The government of the United States is awash in a sea of red ink. The current debt ceiling of $12.1 trillion will be breached shortly, an event laced with foreboding. With the national debt forecast to exceed $20 trillion during the next decade, a rational person would expect someone in Washington to call a halt to new spending. An intelligent person would even clamor for a reduction in federal outlays. But, to paraphrase Tina Turner, what’s rationality and intelligence got to do with it? Sadly, not much.
Incredibly, America’s political leaders are increasing disbursements across the board. The Associated Press is reporting a host of new spending initiatives. President Obama’s 30,000 troop buildup in Afghanistan will cost “an additional $30 billion” annually. $50 billion more will fund “a six-month extension of unemployment benefits and health care insurance for the long-term jobless.” There’s even a plan for “$100 million in new funding for the arts,” according to the AP’s Brett Zongker. Of course, that’s small potatoes when compared to the latest big ticket appropriation.
“Democrats,” reports the AP, ”are muscling a deficit-swelling spending bill” through Congress. The $1.1 trillion monstrosity will “award lawmakers with more than 5,000 home state projects.” When it comes to vote buying, this pork-laden outrage definitely raises the bar. What President George W. Bush began in 2001 President Obama is perfecting. Just spend baby. The votes will come pouring in. We’ll just pretend interest rates will remain low forever and the Chinese will never tire of funding America’s excesses. It’s either that or national bankruptcy.
How can so much new spending take place with the national debt ceiling so close to being topped? That’s an easy one: just raise the debt ceiling. “Democrats plan to allow the government’s debt to swell by nearly $2 trillion,” raising the nation’s potential debt limit to nearly $14 trillion. That’s roughly $46,000 for every man, woman, and child in America. And you can bet your last $3 bill the debt limit will be raised again before the next presidential election. How’s that hope and change working out for you, America?
Now is the time to stop the squandering madness, but Americans may not have the necessary fortitude to call a halt to our national suicide. Too many of us gladly belly up to Uncle Sam’s trough, gobbling up federal handouts in record amounts. With so many on the dole, slapping the hand that feeds is unlikely at best. Jeremiah had a phrase tailor-made for times like these. Commenting on his people’s gleeful approval of society-killing behavior, the Weeping Prophet said, “But what will you do at the end of it?”
We are about to find out what ancient Israel learned long ago: there’s a payday someday. God help us when it arrives.
