Two opposing messages, from our congressman, Ben Cline, have been filling our airwaves of late. On one he is talking about the “crazies” in Washington; on the other he is shown supporting the zaniest of Washington-style ideas.
Cline’s and Donald Trump’s financial blunders are not hidden:
- less tax on the rich
- market-killing tariffs
- “Where’s the beef? South America!”
- blowing up foreign oil suppliers to make Texas oil barons richer.
It all does little for us.
Every taxpayer now has a running national debt tab of $288,000. And as Tennessee Ernie Ford once sang, we keep getting “another day older and deeper in debt.” But instead of “owing our souls to the company store,” we owe it to tech billionaires, oil sheiks, Brazil and Argentine beef competitors.
The ultra-wealthy are feasting on our work and our souls while lamenting who’s got the bigger yacht.
And yet, into this financial face-plant comes Congressman Cline defending and telling how House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump will gift a $5,000 entitlement to every U.S. adult. Provided the House and Senate remain Republican.
When Oprah was saying “and you get a car, and you get a car, and you get a car” it was her money. When bootlicking Ben says “and you get $5,000, and you get $5,000, and you get $5,000” it is not his money. It is ours.
To put this in perspective, please know that this Trump vote-buying scheme comes with a $1.2 trillion invoice. This is while our $40 trillion national debt demands $1.25 trillion annually. The Pentagon is budgeting over $1 trillion in large part to replenish the munitions wasted in Iran.
No taxpayer is safe when today’s Republicans (no longer a Pete Geisen or Emmett Hanger) find pushing a button to raise taxes so much easier than working within the same confines as the family budget.
Our all-Republican Board of Supervisors in Augusta County has gone on a taxing spree since I was last a member. Local taxes have risen 57 percent from $76,999,670 to $121,073,768. The $44,074,098 increase is $560 per person. Personal income and Social Security COLAs have jumped only half as much.
We know there are gluttonous corporate titans. But shouldn’t we expect more from our own hires?
While the President and Ben Cline believe affordability is a hoax, my life and my wallet say that’s just not true.
It just cost me $60 to fill my gas tank; under Biden, it was $40. Last week, we chose not to fill our oil tank, stopping at $1,000 for 176 gallons. (Need a mild winter or someone to purchase a well broken-in kidney) My recent dentist visit was $300 for x-ray and evaluation, and a proposed cost for new choppers at $4,600. (That will have to wait)
A trip to just determine my car’s problem was $179 for a one-hour investigation. And when not finding the malfunction, they required a total cost of $579 for three hours and lift space – this before any repair. My morning supplement of Ensure is $90 a month. A 27 lb. bag of large breed puppy food is $80. And don’t get me started on having to cut back on Kline’s double dip cones!
And yet we all seek and usually find ways to make do. We are not in a depression, but it doesn’t mean a lot of good working people, and their little ones, don’t have to struggle.
It is for this reason I continue to point out how our “public servants” promise low taxes in November and develop amnesia at budget time.
A preacher told a story of a man’s confession where he is constantly being pulled in opposite directions. One team of angels is pulling him to do good while a team of hellhounds are pulling him the other way. The pastor asks, “who wins?” “Which ever one I say “giddyup” to!”
Ben Cline is a lightweight in a big-boy pants octagon. Beth Macy has taken on Big Pharma. Ben Cline has liked Big Pharma profit margins, if he gets his slice of the pie.
Guess which one gets my “giddyup.”
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