Paying People To Not Work

Consider the following:

People receiving extended unemployment insurance income
People receiving a 65% government insurance subsidy as unemployed in the past year
People participating in Iowa's new state worker early retirement incentive program

What do all these people have in common? I'M PAYING FOR THEM TO NOT WORK!

Consider the following:

People who were paid big bonuses from taxpayer-bailed-out financial institutions
People who bought cars that qualified for last year's 'cash for clunkers' program
People who bought houses that qualified for last year's home purchase tax credit

What to all these people have in common? I'M PAYING FOR THEIR NEW TOYS!

These are two very short lists - there are many other federal and state programs that transfer wealth via taxes from working stiffs to non-workers and/or people who don't need new toys. It's done in various hidden ways, through sales taxes, income taxes, tax credits, you name it, but make no mistake, I am paying taxes to make their lives better, and they are doing nothing for me or for the rest of society.

We aren't talking about people living on the street here either. We are talking about a lot of people with way more property and spare time than I may ever have. Sure, there are exceptions, but the so-called safety net is way to big.

What makes it even more infuriating is that some believe the answer to our economic ills is either higher taxes or more 'stimulus' spending. Look, I hate to admit it, but I believe the federal government did need to step in to bail out the financial fat cats in order to save us innocents. Now, however, it's time to stop giving people an incentive to not work, or to buy things they don't need.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The government tax and spend monster doesn't need to be fed, it needs to be staved.