Out of Money

 

Amagansett

April 4, 2011

To the Editor,

While Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac execs rob the taxpayers of millions of our dollars with their multimillion-dollar salaries, the federal government hides another $2 billion in Obamacare for bailouts to unions, state public employee systems, and big corporations to subsidize health coverage costs for early retirees. Government employees now outnumber construction, farming, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, mining, and utilities combined. We know the government does not produce wealth, only regulations, paperwork, and the ever-increasing local, state, and national debt. 

In the meanwhile, real unemployment (which includes those who’ve given up searching for work and have run out of unemployment benefits) was just short of 20 percent in March, according to Gallup. Obviously, unemployed people don’t pay income tax, so the coffers in Washington are not being refilled, even as they continue to print untold millions of dollars each day. The interest on our debt and the fiat dollars will ruin what is left of our economy. 

I cannot understand why our local government and school districts aren’t getting the message. We are out of money, in debt, and cannot afford to keep them in the manner they’ve become accustomed. It is time for everyone to tighten their belts because it isn’t going to get any better for a long time. Look carefully at the increasing price of food. Gasoline has doubled at the pump since Barack Obama became president. Where are the jobs?

There’s nothing caring or compassionate about giving out all these entitlements with money that is yet to be earned by children who have yet to be born. 

Join our Taxed Enough Already rallies on April 15 on the green in front of East Hampton Town Hall at noon and 5 p.m. Write our legislators and tell them, enough is enough, it is time for a balanced budget, cutting spending, and a flat tax system. It is time for everyone to have skin in the game.

LYNDA A.W. EDWARDS