My grandfather told me once that ignorance was forgivable because it only indicated a lack of knowledge on a particular subject. He further stated that stupidity was the unwillingness to attempt to gain the necessary knowledge, especially when it had a direct influence on your well being. Even worse, according to Granddad, was the refusal to accept proven, irrefutable truths once they are available and not subject to dispute.
It would seem that the facts are very clear concerning the financial condition of this country, yet judging from the recent election, there are millions of voters who refuse to accept them. They apparently believe that the government has the unending fiscal resources to provide for their every need, and an obligation to do so. The “tax the rich” mantra is their anthem. If the total wealth and assets of the top 5 percent suddenly fell into government hands, it wouldn’t fund the present rate of spending for more than a few weeks at best.
As far as not paying their “fair share,” as Obama loves to claim, his own IRS says that the top 3 percent of the earners are already paying almost half the total income tax revenue … while nearly half the rest of the population is paying little or nothing. No reasonably cognizant person can deny that ever increasing “entitlements” have played a huge part in bringing us to this current fiscal crisis, yet the Democrats insist on promising even more, as witnessed by the recent election. The facts are clear. We are headed for a national bankruptcy if people don’t pull their heads out of the sand (or some other equally dark place).
In the immortal words of Pogo, that great comic strip philosopher, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
Lee Fowble
Edmonds
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