If one accepts the common understanding of the word “pig” as it relates to over-indulgence, then there is no word that more aptly describes our political ruling class: they are a bunch of pigs fattening themselves and their friends on the largesse of hardworking Americans.
How piggish are they? Consider this: in the last six years, federal spending has increased by seven hundred billion dollars. Does that number sound familiar? In other words, the massive cost of the current economic bailout which is making headlines around the world is virtually the same amount of money these pigs have helped themselves to slowly and steadily from 2003 to the present day.
Question: does either presidential candidate have the guts to propose federal spending cuts equal to the cost of the current bailout?
If not, why not?
Where is it written that government spending must forever increase? Even more insulting is the fact that it inevitably increases well above the rate of inflation. And it apparently doesn’t matter who’s in charge, be it tax-and-spend liberals or “compassionate” conservatives.
Piggery is the most consistent form of bipartisanship in Washington, D.C. It is the reduction of government philosophy to a single idea: Americans must be bribed to re-elect the ruling class. From a Woodstock Museum to a Bridge to Nowhere and every earmark in between, billions are wasted placating those who make common cause with the pigs.
It is long past time the electorate sent a message to Congress: start cutting or start packing. And the public must be up for the task. It is no longer enough to say, “all the other Congressmen are pigs, but my guy’s all right, so I’ll re-elect him.” They’re ALL pigs in one way or another, and the only question they need to be asked at any campaign rally is the one outlined above: are you willing to cut spending to 2003 levels, or not?
Some of them will undoubtedly hem and haw and predict dire consequences if such a reduction in spending were made. Don’t believe it for a nano-second. It is the reflexive answer of pigs who can’t imagine being forced to do what every hardworking American has to do every day of their lives: make ends meet.
As a result of the bailout, the federal debt will now exceed ten trillion dollars. It is the ultimate testament to the outlandish piggery Americans have endured for far too long. It is no longer enough to make interest payments on the mortgage hanging over future generations’ heads. We need responsible legislators willing to make tough decisions–the toughest of which comes down to one word: no. No, I will not curry favors with money. No, I will not find funds for your “special project.” No, I will not continue to “horse trade’ with my fellow pigs, or support outdated, useless federal programs that should have been killed years ago.
On November 4th, we get one chance to get it right. Let’s do it. Forget party loyalty or affiliation, media propaganda, peer pressure or anything else that may cloud your thinking. The 2008 election comes down to one idea:
Send the pigs packing.
atahlert@comcast.net
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