Other People’s Money (Yours)

by Kerry Thomas

November 9, 2011

Liberals have a nasty habit of being overly generous with other people’s money, especially yours. And they can always find a creative way to make you think you have some sort of moral obligation to surrender your money so they can spend it for you.

In the coming weeks and months, we are going to be inundated again by all manner of political advertising, all designed to sway your vote in one direction or another. And when you boil it all down to the core messages, the liberal message will (again) be the collective “we” (that means you) need to pay higher taxes to support more government in your life.

“We” need to pay higher taxes to support education, because, after all, don’t children deserve a good education? It doesn’t seem to matter that we are already spending an average of some $12,000 per student. And for what? Are the students really getting $12,000 worth of education? How do today’s literacy rates compare to those of, say, 100 years ago?

“We” need to pay higher taxes for roads, bridges & infrastructure. Of course, in Wisconsin, “we” already pay 50¢ in taxes per gallon of gasoline. That’s $5 for every 10 gallons of gas you buy. That money is supposed to go to fund road infrastructure.

“We” need to pay higher taxes to pay the salaries and benefits of all of our government employees. Have you taken a look at some of their compensation packages? How do those compare to yours?

I have a question for our public sector union members. When you see all these union-sponsored political ads, and the paid demonstrators, is your union-promised pension and health benefit package fully funded? Are your union dues being used to support causes you support? Could your pension plan have used that $30 million that was spent in the recall elections? How much more of your union dues will your union bosses spend in the upcoming elections, supporting their lifestyles instead of funding your retirement?

People should be free to join unions – or not join unions. Joining any organization should not be a prerequisite for obtaining and keeping a job, especially if that organization professes an ideology with which you disagree.. Would it be right to force all law enforcement officers to join the National Rifle Association? Or force all firefighters to contribute to the Salvation Army?

There is no question that we do need some limited level of government. But this nation was designed to be one of a limited government, while leaving charitable deeds to the good heartedness and good judgment of each of us.

The question we must each ask ourselves is whether we are each willing and able to afford the level of government we now have. How many jobs do you have to work to pay all your expenses, plus support your government? Is your government spending your money wisely, or could you find a better use for that same money?

After all, it is your money – for now.