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Health & Fitness

When Santa Goes Broke

Everyone loves Santa! But what happens when Santa is broke?

Some of the fondest moments of my childhood centered around the magical Christmas season. This was the time of the year when all of the toys you wanted all year magically appeared under the Christmas tree. The best part was that you really didn't have to do anything but ask. And "be good". And that just meant that you couldn't commit any felonies after Thanksgiving.

 

All of the coolest toys, just like that. You didn't have to save up for them, nor did you have to do any work around the house. You didn't even have to make a scene in the department store, like you had to do the rest of the year. Nope. Just sit on the fat man's lap and make your requests.

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Eventually, most of us realize that those toys didn't come from the North Pole, they came from the mall. Those things didn't come by way of a reindeer driven sleigh, they came by way of Mom and Dad's Visa card.

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Most of us.

 

Unfortunately, there are far too many people who didn't get the memo. No, they know there's no bearded guy in a red suit at the North Pole, just someone in Washington DC or Springfield. Or Athens, Rome or Paris. Whether it's free health care, free education or lucrative lifetime pensions with full benefits, it comes from somewhere. Might as well be the North Pole.

 

For a long time, "Santa" came through. Retirement ages came down as lifespans went up.  Santa can handle that, right? Mess up your life through a number of bad decisions, no problem, Santa will take care of that. Even Bill Gates can count on a Social Security check in a few more years. Warren Buffet and George Soros are eligible for Medicare.

 

Don't get me wrong, we need government. Government built the roads, schools and other necessary things we all need. Government provides a military that protects all of us, not to mention our police, firemen and school teachers. In some countries, government provides virtually everything from cradle to grave.

 

For a while, taxes were raised to pay for these government benefits and, for a while, most folks were OK paying them. After all, we all want road and schools and cops. But, far too many people wanted more and far too many politicians saw that people liked to vote for Santa. Give them free stuff and they'll vote for you forever. Republicans used to accuse Democrats of being tax and spend liberals. Until they realized that, they too, could be Santa. Just put it on Junior's credit card. Give free stuff away now and pay for it later! How cool is that?

 

It's later, now. Government deficits are getting out of hand. Not just in Washington, but in most state and municipalities. Tax hikes are pretty much out of the question. Who would vote for Santa if Santa sent a bill every year?

 

In Eurpoe we've seen politicians try to scale back the giveaways. They've introduced austerity programs; raising taxes and cutting benefits. Last week, many of them were thrown out of office. Look what's happening in Wisconsin. Governor Walker is trying to keep his state from going broke. He ticked off Big Labor by going after the state's public employee unions and now he faces a recall. Get Walker out and bring Santa back, I guess. 

 

Somewhere, there's a balance. A balance between what we, as a society want and what we are willing to pay for. Politicians need to learn how to say no and voters need to stand behind those leaders who try to keep that balance. Poor people should get help; we should take care of those who take care of us. But there has to be a limit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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