Obama and Your Money
Democracy and Power 103: Government money
In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other. – Voltaire (1764)
The money taxed and spent by the politicians comes from the labor and ingenuity of millions of working persons. Politicians spend other peoples’ money.
Obama and Your Money
This weekend, President Obama has proclaimed there must be tax increases. He has also decreed government spending on high-tech institutions. Obama’s edicts are similar to Voltaire’s observations during the reign of 18th Century imperial monarchs: In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other. Alas, the lust for power is ever present in presidents and kings.
Of course Obama’s commands are paid by the labor and ingenuity of millions of working Americans. The Wall Street Journal provides the graphs of Obama’s spending and taxing schemes.
First, in February Obama submitted a budget to increase spending to 25% of GDP. Remember, this spending will be paid by the American citizen. Then, in April, after Budget Chairman Ryan purposed a 19% budget, Obama counters with a 22% budget. How can a serious President present a genuine budget in February and reduce it by 3% in April?
Obama yearns to retain political power. When Americans objected to the increased spending and the resulting taxes, he decided to take less. This is a disrespectful and contemptuous taking of the money earned by millions of working Americans.
