Show Me the Budget!

 Show Me the Budget!

The 2024 U.S. General Election is 2 days from today. The U.S. Government has been functioning under partial budgets and continuing resolution for several years. The $35 trillion debt-load and budget problems of Washington D.C. have caused a recent credit-rating downgrade and the ouster of the Speaker of the House. Whatever the political organization of the State might be, the annual or regular budget demonstrates the values of its People. Some rightly argue that all government is is the collection and disbursement of tax revenues. More importantly, if the State has an inability to collect tax revenues, or disburses those tax revenues in an unfair or unequal way, there is the very real possibility of a failed State. Here, I define a failed State as a government or political organization that cannot effectively collect or disburse tax revenues in any meaningful way.

I have recently heard and watched many politicians, pundits, and others say “if there is a government shutdown then Grandma will not get her Social Security check.” Considering the fact that it is the gross incompetence and corruption of these very same government officials hiding behind Qualified Immunity, who directly caused these financial and budget problems, it is particularly troubling they hold Grandma’s monthly Social Security check as hostage. Neither Social Security, nor student loans, adds to the national debt level. Threatening to withhold Grandma’s monthly Social Security check because of their gross incompetence is an act of tyranny by a bunch of tyrants.

Government Spending is the economic technical term for all tax revenues collected and disbursed by the government. Here in the United States Government Spending comprises around 35% of the entire macro economy. By comparison, Government Spending is nearly half of the entire United Kingdom macro economy. With the drastic difference in the sizes of the two economies, it may not be a fair comparison. However, it does give an economist or budget analyst some idea of the importance of the various government budgets to the over-all macro economy.

A government’s budget is not the same as a household’s budget, or even a large corporation’s balance sheet. However, when a nation’s capitol has the financial problems currently being faced by Washington D.C., there are very few actual remedies. Firstly, since the legal doctrine of Qualified Immunity is largely to blame for the current fiscal mess in Washington D.C., Qualified Immunity must be eliminated. Secondly, the size of the Federal Government in Washington D.C. must be drastically reduced. Government reform and draconian budget cuts are never popular, especially within its own capitol. People are quick to say sacrifices sometimes need to be made, except when they are ones being asked or required to make the sacrifices. 

To conclude, it is often said that a country’s values are reflected within its budget. Presently, the United States has been functioning under partial budgets and various continuing resolutions. It is incumbent upon the State Government Officials to properly and effectively collect and disburse tax revenues, or risk becoming a Failed State. A government’s credit-rating downgrade and potential shutdown because of budgetary problems might be the first clear indications of a Failed State. Show me the budget!