Budgets

I think that its safe to say that most Americans understand how a budget works. You figure out how much money you get a month and then get a list together of all your regular bills-things like insurance, rent/mortgage, utilities (cellphones and Internet too) car payments etc. Some times people even try to figure out the general amount they spend or more fluctuating things like gas and food. Then you add your expenses and compare to your income. Now, some people take what's left over, if there is anything, and split it up between savings, spending cash and even put aside for something big but not needed-like a new TV. Now, for most people when the income part of that equation goes away they have to make cuts. First to go is usually the new TV fund followed by any other frivolous spending funds. Once those are drained people do start tapping into savings. Now, occasionally that is not enough and people are forced to borrow (credit cards). Some times people will forgo the cutting back approach and instead attempt to pull in more cash by working more hours, selling off some of their toys and/or getting a second job (some can pull off a side gig of selling makeup for example) and in some families this may mean the stay at home parent has to get a job as well. Some families may even have to combine both methods; cutting back while trying to find a way to bring in more income.
Now what would you think of a family who made no attempt to cut back? Who decided to keep their new TV fund and just put more and more of their necessities on their credit cards? What about getting more credit cards and buying that new TV along with surround sound equipment and a blue ray player to add to their home comfort?
That would make NO sense right?
Well, in a way that is what the government is doing.
Some people will say that fine, cutting is important but what about tax increases?
Let me say, that there are differences between family units trying to get more cash and the government getting more revenue. The biggest and most important is that individuals have to WORK for it and the people/companies paying their salaries are getting a service in return. The government is taking money from people who need it themselves and are not using it to pay for necessities. Think about it. How would you feel if you lent your brother in law cash cuz he can't afford his rent but then he shows up to the next family bbq towing a new boat? The government routinely provides us with fluff services while still holding out their hands to pay for things like police, firemen and road repair. How about we put the art projects and bullet trains on hold until we can afford to keep the streets safe and roads drivable? How about instead of lobbying for more of our money, they lobby to change things so that they can use the money they already have for the stuff we need?
There are people out there who will still scream that the rich are not paying their fair share. Simple math lesson, 10% of 1,000,000 is more than 10% of 10,000 right? So even without a graduated tax bracket the wealthier you are the more you pay and with the increase in the percentage Uncle Sam takes out the more you make that "share" the wealthy pay is even higher.