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Jewish World Review August 24, 2010 / 14 Elul, 5770 Lower Expectations By Cal Thomas
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
In 2008, "60 Minutes" visited This ought to be a Take spending. Clearly we can't go on like this. People should ask their grandparents if their parents told them, "We can't afford it" when they asked for certain things. In this generation, the question of whether we can afford something is rarely asked. Our massive debt has produced an unease that America may be at greater risk from economic collapse than from terrorists. Excessive debt is terror by other means.
Here are Riedl's conclusions: -- Even as war spending phases out and the economy recovers, the projected budget deficit never drops below -- The national debt held by the public is set to surpass 100 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2020. -- By 2020, half of all income tax revenues will go toward paying interest on a -- Federal spending per household, which has risen from -- Even if all tax cuts are extended, revenues will still surpass the 18.0 percent of GDP historical average by 2020. The reason the deficit will surge 6 percent of GDP above its average is because spending will surge to 6 percent of GDP above its average. The entire analysis by Riedl may be found at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2010/08/New-CBO-Budget-Baseline-Shows-that-Soaring-Spending-Not-Falling-Revenues-Risks-Drowning-America. Read it and weep for yourself and for future generations. Some Republicans, like Rep. Lowering expectations of government and politicians is only half the equation. We must then raise expectations for ourselves. "You can do it" is more than a rousing assurance from a parent after the training wheels come off and we ride the two-wheeler for the first time, it's the ratification of the individual's power over the weakening power of the state. Do we really need all we consume? After buying it, how much of it really satisfies? If we look to government to care for us, rather than looking to ourselves and to family, the time will come when government won't be able to, health care will be rationed and our lives will be deemed unworthy of continuing.
How many other Republicans, besides
JWR contributor Cal Thomas is co-author with Bob Beckel, a liberal Democratic Party strategist, of "Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That is Destroying America". Comment by clicking here.
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