"Every year the Federal Government wastes billions of dollars as a result of overpayments of government agencies, misuse of government credit cards, abuse of the Federal entitlement programs, and the mismanagement of the Federal bureaucracy." - Chris Chocola, President of the Club for Growth (b. 1962)
Yesterday, I promised that today's post would be about Entitlements, and our "ever-so-evolving" movement to being a "nanny" state, which in History is one of the first MAJOR steps toward Socialism. I also wrote that I am a member of the "99-plus" group; those who have had to be involved in (and the recipient of) ALL FOUR TIERS of the Unemployment compensation entitlement. While I am not writing this to "bite the hand that fed me," I am ashamed that I had to join that group. Yes, my employers through the years paid into the fund to pay me; yes, I qualified for the program; and yes, it did help "stave off the wolves known as creditors" (funny how they still want their money, even if you are unemployed - that is a "tongue in cheek" statement) until the Benefits ran out early this year. For those of you who have never had to file for Unemployment Benefits, I applaud you and am happy that you never had to experience the stress involved. For those of you in my category - just know that I share your frustrations, your stress, and for some of you, your guilt.
As grateful that I am that I received the Kansas Unemployment compensation (I worked in Kansas from 1998 through losing my career in 2008 - therefore I was paid by the Kansas Department of Labor as opposed to ther Missouri Dep't of Labor - the State in which I reside), the State of Kansas virtually went broke with the legislation passed by Congress. Why do we continue to place these burdens on the States when the coffers are empty? Sure, legislation was passed to offer "stimulus" to the States, but we know the stories about the various Stimulus bills, and once we read them, WE became outraged over the earmarks included in those Bills! Now, Kansas is NOT California (thank God for that), and their State's budget is not out of whack because of the same reasons that California's is, but reality has to set in. If we don't have the money to pay for Entitlements, then we can't pay them - period. We have to abide by that rule, so why does the double standard exist? Yes, it would have been much more stressful for us, and yes - we ARE responsible for our debts. But what about the National Debt? What about the States that can't even meet their budgets? What is going to happen in the short term that is going to affect the long term?
Social Security was enacted as part of the New Deal in FDR's Administration, and most (if not all) of us have contributed to this fund. I have been contributing since my first paid position in 1974 when I was hired as an Orderly (at the age of 15) at Rosary Hospital in Corning (now known as Alegent Health Mercy Hospital). Like many of you, I was promised that I would be a recipient of this Fund once I retired at a specific age. However, life expectancy in 1935 (when enacted) was 59.9 years for Men and 63.9 years for Women. Now, with 2005 being the last found data, that has increased to 75.2 years for Men and 80.4 years for Women. The fund will be gone by the time most of us reach the retirement age, which is why Congress has been toying with the idea of raising the minimum age (to receive retirement benefits - I'm not even including the death benefits, etc.) to 67 or higher - some members of Congress have even suggested the minimum age be raised to 70. It makes no difference, as the Lobbyists will end up having their way. We have been promised SSA funding, yet we will likely never see it when we reach that age (for those of us my age and younger).
Medicare is another example of an Entitlement gone haywire. My Mother (soon to be 88 with full-blown Parkinson's Disease) has to rely on Medicare. I'm sure you have a family member or two (or more) that's in the same boat. This is in jeopardy as we go forward, even with Obamacare - as we see the Premiums rise 28% or higher for renewals for 2011, when we were told by Bureaucrats last year AND this year that it would not happen (thank you, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid; I will no longer believe a word you say in an interview, and Ms. Pelosi - your statement about each Food Stamp generating $1.79 in revenue to the Economy . . . come on! All you are doing is moving the cheese from one pile to the other).
Something needs to be done, or if we don't watch out, we will become a Socialistic State. We're dangerously close now with the Bailouts, and the Government's takeover of the majority of General Motors' shares (the Company that needed to be bailed out was Lehman Brothers - which is what finally led to the Disaster in September 2008). All you have to look at is Columbia, Greece, and other Countries that are socialist. Since when did Che' and Hugo Chavez become the heroes to so many?
Be careful what you ask for, for you may just have your wishes granted. This is America, and we are Americans; not a member of a Political Party or defined by Political Parties. The talking heads will continue to talk - but we must decide for ourselves. If Congress won't read the Bills (Charlie Rangel: "Read the Bill! We don't have time to read the Bill!" and Nancy Pelosi: "We have to pass the Bill so we know what's in it!") then we need to and let our voices be heard.
Ok - I'm off my soapbox.
Think about it . . .
Yogi: 10/9/2010 11:40AM CDT
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