The more things stay the same

I read a lot,  usually economics and politics. What is bothering me is the consistent state of the argument. Maybe it’s just the way it is.

In real life having a job and money flowing allows you to take on debt that doesn’t seem exceptional because “things are good”. But in real life if things stop being good you can just get rid of that extra car or cancel the subscription, no big deal. In politics everything is a big deal.

We are in a situation where somewhere between 9.7 and 17% of us have lost our jobs and we can’t cancel the subscription. In fact, instead of doing what we need do, cut costs and downsize, we are told that it is the worst thing to do. Guys like Krugman say we should spend more!

Our situation should clarify why “the government” should not be getting into things that can’t, without pain, be eliminated. We currently have a group of people in power who want to not only spend more but expand the programs that make our situation worse. We can’t afford the “health care” system we have so it needs to be expanded? We can’t afford the “education system” we have so let’s make it bigger? Social Security is going bankrupt so we want people who are living in the country illegally to be included? It is a tough economic situation and small  businesses are struggling so raise taxes? We can’t afford the government we have so let’s make it larger? Two hundred miles to go and 1/4 tank of gas. If you just drive faster you can get there before it gets to empty. The nonsense goes on and on.

People say they want change. I’d like to see some.