Freedom of BLEEP

No one said it better than House republican leader, John Boehner. “Oh…my…God.”

He was commenting on the current stimulus package that House democrats have introduced, just in time for Obama’s rise to the throne.  The phrase ”stimulus package” is being used very loosely, as most of the bill is going towards ridiculous welfare programs and liberal spending that will do little to get our economy out of the trouble it’s in.  At best, it will encourage people to sit lethargically in front of their new taxpayer funded Digital TVs and eat more government subsidized food.

A great deal of the money will go to extending unemployment benefits for out-of-work Americans and creating new “green jobs”  (i.e. lightbulb changers).  While retrofitting government offices, building energy efficient infrastructure, and investing in a green energy grid are all noble causes, there is a disconnect between these projects and stabilizing our economy.  This massive spending may create temporary jobs, but what happens when these projects are finished?  Will we continue to keep these “green collar” workers on the taxpayers’ payroll ad infinitum?

Also hidden in the bill among the other random allotments are the Obama “tax cuts.” Funny how the tax cuts were promised to families making under $250,000, yet the bill only rewards those that make less than $150,000.  By the time the bill is passed, it may be down to $75,000 or even $50,000, since it has become a liberal mentality that all the “wealthy” people should be punished for their hard work and success.  Let’s discriminate against those who create jobs, and see how this stimulus works.  Additionally, the “tax cuts,” as promised, are refundable. This article explains, “[b]ecause it’s refundable, Americans without income could apply for it.”. Without income?  Meaning, non-working Americans?  Meaning, welfare?  Someone explain this, because it doesn’t sound like a “tax cut” to me. But I digress…

Other funding includes: $20 billion to increase the food stamp benefits, $87 billion for an increase in the Medicaid matching rate, $1 billion to aid states in the collection of child support, another $1 billion toward preparations for the 2010 census, $4 billion to support local law enforcement, and $800 million to clean up toxic waste sites.  How exactly does this stimulate the economy?  Anyone can B.S. some tangential economic benefits from these programs, but at the heart of this “stimulus package” is porkbarrell spending on social welfare programs that would give any liberal a wet dream. In the words of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.”

It’s no secret that Social Security is in trouble – the funds are completely exhausted and the program will soon go into deficit as baby boomers begin to retire in masses. In order to remedy this situation, many Democrats favor confiscating your 401(k)s and IRAs. They want to nationalize your earnings so the government can run guaranteed retirement accounts, thus “saving” you from the volatile stock market.

What’s the bottom line? People who never bothered to save a dime will be entitled to YOUR money that YOU have worked hard for over the course of your entire life.

It’s hard to believe that such an absurdity has been considered seriously, but this idea is gaining traction according to numerous news sources (ABC News, Carolina Journal, Market Watch, US News & World Report). And considering that a 15% tax on all retirement funds nearly became enacted under Clinton, losing our 401(k)s to a broken welfare program will be a very real possibility when our government is controlled by liberal radicals in January.

Saving redistribution of wealth and the evils of communism for another discussion, let’s talk about how the government is already ripping you off through the Social Security program. To put it quite simply, the government prints money thus causing inflation (4.1 percent last year), while only meagerly adjusting social security pensions (2.3 percent last year). Compound your losses for 40-50 years and your pensions will be a pittance. If that sounds bad, look into how the government under reports the CPI in order to artificially keep COLA adjustments low and discover that the situation is much worse than it appears. 

Social Security is a failing government program. Do you really think they will do any better with the money from your 401(k)?