Names and Labels

So.  What makes someone rich?  What makes someone "Evil rich"?  Are they one and the same?  Is it a specific dollar amount?  Does it change with the economy?  IN a good economy, is someone "Filthy, evil rich" if they make $500 Million?  $500 Thousand?  In a poor economy does that number drop?  Down to $250Thousand even?  IF so, WHO is the person or group that decides this?  IS it people in DC that themselves make MILLIONS?  IS it everyday people like US? (Already answer this one: NO, it isn't)  Why is it that the answer to ALL the economic woes is to go find out who's making the most and try to take as much of it as we can from them so we can continue to spend more than we bring in.  Always, the answer for the debt problem is to FIRST tax the rich, THEN (If we still need to) cut only the increases in the budget.  And if it's NOT enough top continue the increases, go back and tax the rich even more.  I mean, hey, it's safe, the poor and middle class WANT to stick it to the rich.  Right?

Problem is, it's also the rich who provide the jobs for the middle and low income folks.  Tax them enough and they themselves have to start adjusting things.  Stopping expansion plans for small to mid level businesses. Maybe hiring only 5 people instead of the 10 they though they needed.  And how does this effect the people who raised the taxes?  Well, not a bit financially.  They still get their congressional, senatorial, and Presidential salaries, no matter how many businesses slow hiring, stop hiring, or even shut down due to the business climate.

And when it's time to get "rehired"?  Out comes the class warfare saying it's all the "rich" hogging the money that's causing the joblessness.  Or blaming a previous administration that's been out of the White House for nearly three years.  We're WELL into the time frame where the CURRENT administration's policies are directing the economy, so there can and should be NO more finger pointing.  If things aren't working, own up to it and change direction.   It's called adapting to the current situation.  It's what intelligent people do.  Recognize successes AND failures and make necessary changes.  Sometimes they might not be what you wanted, but they MAY be necessary.

Why is it we're asked to understand that the ONLY way out of this mess is if the government is allowed to borrow more solely to be able to SPEND more, instead of trying to make REAL cuts.  And by REAL cuts I don't mean in decreasing the amount of the increase.  I mean first freezing things at the current level (Like a corporation suspending pay increases to get through a tough time)  and then, CUTTING those areas that aren't "Mission Critical".

Defense?  Sure, there's probably some stuff that's non-essential, or can be put off for a few years til we get our feet under us. Military pay is NOT one of those, and there are probably some development programs we need to keep.  But probably not ALL of them.

Government agencies?  Most likely plenty of those that can be eliminated or at least mothballed for a while  (This IS a debt CRISIS, according to the President, isn't it?)  Federal Dept of Education, for example.  Don't all the States have one of those?  I think the States have more of a handle on the local needs of students than the DC folks do. (Except, of course, for the DC schools, but that shouldn't be Fed either).  That's the problem.  The farther away you get from the details, the less you actually KNOW about the situation.  I'm pretty sure if you poll the 100 senators, at best TWO MIGHT be able to tell you who the Superintendent of a given city's school district is, yet they are making global decisions that directly effect that district. THEY feel they know best.  And then they say now that we've implemented this, we need to pay for it.  But don't worry, we'll only raise taxes on the rich.  You know, those evil folks that do nothing but roll around in their ill gotten gains every night and laugh at you poorer folks.  We'll make sure they pay their "fair share"  As soon as WE decide what that fair share is.  At least, for THIS week.  And manage to get OUR wealth the heck out of here or hidden before it takes effect.

It's ridiculous.  We elect them to represent us. (ALL of us, poor AND rich).  Why is it that their answer to everything is to sell HALF of that equation out?

Okay.  I'm done venting.  For now.  At least until people start telling me how much and who I should start hating and punishing next.