Democratic thugs: How I view government
The debate rages in the post I put up about NASA’s propulsion strategy. Commenter Carl, true to roots, asked me to give up some other federal function to pay for my preferred strategy. He knows I could easily cut 2/3rds of the government and not blink. So I didn’t treat his question as serious. I joked “your pension”. Anyway, after a bit of discussion we seemed to have arrived at this…
They think pension promises are sacrosanct. But not promises to me about Social Security. I’m supposed to honor pensions of government employees, while that same government rips me off about $1500month in FICA payments supposedly in my “trust fund” but long gone before they even take it.
This is the type of argument that makes me think, actually, know, that our end will be sooner than we think and violent.
I mean, how can you resolve this? They want my money, I want my money. They want my time. I want my time.
You can’t sort this type of thing out. The guy with the biggest stick wins. Our true protections from the Constitution died in 1913, we now near the end game.
Commenter Carl seems to think this is Democracy. It is thuggery. I may put up with it. Just one life to live after all, and I’d like it to be a long one. But the problem with thugs is they don’t know their limits. They will take, push, take until it breaks.
Update: The pushing continues. Can’t touch those pensions, but stealing social security trust funds is cool, and now that they have run out, how about Ken’s 401K.
May 11th, 2010 at 5:39 am
I have never condoned the budgetary gyrations that include SS tax revenue in calculating the annual federal budget net balance. It’s fair to oppose anything I advocate but not to suggest that I therefore condone something else unrelated.
May 11th, 2010 at 6:52 am
okay. so should your pension be any safer than mine?
May 11th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Neither pension is safe in a world where public finances are based on hope. The pensioners’ problem is that the American public will not support the new taxes needed to balance a budget that includes the present pension plans. At either state or federal level. Something has to give, and what’s fair will be a hot political potato for decades. I expect my pension deal to continually shrink as I expect every other pension plan to shrink. It has already shrunk some in the government’s share of my health insurance. I won’t like it, but I have managed my finances over the decades wisely enough to withstand the cuts. Others who may have lived a more extravagant life in relation to their incomes will have a harder time for which I cannot get up a lot of sympathy. I already pay higher taxes than they do because the progressive tax rates, which I support, assign me a higher rate. They enjoyed their pleasures and I enjoy my relative security.
May 11th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Fine. You say that. But the candidates you vote for tend to screw a) the future, and b) me.
May 11th, 2010 at 9:00 am
I disagree. I wholly support the taxes required to reduce federal spending towards a balanced budget….. oh…. wait a minute…..
May 11th, 2010 at 9:08 am
any new dollar will be spent + 20 cents.
May 11th, 2010 at 9:41 am
You don’t know which president, if any, I vote for every four years. You do know that I don’t have a vote for Congress.
You’re actually on the right track to attack the problem of fantasy finance with the tea-party. Remember that our federal government does what we want because we elect it. If we want responsibility, we have to convince our neighbors to vote for responsibility. If we pay the Congress enough that they want to keep the job, and we demand responsibility, they will do it.
Unfortunately, the body politic is still not ready for the required austerity and real-world thinking. I hope the tea-party can turn their attitudes before another financial disaster intervenes. Start knocking on doors to “brighten the corner where you live.”
May 11th, 2010 at 9:57 am
I know you voted for Carter, hated Reagan, hated Bush I, suffered from BDS under Bush II. Clinton is the only mystery to me. I know you liked him, I just don’t know if you were voting then. Yes, it is a secret ballot, but an OPEN book in terms of reading your politics. Secular, libertarian except that you prioritize social order and believe the progressive tax system is a good idea. You can’t blast Christians as much as you do and vote for a Republican. Nope… I think I know who you voted for, if you voted (-:
And thank GOODNESS DC doesn’t have the vote, or there would be another socialist in the Congress taking and lying.
May 11th, 2010 at 9:58 am
as to tea party success… they will try valiantly but if Utah is an example be suckered by the next class of political self-servers.
in other words… doom awaits.