Veteran's Day Thought and Comments

My cousin, Robin, wrote: "A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. That is beyond honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact. Thank you for giving me the freedom I have today."
My comment was:
Robin, that is very nice. I am sure that most Vets who are still with
us, including me, appreciate that thought. I may be a Vet and accept minor recognition as such but, truly, I focus the most heart-felt honor on those who served and fought in harm's way, those who sustained horrible wounds, any Purple Heart recipient, those who suffered terribly as POWs, and especially the true heroes, those who sacrificed their life for our freedom--they all should be awarded the MOH.

It has been my honor to have visited the WWII, Korean war, Vietnam war, and FDR Memorials in our Nation's Capitol. Those visits always imbued within me a deep pride in my country and seriously placed honor for those who gave the ultimate gift for Freedom.

Thanks again for the beautiful comment.


Supply-Side Economics

Supply-Side Economics 101 (SSE) says, basically, lower taxes stimulates economic growth. This may be all well and good, philosphically, but it is a folly practicality. Here's why: Less taxes means reduced government income; it has been shown that whatever growth is attained doesn't make up for the loss in revenue until perhaps in the long term--20 years or longer. This deficit certainly wouldn't allow for balancing a budget which would require a "doubling down" of deficit spending. What would happen--what has happned EVERY time SSE has been employed--is payroll taxes would shoot up to ameliorate the deficit in government income, AND the reduction in spending (if any) never balances out the budget deficit. So, historically, implemeting SSE ends up as a depreciatory fiscal functionalty.

As can be seen from Reagan's SSE, Reaganonmics, and GWB's gigantic tax reduction acts, the national debt increased more than two-fold. My take: America will never get back on top unless we start to pay our debts "Pay-as-you-go," incrementally reduce spending, pay down the national debt, and completely overhaul our infrastructure. Doing this will require raising taxes. We have got to "suck it up" and live, as a country, more frugally.

Balancing the Budget

Balancing the budget (within next 10 years) is, I believe, a pipe dream--promulgated by Rs with their heads in the clouds. GWB didn't do it during his regime and it's completely unreasonable to think ANYONE could do it considering the state of our economy, tremendous deficit in import-export balance of payments, and the continued movement of manufacturers extra-CONUS. Balancing the budget is certainly a desired goal, be you an R or a D.
Let's get America back on top first.