There is an ancient curse: “May you live in interesting times.” And boy are our times interesting. Take for example, the enormous lack of fiscal discipline of our Federal Government. Read what they say over at  Downsizedc.org:

The Government Accountability Office estimates the future shortfall in funding at $53.3 trillion (Page 6). Other experts say the number is almost certainly higher. This means that every full-time worker owes a staggering $440,000, courtesy of government excess. Eventually, that debt must be paid, either in higher taxes, or in reduced benefits. These numbers represent a looming crisis of staggering proportions.

I’m sorry, but I’m still having a tough time wrapping my head around a billion. Now we’re taking in terms 1000 times bigger. and 53 of those buggers! Ronald Reagan once quipped on national television back when he was prez, “not many people realize how big a billion actually is. A billion minutes ago, Christ was walking on the earth.” So now we’re talking in trillions. These numbers are so huge they are staggering.

My friends over at DownsizeDC complain that the American people don’t seem to care. Does it surprise them? We live in a credit card, buy-now-pay-later environment where you can have what you want now, instant gratification. But for a society who loves Star Wars so much, you would think they would heed Yoda’s warning about the how “quick and easy path” leads to the Dark Side. But then again, Christ was trying to tell us these things a billion minutes ago and no one was listening then (the path to hell is wide but the path to heaven is narrow), why should we be listening now?

My Democrat congressional representative periodically publishes an email newsletter where he proclaims all of the success he’s had at growing the size and scope of the Federal Government. And he’s damn proud of it. Did he bother to check with the GAO?! I feel sorry for the former head of the GAO, David Walker who was desperately trying to get people to listen to him. But I guess no one wants to hear about how we just won’t be able to pay for Social Security and Medicare, let alone the rest of our government functions. He predicts in thirty to forty years we’ll be bankrupt, but it seems we already are bankrupt. We cannot pay for anything without borrowing. Cut spending? God forbid!

Anyway, if this bothers you at all, I recommend you sign up over at DownsizeDC.org right now and spam your congress-critter. Otherwise, go back to charging up your credit cards.

Tags: Economy, Politics, Ron Paul // Add Comment »