This post orignally ran last Thanksigving to good reviews. Thus, for this Thanksgiving, I thought it appropriate that we run it again, updating the information as deemed necessary by the antics and ineptness of the American political class over the past twelve months.
*****************
I hope that today finds you, your family and your friends healthy and well and hopefully together, sharing this Thanksgiving with each other in the way you see fit. I hope that there is good cheer around your dinner table, lots of laughs, and plenty of food.
However, if you are fortunate enough to be in such a situation, may I suggest that you take a minute out of your Thanksgiving day to think about others that may not be so fortunate as yourselves. As you may or may not know, there are about 12 million Americans who are currently unable to find work and may not be having as wonderful a Thanksgiving as you.
There are about 23 million Americans who are unemployed or under employed, including many young Americans and receent college graduates who are struggling to find a job and establishing a career for themselves.
Every week, hundreds of thousands of Americans find the need to apply for first time unemployment benefits as the economy continues to struggle and economic growth is not enough to provide employment to all those who need it.
However, if you are fortunate enough to be in such a situation, may I suggest that you take a minute out of your Thanksgiving day to think about others that may not be so fortunate as yourselves. As you may or may not know, there are about 12 million Americans who are currently unable to find work and may not be having as wonderful a Thanksgiving as you.
There are about 23 million Americans who are unemployed or under employed, including many young Americans and receent college graduates who are struggling to find a job and establishing a career for themselves.
Every week, hundreds of thousands of Americans find the need to apply for first time unemployment benefits as the economy continues to struggle and economic growth is not enough to provide employment to all those who need it.
Remember, that we are in the midst of the longest consecutive streak of months where the national unemployment rate has been above 7%.
As you sit down to eat, remember that almost 50 million Americans are eating today, through no fault of their own, only becuase they are receiving food aid from the Federal government.
May I suggest that as a result of the above economic hardships that you take a little time or a little money, only what you can afford, and make the upcoming Christmas holidays a little easier, a little brighter for these million of fellow citizens.
Throw some change into the Salvation Army bell ringer on the street corner. Next time you go shopping, buy a few extra items for the local food bank. Or better yet, volunteer your time in whatever way possible.
Write a check to your favorite charity or buy that gift for the child that may not get one this holiday season. If you see a member of our armed forces waiting in line for a coffee or a lunch, step up up and treat him or her, thanking them for their sacrifices and service.
You see, unless we help each other, it is unlikely the political class will help them. Many of the economic hardships these folks are going through are a direct result of the inability or unwillingness of our Washington politicians to do the right thing. If they were willing or had the ability to do the right thing, 23 million Americans would not be hurting for employment this Thanksgiving day.
Thus, we need to each individually step forward and help our neighbors, waiting for Washington to do the right thing is a no win proposition. These overpaid, under performing politicians have left us and our neighbors with the following dire economic situation today (data and commentary courtesy of the Bankrupting America website in November, 2012, updated for current realities):
This season, we are thankful for our friends, and family, and that we live in a nation that can endure a contentious election and still have peace. (Even if the discussion around your Thanksgiving table is not always so serene.) While we are grateful for the things we have, we are mindful of the work we – especially our federal government – has ahead, especially when it comes to repairing the nation’s balance sheet and economy. To that end, here are the five budget- and economic-related events that we are not thankful for this year:
1) No Budget. Congress failed to pass a budget once again this year. In fact, since the Democrats took over Congress back in 2009, the U.S. Federal government has been operating without a formal budget process or actual budget, facilitating the massive wasteful and inefficient spending of taxpayer wealth. Disgraceful.
2) Another Massive Annual Deficit. For the fifth year in a row the federal government spent at least $600 billion more than it took in. Deficits over the last five years totaled nearly $5.7 trillion.
3) $17 Trillion National Debt.The national debt is now about $17 trillion, about $150,000 for every household in the country. That figure is about triple the average household income.
4) Overspending, High Unemployment, Low Growth. On average since World War II, federal government spending has totaled 19.8% of the economy. In FY 2011, it was 24.1% and for FY 2012 it was estimated to come in at 24.3%. What have been the results? An unemployment rate of over 7% (average since 1948: 5.8%) and a two percent or less economic growth rate (average since World War II: 3.1%).
5) Another Fiscal Cliff. Senate and House members are supposedly negotiating for a real budget by the time the current debt limit extension is reached again in early 2014. Odds are they will fumble their way through this crisis again, like they have fumbled their way thorugh every other budget crisis in recent memory, embarassing the nation again and stifling economic growth again.
So yes, be thankful for what you have today, whether it is a job, a healthy family, good friends, the ability to come together, and have enough to eat. But also be thankful if you can help others also get through these tough economic times. Our politicians, the ones who created these tough economic times, are seemingly incapable of doing such a noble deed.
Throw some change into the Salvation Army bell ringer on the street corner. Next time you go shopping, buy a few extra items for the local food bank. Or better yet, volunteer your time in whatever way possible.
Write a check to your favorite charity or buy that gift for the child that may not get one this holiday season. If you see a member of our armed forces waiting in line for a coffee or a lunch, step up up and treat him or her, thanking them for their sacrifices and service.
You see, unless we help each other, it is unlikely the political class will help them. Many of the economic hardships these folks are going through are a direct result of the inability or unwillingness of our Washington politicians to do the right thing. If they were willing or had the ability to do the right thing, 23 million Americans would not be hurting for employment this Thanksgiving day.
Thus, we need to each individually step forward and help our neighbors, waiting for Washington to do the right thing is a no win proposition. These overpaid, under performing politicians have left us and our neighbors with the following dire economic situation today (data and commentary courtesy of the Bankrupting America website in November, 2012, updated for current realities):
This season, we are thankful for our friends, and family, and that we live in a nation that can endure a contentious election and still have peace. (Even if the discussion around your Thanksgiving table is not always so serene.) While we are grateful for the things we have, we are mindful of the work we – especially our federal government – has ahead, especially when it comes to repairing the nation’s balance sheet and economy. To that end, here are the five budget- and economic-related events that we are not thankful for this year:
1) No Budget. Congress failed to pass a budget once again this year. In fact, since the Democrats took over Congress back in 2009, the U.S. Federal government has been operating without a formal budget process or actual budget, facilitating the massive wasteful and inefficient spending of taxpayer wealth. Disgraceful.
2) Another Massive Annual Deficit. For the fifth year in a row the federal government spent at least $600 billion more than it took in. Deficits over the last five years totaled nearly $5.7 trillion.
3) $17 Trillion National Debt.The national debt is now about $17 trillion, about $150,000 for every household in the country. That figure is about triple the average household income.
4) Overspending, High Unemployment, Low Growth. On average since World War II, federal government spending has totaled 19.8% of the economy. In FY 2011, it was 24.1% and for FY 2012 it was estimated to come in at 24.3%. What have been the results? An unemployment rate of over 7% (average since 1948: 5.8%) and a two percent or less economic growth rate (average since World War II: 3.1%).
5) Another Fiscal Cliff. Senate and House members are supposedly negotiating for a real budget by the time the current debt limit extension is reached again in early 2014. Odds are they will fumble their way through this crisis again, like they have fumbled their way thorugh every other budget crisis in recent memory, embarassing the nation again and stifling economic growth again.
So yes, be thankful for what you have today, whether it is a job, a healthy family, good friends, the ability to come together, and have enough to eat. But also be thankful if you can help others also get through these tough economic times. Our politicians, the ones who created these tough economic times, are seemingly incapable of doing such a noble deed.
Our book, "Love My Country, Loathe My Government - Fifty First Steps To Restoring Our Freedom And Destroying The American Political Class" is now available at:
www.loathemygovernment.com
It is also available online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Please pass our message of freedom onward. Let your friends and family know about our websites and blogs, ask your library to carry the book, and respect freedom for both yourselves and others everyday.
Please visit the following sites for freedom:
Term Limits Now:http://www.howmuchworsecoulditget.com
http://www.reason.com
http://www.cato.org
http://www.robertringer.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08j0sYUOb5w
www.loathemygovernment.com
It is also available online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Please pass our message of freedom onward. Let your friends and family know about our websites and blogs, ask your library to carry the book, and respect freedom for both yourselves and others everyday.
Please visit the following sites for freedom:
Term Limits Now:http://www.howmuchworsecoulditget.com
http://www.reason.com
http://www.cato.org
http://www.robertringer.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08j0sYUOb5w
No comments:
Post a Comment