Prior to 1976, the federal government began the fiscal year on July 1 and ended it on the following June 30. A Congressional Act passed in 1974 stipulated that a change would be made to October 1 through the following September beginning in 1976.
The reason was that more time would be allowed for arriving at a budget. However, this administration has not produced an annual budget for three consecutive years. This brings us to September 30, when the revenues and spending for 2013 wind up and the federal government starts its bewildering ability to start squandering money all over again.
Our national debt at midnight Monday, September 30 stood at $16.96 trillion, an increase of $6.1 trillion since January 21, 2009. At the end of 2012, the debt limit of $16.394 trillion was reached.
The US Treasury Department has been operating under H.R.325 that was signed into law on February 4, 2013 authorizing “extraordinary measures” for spending purposes. Now, the debt limit must be dealt with on or before October 17 to avoid missing important federal financial obligations.
Republicans want to tie the increased debt limit to reduced spending and the Democrats want a ‘clean’ new debt limit without limitations. The debt ceiling has been increased 53 times from $752 billion in 1978 to almost $17 trillion currently and 27 of the increases included other legislative bills or resolutions.
The final tally for fiscal 2013 spending is about $3.5 trillion and the deficit stands at about $642 billion. That is the added national debt incurred by government that is supposedly acting as the advocate for taxpayers who have guaranteed payment to the tune of more than $148,000 each.
There are parallels with the Boston Tea Party of 1773 and the philosophy of ‘taxation without
Representation.’ Much of the taxes collected by federal government and other agencies are spent on programs and causes that are not endorsed or approved by a majority of voters.
An example is the expense of introducing, administering and operating the ACA, better known as ‘Obamacare.’ Special friends and interests of the administration have been exempted from the legal provisions of this healthcare law that commands about 17% of our nation’s economy. These exemptions cost everyone, especially the politically vaunted ‘middle class.’
Most of us may not have noticed that Mr. Obama, on the last Friday in September, sent a check for $320 million (your taxes at work) to the City of Detroit, perhaps for fumbling their way into Chapter 9 bankruptcy. This ‘gift’ was after several foundations and commercial partnerships provided 100 new police cars, 23 ambulances and other amenities.
Political convolutions over the implementation, operation and benefits of the ACA (Affordable Care Act), the national debt, and a new debt ceiling have brought the nation to an impasse. Most federal departments and agencies have been closed or reduced in personnel and functionality.
Privately-operated recreation areas on Federal property are closed from the Peaks of Otter Lodge in Virginia to campgrounds in California. The WWII Memorial in Washington is closed and The American Cemetery in France is not open to visitors. Closing memorial cemeteries, recreation areas and national parks is not what our courageous military forces died for in battles and wars to protect the liberty and freedom of our nation and people throughout the world.
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States (1901-1909) said this: “Behind ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people.”
Inconveniencing their own citizens with indifference is the earmark of despots and tyrants, not governments that have been freely elected. President Thomas Jefferson said, “When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear governments, there is tyranny.”
Our nation’s size and complexity has outgrown the picayune minds of indifferent politicians and must be remanded to the dignity and foresight of statesmen (and women) who represent all the people.
– Dick Baynton
