Time To Make Hard Choices

Currently, the Federal government is $59 TRILLION in debt for various social programs and retirement plans. It means that each and every person in America owes about $516,000. It breaks down this way:

Medicare	$255,280
Social Security	$144,251
Federal debt	$43,380
Military benefits	$25,863
State and local debt	$17,537
Federal civil- servant benefits	$14,374
State and local retiree benefits	$13,114
Other federal obligations	$2,548
Total	$516,348

It's time we start looking long and hard at our upcoming expenses and make tough choices on how to curb these expenses. I have a couple of ideas that will probably piss off a bunch of people, but that's what tough choices are all about.

First, Social Security is cut off for anyone under the age of 35. You'll still pay for it until the last bit of people above that age dies off. A new pre-tax way of saving for retirement needs to be worked out for those under 35. That means that I will continue to pay for Social Security for another 30 years, but not receive ONE DIME from my contributions. That's just the way it has to be.

The alternative is to cut Social Security benefits for those on it and about to come onto it. These people have paid into Social Security their entire lives. That's not fair to them.

Another alternative is to have everyone who does not rely on Social Security for their main income such as those with IRA's, investments, or savings, to voluntarily give up Social Security benefits. That's going to be tough to get people to give up "free" money, but it's an additional way to save money. Perhaps give them a percentage of the benefits as a tax write off.

Secondly, Medicare is cut back severely. If you have a terminal illness or injury, you are allowed to commit physician assisted suicide. Medicare stops paying for unnecessary things. Only things that will keep you alive and without pain are paid for. Need an operation that may extend your life another year? Sorry. You die naturally this year instead of next. It sounds cruel, but the needs of many outweigh the needs of a few.

Third: The US Government is to be run as a business. Unnecessary costs are cut. Cost cutting measures such as the use of Linux instead of Windows are used where ever possible. Government vehicles are replaced with hybrids where ever possible. Government vehicles are replaced less frequently. "Hand out" programs are cut to the bone. Welfare is now only for those who cannot work because of a disability. If you are physically able to work, you will have a job. Public parks need cleaning, government buildings need security, public construction workers need helpers, etc. Don't like the job? Get a job in the private sector because you won't get welfare benefits.


You can keep tax cuts and still make the US government profitable. It just takes some imagination and a bit of sacrifice to make our way of life free of debt.

Travis
travis@rightwinglunatic.com