Our Government, the Grinch
So our lousy politicians went on Christmas break without solving some of the big issues they needed to solve before the end of the year. This is, unfortunately these days, business as usual.
In my adult lifetime, any time there has been a Democrat in the White House, the bipartisan bickering, name-calling, territory-marking, peeing contests have occurred at overwhelming levels. This current term of a Democrat in the White House is worse than I remember. I also remember that any time a Democrat was in the White House, our country operated at a surplus, rather than a deficit. This time, the deficit grows and grows with no end in sight.
Now, our congressmen, who are presumably there to serve our needs as constituents, have gone on vacation and left us without resolution of an ongoing tax cut for middle-class Americans that is set to expire in a couple weeks. The tax cut, ushered in when the recession was at its worst, gave most middle-class families an extra $80 or so a month into their paychecks. This was money they could spend to presumably boost the economy. It’s hard to say whether this worked or not, as we still seem to be struggling financially as a country. That $80 a month was probably being spent on groceries, or gas in the car, mundane everyday things.
And in all honesty, I’m not as disgusted about the fact that my taxes are going to be going back up in January as I am about our ineffective politicians who cannot seem to do anything but argue and fight and seem to have no real grip on reality. It is ridiculous to see grown people acting this way. I also think that every single one of our politicians has lost its grip on reality and what life is like for a typical middle-class family.
Therefore, I propose the following:
Upon election to Congress, Senators and Representatives immediately lose access to any funds they may have in their coffers, other than a small (let’s say, $2000) savings account. They are given a 15-year-old car, or older if they prefer, that is just a bit too small for most purposes but gets decent mileage, and has about 160,000 miles on it. A Toyota Corolla or something like that. They must care for themselves, their spouse, and two children under the age of 18, one of whom is of driving age. They get an after-tax, after-social-security salary of $45,000 a year. They have employer-supported health care for which they pay anywhere from $200 to $600 a month for their part of the coverage. This salary has to house this family (rent or own, doesn’t matter), pay utility bills including electric, gas, water, sewer, and trash, buy groceries, toilet paper, shampoo, etc. Let’s throw a pet in there too, let’s say, a cat. So there is kitty litter and cat food to be bought, and an annual exam and shots. Copays for doctor visits for the kids cost $35 a pop, and medications for the entire family cost about $200 or more a month. They must pay for car insurance, homeowners/renter’s insurance, and all maintenance and repairs on their older car. If the house is owned, there is maintenance and repair there too, including at least one yearly “plumber’s tax” of at least $1500. If they can afford it on their salary, they can have a second car, but its vintage must be at least the same as the other, if not older. Again, the car is too small to be useful for everything (say, picking up a great bookcase found at a thrift store but no way to transport it because the vehicle is too small).
When Christmas time comes, that salary needs to buy Christmas presents for the spouse and kids, plus an expected purchase of a charitable gift for “Toys for Tots” or another similar program. When birthdays come around, that salary needs to buy presents for that, too. And don’t forget spending some of that cash on a present for the spouse. When the car breaks down or a tire blows out, there is no credit card to use to pay for that repair; the cash has to be on hand. And don’t forget those dental bills, because dental insurance, while provided through your employer, only pays about 10% of the thousands of dollars of dental work that needs to be done.
While all of this is being paid for, some of that salary needs to be set aside for savings (for emergencies, of course), and some needs to be set aside for retirement. No credit cards or credit accounts of any kind will be allowed except for a mortgage (if they can even qualify for one on that salary with their expenses).
If there is anything left over, they can get cable television, cell phones, and Internet service to the home. The spouse may try to get a job, as well, but it will be only part-time, or if full-time, at no more than $30,000 annual salary. The family income will at no time top $80,000.
This lifestyle is what the congressman gets to maintain while they are in office. Their government-related travel is covered, but only at coach fares and public transportation levels. They have to work every day of a work week, and only two weeks of vacation are allowed each year. There are only 7 sick days that can be used. When they don’t go to work, and they don’t use vacation or sick time, they do not get paid for that day. Only a standard 11 paid holidays will be observed, and working hours are paid as a salary with a minimum of 8 hours per day spent on the job (sometimes more but without being paid overtime or compensation time).
This is my life. I believe every man or woman working in government, being paid by my tax money to do the job I’m asking them to do (run my country) should have to live this life. It is not a particularly hard life, we get by okay, but it is a bit of a juggling act sometimes. And it means we have to make very conscious choices about what is important, and what isn’t. Not having a line of credit, or a lingering account that needs to be paid off, does mean I have more discretionary income than I might have otherwise. But there are definitely choices that we make so we are sure we can make ends meet. December is hardest; I’m down to a few dollars in the checking account because I spent most of my discretionary income on getting a nice ham for Christmas dinner, and presents for the girls and hubby. It is not a Bob Cratchit life, by any means, but it is not the life of Oprah, either. I work hard, I work long hours, but I do this so my family will be fed, housed, able to drive their cars, talk on their cell phones, and watch TV. We eat wholesome, home-cooked meals, and rarely have a night out or takeout food. These are choices we make so we can have the things that we truly need and want.
Congress needs a dose of reality. Not because I need my $80 back, but because they don’t understand what it means to be a middle-class American. And since there are more of us than them, they really need to get back on track and understand what is truly important, and where their priorities are.
And their vacations should be rescinded immediately!
Is not as disgusted about the fact that my federal taxes will be going up in January, but that our ineffective politicians cannot seem to do anything but argue and fight and seem to have no real grip on reality. It’s ridiculous to see grown people acting this way. I think every member of congress, upon being elected, must feed and board a family of four, on a salary of just under $50K, as I have to do. They must pay for their own health/car/house/renter’s insurance, their own car which they will also have to put gas into and pay for maintenance and repairs, buy and prepare the food to keep their family well-fed and healthy, pay all copays and deductibles at the doctor’s office and pharmacy, and buy Christmas presents for their kids, spouse, mother and father, not to mention paying utilities like gas, electric, water, sewer, and trash. Maybe they’d understand then what it’s like to make choices about whether to eat or put gas in the car to get to work, and whether they can afford the decent toilet paper or have to go with the low-end scratchy kind, and whether the kids can have shoes or hair cuts (because you can’t afford both). And whether they can afford heat air conditioning, Internet service, or cable television. That might bring a bit of reality into their ridiculous arguments.
