Monday, September 12, 2005
Big Government
Big government has it uses for the little people as well. Bush is hell-bent to get rid of "big government" at least as far as the people go. But he seems to have no problem in government money going to business -- oil, lumber and munitions have all done quite well on his watch. But what about big business for the little guy?
These past couple of weeks has once again demonstrated (and to my mind proved) the need for big government for the little guy. The entire Gulf Coast took a beating and only the resources of a national government can begin to deal with it. Call it selfish if you wish, but I'd like to see more of those billions spent chasing ghosts in Iraq and Afghanistan spread around the USofA. All men are not created equal no matter who said that in the past. There are a lot of folks who just plain don't have the brain power to help themselves. (I had an urge to say look at WWE audiences as proof - but I won't say it).
Anyway, not all people can take care of themselves. How can you rebuild your washed away house, when your insurance doesn't cover floods? What do you do when the company you worked for is floating down the Mississippi River and your apartment is not far behind it? Not everyone is a great investor, or even has extra money to invest - which makes Social Security a benefit worth paying taxes for. The same with health care. It's hard enough now to afford even with a job that has health care. Trying to afford it on a minimum wage job is impossible. Yes - you can get a better job and save more money - but many can't. Whether it's an accident of birth or a person just isn't bright enough means there are many who aren't going to have a $40,000 job with a 401k and health insurance - they're more apt to have a $6 an hour job and depend on over-the-counter meds and the emergency room. It's folks like that who need and should benefit from "big government" instead of Haliburton and GE and Boeing.
