Archive for July, 2011

The Truth about Entitlements

By James Schaefer.   In today’s Wall Street Journal, the lead editorial discusses the problems of government overspending (The Road to a Downgrade, July 28, 2011). Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid prove Milton Friedman's thesis: we cannot get something for nothing.  There is no free lunch; and indeed, it is quite an...
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About That Trust Fund . . .

By James Schaefer Mr. Obama recently stated that he couldn't guarantee that Social Security checks would go out in August if America's debt ceiling weren't raised (Obama's Debt-Ceiling Scare Tactics).   America's taxpayers have paid $2.5 trillion in FICA taxes over the past several decades to create the Social Security trust fund.  It isn't enough...
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Cut, Cap, and Balance, Explained

Budget proposals are coming fast and furious in Washington these days.  Most of it is political chatter, but there HAVE been a number of proposals that aspire to responsible government for the long term.  Today's top story in that regard is "Cut, Cap, and Balance" which would smooth over some near-term...
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Problems With a Balanced Budget Amendment?

In yesterday's Wall Street Journal Senators Snowe and DeMint wrote an opinion piece (subscription req'd) which points out that none of today's budget negotiations offer anything like a long-term cure for the fiscal irresponsibility that has become the norm in Washington, DC.  They argue that this goal is best achieved...
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