Creative Distraction

All of the talk from Tea Party and other conservatives with regard to the federal deficit is nothing more than creative distraction to divert attention from the real problem our country faces. The real issue is the fact that a sizable segment of the American population is really saying that their individual bank accounts are more important than anything else. Each of these people are really carrying signs that can be translated into saying: · My bank account is more important than your health · My bank account is more important that your retirement · My bank account is more important than your education · My bank account is more important than your safety. If the issue was really the deficit, the Tea Party and the other conservatives would be shouting for tax increases with the same fervor as they cry for cuts in spending. They would be vocal about the need to raise taxes to pay for more teachers, cops, firemen, and other first responders. Their call would be to raise the cap on FICA in order to strengthen Social Security. They would be petitioning Congress to raise the top marginal tax rates in order to fund needed repairs to bridges, roads, airports, schools, and other part of the infrastructure. The issue is not the deficit. The deficit is just a talking point that is being used to disguise the real goal of Tea Party and other conservatives. That goal is as old as civilization: What’s mine stays mine. It is interesting how so many of those calling for deficit reduction and spending cuts claim to be followers of the Christian religion yet fail to see that there is a major contradiction between their politics and their self-professed faith. There are but two ways to lower the federal deficit. One way has the potential to increase poverty, add to the unemployment, make more people homeless, fail to educate children, and cause even more harm to the less fortunate. What is the “down side” of the other way? WWJD? Where does the problem really lie? It appears that using the deficit is just a means from drawing attention away from the necessary solution to rebuilding the American Dream.