Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Opinion

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February 6, 2010

LAUREN RICKS: We are spending too much

Lauren Ricks The Athens Review

Athens — Some things just make sense to me. I don’t drive with my windows down on a rainy day, or let children run in a busy street.

But now the leaders of the United States are committed to a course that I just don’t understand. The Obama administration released a $3.8 trillion spending plan for 2011 Monday, an increase from the administration’s $3.6 trillion budget approved last year.

The proposal includes funding for two of his pet projects — universal health care and cap and trade. It also raises taxes for the “rich” who make more than $250,000 — this would include businesses both large and small. He does throw a bone to conservatives by offering a $5,000 tax credit for each new worker a business hires in 2010. The only problem is that this credit does not nearly address all the new expenses the business expects to face with mandates and taxes forced on them by an overbearing government. Few businesses, especially the beloved “mom and pop stores,” will be willing to hire under these circumstances.

President Barack Obama’s answer to every problem is spend more money. Our nation is racking up debt at a pace not seen in our country’s history, including during Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s tenure.

The United States has to stop the madness. We cannot continue on this path, and expect there to be no consequences. Life doesn’t work that way.

What is going to happen when inflation hits? How are all the unemployed Americans going to trudge along then when a loaf of bread is too expensive?

The proposal will add another $1.6 trillion to our deficit, when our debt is already a whopping $12.3 trillion.

Is your head spinning yet?

On top of the debt we are already carrying, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to raise our debt ceiling to $14.3 trillion — passing a bill already approved by the Senate on Jan. 28.

According to treasurydirect.gov, our national debt increased from $8 trillion in 2006 to over $12 trillion at the end of 2009. We began the decade at $5 trillion — that seems small by comparison.

I believe reckless spending has been a stumbling block for both of the major political parties, but it seems the Democrats have put the pedal to the metal since coming to power.

We, the people are going to have to live with the decisions our leaders are making today for generations.

So, what is the alternative to massive spending and higher taxes?

Wisconsin Republican Paul D. Ryan and five other House members have sponsored an alternative budget to reduce the deficit and spur economic growth. According to the Washington Post, the bill will “cut the tax rate on corporations, shift future Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to private insurance plans, raise the retirement age to 70, and reduce the growth of benefits to make Social Security solvent.”

America has to make some hard choices. Do we continue to fund failing entitlement programs? Or do we do what is right in the long-term?

Our country was not built on giving people handouts. It was built on one premise — allow Americans to achieve as much as they are willing to work for.

It is past time for us to get back to work and make our country — and ourselves — exceptional once again.

Lauren Ricks is the associate editor of the Athens Review. She can be reached at lricks@athensreview.com.

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