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Statism: Let's face it: Big government is making suckers out of all of us. All of us, that is, who play by the rules and pay our bills. Here's a little test to see just how big a sucker you really are.
Are you still paying your mortgage each month at the interest rate you agreed to? Sucker! The government has created a program to let those who aren't paying on their mortgages get lower interest rates on their loans.
And if you haven't had the government make the bank reduce the amount you owe on your loan, you're an even bigger fool.
Do you work for a private company instead of the government? Sucker! The real money is made working for Uncle Sam. The average pay for federal government workers is now $71,206, compared with $40,331 for those in the private sector.
In fact, nearly one out of five federal workers pulls down more than $100,000. That's up over 33% during what the administration says is the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
And that's before overtime and benefits — which used to suffice for such workers — kick in. Meanwhile, a "pay czar" aggressively caps salaries at companies that receive "federal" money.
Still paying full price for your kids' meals at school? The government currently provides free or reduced-price lunch, breakfast or both for nearly 60% of all school-age children nationwide. Households with incomes of up to 185% of poverty level are eligible.
In Philadelphia public schools, 72% of students have access to a universal feeding program — regardless of income. Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey wants to nationalize that program.
Are you represented by a senator who promised to vote for health care reform before demanding a few barrels of pork from Majority Leader Harry Reid? As Reid himself said, "I don't know if there is a senator that doesn't have something in this bill that was important to them. And if they don't have something in it important to them, then it doesn't speak well of them." Translation: "Sucker!"
You don't actually pay federal income tax, do you? According to the Tax Policy Center, roughly 47% of American households don't — and that's expected to top 50% soon. So if you're still cutting a check to Uncle Sam when half of your fellow citizens pay nothing — or even get a tax credit — well, if that's not the definition of "sucker" we don't know what is.
If it makes you feel any better, Vice President Biden says true patriots pay more in taxes. By extension, your love of country is even more apparent when you also help your neighbors pay their mortgages, food bills and health care costs.
Don't ask what your country can do for you. Ask how big a sucker you can be for your country.
The more I think about the Christmas all-but-bombing, the angrier I get. At the multiple failures that allowed Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to get on the plane with explosives sewn inside his underwear. And at the Obama administration's initial, everything's-fine-everybody-move-right-along reaction. I ...
The only thing healthy about Congress' health insurance legislation is the healthy skepticism about it by most of the public, as revealed by polls. What is most unhealthy about this legislation is the raw arrogance in the way it was conceived and passed. Supporters of government health insurance ...
Fiscal Follies: While Americans are distracted by the holidays and a failed terror attack, Washington is giving another blank check to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Say, isn't this how we got into trouble before? When Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two bankrupt, government-sponsored mortgage ...
Sen. John Rockefeller, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, and Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, have introduced the Pre-existing Condition Patient Protection Act, which would eliminate pre-existing condition exclusions ...
The greatest gifts you can give your children can't be boxed and bowed. Consider the timeless gift of self-sufficiency — a stubborn thirst to leave the nest, make it on your own and live as a free-willed adult. It's a concept that Big Nanny Democrats are sabotaging at every legislative turn. ...
Posted By: OBSERVER U.K(300) on 12/30/2009 | 12:55 AM ET
IF YOU DONT VOTE ! DONT COMPLAIN LATER " GOD HELP AMERICA "
Posted By: kwg1(105) on 12/29/2009 | 11:09 PM ET
In addition to those posting here voting out the incumbents ALONE, all of us should be reaching out to neighbors, workers etc. We need to get everyone voting out these dragoons!
Posted By: Old Enough to Know Better(140) on 12/29/2009 | 9:54 PM ET
I started with nothing! After working for 45 years the government wants to take it all away because I succeeded. I am currently looking at emmigration opportunities in case the Democrats are not thrown out next fall. What has happened to the USA? How did "we" destroy this great country?
Posted By: acierno(230) on 12/29/2009 | 8:56 PM ET
these give-aways keep the agenda of the left in power. they are building a base that will be difficult to undue. god help us.
Posted By: DanRSmith(35) on 12/29/2009 | 8:55 PM ET
There comes a time in every man's life when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation! We need to push the RESET button on DC.
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