As our country totters on the brink of fiscal oblivion, it appears obvious that radical changes are in order. Radical changes to our national philosophy got us here, it will take some radical digging to get us out.
Coined a "country for the people, by the people and of the people" since the Lincoln administration and further back, a tagline for the pre-Revolutionary War "No Taxation without Representation" tell us we have fallen far away from our early roots. This country seems to be far from being "for the people" when it comes to making fiscal decisions. As for taxation? Well, we know about that far more than we would like to. We've gotten fat and lazy, resting on our laurels, now lacking the moxy and industriousness that launched what was once the greatest nation on Earth.
Granted, many are ill-equipped to make large-scale fiscal decisions, but a lot of that has been by design. What you don't use, you lose. We, as Americans, learned from the master's how to be in debt and very little on how to be self-sufficient. Rather, this country is big on making sure people unwilling to work have a way to make it (notice I did not say "unable" to work). I am in favor of a limited degree of welfare and see things such as student grants as investments in people who will in turn become educated and be able to recontribute back to society and the national economy. I am not in favor of people who live on the dole not just for themselves but on a generational basis, who feel entitlement, whether rich or poor, from other tax payers.
This is all good, but just how would you go about fixing the fiscal cliff we find ourselves on? As it happens, if I'm going to complain, I'd just as soon be armed with some suggestions:
1.) Put the power of fiscal spending in the hands of the people. When it comes time to file taxes, instead of campaign contributions, have a series of check-boxes for how your tax dollars are spent. Or when setting up your deductions from your paycheck, determine what percentage of your withholdings will go to what, much like itemizing your charitable contributions. National defense, law enforcement, education, infrastructure, etc. would be mandatory and have default amounts as well all would benefit from those and are true necessites. If enough people support special interest groups or flavor-of-the-year programs, the people would decide with their withholdings the remaining amount. If no one supports them, then clearly the people don't want/ need them and the funding goes away BUT THE PEOPLE DECIDE, not some bureaucrat that thinks he/ she knows what's best for everyone. For example, I might be required to have 20% of my taxed dollars go to the mandatory programs mentioned above, then decide 10% go to parks and recreation, another 10% go to government grants funding cancer research, etc. I might not opt to fund welfare, and so might my neighbors and before you know it, the programs become underfunded and these people actually have to get jobs.
2.) If the person earns nothing (this would mean people who have income through welfare for more than 12 months, are on unemployment for 18 months, are deadbeats, or people who avoid paying taxes by working under the table), you forfeit the right to decide where the money goes when you file. 100% goes to the mandatory buckets I mentioned above. No one who doesn't contribute to society via earnings should decide that money they don't earn should go back into the same pots that are supporting them and keeping that money pit churning. As a side benefit, politicians would no longer feel they wold need to pander to this demographic to win or keep votes. The interests of such folks would be jaded in favor of keeping these programs going and less energy would be spent on self-sufficiency, all while contributing nothing to the very funds they wish to receive. It is akin to a child who does not contribute to the family finances deciding where half the money should go. Sorry, but nearly 50% of adults collecting some form of welfare is far too many and unsustainable. I find it hard to believe that many people are disabled.
3.) I don't support government bailouts for mismanaged or declining corporations as this fies in the face of free enterprise, but if they continue or are resumed, they should be in the form of stock options for tax payers that are having their money used to support these failing industries, and in direct proportion to the amount of money they're taxed. This would boost the stock market and the tax payer would have the possibility of getting something back for their forced contribution (dividends, capital gains or increases in stock value), all while helping the business remain afloat. Think of it; the corporation would remain in business, the tax payer would get something out of it and the stock market would rise due to the increase in trading. Jobs would be saved, the economy would receive its shot in the arm both from a consumer and a Wall Street standpoint.
4.) Social Security has got to be reformed. I personally think people should learn responsibility for saving for their retirement and SS be privately handled through retirement vehicles (which would likely mean an increase in employment needs in that industry). You contribute directly to your own retirement, not pool into an elder generation's retirement, all the while hoping that there will be something left for you many years down the road.
5.) ZERO foreign aid. None, nada, zilch. Not until we clean up our own act. I'm not going to give my buddy with a gambling problem money when I don't have enough to make rent or food to put into my family's mouth. Most countries we send money to are derisive to the United States, anyway.
Do these ideas seem over-simplified? Sure, but I don't think for a moment that anyone is seriously looking at a major overhaul, just looking to cut things all of us want to use just to make it look like they're trying and protection of political interests. The government is too happy to continue being king and have little motivation to truly change things. I suppose we will see what they come up with in the approaching weeks and pray to God that what they decide will be worthwhile.
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