We're Close to the Edge and It Isn't Funny

I missed a lot of the news as I had to run to the store but I did catch something that was a little annoying.  Alright, it is really annoying and you should annoyed too!  This isn't the joking matter that some of them are making it out to be.  Utterly ridiculous!


The election is over and the sitting president was re-elected on yet another promise that I don't think he will deliver on.  He has promised that he will work with the Republican's to prevent the "fiscal cliff" that is coming at the end of the year.  I will not going to say that this is all his fault, in fact it isn't.  The fault belongs on all politicians!  Yep all of them are to blame equally.  What makes it worse is that they will blame the other party when the truth is that each individual is to blame.  Sure they have to do a lot of voting along party lines to have the party back them during the next election but that isn't where the real problem is.  The real problem comes from the fact that their vote is for sale.  I'm not talking for cash, that's illegal, I'm talking about promises for supporting something else or adding something to the proposal.  The real issue right now is that they need to figure out what to do to prevent the "fiscal cliff" that will devastate the slowly recovering economy.  Personally I think what will happen is a compromise that will extend the time before we fall off.

But what annoyed me was the way in which several politicians were laughing and joking about the situation.  This is serious business people, it isn't the time for jokes!  It's not time for big parties.  It's not time for adding things that may make you look good in the next election.  It's time to save America!  Stop screwing around and put the people that you represent before yourself.  That's what being a politician is supposed to be about.  Here's a few suggestions that I have to help:

1. Stop protecting the rest of the world for free.  I get that there is some strategy involved with having bases in other countries but it shouldn't mean we should be protecting the country.  And we certainly shouldn't be doing it for free!
2. Help Americans.  How about we stop sending billions of dollars in aid to foreign countries and put that money toward the deficit?
3. Stop giving food to all of these foreign countries for free.  There is a reason that these countries don't have food, it's called a desert!  We have millions of people here in the United States that are starving yet we continue to send food to these countries.  Then we spend additional money to feed our hungry.
4. And my biggest at this point, set up a flat tax rate and make it a simple tax code.  By simple I'm talking about something that defines a type of income (wages, investment, etc.) and put a percentage on it.  Eliminate all of the fancy wording.  Yes, there should be deductions allowed for children but make the deduction for a child a standard for everyone.  And put a cap on the deduction that can be allowed by charitable contributions.
5. Number 4 will lead to another savings.  With no loopholes to jump through the IRS can be reduced in size.  Millions more dollars saved right there!

So come on politicians, put America first and your "career" second for a change.