Spending

In our time, our nation is wealthier than ever, but more also has accumulated tremendous debt. The debt threatens social security for near – future recipients, as well as the lives of the uninsured sick. The problem obviously becomes, where should the government focus its spending on and where should necessary cuts be made. Spending and finding new ways to spend is easy, but making cuts is a difficult process based on an unfortunate but unavoidable game of priority. That said, some areas in government spending do need to be increased, and cuts are not the complete answer.

Firstly, and most obviously to me, the Iraq war must be terminated as soon as possible, without being careless, of course. According to the National Priorities Project, over $470 billion has been spent on the war in Iraq. This amount will continue to rise, and will do so drastically even if a careful withdrawal was begun today. I’ve said it many times in my blogs, but I’ll say it again: in order for stability to be achieved in Iraq, the hearts and minds of many, many Iraqis must be changed from a mindset of tyranny and radical religious violence. Militaries don’t do that, and the only way to achieve a forced stability is to resort to the most brutal enforcement tactics known to history.

The great vacuum of the modern educational system is deeply flawed, but reversing the system is not the issue for this blog; the focus, then, is on cutting money flowing to that vacuum. It is a vacuum that demands everything and gives nothing close to what is desired. Smaller classes and more teachers will cost countless dollars, and will not motivate unmotivated kids without direction – those kids’ issues run deep into their family structure and value systems that can only be fixed through a change in mindset of the generation responsible for those kids. The source of the success of successful people in society is not their grade schooling. Grade school is not anywhere near as important to success as a good family and a strong value system and people who will be successful in the future will do it with or without stronger science and math programs or smaller class sizes or more qualified teachers. Learning in individuals will take place, as well, on their own accord, and by their own level of desire. Look back into history and see that a century ago when the education system was much less extensive and had a much lesser percentage of the federal budget at its disposal, people got more from the system.

Right now, the government has two obligations it is not fulfilling or will not be able to fulfill in the future: health insurance for children and social security for people in the future who are paying for the security now through taxes. Having no health care for even one child is obviously unacceptable, and every minor must be given health care coverage from the government. The social security system cannot be allowed to collapse for people paying for it now. Tax money that should go to the SS system goes to the general fund immediately after being received, as it is. This is unacceptable.

Iraq is obvious, but the education system cuts result from deep flaws in a system developed over hundreds of years and is definitely debatable. Much spending must be done, but I have focused on more obvious and immediate concerns. Ultimately, risks must be taken and time must tell the truth, as the process is always an experiment.