From My
Perspective - - -
There’s an
emergency – or – is there? No time for austerity or restraint – or – is there?
An emergency can occur suddenly! The unexpected can become a reality. A fire - A
vehicle wreck - A heart attack - A death - Damage from a tornado or hurricane -
many and sundry circumstances can and will occur during a given lifetime – apart
from any forethought or plan for any exigency (a case or situation that demands
prompt action or remedy; emergency).
One could-should ask: Whatever happened to
austerity, restraint, accountability, responsibility in government? The Daily
Caller reports today: "Democrats in Congress have added $173 billion in new
spending to the federal deficit in just three months since they passed a law
requiring that any new expenditure be offset by cuts elsewhere in the budget.
They will try this week to add another $197 billion in two separate measures.
The House is expected to vote Wednesday on a package of extensions in government
aid to unemployed Americans, Medicaid funding for states, and tax breaks that
will add $134 billion to the $1.4 trillion deficit. The Senate is expected to
vote this week on a $63 billion supplemental spending bill. Half of that amount
would go to the war in Afghanistan. The rest is for aid to Haiti, settlement of
land claims with American Indians and discrimination claims of black farmers,
compensation of war veterans exposed to Agent Orange, foreign aid to
Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, and replenishment of the government’s disaster
relief fund. Republicans, who oppose some of the spending outright, say that at
the very least all but the $33 billion that the Pentagon needs to continue
funding a surge of 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan should be offset by
spending cuts. So far, it appears that Democrats plan to escape their own rules
that require them to offset all new spending by declaring the measures to be
‘emergency spending’.” It matters little which party is in the majority – both
parties have demonstrated a propensity to spend freely on “their” pet projects
and interests."
The result of unchecked and irresponsible
spending can be seen in the U.S. Debt Clock http://www.usdebtclock.org/ - which
is racing at an increasing speed. It brings about the current result: “America's
National Debt Tops $13,000,000,000,000; Debt Per Taxpayer - $117,975; Us Debt To
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Ratio - 90.3%. Yet, in the midst of this spending
surge, more spending emergencies are found and a matter-of-fact effort is made
to fund them (so these figures will obviously and steadily increase) – thereby
increasing the GDP Ration closer and closer toward
100%.
In a column by George Fooshee: “10 Financial Principles That are
Biblical”, he writes: “…I've seen firsthand the full spectrum of
financial woes that can hopelessly trap people in a society victimized by the
credit-card, "buy-now-pay-later" syndrome. As a bill collector, my business is
to try to collect accounts that creditors have been unsuccessful in collecting.
Daily, I see people in deep financial trouble. Thousands in this country have
got themselves into financial messes that can lead to more serious
consequences…” One of the key principles mentioned is “Keep Out Of Debt” – where he indicates:
“The fifth principle is to keep out of unnecessary debt and thus avoid the debt
trap. Borrowing for a house or car is one thing but taking on financial
obligations one can't keep-buying beyond the ability to pay-is another. Psalm
37:21 says: the wicked borrows, and pays not again. The minute a person goes
into debt, he loses a portion of his freedom. As Proverbs 22:7 says: The rich
rules over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender." He goes on to
state: “The seventh principle is that of keeping records and making a budget.
Proverbs 24:3-4, Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is
established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and
pleasant riches." King David maintained an excellent perspective of both God and
life. He stated in I Chronicles 29:14-15, “For all things come from you, and of
your own have we given you. For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as
all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no
abiding.” Debt incurred today to be paid by the next generations is very unfair
and borders on being criminal. Consider these things with
me!