Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
In spite of all the screaming headlines “Historic Calamity!” and “Shutdown Crisis”, a lot of everyday Americans are beginning to think forcing the government to live within its means might be a good thing.
In an opinion piece published on the Christian Post website, Ron Hart, an award winning op-ed humorist, says the shutdown of the government was due to the fact that the politicians in charge “didn’t have the budgeting skills of an Ole Miss frat boy.”
“Washington, where most of these government moochers live, is in a tizzy. Their biggest fear now is that the panda-cam at the Washington Zoo will be shut down.”
They don’t understand finances or priorities, for that matter. This is why, as Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) pointed out, the government sent more law enforcement to enforce the closure of the World War II memorial yesterday than they did to protect our embassy in Benghazi when our ambassador was killed last year. It’s also why President Barack Obama recently spoke about the “greed of the rich” at a $25,000-a-plate fund raiser and shut down White House tours just before jetting off on an $1 million golf outing with Tiger Woods.
Obviously, he and the rest of the political class just don’t get it, which is why a shutdown might just teach all of us – particularly those in charge – exactly what is and what is not an essential service.
In the meantime, millions of Americans can enjoy the benefits of the shutdown.
“If Washington fully shuts down, who will spy on us? Who will collect our cell phone records or hassle charities that disagree philosophically with the current administration? Who will sic IRS agents on us if we do not buy the government’s health insurance? Who will audit our tax returns or invade and occupy other countries based on faulty intelligence? Who will promise voters future payments in the form of Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, subsidized housing and pensions that cannot possibly be paid?” Hart asks.
“The feds act like it is such a catastrophe if they have to live within their means. You know, spending only the money they bring in — like you and I have to do each day. Somehow some great social injustice is done if they cannot borrow to wastefully spend forever.”
But get prepared. A new fight is on the way – the debt ceiling. Get ready to hear a new chorus of complaints from politicians about anyone who doesn’t want to give the government more money to waste on developing robotic squirrels or in the 2nd Annual Hawaiian Chocolate Festival.
“Think of it this way. If someone owed you lots of money, would you prefer that he be allowed to raise the credit limit on his credit card or have it stay the same so he would be forced to live within his means?” Hart asks. “Which situation would give you more confidence that you will get your money back? Which one moves the borrower toward financial solvency?”
It’s not hard to figure out, is it?
“Now is the right time to start scaling back spending and adjusting our priorities with a government growing out of control,” Hart concludes.
“Why not shut down ‘nonessential’ parts of government and just re-open the parts we miss?”
That’s the most sensible thing I’ve heard all week!
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