Depending on which side you are on, Republicans are seen as radical proponents of separating the classes and Democrats are seen as left-wing nut jobs focused only on helping those that won’t help themselves. Of course the reality is far more intricate.
Both parties are now measured by their “pet projects.” Depending on which side of the fence you are on everything on the other side is just plain stupid. Alas, although the debates at your local Starbucks may be heated and entertaining, all of that conversational “noise” keeps us from addressing the real solution;
Fix the deficit and you have enough money for whatever you want to focus on.
Plain and simple? Debt restricts your options.
Having spent the last 20 years educating people on personal finance and self-employment (shameless book plug here) I can tell you the solutions are not that complex.
Just take a couple of 25 year-olds; one with credit card debt and one without. Obviously the one that is “debt free” has the ability to take advantage of deals or not be burdened with debt should the economy get rough.
I was both of those kids. I had lots of debt and finally got out of it. I can tell you when I wasn’t paying finance charges for items long since purchased I suddenly had plenty of money.
In the end, personal finance is no different than business (or government). You can’t continue to spend money you do not have. It will ALWAYS catch up with you at some point.
Stop the deficit spending and there will be plenty of money to provide for whatever programs both parties feel is worthy. Don’t stop the growing deficit and you will see the world’s largest bankruptcy – the United States.
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I suppose this is where you look for some witty insights to my mind. A "bio" of sorts. Here is the deal... I ride motorcycles, smoke cigars, golf, kayak, fly, race my car through the mountains, write (a lot), and travel extensively. I am almost old enough not to care what other people think about me...almost. ~ Godfather
So the United States is a irresponsible 25 year old kid with a credit card burning a hole in his pocket? Sounds like a pretty good analogy to me
The United States is also the kid that thinks he’s popular but really, all the other kids are turned off by how self important he is and secretly hate him. The only reason they play with him is because he might protect them on the playground.
Seems to sum it up for me!
I would also add that he is very rich, and many people hang around him hoping to be thrown a bone now and again. Like the heirs of any wealthy person the family (or other countries) suck up and refuse to stand on what they truely believe because they don’t want to be cut off.
I don’t feel bad for them. If they really had principles they wouldn’t take money from US tax payers.