoarded the evening discussing America’s rising debt on national television, that I had to write about it.
Despite the protesting from the President that most Americans had not heard of the nation’s debt ceiling until recently, I recalled an informative story on National Public Radio about the history of America’s debt ceiling.
In the two months since listening to the story, my belief has coarsened to the posturing of both parties. As much as both want to claim innocence, not funding two wars of choice and ratifying, then signing two pieces of flawed budget-bursting legislation convicts both major parties to some degree.
Monday, President Obama and Rep. John Boehner (R- Ohio) laid out their thoughts on this so-called debt crisis.
I call this a so-called crisis because at the end of the day some agreement will be made for America to pay its substantial bills — even if it forces the President to think about more pressing things other than his upcoming 50th birthday.
During Boehner’s remarks he noted his House of Representatives recently passed a bill that might lead to passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. My question is why such an amendment is necessary?
We the people are also to blame.
Collectively we are so materialistic that we want to be like our neighbors up the street.
Yet, most of our neighbors are too prideful to mention that their new house has mortgaged their future to the point that one missed paycheck or unforeseen circumstance will send them crashing toward life in Section 8 housing. Our friends do not mention that the new car their purchased has put such a wallop in their credit, or access to it, they cannot buy a new home for a decade.
Instead of electing representatives who are supposedly the best and stateliest among us, we send people to our capitols and Washington and the White House who have the most lumbar flexibility with their positions.
Two sentences after assailing the previous administration for wasting the surplus it was gifted in 2000 President Obama uttered “To make matters worse, the recession meant that there was less money coming in, and it required us to spend even more. …”
Read that again.
“To make matters worse, the recession meant that there was less money coming in, and it required us to spend even more. …”
Yes, this country needs teachers, police officers, firefighters and other essential municipal
employees. Yes, those who lost their job through no fault of their own need and deserve some compensation in the weeks it takes them to get on their feet.
However, when we do not check our elected figures for thinking it is acceptable to spend more than we make, we are allowing them to mortgage our future so they can continue to pay the bills of their lives of relative luxury.
(Obama, whose best-selling books made him a millionaire, will earn $400,000 this year. Boehner will earn $223,500 for his role as Speaker of the House. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid makes $193,000 annually, while the anonymous congressman earns just under $175,000.)
With those salaries, is it little coincidence that politicians discuss “the American people” and it leaves you wondering whether this person is talking about you, or just those that contributed to their campaign?
So while both sides quibble about a manufactured situation and attempt to be the most pious in their closing remarks, I just wonder whether the two Midwestern politicians who have requested for God’s blessing over America have truly remembered that no debt should remain outstanding, except the continued debt to love one another.
Laughs and liveliness,
-Wb
