The point is simply this, we don't get to pick and choose federal waste that we disapprove of to find fault while sitting back and allowing the waste we do like.
The problem here is the hypocrisy. Despite the fact that we, on a daily basis, berate the Federal Government for its stupidity, I'm still told that I am the one who is not smart enough for 6.25% of my money. Don't know what I am talking about? Try remembering what Democrats said about Social Security.
Don't remember? Here's a gem:
"The reason why we've opposed to private accounts is because we view them as unnecessarily risky, very expensive, and really kind of beside the point about how to keep the system solvent for the future." John Rother AARP
You know what's risky? Leaving my money in the hands of a political body that couldn't comprehend the need to move buses to higher ground. The Federal Government, in conjunction with local and state authorities, the same people dumb enough to build a city below sea level, are the ones who are better fit to plan my retirement? Yeah, I don't think so.
The United States Bicameral Legislature overspends its revenues nearly every single year, running up trillions of dollars in deficit. The Small Business Administration recently admitted that in the wake of Sept 11th they gave enormous loans (earmarked to help prevent economic recession in New York) to those hit hardest by the attacks. And by hit hardest I mean Quizno's and other fast food chains in states like Ohio and California. A quick helicopter ride over NOLA shows images of state vehicles, buses and trucks submerged under water, vehicles that if they had been moved just a few miles up the road could have been used to rescue thousands of people. Nearly everyone in the country knew the two congregation points for hurricane survivors: The Super Dome and the Convention Center, yet four days after the storm hit, FEMA admits it was completely ignorant to the fact that 50,000 people were still stranded at the latter meeting point.
Yet for all this, and many more consistent examples of utter incompetence, the government is still better fit to manage my money. I'm not even talking about taxes here, just the simple fact that a minimum of 6.25% (then matched by your employer) of your salary, regardless of your views on it, is given to the government to protect for you. That's like giving a tenth of your savings to your alcoholic father to "put away for a rainy day." Stupid is as stupid does right? Well nothing is stupider than putting a fiscally irresponsible body in charge of your funds.
Article comments
1 - Lee Richards
Fine post. I agree with most of your points, but don't forget it is the Not-So-Conservatives who are currently burying us with ever-mounting deficits. Instead of being represented by an elephant and a donkey, I suggest two new Party symbols:hyena and hog--and I don't think it makes any difference which is which.
2 - The Searcher
Very good read, especially:
"government hates all people and cares only about itself"
I feel as though our two-party system is like being faced with Sophie's Choice.
3 - ryan
Thank you.
Though I'm fairly certain that a 4 party system would just leave us with twice as many morons. :)
4 - The Searcher
Yes, but think of a photograph with a higher degree of resolution; as you add more pixels, the image does at least move in the general direction of clarity.
It takes millions of dollars to win a campaign and the money's got to come from somewhere.
You've got to have money and power to get in the game in the first place. It also takes a great deal of money to propogate your spin-spunk to the masses through the media.
The sad fact is that if stupid people far outnumber intelligent ones, the representative democracy is going to put stupid people in office if it works properly. If you are a whore-mongering crack addict, and your constituency of fellow crack-addicts comprises a majority, you might just get elected -- it happens.
5 - ryan
Oh I know. And I totally understand.
My point was simply this: Politicians will always be morons, regardless of party system (2, 4 6, 8) and as such, we ought to have them in charge of as little as possible.
6 - ryanb
hey, i just redid all the colors on the site. let me know what you think
7 - The Searcher
Your point, as stated, is well-taken and dead on.
The text on your menus is too dark, it blends with the blue background and is hard to read :)
8 - some dude
what does the declaration of independance say about this. Read it and you'll learn that there is something that we can do about it. Everyone thinks that they have the upper hand. And there right only as long as we do nothing about it. We need to do domething about it before the internet is done away with. And I hear that they're talking about it.
9 - ryan
dude: you're absolutely right. we must do something about it, and that was the point of my article