Should the government borrow against the future? Should it guarantee higher taxes for your children and grandchildren in return for lower taxes for you?
If government’s moral legitimacy depends on the consent of the governed, as Thomas Jefferson argued in the Declaration of Independence, can the federal government morally compel those who haven’t consented to its financial profligacy — because they are not yet born — to pay higher taxes?
These questions are at the base of the debate — such as it is — in Congress these days over the so-called Republican tax reform plan. But you will not hear these questions even asked, much less answered, on Capitol Hill because the Republican leadership of the House and Senate is afraid that the answers might drive them from power. The same can be said for Democratic leaders when their party controls Congress.
In fact, with the exception of a few courageous senators, such as Rand Paul of Kentucky, and representatives, such as Justin Amash of Michigan and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, most in Congress in both parties think the only limit on the government‘s taxing power is what it can politically get away with at any given moment.
And it gets away with a great deal because vast majorities in both major political parties recognize no moral limits to the government’s sordid pattern of tax, borrow and spend.
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No, they should cut back on spending. I'm not talking about the military or law and order, protection is the number one job of government, which they seem to forget.
ReplyDeleteI'm referring to waste such as bailing politicians out of a mess, when they fondle or molest male and female minions working under them (no pun intended).
Also, cut off illegal non-citizens from any monies of legal hard working citizens. The Americans have enough on their plate without supporting unknown, unrelated squatters. Etc., etc., etc.
They need to cut back on all spending including military. The budgets biggest appropriation is to military. At some point enough is enough and we need,to stop playing the world police and take care of our own. I support the people who dedicate their lives to the military but many times I do not support what those men and women are asked to do.
DeleteTerm limits and balanced budgets are needed now!
ReplyDeleteWe can limit their breathing.
ReplyDeleteThat would stop them.
Do we have enough rope? (for all you cheer leaders looking up the number to the Secret Service).
Foiled again.
Keep cheering.