When Big Government Doesn’t Get Its Way
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
During the last Nevada Legislature we had the chance to watch the hissy-fit thrown by the majority party over not being able to get their tax increase package passed. In spite of the serious economic doldrums the private sector was dealing with, increasing taxes to provide for bigger government was still their number one agenda. We’re seeing the same thing in Washington, D.C. with the same political jerseys being sported as part of their mantra for dealing with America’s $14-plus TRILLION credit card bill.
The unwillingness of the Republican party to compromise and join the raise taxes crowd is being slammed by the same media outlets as were involved in the Nevada Legislature. It seems that unless you will vote for tax increases – you’re an ideologue who is unfit to be an elected official. Why isn’t blind and uncompromising adherence to ever expanding government not viewed as also being inappropriate?
Then again, why would we expect the media folks reporting on this issue to give us a balanced perspective? They are also of the mind-set that government expansion, without limitations for spending, is the proper function of government.
I couldn’t help but pass notice of the way some of the “news” accounts are identifying the debt ceiling limit as a point where the U.S. will no longer be able to pay its obligations. Hopefully, for most thinking persons, this understanding won’t go unchallenged. The debt ceiling limit is the point where government can’t borrow any more to pay obligations. There is still revenue coming into government coffers – it’s just not enough to cover the expenses being paid out. That is how our country got $14-plus TRILLION in the hole. Those who have been elected to be our representatives (of both parties) have spent beyond the income they had to operate with. Fixing that problem will not only require fiscal responsibility in the short-term, but also attention by voters in the upcoming elections…if we keep electing the Big Government supporters who have been getting elected (at all levels of government) we will keep getting the Big Government results that we can’t afford!
In the spin of trying to convince us that Republicans, who won’t go along with tax increases are the problem, we need to recall that there have been times when the shoe was on the other foot. I appreciate the insight offered by a friend who shared a link that reports on the way the Democrats voted in 2006, when the debt ceiling question was under consideration in the U.S. Senate. It should be very obvious that the “Nay” votes on the question of raising the debt ceiling all have (D) initials after their name. Scanning down the alphabetized list, please take note of the last names beginning with the letter “O”…then down a little further to the “R” section – anything strike you as rather “interesting”? (Does that mean they were right in 2006, but now have decided that spending us further into the hole is the right thing to do?)
Bottom line, we do need to see the debt ceiling addressed in a meaningful way. That meaningful way would not be the games being offered by the political hacks who are more concerned over appearances than results. We need federal spending reduced and we need limitations placed on keeping those who have run up the bill from digging us deeper into the hole we’re in. Tax increases are not the answer and should be completely off the table for further consideration…fueling the spending addicts need for more won’t help any of us get things under control.
During the last Nevada Legislature we had the chance to watch the hissy-fit thrown by the majority party over not being able to get their tax increase package passed. In spite of the serious economic doldrums the private sector was dealing with, increasing taxes to provide for bigger government was still their number one agenda. We’re seeing the same thing in Washington, D.C. with the same political jerseys being sported as part of their mantra for dealing with America’s $14-plus TRILLION credit card bill.
The unwillingness of the Republican party to compromise and join the raise taxes crowd is being slammed by the same media outlets as were involved in the Nevada Legislature. It seems that unless you will vote for tax increases – you’re an ideologue who is unfit to be an elected official. Why isn’t blind and uncompromising adherence to ever expanding government not viewed as also being inappropriate?
Then again, why would we expect the media folks reporting on this issue to give us a balanced perspective? They are also of the mind-set that government expansion, without limitations for spending, is the proper function of government.
I couldn’t help but pass notice of the way some of the “news” accounts are identifying the debt ceiling limit as a point where the U.S. will no longer be able to pay its obligations. Hopefully, for most thinking persons, this understanding won’t go unchallenged. The debt ceiling limit is the point where government can’t borrow any more to pay obligations. There is still revenue coming into government coffers – it’s just not enough to cover the expenses being paid out. That is how our country got $14-plus TRILLION in the hole. Those who have been elected to be our representatives (of both parties) have spent beyond the income they had to operate with. Fixing that problem will not only require fiscal responsibility in the short-term, but also attention by voters in the upcoming elections…if we keep electing the Big Government supporters who have been getting elected (at all levels of government) we will keep getting the Big Government results that we can’t afford!
In the spin of trying to convince us that Republicans, who won’t go along with tax increases are the problem, we need to recall that there have been times when the shoe was on the other foot. I appreciate the insight offered by a friend who shared a link that reports on the way the Democrats voted in 2006, when the debt ceiling question was under consideration in the U.S. Senate. It should be very obvious that the “Nay” votes on the question of raising the debt ceiling all have (D) initials after their name. Scanning down the alphabetized list, please take note of the last names beginning with the letter “O”…then down a little further to the “R” section – anything strike you as rather “interesting”? (Does that mean they were right in 2006, but now have decided that spending us further into the hole is the right thing to do?)
Bottom line, we do need to see the debt ceiling addressed in a meaningful way. That meaningful way would not be the games being offered by the political hacks who are more concerned over appearances than results. We need federal spending reduced and we need limitations placed on keeping those who have run up the bill from digging us deeper into the hole we’re in. Tax increases are not the answer and should be completely off the table for further consideration…fueling the spending addicts need for more won’t help any of us get things under control.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 7/19/2011 7:35 AM 
Categories: Congress
Tags: Government Spending and Taxes Congress Budget Shortfalls
Categories: Congress
Tags: Government Spending and Taxes Congress Budget Shortfalls
Comments