Better Believe It!

This morning, I had a conversation with a dear friend of mine.  We were discussing blogging, Facebook, etc.  On my real estate blog, I refrain from any political posts whatsoever; it's real estate, front and center, sideways and upside down.  Somehow, however, a few of her friends came upon what if?  They commented to her, "I had no idea that Peggy was so conservative!"

"So conservative?"  I believe in abortion rights (at least, as described in Roe v Wade), favor gay marriage, decriminalization of many currently illegal drugs, etc.  Yet, the fact that I support fiscal responsibility, small government and much personal freedom (aka, a classic liberal) has somehow morphed into "so conservative" in today's world.  Go figure.

In any case, I ask of those who consider themselves liberals and/or "progressives" in today's world what they think of these 75 numbers.  Think I am some John Bircher, if you will.  But I cannot figure out how we can sustain numbers like this.  As Margaret Thatcher said, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."

Here are just a few of these incredible numbers about our government.

#1 In December 2008, 31.6 million Americans were on food stamps.  Today, a new all-time record of 47.7 million Americans are on food stamps.  That number has increased by more than 50
percent over the past four years, and yet the mainstream media still has the gall to insist that “things are getting better”.

#2 Back in the 1970s, about one out of every 50 Americans was on food stamps.  Today, about one out of every 6.5 Americans is on food stamps.

#10 When you total up all working age Americans that do not have a job in America today, it comes to more than 100 million.

#11 According to one recent survey, 55 percent of all small business owners in America “say they
would not start a business today given what they know now and in the current environment.”

#13 The U.S. share of global GDP has fallen from 31.8 percent in 2001 to 21.6 percent in 2011.

#14 The United States has fallen in the global economic competitiveness rankings compiled by the World Economic Forum for four years in a row.

#22 According to one survey, 77 percent of all Americans are now living paycheck to
paycheck at least part of the time.

#27 Right now, more than 100 million Americans are enrolled in at least one welfare program run by the federal government.  And that does not even count Social Security or Medicare.  Overall, there are almost 80 different “means-tested welfare programs” that the federal government is currently running.

#37 Recently it was announced that total student loan debt in the United States has passed the one trillion dollar mark.

#39 One survey of business executives has ranked California as the worst state in America to do business for 8 years in a row.

#40 In the city of Detroit today, more than 50 percent of all children are living in poverty, and close to 50 percent of all adults are functionally illiterate.

#65 U.S. taxpayers spend more than 20 times as much on the Obamas as British taxpayers
spend on the royal family on the royal family.

#67 If Bill Gates gave every single penny of his fortune to the U.S. government, it would only cover the U.S. budget deficit for about 15 days.

Comments

[John Pepple]

I've had plenty of liberal and leftist friends drop me as a friend because we disagreed on just one thing. That was enough for them to consider me as hopelessly conservative.

[Peg]

John, assuredly there are conservatives who are extremely rigid and unforgiving. Yet, my experience is that it is (so-called) "progressives" who are, more than anyone, the "my way or the highway" types of people.

It is so very counter to what my historical notion of "liberal" is.... truly; I just do not get it!