26 Sep We are Americans First
In my travels, I speak with leaders and corporate executives and one sentiment is becoming crystal clear: we are all upset with the leadership in Washington – BOTH PARTIES. Surely our elected officials understand that we are Americans First.
We sent them to Washington to do what is best for all Americans. Instead, our leaders seem too focused on what will get them reelected. For them it is all about borrowing money from the future to pay for today’s activities and handouts. Even children understand that concept is robbing Peter to pay Paul.
On the federal level, the challenges have been and continue to be the entitlement programs. The federal government cannot keep promising services in the form of Social Security, Medicare, and other benefits when the income doesn’t support the money outflow. In the latest stimulus proposal, I fail to understand how we entice more jobs by “shorting our contributions to Social Security.” I also fail to understand how fifty percent of the population is able to avoid paying any taxes or contributing to the running of this country. History tells us that other great countries had to deal with this problem:
“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should
be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom
should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to
foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt.
People must again learn to work, instead of living on
public assistance.” — Cicero, 55 BC
It took years to create these problems. As Americans we must also realize there isn’t a quick fix to the problem. It will require a shared plan where all Americans must participate as all Americans will benefit from a stronger economy and dollar.
One concept would be to raise all tax rates by two percent and all funds collected dedicated to the reduction of our debt (added to the budgeted debt payments). At the same time our legislators and President should seek ways to achieve the $1.5 trillion in spending cuts promised to Americans this past summer.
The two percent could be calculated based on gross income before any deductions assuring all Americans participate. Americans earning $20,000 annually would contribute $8.00 per week; Americans earning $200,000 annually would contribute $80 per week. Ensuring all working Americans participate in the solution would enable us to achieve greater success.
Yes it would be painful, and yes the federal government would have a great deal of pushback from all quarters, however, our dollar would get stronger. Paying off our debt would enable Americans’ take home pay to go further as they buy more from the global market.
Business owners, small and large, and those that work in our businesses understand that you can only cut your budget so much without raising your income. In our businesses we expand our services, raise the price to generate more income or discount prices to move more goods and services. As with our family budgets we can only cut so much and to balance our budget we must earn extra money, often resulting in getting an extra job. In the end we must generate more income to keep our businesses and households alive.
As Americans, we all benefit from a strong country and economy. As Americans we all should participate and contribute to the running of our great country. It is time we turn our attention away from politics and focus on a solution. We did it after 9/11. Have we changed so much since that we cannot once again have a single focused solution?
To my Republican friends who may want to take away my party card for even suggesting a tax increase, my answer would be I am an American first.
