Come Back Down to Earth

debt trap

noun

• a situation in which a debt is difficult or impossible to repay, typically because high interest payments prevent repayment of the principal

The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, the public debt should be reduced and the arrogance of public officials should be controlled. – Ross Perot

 

 

It is a law of nature that what goes up must come down.  As of December 2, 2013, the United States government is $17,216,241,789,218.17 in debt.  This unfathomable number is a result of a lack of financial responsibility, fiscal liability, ethical decision making and diplomatic reform within congress and our political leaders.  Our debt is unsustainable and has the ability to break our country at its core.  Tyler Durden of Zeroedge.com argues that there are four different outcomes to a debt this large; a debt trap, hyperinflation, austerity but in conjunction with actual economic growth or default. Our current debt is causing increased treasury securities, inflated prices on goods to the extra taxes corporations will pay for being considered “risky”, a higher cost of borrowing money from banks for homes and other common good, crowding out and an eventual loss of social, economic and political power. 

There are significant things that our government can change in order to reduce spending.  It is estimated that our government spend 830.9 billion dollars on military expenditures.  This includes foreign military aid, foreign economic aid, civil defense, military defense and veterans benefits.  The military defense alone accounts for 626.8 billion dollars of this budget.  The United States spends more than any other country in the world.  The closest amount of military defense spending by another country is China, spending around 102.4 billion dollars.  In 2013, the US government also spent 799.4 billion dollars between our welfare program and payments to vendors that enable heath care for those on welfare.  While it is vital that we take care of our nation’s poor, I also think that it is important that we hold ourselves up to the same standards that we should have for our governments spending.  We must as a whole learn to manage our pocket books. 

I have heard that “A man in debt is so far a slave.”  And, I also took it to heart when my grandpa told me to always live below my means.  The behavior of our congress when it comes to our debt ceiling and government spending is outrageous.  At times, I question whether it will take a significant government shutdown and default to force them to restructure.  While I believe this would cause irreversible damage to our country, I also know that expanding ceiling is unsustainable.  We will explode as a nation if we do not come together to resolve this dire issue.

The Doer Alone Learnth

 

re·form

 

riˈfôrm

verb

1.

make changes in (something, typically a social, political, or economic institution or practice) in order to improve it.

"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet." -Aristotle

 

In response to Cung Doan’s blog, Higher Taxes For Better Education?,  I must start by asking him if he is a home owner that currently pays taxes into the Texas school system.  My husband and I currently pay $10,000…. I repeat $10,000 a year in taxes in order to be a home owner.  Just under $6,000 of those dollars go to the Leander Independent School District for children that I did not birth, to go to school.  In 2012, Texas had 26,059,203 residents.  If Amendment 66 were to pass in the state of Texas, it would increase each person’s taxes by approximately $38.00.  When you break it down even further, it is obvious to see that the homeowner is the brunt carrier of this tax burden… their obligation will be much higher as many of our Texas residents who are not homeowners, do not pay taxes in to our school system.  While I do agree with Mr. Doan that a tax height would help our school systems and I would in fact waiver toward the side of this type of amendment, I also would like more answers about what type of reform and progress this would bring. 

Currently in Texas we are facing some very large issues in our public school system.  We are embracing a ghastly growing population, a text book validity crisis, funding cuts that put Texas at or below 45^th in the nation when it comes for funding for public education, funding distribution issues, ESL programs, adequate pay for teachers, testing standards and special needs standards.  If I were to vote for an amendment such as Amendment 66, I want to know how the funding is going to directly aid education reform.  Also, I would want to know more about how current funds are being distributed to aid all of these current issues.  If fund are presently being misused, then more funds will be misused as well.   Overall, I do agree with Mr. Doan but I am more interested in Texas education because not only is it the environment that my children will be in, but it is also what I pay for.  I think it is important to hold our school accountable for good spending and expect that when we give educators more money, that it directly touches our children.

 

 

One life. One world. One chance.

schism

ˈs(k)izəm/

1. a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.

    
  

Click here to listen to SOJA- I don’t wanna wait

Saturday afternoon, I sat down with my laptop in my third attempt to write this blog with no avail.  I confided in my husband, who has access to some great databases courtesy of his business school.  As I started to shuffle through the web pages, I was impressed with the wonderful access to information.  I could search for any political science issue and find links to fact filled sites, opinion sites and activist sites…but once again I was stuck.  How do I pick though the issues and select one to argue?  I am in no way, educated enough on any major political issue to argue about the “way that things should be”.  I have thoughts, beliefs and morals that I abide to, but I also have a lack of desire to impose those on others.  Eventually I came to the conclusion that cyphering though all of the factioned issues was distracting me from something bigger.  Upon arrival to this conclusion, I was mentally exhausted and did what most twenty something year-olds do when things get to hard, I logged on to Facebook.  I stumbled upon a “friends” feed and noticed that the band, SOJA was playing at Stubbs that evening.  Knowing that my husband had been raving about this cali-reggae band for the last five years, I asked him if he wanted to go.  We would have to head out in thirty minutes.   Don’t get me wrong, I consider myself a fun gal, but not a spontaneous one.I cannot remember the last time I did something unplanned.  With work and school, most of my time is allotted for.  My husband and I were both refreshed with the thought of this random act and we were off to see the show… this blog could wait until Sunday.

It’s always fascinating to me that something much bigger then myself always shines it’s light when least expected.  SOJA is an unbelievably talented group of musicians from Virginia, though their knotty, knee-length dreads would make you think otherwise.  They play laid back melodies with a cause delightfully mixed in.  Honestly, before the show, I had only listened to a handful of their songs and never so closely as to hear their message.  I was taken with the music and the more that I listened the more they wrote this blog for me. Here I am standing in a crowd of beautiful people coming together to support these political activists and I didn’t even know it.

While I don’t totally agree with the message, SOJA came out to perform a song entitled “I don’t wanna wait”.  In the middle of the song, the lead singer busts out in to a freestyle that began something along these lines:

Click here and forward to 2:30 to listen to SOJA spitting similar lyrics that we heard Saturday, November 3^rd in Austin, Texas.

One life. One world. One chance.
We’re moving forward to right now, with a government that has been shut down
Republican, Republican same old thing
Democrat, Democrat same f***ing thing
…But something is happening and its turning to a daze
Political parties that share a different name
They work against each other and they work against progress
We are the ones asking “What’s next?”
We are the ones trampled down underneath
And we are the ones sitting waiting on our knees
…The government wants what the government wants
It’s team vs. team cause it’s red vs. blue
They mix it all up and put me vs. you
They tell you all these lies and pretend its true
There is not one thing to do except f*** the government
WE ARE BETTER THEN THIS
WE ARE SMARTER THAN THIS

I began to look around at the faces and noticed the emotion and discontent coming out of those around me when it struck me.  The United States government’s issues is much larger than any one single political science issues that I could debate on.  Our issue is that our people have become separated due behavior of our party leaders and the sickening battles over issues that are portrayed by the media.  It is as though we have lost sight of the fact that we are one people, all American, looking to propel our nation into the future.  I notice that many in the generation before mine will vote for a party, because that is their chosen party.  Many have seen great politics take place in the previous century and truly believe in their party.  Many of their parents were Republican, so they will be too.  This single choice, of who you cast your ballot for on that “first Tuesday” in November every four years completely separates us from one another.  I notice many in my generation that are so displeased that they would rather get rid of the government in it entirely because they are far disconnected and uneducated on what good politics can be, that they have no faith in the system’s ability to recover and adapt.

In the past, we were separated by race and religion.  Today we are separated by race, religion and political affiliation.  I have heard Republicans say, “I will not shop at any store that I know is owned by a Democrat, because they are destroying our country.”   I have heard Democrats slander and beat down Republican beliefs for the good of our people.  When in realty they both have lost sight of diplomacy.  In my heart, I believe that there is not a single national political leader today that has our nation’s best interest in line before that of its own party or financial gain.  How can they?  With media bashing and breaking each party down piece by piece, it is impossible for one to truly be focused on the bigger picture.

Gallop released a poll on October 10, 2013 stating that American’s satisfaction with the way our government is being ran is the lowest since Gallop has been polling, eighteen percent.  Eight percent of Republicans, twenty-eight percent of Democrats and fifteen percent of Independents are happy with the current happening in our government… something has to be wrong here.  Polling Report released a poll that asked the question, "Do you think most members of Congress are more interested in serving the people they represent, or more interested in serving special interest groups?"  Eighty-five percent of people, said that they believe that Congress’ interest lies in serving special interest groups.  Our system of factions factioning factions, has a glitch and is no longer keeping our leaders in check as it was implemented to be.

I do believe that our key issue is that our people are separated due to the behavior of our party leaders and the battles between them that are portrayed by the media.  This is harmful for our country as a whole.  When we separate ourselves there is no room to breed love and progress.  We have to work together to solve issues and make the changes that we want for our future.  That being noted, I do not believe like many my age, that the nation would be better without our government.  We are a nation that has overcome many obstacles, and our system was placed to bend and adjust to changes.  I believe we are in a time of realignment like many have never seen before.  Not only are we separated down the middle with party affiliation, but we are also starting to realign with a third affiliation, which is that of people that would rather see the system go away than work to fix the problems.  They lyrics of one of my favorite bands, Tool, and their song Schism can some this feeling up for me… “Cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any since of compassion between supposed lovers, between supposed brothers.” 

If we want a change, we all have to come together.  Leaders, people, Republican, Democrats, Independents and corporations.  We have to voice that we demand a change, and we will fight together for our children to be able to live in a beautiful nation that we once lived in.  I am convinced that all we have to do is realize that we are and become one people, and we can do anything.

If music be the food of love, play on.

debt·or  (dtr)

n.

1. One that owes something to another.

2. One who is guilty of a trespass or sin; a sinner.

Click here to listen to Bach's Cantata BWV 168.

A godly man, Bob Marley, is quoted to have said, “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain”.  Marley’s presence and music undoubtedly expanded my view of humanity and of spirituality.  Music is my therapy.  I use it as a way to alleviate stress, let loose and connect with my higher power.  Typically I wouldn’t use, my therapeutic melodies to prove a point in my Government class blog, but Pay Up!  Bach’s Debt Cantata, by David Yearsley gave me a great excuse to make an exception. 

In Mr. Yearsley’s blog, he is correlating Bach’s cantata, Thue Rechnung (BWV 168), written in 1725, to the behavior of our political leaders during the most recent debt ceiling crisis.  I find it hard to translate this delightful blog and doubt I can give it due credit, but I will try.  “Thue Rechnung” translates to “pay up”.  The cantata suggests to listeners that they should manage money morally in life, because when meeting your maker in the sky, he will audit your accounts and it will truly be known what kind of a man that you were.  It urges the notion to not make money just for financial sake and argues that poor men and capitalists alike will pay the same debt in the end.  He makes note of religious political leaders that correlate debt and sin synonymously and relates them to the frantic behavior of the Tea Party members, such as Ted Cruz and Paul Ryan. 

While this blog is not argumentative or  political fact filled, for me, the message of it hits the nail right on the head.  I think it is important to look at our past and listen to those who set out to change the world and succeeded.  Johann Sebastian Bach was arguably the best composer of his time and his intellectual mind was beyond compare.  He  voiced a message written in the Bible that was largely silenced, “No servant can serve two masters, Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  While I consider myself to be more spiritual than religious, this message is very profound to me and I correlate it closely with what has been happening lately with our government crises. You cannot serve healthy morals when monetary gain is the ultimate goal.

Nonetheless, I am unsure as to David Yearsley’s credibility in the political arena. The fact that his blog is leaned left with no regard for the right makes me question his ability to write fair. I do know that he has his Bach facts on lockdown.  I think that this particular message is credible due to its validity in today’s financial based society.  I believe that his target audience is liberal music lovers, but most music lovers could at least appreciate his correlation and quick wit that is found throughout his writing.

As I go forward with my days and I get lost in the hustle and bustle of my work day and busy school schedule, I am going to try and keep Bach’s message in mind… and I hope that my political leaders do as well.  That is, use money wisely, build a solid foundation, do not do business with the single goal of monetary gain, help the poor and to always do business morally.  I do not know the answer to our debt crisis, as I’m sure the majority of our elected leader do not either, but I do hope that they are attempting to make decisions that will carry our government’s financial stability and economic wellbeing into the future.  I guess only time will tell, and it will be FACINATING to be on the sidelines while it all plays out.

The line was drawn at the Alamo....we all know how that turned out.

lib·er·tar·i·an (lbr-târ-n)

n.

1. One who advocates maximizing individual rights and minimizing the role of the state.

2. One who believes in free will.

I created this blog with a goal of self-exploration, heightened awareness and a desire to find positive politics in the United States.  I wanted to seek out and highlight political leaders that were acting with our country’s best interest at heart, and making progressive political decisions to guide us into the future. This blog could not have started at a more freaking FACINATING time to evaluate all of my listed goals above.  Through education, self-evaluation and critical thinking I have come to the conclusion that I am a Libertarian at this time in my life.  This being said, I find it impossible, ethically or logically, to place my support with either political party.   Their childish and unethical behavior is an embarrassment and I personally don’t want to be associated with any of their antics.

The Editorial Board for Austin American Statesman published, WE SAY GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, Compromise only way out of budget impasse, on October 5, 2013.  The editorial discussed the current state of the government shutdown and shed light on a glimpse of hope for a budget agreement on the debt ceiling before October, 17, when the United States would default on some of its loans.  On Friday, John Boehner, was said to have let a factioned group in his party know that he was fed up with their behavior and would not allow the United Stated to default on their loans for the first time in United States History.  While both parties have stated that they have intentions of raising the debt ceiling, if they can’t get there acts together and come to a compromise in time, the effects are unknown and possibly dire.  The board argues that the only way to end this self-created crisis is compromise from both political parties, but that there will be a lot more “finger pointing” before we get to that point. 

The Austin American Statesmen is often put in a sticky situation when it comes to satisfying its readers. Austin is a melting pot of diversity and its colors tend to blend into purple.  This editorial did an excellent job at making the read comfortable for people of any political beliefs.  I believe that any person with an interest in moving forward beyond the shutdown and debt ceiling would find it a valid opinion article.  It was not slanderous of any political party in particular, but took a stance on dissatisfaction with the behavior that has placed our country in this mess.  For me, the Editorial Boards ability to critique current situations without shoving personal political beliefs and making substantial arguments about solutions without denouncing politicians or parties makes them a very creditable source.  I believe that this editorial is valid not only to our current studies in government class, but also to the placement in my blog.  The editorial shares the common feelings of millions of Americans, Democrat or Republican; we just want our citizens to be back at work, taking home a pay check, for our government to pay its debts as its citizens must do, and make decisions that uphold our strong American ethics.  What they are doing now is an embarrassment on the world stage and a mockery of our political system. 

Cats In a Bag

dip·lo·mat  (dpl-mt)

n.

1. One, such as an ambassador, who has been appointed to represent a government in its relations with other governments.

2. One who uses skill and tact in dealing with others.

 

Above, I have given readers the definition of a diplomat.  My definition varies slightly.  To me,  a true diplomat is a politician that bases decision making and actions upon the wellbeing of a county as a whole, not as a party or faction.  Michael Schwartz's article, Lawmakers Point Fingers Over Budget Deadlock, is a prime example of this pressing issue.  It highlights the behavior our politicians that are battling it out over the nations budget with only eight days left to avoid disaster with a government shut down.  In times like these, one would think that working together would benefit all, but our chosen leaders seem to be fighting like "cats in a bag", so to say.

The article emphasizes two key issues separating an agreement between the two parties, our current health care laws (Obamacare) and the government's borrowing limit.  With each party pointing their finger at the other as to why these issues are not solved, the next week will surely be a sleepless one for those in the House. 

I think this article is important to read because it notes the character of our leaders and their actions in a time of crisis.  We live in a country that promotes civil democracy, and when that is made a mockery of, we should all take note.