REDUCE GOVERNMENT

Skyrocketing spending and gigantic deficits are threatening national security, burdening our children with debt and putting America’s future at risk. It’s time to cut spending, trim government payrolls and put important programs like Medicare and Social Security on solid financial footing.

With both Democrats and Republicans sharing the blame, government has grown out of control. Now, with annual deficits exceeding one trillion dollars expected for the next decade America steadily approaches a tipping point when our national debt exceeds our gross domestic product. In just two years, interest on the national debt will exceed the entire defense budget and in less than a decade, interest on the debt will consume half of income tax revenue.

If we reach that point, our economy will be dramatically less free. Americans will be ever more dependent on government for the basic necessities of life.

Not counting the federal workforce, some 60.8 million Americans already depend on the government for their daily housing, food and health care. On average, recipients of government assistance get more than four times as much taxpayer support per year – about $26,150 – as they would have in 1962, adjusting for inflation.

At the same time, the era of big government is back – big time – reaching a record high 2.15 million civilian employees this year. And while pay in the private sector has stagnated, federal workers have enjoyed generous annual wage increases, more than 12 percent since 2007. As a result, federal employees earn twice as much in pay and benefits than their counterparts in the private sector.

Compounding the nation’s budget problems are the nearly 80 million baby boomers who are close to retirement, potentially doubling the number of retirees, As a result, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, which already make up 41 percent of federal spending, will account for nearly 62 percent in 20 years.

But instead of addressing these growing concerns and working across the aisle to guarantee the solvency of critical programs, Democrats like Gary Peters and Speaker Nancy Pelosi embarked on a record-setting spending spree. Starting with the $787 billion stimulus package and culminating in the health care takeover, Peters and Pelosi have treated the national treasury as their own special interest piggy bank. The result? A more dependent America, even deeper in debt.

It’s important to understand, however, that dependency-creating programs were a staple in Washington long before Mr. Obama’s inauguration. For example, President George W. Bush really stepped on the gas, particularly in programs related to health, education and income support for Americans of working age. And the trend will only accelerate as Obamacare enrolls 16 million more Americans in Medicaid.

Now, one thing is clear: Congress should not make matters worse, and Oakland County voters should hold their representative, Gary Peters, accountable. Obamacare must be repealed and rolled back. No more legislation expanding dependency or piling up more debt to finance government operations. At the same time, federal payrolls need to be trimmed and pay brought more in line with the private sector. That’s the only way we can find the resources needed to meet basic obligations we have already made to our citizens, especially seniors and veterans.

Today’s spending binge is not sustainable. Indeed, democracy cannot survive the ongoing, irresponsible mismanagement of our nation’s budget. Unless we make the tough decisions necessary to roll back big government, that very same big government will overwhelm the balance between those in need and those who provide the financial means to help them.

Stop the overspending. Join Rocky and fellow patriots in standing shoulder to shoulder as we get America on the right track back to solvency and surpluses.