The Governmental Budget and You

The Governmental Budget and You

When it comes down to it, everyone has an idea on how to solve the US budget issue and everyone thinks theirs is the best idea and everyone else’s idea sucks. Add in the fact that the boys and girls in power don’t even get it! The right says lower spending by cutting social programs; the left says we need to spend money to keep the population afloat so raise taxes on the top one percent of earners in the population. Back and forth, back and forth, it’s like watching a tennis match. Technically, both are correct, and both are wrong. So, since we’re talking extremes here, why not go all the way.

First, let’s bring Mary Jane to the party. Fully legalize her and dump the medical only crap, regulate her as competition to the pharmaceutical companies and tax her. Think of the revenue she could generate! Underground (aka illegal) marijuana brings in an unreal amount of revenue between growers and distributers. Even ten percent would be mind boggling, not to mention the funds we wouldn’t be spending on the “War on Drugs.”

It’s been made very clear in many studies she is not chemically addictive. A person with an addictive personality will become addicted to anything…drugs (legal or illegal,) alcohol, food, sex, etc. As far as the “gateway drug” concept, that’s been proven in just as many studies to be a bogus idea as well. It falls back on the idea of marijuana being chemically addictive. As the concept goes, once addicted to marijuana a person goes seeking that euphoria from something stronger because something stronger is necessary to reach the same level of euphoria. Again, a person with an addictive personality will become addicted to anything. That doesn’t mean there aren’t real chemical addictions out there, there are…but…again, it’s been proven in numerous studies that Mary Jane isn’t one of them.

Second, let’s bring back the world’s oldest profession…prostitution. Again, regulate and tax it as any other business. Like any other business, employers can offer health insurance and other benefits. Now, I’m sure the first thing that is going to be said is that it objectifies women. True. So, let me be clear I’m talking about equal opportunity prostitution…women AND men. After all, both sexes are out there now working the streets. Why shouldn’t it be the same when organized? It’s the ultimate win-win situation, what with the tax revenue generated, the savings on law enforcement expenses and the safer environment for the workers.

Ok, I’m sure someone out there is saying, “but what about all the displaced law enforcement personnel?” That’s the easiest answer of it all; those regulatory agencies are going to need agents! Plus, think of the other jobs both of these ideas will create; not just the “front-line” but growers, distributers, packers, schedulers, and whole departments like clerical, AR, AP, logistics, inventory, distribution, advertising, and so on.

Of course, don’t get me wrong, I still think the taxation issue needs to be revamped and the top earners need to finally pay their fair share. The problem there is all the deductions they can take, deductions to which the rest of us have no access because of how little we earn. Sure on paper their tax rate may be high, but not so much after all deductions are in place.

My personal opinion is a simple flat-tax across the board. Something similar to the chart below…

I know there are those out there saying, “Why should I be penalized just because I earn more?” The answer to that question is the basis of every spiritual belief; it is our duty to look out for each other and take care of each other. Another way to look at it is, “be careful the toes you step on as you climb the ladder as they may be connected with the butt you’ll have to kiss on the way down!” Your choice.

While I've digressed a bit, it still remains that the combination of these three could in theory wipe out the US national debt in a heartbeat. Just my thoughts…