Death of the American Dream
So Congress has passed an economic stimulus package that will supposedly save the nation and, by extension, the global economy from ruin. We’ll be shackled with trillions of dollars in debt for generations to come. And this is supposed to solve our problems?
I don’t buy it. Except, I do…because I have no choice.
I see the whole bailout process as the death of the American Dream, the idea that through education and hard work a person can improve his lot in life. Saving, living within one’s means, abiding by the laws, was supposed to provide rewards in the land of the free where all men are created equal. While our history has been less than perfect, it’s an ideal we’ve strived for with more than two centuries of success. Until now.
Nowadays, taxpayer is synonymous with patsy. Financial incentives are going to those who pay the least amount of taxes. It’s not enough that government collects money to provide for the common defense and those myriad functions specific to maintaining a nation, with this plan it plays a bigger role in every household. Last year checks were mailed out to encourage people to spend. We never got one. Nor are we expecting one with the current round.
The mortgage industry is blamed for triggering the economic collapse. And to fix it, Congress is passing laws to reward those who made bad decisions and save them from their own ignorance. We homeowners who have paid our mortgage payments religiously each month every year merely feel stupid. Big Brother didn’t come to our rescue. Two of three grown children now own homes, abiding by the terms of their contracts. The third couple looked at homes and decided they couldn’t afford one, so they continue to rent. Were they foolish not to sign up for a “liar loan” and thus be eligible for a bailout?
My voice in the nation’s capitol isn’t even a whisper; nobody’s listening. Our elected officials hunkered down to craft a second version of TARP and immediately larded it with pork projects that have nothing to do with prodding a stalled economy. Governors and mayors went to Washington to plead their cases. While private businesses are cutting costs and laying off workers, government at every level is looking to grow. Some would call that socialism—traditionally not a stimulating economic model.
What do we teach our children now about fairness, rewards for good decisions, and incentives for saving and playing by the rules? Would we be smarter to teach them how to “game the system” by running up debt and then declaring bankruptcy? Do we let them know there is no such thing as failure because our government, made up of We the People, is ready and willing to save them from themselves? At what cost?
