Dear Liberal…Here’s Why I’m So Hostile

I only wish I could take credit for this well crafted piece of writing.  Do not be deceived by the title, this is a thorough explanation of Conservative opposition towards Liberals and the basis from which it stems.  I hope that it brings some understanding to my Liberal friends and foes, a deeper understanding, if you will.  Please take the time to read, you will not be disappointed in the explanations or clarification you will gain in reading.

by Jeremy N. Choate

This essay is a bit of departure from my usually reasonable and logical approach to important issues.  That’s not to say that the essay isn’t well-reasoned and is bereft of logical argumentation, but I freely admit that it’s polemical, in nature.  Sometimes you’re just pissed, and you need to vent.  Here’s my vent…

Lately, I must admit that my hostility towards your political ilk has ramped up, pretty dramatically.  No, it’s not because we, at this point in my life, have a half-black president in the White House, and I’m some closet racist who is becoming increasingly frustrated at the prospects of the White Man’s power slipping through my fingers.  I know that you’ve accused our side of such nonsense, and the thought keeps you warm at night, but I can assure you that it is a comfortable fiction of which you should probably divest yourself.

The Welfare State: Increasing Government Dependency

The welfare state is not just the state of our country, but the people who live in it and several actual states.  Many people rely upon these benefits for good reason (disabled, elderly, children, etc.) and no one argues that point. Welfare has spiked the last five years unlike any other time in the history of our country.  Not only are large amounts of people on it, but the duration and amount being received have gotten excessive.  For many, it has become a way of life, not just a helping hand in a time of need.  This is the state of welfare, as we now know it.

Unemployment spiked in 2008 due to the financial and housing meltdown.

Five years later, we still have high unemployment and much more debt to boot.  Government reporting standards have changed in order to sugar coat the real numbers, especially under President Obama.  The true measure of unemployment is the U6 measure; it is defined as:

• U-6, total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part-time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers.

Thus, it accounts for the unemployed and under employed.  This measure still has our unemployment rate at 13.2% today as opposed to the 7% being reported by the administration.

Welfare pays out too much, taking away the incentive to find a job.

A  2012 report highlighted how people on welfare are now taking in more than the median household in America.  Why work if you can live better than the median family in America?

+Walt Armour may have summarized this situation better than anyone, he stated:

Based on data from the Congressional Research Service, cumulative spending on means-tested federal welfare programs, if converted into cash, would equal $167.65 per day per household living below the poverty level. By comparison, the median household income in 2011 of $50,054 equals $137.13 per day. Additionally, spending on federal welfare benefits, if converted into cash payments, equals enough to provide $30.60 per hour, 40 hours per week, to each household living below poverty. The median household hourly wage is $25.03. After accounting for federal taxes, the median hourly wage drops to between $21.50 and $23.45, depending on a household’s deductions and filing status. State and local taxes further reduce the median household’s hourly earnings. By contrast, welfare benefits are not taxed.

SNAP is one form of welfare given out by the states. It is meant to supplement people's incomes for food.

An analysis shows that the average individual received $133.08 in monthly welfare from the program for 2013. In 2009, this amount was $125.31; an increase of 6% over that time. A family of four, on SNAP welfare, would receive $532.32 per month!  This program is meant to SUPPLEMENT people's income, not pay entirely for their grocery bill. At $0.39 per Ramen noodle container, it would cost approximately $140.40 to feed a family of four, three meals a day.  So, it is not like people are going to starve on this amount.  SNAP is just one of the many welfare programs, keep in mind.

During this same time period, the Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation in goods and services rose 7.97%. The numbers are below, for those who will argue inflation the rest of this article:

Series Id:    SUUR0000SA0
Not Seasonally Adjusted
Area:         U.S. city average
Item:         All items
Base Period:  DECEMBER 1999=100

Download:

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2009	122.095	122.598	122.803	123.053	123.427	124.485	124.293	124.620	124.706	124.791	124.788	124.544	123.850
2010	124.987	124.972	125.442	125.620	125.678	125.521	125.536	125.756	125.830	125.969	125.920	126.143	125.615
2011	126.778	127.363	128.585	129.483	129.999	129.846	129.983	130.351	130.635	130.373	130.196	129.844	129.453
2012	130.363(U)	130.829(U)	131.649(U)	131.993(U)	131.902(U)	131.819(U)	131.614(U)	132.203(U)	132.702(U)	132.699(U)	132.212(U)	131.896(U)	131.823(U)
2013	132.272(I)	133.188(I)	133.506(I)	133.430(I)	133.652(I)	133.925(I)	133.944(I)	134.086(I)	134.257(I)	133.964(I)	133.724(I)
U : InterimI : Initial

As previously discussed in BASE-LESS…BOEHNER SHOWS HIS TRUE STRIPES,  the AVERAGE tax bill for the lower 47% of income earners is -9.1%.  Most people would love a 9% bonus annually on tax day.  This welfare system is what we call our current tax code.  It steals from the top and gives to the bottom.

In 2014, Obamacare will further the welfare tax laws to benefit the bottom 47%, yet again.

The 9% refund, previously discussed, is before these credits begin in our tax law. Much of the discussion, thus far, is prior to this monstrosity being in full effect.  Statistics will show, after 2014, the massive wealth redistribution and welfare program we are now running.  Families USA, a liberal organization, charted the welfare package included in Obamacare.  The known part of this welfare package is enormous.  And, keep in mind, no one knows all the impacts of this legislation as of yet.  We only know the general outcomes from common sense and what is already known.

The Brenner Brief recently posted a great article on the state of welfare, and its impact on America.   Welfare Dependency Destroying America takes a little different look at welfare dependency and offers much insight into this lifestyle.

One cannot possibly cover all the welfare programs in a single article.

After all, the state of our welfare system has grown to epic proportions and programs.  Much like Obamacare, we just didn't know what was in it until we read it.  The charges that Republicans or any other group seeking to reduce spending on welfare programs is simply crap.  These programs provide more than just an assist; they are a way of life.  With the recent economic downturn, it will not be surprising to see many maintain their lifestyle on welfare.  Welfare is just like feeding the animals at the zoo; once they taste it, they are addicted and will come back.

Dependence or Independence?

America is coming upon a crossroads; choosing dependence or independence.  Recent studies highlight the dependency difficulties we face.  The biggest question is; does anyone in Congress or the President have the spine to do something before it is too late?  Or, is it too late already?  It is up to the voters, our voices, and communication vehicles to change the course of this country. Some have begun to push this knowledge out and share in respectful avenues.  Many Americans may not realize what our dependence issue is, because it is not being seriously addressed. America must make a choice between dependence and independence.

In my recent piece, Base-less...Boehner Shows His True Stripes, I discussed how the top 40% are now paying 106% of the Federal Tax burden.  Meanwhile, the bottom 40% are now saddled with a -9.1% "burden".  This is dependence at its' most extreme, using the government to steal hard-earned income to give away to others.  

An independent solution would be to revise the tax code.  Different groups have different preferences how to accomplish the overhaul.  There are several solutions, but the most popular major overhauls would be the Fair Tax and Flat Tax.  One can advocate for whatever they choose, but most Americans would agree that the Tax Code needs reform.

As discussed in Budget "Battle" Ends on an "Embrace the Suck", 65% of Americans agree that spending needs to be cut.  It is doubtful Americans are tying the spending to government dependence. Most people do not follow the numbers that closely.  Spending is a major driver of the loss of independence in our country.  We are bound by government spending and dependence.

Government dependence is a major driver of our deficit (now near $17 Trillion).  Some of the statistics, when charted, are simply astounding and scary.  For the small portion of the country carrying the weight of these government dependence programs, it is frightful. At 70% of the Federal budget, and growing, this is simply unsustainable.

The only independent solution is to educate those who have not been paying attention.  Every person has their favorite government program or handout or subsidy.  It must be understood that nothing can be off the table; defense, welfare, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.  People have been trying, for years, to accomplish this with some luck.

The following charts illustrate just how expansive growth has been in government dependence.  An extensive study was just released in late November that details even more about government dependence. If you would like to read even more detail, it can be found here.

The choice is, become independent again as a society.  Or, be harnessed and dependent on the government.  If demands are not made, the government will not change course.  And, if the government does not change course, then these programs will be cut harshly when we run out of money.

Budget "Battle" Ends on an "Embrace the Suck"

In a anti-climatic way, the budget "negotiations" and "battle" have ended for the most part. Republicans, not Conservatives, caved, as usual.  It appears that fiscal responsibility is something only American households are supposed to embrace, not our Congress and Government. In the end, no one is a winner, except Government Bureaucrats who get to keep spending our hard-earned money in wasteful fashion.

How did all this go down without the partisanship and actual debate we would expect?  Easy, put Paul Ryan in charge of negotiations on the Conservative side of the budget.  Representative Ryan is respected among Conservatives for his fiscal plans.  Supposedly, this was to quiet the Conservative base. Mother Jones diagrams the solution in a way that is easy to see.  In reality, what happened was simply a political ploy to set themselves up for supposed winning in 2014.

Republicans did not want another shut down to be blamed on them.  They just don't seem to get it though.  No matter what Conservatives do, they will always be blamed by the biased media. The budget is one area where Republicans and Conservatives have strong support.  65% of Americans polled agree that spending needs to be cut.  So, why cave so easily and repeal most of the Sequestration cuts that were finally helping balance the budget?

It makes no sense, this "go along to get along" attitude. Republicans do not seem to understand that they leave Americans with no alternative to big spending Democrats. Americans are sick and tired of big spending government and want some accountability. This budget does nothing but appease the Left and Center-Left.  Where has being "middle of the road" gotten Republicans in recent years?  McCain and Romney were centrists who supported various big government approaches under the Republican branding.  Due to this, Conservatives did not turn out in numbers for the elections and they lost both elections.

However, Conservatives have been winning in droves at other levels.  Running on fiscal responsibility and smaller budget platforms, numerous candidates have won elections.  A recent poll highlights just how much support there is for Conservative solutions:

Ninety-four percent of voters agree that Congress needs to devise a long-term plan to address our national debt instead of relying on short-term fixes in times of crisis (83% strongly agree).

Ninety percent of voters agree that Congress’ inability to enact a long-term fiscal plan creates uncertainty about the future and has serious consequences for our economy, with many believing that the fiscal policymaking process in Washington is broken (86% agree, 71% strongly agree).

Fully 89% of voters say it is important (55% extremely important) for the bipartisan committee set up by the recent budget compromise to reach an agreement on the 2014 budget and an equal number (88%/57% extremely) say they must also focus on a longer-term fiscal plan to reduce the national debt.

Yet, here we are again; sitting with a budget that does little to nothing to curb spending. Republicans should have demanded more in return; within reason this budget should have included some major cuts to spending or entitlement reforms.  Instead, it raises spending above the Sequestration levels once again.

We have seen massive increases in taxes over the past few years, with little to no cuts.  The cuts included in previous budget deals have now been dissolved for the most part.  And, the problem is not tax revenues, it is purely a spending problem in Washington.  In 2013 alone, tax increases accounted for $188 Billion in additional revenue being collected. This 60% increase in revenue is not offset by spending cuts as recommended by Simpson-Bowles.

I am convinced tax increases should be removed from any and all budget negotiations moving forward. It is time to look at spending which is the major driver of our deficits and uncertainty in the markets.

Yet, Republicans just pulled the power of the purse away from themselves.  They just lost their negotiation power in what could be called worse than a sucky deal.  I, for one, do not "embrace the suck".

Warning Signs Regarding the Economy

The administration continues to try and keep us distracted from their utter incompetency. Meanwhile, facts and well grounded opinions abound, which undermine the very arguments made by the administration.  We must keep our eye on the ball, keep the pressure on our officials, and report what need be reported today. Do not be deceived by the rhetoric, lies, and misinformation of the current administration.

Just this morning, Tony Lee of Breitbart reports:

One of the fathers of modern finance and a winner of this year's Nobel prize for economics said the bloated deficits of the United States and European nations may lead to a worldwide recession.