Posted by
Wayne J. on Thursday, March 05, 2009 12:22:30 PM
Atlanta traffic is something to behold. During rush hour the traffic creeps along at 15mph, while all other times of the day it feels more a portion of Atlanta Motor Speedway as I get passed even though I try to keep the speed below 80. The good thing with rush hour though is that it gives me plenty of time to think.
This morning I had one of those earth shattering realizations on how to fix all the economic problems of the US. The problem is so simple.
The government does not have enough money to pay for everything it wants or has promised to people. The solution should be just as simple. JUST SAY NO!
I propose that we begin by eliminating all social spending for anyone born one year from today. All spending on those already born, or those who will be born within the next year will continue as usual. This way we are not breaking any promises we have already made to those who need our help.
To those who are born after one year from today, the responsibilty for their care will reside where it belongs. On the parents.
If a woman realizes that the government will not pay for her child to be born, will not provide additional WIC funding, will not provide additional SSI payments, the incentive to not get pregnant will increase.
Now I can hear you now screaming... "But Wayne, you say that and then say you are against abortion." This argument is not about making abortion illegal. Simply should we the taxpayers have to pay for it. By providing state paid for abortion on demand we are enabling those who use abortion as the first choice of birth control instead of the last.
By just saying no, parents will have to plan to have children. They will have to plan for insuarance costs. The cost of having children will be placed back where it belongs, on the parent. Couples will have incentive to stay together knowing that the full cost of day care will be their reponsibility.
Education costs would also be the parents responsibility. After school programs would be returned to the parents. Growing up my parents after school program consisted of scouts one day a week. The other days consisted of homework and chores before being allowed to play with friends. Grades would go up.
If we start now, we can raise a generation of children who will know what it means to be self reliant. Knowing that no one is there to bail you out of every poor decision that you make is a pretty strong incentive to provide for yourself and family.
It used to be that slothfulness was a poor quality to have. Now it is fashionable in some parts to see how much you can game out of the system. A perfect example of this is Octomom. How much was she receiving BEFORE her latest brood? Yet she contends that the payments the government gives her are not welfare.
We can all agree that Social Security and Medicare are bankrupt or very close to it. This next generation of children would learn that they need to save for their own retirement as their grandchildren will not pay for them. Knowing that there is an end to Social Security would allow us to better deal with the crushing debt already incurred. By the time the youngest of those already born reach retirmement age, smarter minds than ours should have figured out how to pay for them. (Personally I like the FairTax, but that's another column.)
In short. I pay for my kids, why don't you pay for yours.