I was perusing a story on the Budget that Fearless Leader has put forth for the coming year, and I'd like to share a thought that I had.
See, a few years ago, you red state types had your eye on a pretty little purchase. It was kind of expensive, but you really, really wanted it, and your Big Daddy is an Indulgent Daddy, so he went ahead and bought it for you. But that purchase turned out to cost a lot more than you thought it would, with a lot of hidden costs built in, and all the unexpected accessorizing, and, well, you blew right through your savings and started to charge the costs on credit.
Now, your "little" purchase is still mounting in cost, your Daddy is still grinning away (and since some of the costs you've accrued seem to be going to some of his other, more favorite, children, that grin is maybe starting to get on your nerves). He keeps assuring you that it's all for the best, that you've almost finished paying for it, but guess what...
He's lying.
Latest example: The surge, which no one seems to say much about the cost of (other than "it'll cost more not to"), is actually going to cost a lot more than they'll admit, because it'll involve a lot more people than they'll admit. What they forgot to mention is that if you send 20,000 soldiers somewhere, you also need to send about 20,000 support personel also. And guess what? That costs money. A lot of money.
Now, let's talk about that debt. See, if you were in bankruptcy court, the judge might, indeed, say that you needed to cut back on unneeded expenses (though I'm not sure he'd count things like health care as "unneeded"). But guess what, he'd also make sure that you paid as much money as you could, and if you whined at him that you dont like paying money, he's not going to have a lot of sympathy. He will tell you that you spent the money already, and that you are going to pay it back, and so to quit your whining. And if you tell him you only want to pay a little bit now because in five years you expect to have a much better job, he'll laugh your ass right out of the courtroom (though he may pause in his mirth long enough to slap you with contempt).
Let me make myself plainer:
go to war → rack up debt → pay more taxes
This is what has to be done. You fell for the Ponzi scheme. And if you dont like it, why dont you make sure the schemer pays for getting you into this mess instead of whining how unfair it is that you pay for it. No one forced you to go to war, but you did it anyway. Now grow up and cover your debts, you babies.
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7 comments:
Great post Dave! Damn you put it in such a way those red folks can't argue with it..but lord knows the asshats will still try.
That's because they dont argue, but rather they spout the dogma their masters have given them, beliefs which align neatly with their own selfish and childish beliefs. You want to live in the greatest nation in the world, then by God, pay for it! They'd do it for a TV, why not their country?
Dave,
I think the "red staters" or the "patriots" would argue with you here. I mean some folks would say that any money it takes to protect us is good money spent. I know that we tried the diplomatic role from 93-2001 but that evidently didnt work. I mean I was all for Clinton, he is no question the man in my eyes, what he did for men in this country is unsurpassed!!!!! But along the lines of securing the country he was a tad slack, and being much of a man he lacked there too (see Somolia), Anyway, I as you well know by now am a conservitive Libertarian and I really dont mind paying for the war. I'd a whole lot pay for the war than I would pay for welfare or social security. I am just glad that people weren't weak and soft, like the detractors today and the detractors in 1970, in 1942, during WWI, the civil war and in 1776.
I realize this is your forum and you will na-say me but please see my corralation and check it out before you do.
js
I think we should pay for the war, also, but my point is that we're not. We're charging it all instead, mostly with our Bank Of China Platinum Visa. This is the first war that was not accompanied by taxes to pay for it, all because of Republican dogma, the greed of the wealthy, and the gullability of ordinary Americans in accepting "tax cuts" that are no such thing. And make no mistake, it will cost us.
“I think we should pay for the war, also, but my point is that we're not. We're charging it all instead, mostly with our Bank Of China Platinum Visa.” I laughed so hard when I read your reply line, my eyes watered! You are absolutely right on with your post. It is amazing to how the folks who are running up the debt tab are the same one’s who tightened bankruptcy laws. It seems hypercritical but then they are not getting themselves in debt are they? Just the country. When the collector comes to demand payment, it won’t come from their pockets directly will it? It seems to me insane to continue on this path and dangerous for our country as well.
Dave, I am working on my dissertation, a section on neocons, and came across this quote from Irwin Stelzer, in “Neoconservatives and their Critics,” that relates to your post:
“In another sharp break with conservatives, many—indeed, most—neocons have abandoned the adherence to balanced budgets that had long been a cornerstone of conservative policy. To conservatives, the budget must be balanced, and the policies that government pursues are limited by the need to be fiscally responsible, thus defined. Neocons elevated policy over budgets. As Irving Kristol puts it, ‘we should figure out what we want before we calculate what we can afford, not the reverse, which is the normal conservative predisposition.’ As a corollary of this approach, neoconservatives live quite comfortably with budget deficits . . .” (21).
So, we should figure out what we want, get that, and not concern ourselves with the cost. Wow, I would love to live by that philosophy if it wasn’t for the fact that it would sneak up and bite me on the ass! This is of course the ‘consumerist’ code—a code that has put most of us in horrible debt, the kind we cannot get out of, but leaves us with shinny new shoes, dresses, TVs and Wars. Somehow, one questions this logic!
As long as the neo-grifters (more accurate than "cons", I think) dont get stuck with the bill for the war and all it's profits, they dont really care how much it'll cost America. They'll be safe behind their security walls, with their money safely offshore. If worst comes to worst, say, rioting in the street, look to a fortified, post-Iraq Blackwater to provide safety and security for this bunch. Bottom line, we return to the apparent Republican credo: "I got mine, so fuck you".
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