More Reasons to Feel Ill at Ease
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Every morning before work, I sit down with coffee, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Never before do I remember the national pages reflecting such upheaval and chaos.
It’s unsettling, and I wonder if “we the people” are capable of recognizing the root of these problems, and if our character is still strong enough to turn us around.
Before, chaos used to thrive on other shores, in other nations and faraway places. I would think how lucky we were to live in this great nation, where the fruits of our own labor had created such a wonderful place to live. We paid our taxes, some of which we hoped would help those less fortunate, and our government kept us safe, but otherwise, it stayed mostly out of the way. We lived in what Ronald Reagan called “a shining city upon a hill.”
That shining city is beginning to look more like Detroit. Anyone wanting to see the result of years of liberal spending and union power, take a ride up Interstate 75 through that once-great city. Looks like a bombed-out war zone.
But that’s not supposed to be! Government keeps promising us with each new election that they have the solutions. They can make it better. They just need more sacrifice, and your hard-earned tax dollars.
Well, guess what? Since the Great Depression and through the “Great Society,” these federal promises of Eden have sunk this country so far into debt that Standard & Poor’s rating service just lowered its outlook on the United States’ ability to deal with that debt from “Stable” to “Negative.” Perhaps you saw this little item whip by you and disappear in the 24-hour news cycle.
A friend stopped by a little while ago and asked what I was writing about for Sunday. I said I wasn’t sure, but it would have something to do with feeling a sense of unease. That for the first time, I wonder whether Americans might be failing our founding ideals.
Do we remember that our founders’ idea of government was that it wasn’t capable of making our lives better? They were descendants of people who’d been crippled at the hand of tyranny, and they sailed from those monarchies of crippling taxation to try something new in a new world.
I said Obama can make a speech to a bunch of college kids who haven’t started a career, raised a family or paid any taxes, and he says he’ll cut unnamed spending and raise the taxes on the rich to reduce the deficit and all will be well. And they believe him and cheer.
I feel our national identity slipping away while government continues to lie and grow unchecked. I asked her if that made any sense.
She said she understood exactly, and had been thinking about the Vietnam era and whether that period of national discord was comparable. She had decided that it was not, and said that for the first time in her life, she felt fear.
She said it’s not just the economy, either. It’s everything. That she keeps thinking about the proverb that if you give a man a fish, he’ll never learn to fish for himself.
She said she suspects our government doesn’t want people to learn to fish for themselves. It recognizes that there are a growing number of takers out there. People who would rather be given the fish than work for it. It’s about power.
On U.S. News & World Report’s website under the headline “Good News for Democrats, Republicans Just Do Not Understand,” there was this comment from a reader on the S&P downgrade story:
“Grassroots Democrats view an economic crash as an economic and political equalizer for the common citizen — a peaceful and irresistible revolutionary force in reshaping American society — a good and desirable event. Obama is on track to deliver the economic equality for which Democrats elected him. The majority of poor do NOT feel that an economic crash will hurt them any more than the widening economic gap already has.”
You can read comments just like this one, right here in the letters section, or on The Pilot’s website. Reasons to feel uneasy? I think so.
Geoff Cutler is owner of Cutler Tree LLC in Southern Pines and is a regular contributor to The Pilot and PineStraw magazine. Contact him at geoffcutler@embarqmail.com.
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Comments
JimHeim 2 years ago
Sorry, Geoff, the great debt you are so concerned about happened after the Great Society. When Reagan took office the debt was under a trillion dollars. When Clinton took over it was $3 trillion. Mr. Clinton added $2 trillion and George Bush added $5 trillion after inheriting a budget in surplus. Mr. Bush had the "advantage" of holding the two houses of Congress for most of his two terms and still broke the bank with an unfunded Medicare expansion and two unfunded wars (not to mention the most devastating move of all - his tax cuts for the rich).
There are fewer Americans working today than when Bush took office even though there are 28 million more of us. Where's the Republican/tea party plan for that? Republicans came into office last fall promising to "repeal and replace" "Obamacare." I've seen lots of repeal stuff, but so far nothing to replace it with (except maybe Ryan's voucher plan to kill Medicare). What's the plan?
Your Republican presidents keep tearing the place up and our Democrats have to pick up the pieces. It takes time to repair the damage.
geoffcutler 2 years ago
Jim, the piece isn't about Republicans and Democrats. And I'm well aware of Republican spending, and dislike it as much as when Democrats spend 10 times more. The article is about us, the American people, and in particular, people like you, so myopically focused on Republicans and Democrats and what government can do for you, you're losing the ability to see the forest through the trees.
JimHeim 2 years ago
The fact remains that the deficit is not a problem, it's a symptom. The problem is a stalled economy, a tax system that discourages investment and a health care system with out of control costs. The proposals by Republicans/tea partiers do not address any of these. That should keep you up nights.
geoffcutler 2 years ago
Jim, just out of curiosity, do you agree with the statement made at the end of the article? How about you, MC7 and ProudYankee?
JimHeim 2 years ago
Not entirely. An economic crash is good for no one, but it's not that much worse in terms of sheer corrosiveness to the rising income inequality.
SnakeFlag1 2 years ago
QUESTION: What causes this unacceptable "income inequality?"
We need to root out whatever it is that causes different jobs to have different pay scales! And while you are at it, make sure the private doesn't have to do more KP than the General. I always thought that unfair and unequal.
Locate that gatekeeper who sends one guy to manage a large factory and sends the unfortunate one to work on the garbage truck? Does he flip a coin?
I would rather see you encourage some kid to go to medical school or law school instead of telling him that the world owes him a GOOD LIVING WAGE. When he learns to read, write, show up for work sober, and learns a skill, HIS LUCK MIGHT GET BETTER!
JimHeim 2 years ago
Thomas Jefferson recognized the problem and suggested progressive taxation. Many people think his ideas merited consideration.
JimHeim 2 years ago
mauiman, you should watch the video of now-governor Scott of Florida being deposed and pretending not to know what's going on. Familiar trick ...
ProudYankee 2 years ago
Jim, there you go again, trying to confuse poor Geoff with facts.
honesty2 2 years ago
Mr. Cutler, You are right on this one. Just see the latest poll from the NY Times: Americans are more pessimistic about the nation’s economic outlook and overall direction than they have been at any time since President Obama’s first two months in office, when the country was still officially ensnared in the Great Recession, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
hotdiggity 2 years ago
What caused States such as N. C. under democrat control for over 100 years to be under such a debt? How about California?
JimHeim 2 years ago
What debt would that be? Give me a number please.
hotdiggity 2 years ago
Unfunded N. C.State Government retiree health cost are 13.5 Billion Dollars.
skylinefirepest 2 years ago
Jim, you just want to keep casting blame on the GOP but I distinctly noticed that you did not dare to state what Obama has taken the deficit to!! The Dems just want to keep on spending OUR money and taxing more and it has never worked and it will not work now. We have got to cut spending or we are done. I also notice that you didn't bother to mention 9-11 after you so smirkily told us that Bush came into office with a surplus!! Instead of casting blame why don't the Dems look for a solution...obviously Obama and company is not it. BO came into office with the House and the Senate and took us quickly into the Democrat spending Heaven. You'll remember that senile old anti-American Jimmy Carter did much the same and it took us years to recover from his blunders. Now you may love your man BO but he is killing this country with the help of the big spending Dems but unless we boot him out on his butt in '12 it may be too late. I'll ask you the same question that I asked Toda...is this what you want to leave your grandkids?? Will you be proud to tell them that you applauded while this administration spent the country into the lowest rating it's had since 1941?? I don't know you personally but I wouldn't think so!!
JimHeim 2 years ago
Since taxes are now lower than they were when Obama took office, I fail to understand your point.
The problem Mr Obama inherited from Mr Bush was a stalled economy, brought about by idiotic tax cuts under Bush and a financial meltdown made possible by Republican dismantling of the financial regulatory system Democrats created during the Great Depression. There will be no quick fix for problems with such a long history.
How much did 9-11 cost? How great was the surplus? Why cut taxes if expenses (like 9-11) are being incurred? Why start wars without working out a way to pay for them?
I would like to leave a country with a secure middle class, something that really annoys Republicans who want to leave it solely to the rich.
Darkwing 2 years ago
Can't prove it by me, Jim. Those tax cuts helped me more than democrat spending sprees. Laffer theory shows that tax cuts are benefit to the economy. The financial meltdown was caused by the Carter-initiated CRA and Dodd & Frank increasing that plan. Pushing unsupportable mortgages on people who can't afford them to increase poor and minority home ownership is irresponsible. It made them think they could afford the ridiculously over-priced homes developers churned out. I bought my first house as an E-3, have turned over 3 times, and have never bought nearly as high as the banks claimed I qualified for. It's tough to keep up sometimes, which is why I don't have TV at all. But when the left are trying to increase home ownership without increasing ability to pay for it, that's reckless. I encourage everyone to find a way to buy a home instead of renting, but do it within your means. After all, you're always going to pay a mortgage - do you want to pay your own mortgage, or your landlord's mortgage? But it takes financial discipline and hard work to make that jump, and a willingness to settle for affordability. You aren't a success if you are drowning in debt on that fancy furniture your parents waited 20 years to build up to, rolling over your car loan on a 3-year-old car into the note for your NEW new car, the third in 4 years, with the expensive rims, plush leather interior, and high-end sound system. You ARE a success if you drive a 10-year-old cheap sedan, eschew cable, have used furniture, and none of the other trappings of keeping up with the Jones', but you DO own a home you can afford and is sufficient to your needs. When politicians come along and try to sell the idea that Uncle Sam should nudge banks into giving out loans that will bankrupt people, there's something wrong.
JimHeim 2 years ago
I'm glad to hear that the tax cuts helped you. A lot of people are complaining about the ballooning debt that the cuts caused but not you or me, eh?
I spent too much time and lost too much money buying house after house as I followed my wife around the country. A house is a lousy investment as the gains are illusory. If you look at the long term data, you find that housing prices have closely tracked with inflation. There are much better ways to build wealth if your capital is not trapped in real estate.
JimHeim 2 years ago
In Fantasyland a president can do anything he wants. In this country, that's not even remotely true.
hotdiggity 2 years ago
When someone borrows money from another, that is known as debt. The State of N. C. borrowed 2.7 Billion Dollars from the Federal Government to pay for unemployment benefits.
JimHeim 2 years ago
That's it? After a hundred years of Democratic despotism that's NC's big problem?
moonchild7 2 years ago
Yes, Geoff you do need to feel ill at ease, just NOT for the reasons you write about. The United States of America is NOT creating jobs because THEY DON'T WANT TO! Marijuana buying, selling and creating products from is the easiest one to site that's at the top of the list. Except it will bite into Local, State and Federal wind-fall profits from court costs and fines! Prostitution sould be legalized and taxed, getting it off the streets. Again, our courts and the "lawyer business" would hurt and be under funded. Gambling? Same thing. Money everywhere to be made and taxed in every state. Dumbells don't want it in their communities. Stop complaining about how HORRIBLE everything is then. Things were much, much worse during the 60's and 70's. I guess you didn't live where there were riots in the streets, and whole city blocks being burned. Tanks and National Guards with machine guns sitting on every other street corner. Then NIXON!!!!!! Horrible...wage and price freeze's, gas lines. Tax the rich now, it's over guys, you had your chance to create a BETTER AMERICA and you blew it! No more fun for you. We've had the hardest working people in the world and still do, stop talking about all of the people who need help like they are pieces of dirt. That kind of mindset is also making things worse. No sympathy for the those who are without? Shame on you.
geoffcutler 2 years ago
Moon, I think you just gave me a whupping! But the thing is, because I'm not sure what you're talking about, most of it being unintelligible, I'm afraid I have to just let it go. Maybe Jim Heim can put it into words I can understand.
geoffcutler 2 years ago
Thanks for clearing that up for me, James! Is it possible to laugh so hard you bust a gut? Just wondering.... Unfueled tanks to the Soviet Union in place of Olympic Athletes? You've outdone yourself!
Mark106 2 years ago
Mr. Cutler, I enjoy your column every week. Thank you. Amazing how much more professional a tree cutter can be than a lawyer in our county!
geoffcutler 2 years ago
Thanks, Mark!
moonchild7 2 years ago
Well James, looks like you do have a pretty decent sense of humor, so thanks for the funny "reinterpretation" of my thoughts. It should probably be obvious by now that I've had one extra busy, inlightened, and adventerous life but trying to get my thoughts together to debate those who fail to see that light gets the best of me now. Cold War, Civil Rights, Vietnam, Hippies, Women's Rights, Watergate, Rock n' Roll, Drugs, and "When the Moon is in the Seventh House, Jupiter aligns with Mars, then Peace will guide the Planets, and Love will steer the Stars." I think that is what I meant to say about how things are now compared to then. Thanks again James, maybe you'll soon be able to see that light yourself since it looks like you do have some "promise".
geoffcutler 2 years ago
MC7, I'm glad to see you still have enough of a sense of humor to see that James' comment was hilarious. Now, if you would give up the liberal elitist bad habit of thinking it your job to enlighten people," you'll begin to be worth debating. Do you agree disagree with this statement?
“Grassroots Democrats view an economic crash as an economic and political equalizer for the common citizen — a peaceful and irresistible revolutionary force in reshaping American society — a good and desirable event. Obama is on track to deliver the economic equality for which Democrats elected him. The majority of poor do NOT feel that an economic crash will hurt them any more than the widening economic gap already has.”
teufelhunden 2 years ago
I must agree that MC7 is very passionate about her beliefs and that is refreshing since most liberals are bandwagon jumping wannabes who can't seem to be original with their thoughts.
Ross 2 years ago
I just heaved........
moonchild7 2 years ago
I am passionate about my beliefs because I LIVED them. Big difference between a person who might have read about those times and developed a belief system and those who actually participated in those actions that changed history. While it goes to say that just because I was there when so much of the SOCIAL and CULTURAL "earthquakes" were taking place in AMERICA doesn't give me sole right to an opinion; it does give me FIRST PERSON perspective. I've said this before but when I participated in an ANTI-WAR Demonstation at the U of MD Administration Building in 1971, as part of a PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY of students(I was a student 1971)protesting the war and it was announced the NATIONAL GUARD in TANKS with GUNS were right down US 1 and were on their way...well, I left the premises. Just didn't want to DIE that day by the hands of our own government. That experience was life changing. For those who are interested there are photo's of this and other anti-war events(I didn't own a camera at the time)at the University of MD. I was already in the "left-wing" mind-set before I participated(I went to other demonstrations also)but it was set in concrete that day.
geoffcutler 2 years ago
Much more cogent, thanks! Umm...so the bad government that scared you so terribly back during Vietnam is now a good government because Obama is at the helm? I'm skeptical of all governemnt, left, right, Republican or Democratic. Especially when that government appears to be getting larger and more powerful with my money that I'd assume keep, because I work hard for it, and because it cannot afford any longer the entitlements and other programs that are spiraling us towards a 15 trillion debt. This government, left or right, is broke! It isn't working, and it needs to radically cut its size and return power and programs like Medicare to the States. Obamacare is an abomination and if not reversed will ultimately put the nails in the coffin of this once great country. It's real and it's happening right now
geoffcutler 2 years ago
It's crossed my mind more than once. Don't like to think about it because it seems so "black helicopter." I wonder if the MC7's would think it an appropriate use of the National Guard this time around? Tanks and guns scattering veterans, and Tea Partiers in their colonial costumes. Regardless, interesting point, James.
geoffcutler 2 years ago
You'll get no argument from me. Greece...here we come... with bells on!
teufelhunden 2 years ago
Well said Geoff.
skylinefirepest 2 years ago
Again, well said Geoff. I lived through the time period MC7 is talking about and I do believe she still hits some of the same stuff today in the privacy of her home. Of course my perceptiion is decidely different seeing as I was in the same U.S. Military that she so loves to hate. The problem is that what she describes with the hippies and such was really a low point for this country and I got over that years ago. I don't have any idea why she hates government but loves this "spend us into the poor house" Obama administration, the sorriest excuse for leadership since J.C. and his Jawja Sunshine. I keep saying everybody except the Dems. ( and now I understand that even some of the Dem. honchos are fed up with the spending ) realizes that we cannot keep spending. Business will take care of itself if only Obama and crew will leave it alone. We need to be more energy independant and I'll guarantee you one darn thing...my Toyota will not run on solar power or wind power or by filling the tank with corn!! And if I can't really afford the gas prices today how in the world does Obama think that I can afford new ( more efficient??) car payments? He has to get off the back of business in this country and stop vilifying the very means by which we can get the country back to running efficiently.
teufelhunden 2 years ago
James-good correlation there. I hope others can see what you mean because you absolutely nailed that one.
moonchild7 2 years ago
Mr.Cutler, I was a HUGE non-believer in Government back in the 60's and 70's because then the government was truly at war with it's own citizens. The government was beating them in the head and then at times shooting them! Dragging them off to jail or to be beaten some more. I was peacefully protesting but didn't feel I needed to hang around for a billy-club to the head. The youth then had no vote. I was only 17 then, and only those 21 and older could vote in elections. That changed with our protests and the age limit was changed to 18 in 1972. The protests that I participated in helped to end the war. Our outrage at Nixon and his paranoia got him to resign the Presidency(a first). We started to change how the government operated. Sadly, only for those few years until Reagan was put into office by the" GREATEST GENERATION". And so you see, things sorta slowly turned upside down. Reagan and his anti-union mentality began to destroy them and thus began the rise of THE SUPER CAPITALIST'S. They became, as they are to this day, extremely powerful. The only thing they lack is an ARMY and Bush privatized so much of the military it looks like it's goin' that way too. With President Clinton there finally came a sense that the Government was actually trying to do good. I had been working for the government for many years by then too. Those tanks won't be headed toward any TEAPOT RALLY anytime soon. And the Supreme Court won't hear an expedited review of Health Care. The enemy is NOT the GOVERNMENT anymore(I still have some reservations though). It's definately the CORPORATIONS.
skylinefirepest 2 years ago
I don't believe that MC7 has any idea of who it is that she is slamming by saying that corporations are the enemy. Corporations, of which a large percentage are simply locally owned small businesses are the backbone of the economy. The largely liberal media would have you think that all corporations are bad, which is simply hawking the Democrat Obama Raise Taxes Stifle The Economy Ruin The Country Don't Drill Put Up More Wind Towers,etc. line. They simply want us to buy more economical cars and pay higher gas prices and taxes so they can spend more on less. This administration is the enemy of the economy and this country, not the business people. And I'll tell you why I am adamantly opposed to anyone paying higher taxes. First of all, lower taxes have historically made for a better economy and raised more tax income for the government. Secondly, the irresponsible politicians would not pay down the debt...they would simply spend the increase as they always have. I don't hate or envy the successful persons of this country because as a small businessman for many years I realize that they worked for it and employed many millions of my fellow countrymen. I personally think that the reason Obama doesn't know much about business is that he has never had a working job...he has pretty much always been paid by government.
moonchild7 2 years ago
What is a CORPORATION? You are asking me?! I am "sorta" the child of a corporation. My father as a WWII vet was very lucky in 1950 to be hired by a FORTUNE 500 Corporation. It was the opportunity of a lifetime considering he only had a high school education. The family had to relocate to Boston and then after just a few years and two promotions it was on to NEW YORK CITY. He excelled. He LOVED his job. It oozed out of his pores and it oozed out of the family. We were a CORPORATE FAMILY. We lived for the corporation. So much so that my Mom told many stories of my Dad having to "Hob-Nob" even with some of the NYC MAFIA in order to "get deals done". He traveled the world making deals, he had 3 martini lunch's every day(No he wasn't a MAD MAN in Advertising), corporate parties at times the whole family would go to. My Mom only a few years ago let the secret out about our "CABIN CRUSIER" boat my Dad adored(he loved to go fishing). It was a bribe from a certain Mobster for certain business contracts my Dad negotiated. Anyway, His every breath was for the CORPORATION....he had a heart attack at 50 and died at 53. Before he passed away in 1976 he told me a few things. As an Executive Manager he did a lot of top level hiring. Only one yr before he had the heart attack he had to hire amiddle level manager. The "higher ups" only wanted him to hire the college graduate but he told them he wasn't as smart as the guy he prefered. They made him hire the college guy. He only lasted 6 months. When he had to retire from the company they offered him his job back many times with huge salary increases but he told me, with a heavy heart..."They only want me back to FIRE me, so
moonchild7 2 years ago
...they won't have to pay me my retirement. They've been doing that to lots of the executives lately. One even committed suicide after he was fired. My Dad gave EVERYTHING to that CORPORATION. They ran into a lot of financial trouble in those days and are still around but they are DIRTY!!!!!! Very DIRTY!!!!! They employ a lot of people but that corporation and it's practices from the 1970's until today are the TEXT-BOOK Lesson of How and Why AMERICAN CORPORATIONS are DESTROYING this country. They of course sent the majority of the "lower level" jobs overseas beginning back then. we lived a fantastic life back in the 50's and 60's but when the 70's came it's almost like they made some kind of deal with the devil so the "BIGGIE OWNERS" could get richer and richer. No matter the human cost.