Stop growing the nation’s debt

So, the government is sending us more money for pandemic relief.

I’m not going to complain. I have a need for the money, or more accurately, my car has a need for the money. A broken air conditioner and four balding tires will eat up a big chunk of the check Uncle Sam says is coming.

That being said, I lied to you. I am going to complain. As much as I can use the money — and I will use it — I would rather not have it in the first place. I know that’s hypocrisy, but the way I see it is it was my money to begin with. After all, the government can’t give what it first hasn’t taken. Actually, that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Our government quit doing that and has been digging us deeper into debt than we can ever pay back for many generations to come.

At the time of this writing, the United States is about $28 trillion in debt. Of that, $1.9 trillion is being spent on the latest pandemic-related economic stimulus. That doesn’t count the trillions that were spent last year under the Trump Administration. The dollar figures we are talking about here are unfathomable. The debt we are creating is unconscionable.

Taking a look at the latest $1.9 trillion stimulus alone, that is more than $5,789 per person in the United States (and more than $247 per person worldwide). When you consider that there are about 145 million taxpayers out of the 328 million people in the country, that comes to $13,103.45 per taxpayer. That means the federal government has taxed each tax-payer more than $13,103 and given back $1,400 to some but not every taxpayer.

The top wage earners (the ones who contribute the most) will see little to none of that money. Most of the money will go to those who paid far less (if any) in taxes than they will receive in stimulus money. Is it just me or does anyone else see something wrong with this picture? Granted, most of the money is going to economic programs, but that’s usually another way of saying pork.

I’m not an economist and I’m far from being a financial expert (I barely passed math in school), but I can clearly see that what the government is doing makes absolutely no sense at all. In order to give us a tiny economic boost now, Uncle Sam has indebted our great-great-grandchildren. And there is no end in sight to the spending spree in D.C. President Joe Biden campaigned on, and is now prepared to deliver, a massive tax increase. That money isn’t going to be used to pay off debt, but rather to grow the government and increase our debt.

 

How do we stop the madness?

The only way to control the country’s finances is to first control the spenders — every member of the Senate, House of Representatives, and the White House. It doesn’t matter which party is in control, both are equally guilty of digging us deeper into debt. Republicans voted for stimulus spending under Trump and Democrats under Biden. Both have voted to raise the debt ceiling in the past.

My recommendation is to eliminate career politicians. We have term limits in the White House and we need them for both houses of Congress. If a president can’t hold office any longer than eight years, why should anyone in the House or Senate? When politicians are less concerned about re-election, they can be more concerned about representing the best interests of their constituents.

We also need a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. The federal government should be required to live on less than it makes, not more. Part of the budget needs to include a funding category for debt reduction. Our government should be required to determine where it will get every dollar it spends rather than deepening the debt hole. If our elected officials cannot do this, they need to be replaced. It’s simple accountability.

Another thing we should strive for is political unity. As Republicans, Democrats, independents, etc., we have more in common with each other than not, but you wouldn’t know that in the halls of Congress and on talk shows across the airwaves. Just because an idea comes from the other side of the aisle doesn’t mean it lacks merit.

As Stephen Covey wrote in “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Before vilifying something just because it comes from the other party, hear them out and study it. It’s better to come back with constructive criticism than a blanket rejection.

Who knows, maybe this is just simple-minded, idealistic daydreaming. Maybe I’m right on point. It will be something to contemplate later while I’m waiting at the shop for my car to get fixed.