“He who goes borrowing, goes sorrowing.” – Benjamin Franklin
Somewhere between 1776 and today some kind of liberal virus infected our great nation that was formed on the foundation of freedom from excessive taxation and repression by the government.
There is not one nation on this planet that can claim it taxes and regulates its citizens into prosperity, although most liberals would like us to believe that is true. After all, wouldn’t it be the best place to live if you did nothing and the government gave it to you as a benefit?
Some people even claim that the United States is such a rich nation that none of us should have to work for a living. I have no doubt that these are the same people who believe that we can rid ourselves of a budget deficit by spending it.
Our nation has a deficit around $12.3 trillion and Congress recently passed legislation that will increase it even more in the next year to $14 trillion. The state of Maine has over a $400 million budget shortfall and I wouldn’t be the least surprised if it was considerably higher. Total debt in the United States is estimated to be over $57 trillion and soaring even higher every day. Every person in America would have to pay over $186,000 in order pay off all of the debt.
In 2008, VISA had $823 million and Master Card had $547 million in credit card purchases which makes me believe that Americans are increasing their debt instead of whittling it down. Congress passed a so-called stimulus bill in the trillions of dollars that did nothing much except stimulate government more than the economy.
The Maine Legislature borrowed $3 billion against the Maine State Retirement System years ago. They have constantly delayed payments so, in the end, I am willing to bet that the interest paid will be higher than the amount borrowed by the Legislature.
What’s even more amazing is that state agencies like the State Housing Authority and the Finance Authority of Maine are also billions in debt. One would think that the Social Security system would be in good shape since it has raised $2.5 trillion in payroll taxes since 1984. Well, it seems like Congress likes to get its fingers in the cookie jar just like the Maine Legislature, so the surplus of funds is nearly gone.
I have no problem paying for what I want, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a necessity or something that is just nice to have. I also have no problem with paying for what I use which includes my car, the interstate, a cell phone or my computer. What I do have a problem with is the liberal philosophy of stealing my money to give some other person the ability to do the same, although they pay nothing. My parents taught me if I want it, pay for it. I am sick and tired of those who want to reach into my wallet and give my money to someone who ends up with a free ride, and it doesn’t matter if that money subsidizes a train ticket or puts another parking garage in Westbrook.
It is time for government at all levels to cut spending. We know that we can’t borrow ourselves out of a deficit, and yet the spending goes on and on.
My wife and I recently made some improvements to our house. Did we do it all at the same time? No, we didn’t and that’s the approach government needs to make. I think the move to green energy is a perfect example of things gone wrong. Even though the stimulus package contained millions of dollars for green energy, the amount of people employed in that field is dropping.
It’s high time to set some real priorities for projects rather than spread the money into so many things that accomplish little or nothing. And it’s also time that government projects like extending the Downeaster from Portland to Brunswick pay for themselves. If one wants to ride that train then one should pay for a ticket that lets the system earn a profit rather than raiding my bank account.
Lane Hiltunen lives in Windham.
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