Economy: Politicians can't cut spending

In the 18th century, as democratic ideals were taking hold both on the American content and in Europe, it was observed that a democracy can exist only until its citizens discover that they can vote themselves access to the public treasury. While we don't know for certain who originally made this observation, he or she might have added a parallel: When politicians discover that they can buy votes through uncontrolled spending, economic collapse is assured.

As the US heads toward 2012, the population will be inundated with political ads proclaiming a new era of fiscal responsibility. Republicans will tell us that they engineered this "largest spending cut," and democrats, of course, will claim to have a master plan that will both cut spending and increase government's ability to meet our every need. In short, we will be lied to by both sides.

The reality is far too frightening for any career politician to acknowledge. Our nation borrows $6 billion per day. In 2010, government spending on entitlement programs alone exceeded total tax revenue. Today, one in six Americans receives money directly from the treasury. Every conceivable want and need of the masses is assumed to be government's responsibility. And, in the pursuit of votes, politicians have been only too willing to take it all on. Career politicians cannot and will not curtail spending. Funding government programs is the means by which they buy votes in order to remain in power. Next year, as political ads showing everything from hungry children to needy seniors flow across our TV screens, it won't take a PR genius to recognize that proposing specific, meaningful cuts is simply not an option.


For the career politician there is no self-interest separate from the desire to remain in Washington, feeding at the public trough for as long as possible. And, as history shows, the best way to do that is to spend, spend and spend some more. While limiting the terms of those elected to Congress would not solve all our problems, it would almost certainly make a serious (and honest) discussion about debt reduction much more likely.

Note EU-Digest: the answer to this problem lies in the hands of the voter. When looking for suitable political representatives, the voter must try and look beyond the billions of advertising dollars wasted by career politicians and political parties - be they Democrat or Republican, or indirectly associated with either one of these two parties, promoting unachievable goals  Instead, the voter should seriously start looking at political independents with a clean slate, who are driven by vision, ideals, inspiration and social consciousness, not just financial reward and political power. These people do exist, but it will require some personal effort and research by the voter to discover them. It will certainly be worth the effort and a service to the country.


For more: Politicians can't cut spending | The Newark Advocate | NewarkAdvocate.com