I'm not intellectual enough to get into a full-on political debate with anyone (uncommon sense, remember?) but common sense is lost on today's political climate. Besides chasing a giant runaway mylar balloon that may or may not have contained a small boy (whew) there were two stories in the news that caught my attention today.
The first was the fact that social security recipients will not receive their cost of living adjustment for the first time since 1975. Despite the fact that the economy saw negative inflation, the cost of prescription drugs and food continues to rise. The president is proposing that every social security recipient instead receive a one-time check for $250, at a taxpayer cost of $13 billion dollars. Here's what it looks like with all of the zeros: $13,000,000,000. Really, what is $250 going to get people? Nothing; but it will get their grandchildren's grandchildren deeper in the hole.
The other story has to do with another bill being proposed: a $3500 per person tax break for pet owners. To quote the reporter, "Analysts say this could be good for the economy as people will spend the money on luxury items for their pets."
Hmmm... on one hand, we're plunging deeper into debt. On the other hand we're giving Fluffy the cat $3250 more than we're giving Grandma.
Well, at least Fluffy will finally get her luxury litter box.
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All we seem to be doing is layering band-aid upon band-aid; using duct tape and chewing gum to hold things together; doling out money we don't have; and throwing in a pinch of pixie dust for good luck in an effort to fix problems that have been thirty, forty, even fifty years in the making.
ReplyDeleteYes, it seems the only people taking a pay cut these days (besides the ones that have actually LOST their jobs) are the social security recipients and the doctors that are treating them.
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