Imagine for a moment- the family car is on the fritz and you either fix it or you purchase a new one. You spouse proceeds to go out to take care of the problem.
A few short hours later your spouse returns home with a brand new Ferrari F430 F1 Spider. It is a very cool car with everything a person could possible need.
Clearly, this solves the family car problem, right? After all, this car will get you around town in style!
After admiring this beautiful vehicle, the first question you ask your spouse is “How much?”
Your spouse responds, “I don’t know”.
Okay, you then ask “How are we going to pay for this?”
Your spouse responds, “I don’t know”.
So, you then ask your spouse, “Did we need this particular vehicle?”
Your spouse responds, “I don’t know”.
Next you ask “Did you sign anything showing that we have purchased this vehicle?”
Your spouse responds, “Yep”
Of course, your next natural response would be- “Of all the financially irresponsible, addle-brained, idiotic things to do…!”
You would be right to be outraged- how completely irresponsible is this?
Guess what folks? Our brand new “fiscally responsible” Congress did precisely this yesterday!
Yesterday, Congress passed a new anti-terror bill.
On the outside, this looks great, right?
From USA Today-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Anti-terror legislation sailed through the House on Tuesday, the first in a string of measures designed to fulfill campaign promises made by Democrats last fall.
Patterned on recommendations of the commission that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks, the far-reaching measure includes commitments for inspection of all cargo carried aboard passenger aircraft and on ships bound for the United States.
The vote was a bipartisan 299-128.
"Our first and highest duty as members of this Congress is to protect the American people, to defend our homeland and to strengthen our national security," said Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
Certainly, anything that protects the American people from terrorists seems to be a great thing.
However, if you scratch the surface you begin to realize that there are some problems with the piece of legislation.
Democrats have pledged to make fiscal responsibility a priority in the new Congress, but they advanced the bill — their first of the year — without even a bare-bones accounting of the estimated cost. The funding will require follow-up legislation.
Now we begin to ask some questions-
After admiring this wonderful piece of legislation, the first question we ask is “How much?”
Congress responds, “I don’t know”.
Okay, we then ask “How are we going to pay for this?”
Congress responds, “I don’t know”.
So, we then ask, “Did we need this particular piece of legislation?” “Does it fix the problem?”
Congress responds, “I don’t know”.
Next we ask “Did you sign anything showing that we have purchased this piece of legislation?”
Congress responds, “Yep”
That is right folks!
We have now committed to implementing and financing a new anti-terror plan that may or may not help protect us.
We have no idea how much it costs.
We have no idea how we are going to pay for it.
We have no idea if this plan is the best plan for America and whether or not the plan will work.
Wow!
This is how our brand new “fiscally responsible” Congress plans on acting?
Of course on next natural response is “Of all the financially irresponsible, addle-brained, idiotic things to do…!”
Hang onto your wallet folks; it is going to be a bumpy and expensive ride with the new "fiscally responsible" Congress!
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