Our nation’s politicians are in the grips of another run at fiscal irresponsibility with their proposed legislation for health care.
On one side of the aisle there are many emotional pleas for government health care programs claiming those who are opposed to the several proposals offered by the Democrats are uncaring people.
This may be a good strategy for getting legislation passed, but if current proposals are passed, it is adding another fiscal disaster soon thereafter.
Do we know how much a trillion is? I think it’s 1,000 billion, isn’t it?
We keep hearing about our $12 trillion of public debt. This is large, but only a small piece of our debt pie.
CNBC, the financial network, had a guest recently, Dave Walker of the Peter C. Peterson Foundation. He laid out our real public debt, which is growing by the billions daily.
* $36.3 trillion in under-funded obligations for Medicare.
* $6.6 trillion in under-funded obligations for Social Security.
* $12 trillion in recognized public debt (increased 1.4 trillion in fiscal 2009).
* $1.5 trillion in unfunded obligations for railroad, military and federal retirement.
This totals up to $56.4 trillion or $184,000 per person in the United States. Not per adult, but per person.
These government obligations are being funded by you folks who are still working every day; without changes or higher taxes this system eventually collapses.
We are not teaching fiscal responsibility in our schools or at home!
The Joplin Globe has a contributing voice, a retired university professor; some of my friends suggested I should read what he writes. I quickly saw their concerns.
If this is the rhetoric our young people coming out of college hear in the classroom, it is no wonder they have little understanding of fiscal responsibility for our government or themselves.
The professor was recently quoting some report that 45,000 people die every year because they don’t have health insurance. Wow, they die because they don’t have insurance? How about because they’re ill? Professor, pony up your $184,000!
Oh, and then throw in another $25,000 as that will be your additional share within the next six or seven years! Then, we’ll talk about your insistence on the need for another government program.
We’ve painted ourselves into a huge debt corner and we’re not willing to let the paint dry so we can get out.
We just keep slopping paint provided by the likes of China, Japan and other countries around the world. After all, they hold half our paint supply! Wait a minute who holds the other half of our paint? We do, right here in the United States, our financial institutions, the federal reserve and our retirees.
If we are not willing to face up to fiscal responsibility for our nation, we are on a path to bankruptcy. Too many decisions are being made on emotion and compassion; how about reality for a change?
Konrad Heid lives in Joplin.
Columns
November 28, 2009
Konrad Heid, guest columnist: Another run at fiscal irresponsibility
- Columns
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- Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Not enough ink to describe the hypocrisy Poll, after poll, after poll, after yet another poll, all show the voting public against the Democrats’ proposed health care reform packages.
- Jim Hughes, guest columnist: Beware: Greatest country on earth is crumbling Recently my insurance agent visited my house to write me a new prescription insurance plan. In 2008, the premium was $20.70 per month.
- Guest columnist, Don Ray: ‘Promote’ and ‘provide’ differ Over the past months, I’ve written different columns addressing our country’s need for health care reform, a subject of concern to many local residents. I believe most of the taxpaying citizens of this country also feel that we have a very good health care system in the United States. It’s just that it has become too expensive.
- Marian Kelly, guest columist: Dog on hold, but not the planning When I moved into my home, the first observation made by everyone who took the nickel tour was that I now have a fenced yard.
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James Wheeler, guest columnist: ‘Blood and treasure’ reserved for real peril
After my recent column in the Globe, at least one blogger has labeled me an “isolationist.”
There is a big difference between isolationism and non-intervention. In eight years of “war,” intervention has only made the problem worse. The global economy is a reality to which we are committed. - Konrad Heid, guest columnist: Americans should recognize agriculture's role My friends, Darrell Robertson, of Lamar, and Ed August, the accountant who hangs on my every word in support of farmers, both understand.
- Jessica Schreindl, guest columnist: Do we really want peace on earth? The holiday season is upon us once again. The time of year where everyone runs around with “Merry Christmas” on their lips and tidings of comfort and joy. The time of year when all Americans, not just Charlie Brown, ponder the true meaning of Christmas. It’s a peaceful time of year — or, at least it’s supposed to be.
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Dave Woods: Readers take swings at Tiger's troubles
So, did you hear this one?
Tiger Woods, a priest and a parrot walk into a bar. ... OK, that’s really not a joke. Not yet at least, but it easily could be the opening line of one. - Dan Chiodo: Publisher ends one career chapter If I were writing a book about my experiences at the Globe, I would be putting the finishing touches on the last chapter. That is because after almost 20 years, I will retire as president and publisher on Jan. 1.
- Carol Stark: Arrest spurs serious talks My guess is that a lot of public officials, and even those not so public, have been asking themselves this week if getting arrested on suspicion of drunken driving automatically puts an end to a career.
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