Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Told Ya' So

Into The Void

with John Miller

It's good to be back in harness again, especially now, as I get to say, "I told you so."

When el Presidente George W. Bush began badgering Congress (ever notice the first three letters of Congress), earlier this year about a tax cut for the people I said it was a bad idea and wouldn't work the way Bush said.

First, he was basing his figures on numbers from people who have been proven to barely be qualified to do simple arithmetic problems. These people projected a surplus of more than five trillion dollars over the next 10 years.

I said it wouldn't happen.

It doesn't take an Alan Greenspan to figure out the economy has been slowing down the last few years. Just look around. Housing starts are down, timber prices are dropping and major companies are laying people off left and right. Duh!

So, because of the tax cut, once again the Social Security trust fund has to bail the government out of a jam. According to figures from the Congressional Budget Office, $9 billion will have to be used from this fund this year alone, and will see the loss of another $18 billion in 2003.

CBO figures now forecast the "surplus" to be $3.4 trillion over the next 10 years, instead of the $5.6 trillion previously predicted.

An Associated Press article states the money taken from the Social Security fund will have "no practical effect" on the program, other than it will prevent the government from paying down public debt as quickly as it otherwise could have.

When the tax cut was being planned, the White House used a change in the Social Security accounting procedures and other assumptions (remember what happens to those who "assume"?) To claim the program would be untouched this year.

Pres. Bush was wrong.

Here's the deal people. We need to take a stand and let our elected leaders, all of them, know the Social Security trust fund must be left alone.

Think about this. There are currently around 45 million people receiving Social Security checks in America. Within the next 10 years, though, this number will swell to 77 million as baby boomers begin retiring.

We, as a people, can't rely on Congress and the president to be fiscally responsible, especially now.

The tax cut was wrong when it was proposed, and it's wrong now. I'd rather see the $300 to be sent to me be used better, such as paying off the national debt. Granted $300 wouldn't be noticeable on the national debt, but every little bit helps.

It's time for fiscal responsibility from our elected leaders. This means paying off the national debt, eliminating pork barrel projects and no more midnight pay raises. I've got nothing against a man making more money, but have the courage to do it in the light of day.

If we don't get fiscal responsibility, we can definitely get new leaders. Think about it.