|
nChrist
|
 |
« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2018, 06:59:27 PM » |
|
________________________________________
The Patriot Post Digest 2-13-2018
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
________________________________________
Republicans have campaigned for years about cutting taxes, cutting spending and balancing the budget. So far we’ve seen action on the first plank, but little on the other two. Of course, Donald Trump did not campaign as a small government conservative — he campaigned as a businessman, a dealmaker who could “drain the swamp.”
For example, Trump’s two budget proposals keep his campaign promises to not touch Social Security and Medicare, but those programs account for an enormous part of the U.S. budget and are not sustainable. As the Journal notes, “Look at ‘payments for individuals,’ which encompass such income transfers as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and food stamps, among other things. This category was 47.7% of outlays in 1989 and has steadily climbed to reach an estimated 69.2% in 2019.”
To be sure, there’s a big difference between food stamps and Social Security, but that’s astounding — nearly 70% of the budget is straight up income redistribution.
Still, seniors in particular view Social Security and Medicare, not without reason, as something they are due and that shouldn’t be messed with because they paid into the system for decades. Despite the fact, however, that both programs are funded by today’s workers, and that the fiscal future for these government programs looking very bad, people who pay in don’t want the government intervening to “fix” it, because most realize that government fixes usually turn into greater problems. Trump knows this too.
That leads to the primary factor here. Most voters — from both major political parties — just don’t care30 about the budget or deficit spending. The issue doesn’t even crack the top 10 list of concerns for most voters. Most voters despise politicians and during election years cry out for smaller government. But when elected officials start talking about spending cuts for this or that program, many of their constituents cry out for the program to remain in place — or demand that more funds be allocated for the particular program.
Washington politicos know this, which is why both parties, particularly the “centrists” on both sides of the aisle push, pull and compromise on each other’s principles to spend money on pet projects that they think will benefit the majority of their constituents get the most votes. The focus becomes not on fiscal restraint but on pleasing constituents so that those in power can remain in power. The end result, as we have witnessed time and time again, is more of the same.
That’s why getting a balanced budget passed or actually reducing federal deficit spending may not ever happen31 because in the end neither party cares enough about the deficit enough to cut money from their favorite programs. Unfortunately, we will continue to get more of the same until the old guard politicians from both parties who have clung to their power for so long are voted out of office and replaced with people who understand the importance of constitutional government run with fiscal restraint.
MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST
The Obamas’ Presidential Portraits Are … Something Else36 — A little humorous art criticism to go with some dismay at the racist artist commissioned for the work.
Sessions Lauds ‘Anglo-American Heritage,’ Left Wails37 — As is usually the case, leftists scream racism where none exists. Their agenda matters too much.
Social Justice Glides Into the Olympics38 — LGBT agendas and race-bait rhetoric permeate the Olympics because leftists see social justice is our top priority.
American Military Tech Is Being Stolen by Our Foes39 — The Iranian drone shot down in Israeli airspace was based on ours. And that’s not the only example.
Video: In Memoriam: The GOP Pretending to Care About Fiscal Restraint40 — Congress is “spending us into oblivion,” Sen. Rand Paul said just before Congress worked out a budget-busting deal.
BEST OF RIGHT OPINION
Dennis Prager: Liberals and Conservatives Are Unhappy for Different Reasons41
Rich Lowry: No, #Metoo Isn’t Going to Chase Trump From Office42
Tony Perkins: ‘Impeach!’ Preserves Dems’ Midterm Goals43
Stephen Moore: Let’s Make America a Mineral Superpower44
Cal Thomas: Drowning in Debt45
For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion46.
OPINION IN BRIEF
Dennis Prager: “One of the most important differences between the Right and the Left … is the difference between unhappy liberals and unhappy conservatives. Unhappy conservatives generally believe they are unhappy because life is inherently difficult and tragic, and because they have made some unwise decisions in life. But unhappy liberals generally believe they are unhappy because they have been persecuted. Ask unhappy leftists why they are unhappy and they are likely to respond that they are oppressed. This is the primary response given by unhappy leftist women, blacks, Latinos and gays. … The Left cultivates unhappiness by cultivating anger. It does this for the same reason wine growers cultivate grapes: No grapes, no wine; no anger, no Left (and no Democratic Party). And angry people are not happy people. … Unhappy Americans on the Right blame the problems inherent to life, and they blame themselves. Unhappy Americans on the Left blame America. That alone goes far in explaining the unbridgeable differences between Right and Left.”
SHORT CUTS
Insight: “A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, and he ends up losing respect for himself and for others. When he has no respect for anyone, he can no longer love, and in him, he yields to his impulses, indulges in the lowest form of pleasure, and behaves in the end like an animal in satisfying his vices.” —Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881)
Worshipping Mother Earth: “Forging a coalition between the environmental movement and the women’s rights movement will not only fundamentally advance women’s rights but also do a world of good for the planet, which is bearing an environmental burden because of population growth. … Population projection experts estimate a worst-case scenario in which we grow by 70 percent and reach a population of 13 billion people by the end of the century. But if we continue to invest in sensible international family-planning programs and accept the challenge of meeting the needs of women and families, we could potentially stabilize the population at below 10 billion.” —John Podesta and Timothy E. Wirth
Non Compos Mentis: “The Dutch are really, really good at speed skating. … ‘Why are they so good?’ you may be asking yourself. Because skating is an important mode of transportation in a city like Amsterdam. [The city] has lots of canals that can freeze in winter. So, for as long as the canals have existed, the Dutch have skated on them to get from place to place, to race each other and also to have fun.” —NBC’s Katie Couric
Village Idiots, part I: “I thought that Mike Pence said that it was inappropriate to make political statements at sporting events? Wasn’t he that guy who walked out of the football game because people were kneeling and not standing?” —Sunny Hostin of “The View”
Village Idiots, part II: “We have to be respectful because what we do know about politicians is they end up sitting with people that you and I say, ‘Well, why are they sitting with them?’ So if you’re in Korea, you need to stand up. You need to stand up and show respect!” —Whoopi Goldberg
And last… “The liberal media praise a murderous regime and laugh off poison attempts on the First Family and then blame Trump when people question their credibility.” —Allie Stuckey
Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of Liberty, and for their families. We also humbly ask prayer for your Patriot team, that our mission would seed and encourage the spirit of Liberty in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Nate Jackson, Managing Editor
Mark Alexander, Publisher |
