(Photo by Brendan Smialowski-Pool/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brendan Smialowski-Pool/Getty Images)
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I was astounded to learn that it costs over $1 billion (billion with a “B”) dollars a year to run the White House. I guess all those state dinners cost a pretty penny.

The budget for the US Government runs over $3 trillion dollars per year. So I guess the billion to run the White House might be considered a bargain. But I still wonder if any one actually sits around and tries to come up with ways to reduce those costs?

 Government Agencies Always Need More

Every government agency prepares a budget for the coming year. If they didn’t spend all the money they got last time they lose it.

How does that make sense on any level? They should be commended for saving you and I a buck or two.

Multiply that savings by several agencies and maybe we wouldn’t have to borrow so much from China and Japan.

But lets face facts. Politicians love to spend “other” people’s money. Give them any amount and it’s gone in 60 seconds. And unfortunately we give them a lot to spend. Too much if you ask me.

Enter Bernie Sanders

A recent Wall Street Journal article says that if Bernie could implement all the programs he wants to do it would cost you and I about $18 trillion dollars. Not sure even the most stringent belt tightening could make up that difference.

Among the programs he’d like to do here are some of the more popular:

  • Medicare single payer healthcare for every American
  • Free college tuition
  • Make Social Security Solvent
  • Fix all the roads and bridges

As you might imagine Bernie is disputing the Wall Street Journal’s numbers. But which numbers do you think will get the most press?

Bernie plans to pay for all these great things the same way most European countries do by taxing the citizens for as much as they can stand without taking to the streets with torches and pitchforks.

But once that money plan is let out of the bag it’s done. There is no going back. Much like Obamacare.

As Milton Freidman once said, “Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.”

Some Final Thoughts

The problem we have today, and we’ve had ongoing for many years, is promises of what will be done and what is actually done.

The void between the two is cavernous. But it really doesn’t matter too much just as long as your guy or gal gets in office.

You had all these great ideas but congress stopped them or George Soros or the Koch Brothers killed all those wonderful programs that we all thought were slam-dunks when we voted for you.

Oh well, it was nice living in La-La-Land for a while. Guess I’ll work on my tax return. After all how bad can it be with my guy in office??

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