SIMPLIFY BEFORE SOLVING

Liberals believe taxpayers owe government a living.

Conservatives seem to acquiesce.

Libertarians wish for complete lack of governmental restrain, while admitting a teensy bit might help.

Constitutionalists believe that government is necessary, but only enough governing to protect the weak and to encourage enterprise, as in get-up-and-go.

Most American citizens wish Washington would get it right.

Right now, our U.S. government appears to have been won over by liberals. There may be a way out, and there may not be. What seems certain is that the very continuation of government in this Land of Liberty – as we struggle to keep going – is to hit the taxpayers for even higher taxes for a government that would stall out without more money, whether earned or borrowed.

Government can only “earn” its living by doing what it was meant to do, and that is at the heart of our current problem. Otherwise, citizens should agree that government cannot produce wealth; government can only live because of the wealth created by its citizens.

Constitutionalists can agree with that assertion.

Conservatives would agree if they were not so imbued with the political imperative of re-election.

Libertarians sort of agree but advocate only enough taxation to ward off invaders and keep states from trade wars.

Liberals appear to think that government earns the money it needs for “investing” in the indigent so they, in turn, can earn their livings by their dutiful dependence on a beneficent government. Investors are the “wealthy” taxpayers.

Of course, government is not as simple as the above would suggest. Yet, similar simplification needs to be employed in public debate if the current fiscal problems are to be resolved.

Politicians, who seem more interested in governmental careers than in serving constituents, need to buckle down and do what they were elected to do: Serve citizens, not rule and impoverish them.