I’ve been on vacation this week, and recuperating from a bug I managed to pick up. Because I can’t be very active, and I can’t spend every waking moment writing, I have had the unpleasant opportunity to be exposed to day time TV. It is not the programming that I find objectionable. With the myriad of channels there is usually something I can stomach, and there is always TiVo. No what I found objectionable, bordering on disgusting is the commercials.
I generally don’t watch commercials. Since discovering TiVo, I merely delay when I begin watching a program and skip the commercials when they come up. But, this week Margo is in charge of the TV as I refused to just camp in front of it, and she will use it for background while she works a puzzle, game, or on the internet. So, I will sit down and get engrossed in some 50s or 60s black and white program and watch it live.
Doing so has unwittingly subjected me to in my opinion the worst part of capitalism; commercials geared towards stealing money; legally. You know the type. In the 45 minutes or so I watched today I saw two different legal firms touting how they could get you disability payments from
Social Security. I saw two different companies telling you how you could get a mobility scooter to wheel you around, and I didn’t even try to count the number of ads from online colleges or trade schools.
So what’s wrong with that you ask? Every one of these ads are geared towards someone sitting on their ass at home. They sell a promise of something for nothing. I will grant partial dispensation for the educational ads; at least they will be attempting to teach a trade or marketable skill. But, face facts, the vast majority of people these ads appeal to are the people sitting at home wanting to be given something.
They want a quick education to earn them a job that will earn six figures. They want a free scooter. They want a check from the government. Well we can’t afford this compassion at someone else’s expense. That scooter is not free; taxpayers are footing the bill. The education is not free; someone takes out a loan that is guaranteed by the taxpayers. That disability check is not free; again the taxpayers are on the hook.
I am not against helping out people in need. But the manner in which we do it invites fraud and is inefficient. Do you wonder why education costs have far out stripped the pace of inflation? The federal government guarantees the loans. The schools know this, so they don’t care who they sign up. If they can qualify for a student loan they are in. Aptitude, intelligence, and desire, are secondary. When the graduate, or drop out for that manner, and can’t pay, the taxpayers stand behind the loan. The schools have minimal incentive to lower their costs. They raise their rates and the government guarantees more loan money. There is currently more student loan debt
than credit card debt in America. How scary is that?
I genuinely applaud every person out there who takes out a loan, gets an education, and then works to pay back what they owe. That situation applies to the vast majority of
I generally don’t watch commercials. Since discovering TiVo, I merely delay when I begin watching a program and skip the commercials when they come up. But, this week Margo is in charge of the TV as I refused to just camp in front of it, and she will use it for background while she works a puzzle, game, or on the internet. So, I will sit down and get engrossed in some 50s or 60s black and white program and watch it live.
Doing so has unwittingly subjected me to in my opinion the worst part of capitalism; commercials geared towards stealing money; legally. You know the type. In the 45 minutes or so I watched today I saw two different legal firms touting how they could get you disability payments from
Social Security. I saw two different companies telling you how you could get a mobility scooter to wheel you around, and I didn’t even try to count the number of ads from online colleges or trade schools.
So what’s wrong with that you ask? Every one of these ads are geared towards someone sitting on their ass at home. They sell a promise of something for nothing. I will grant partial dispensation for the educational ads; at least they will be attempting to teach a trade or marketable skill. But, face facts, the vast majority of people these ads appeal to are the people sitting at home wanting to be given something.
They want a quick education to earn them a job that will earn six figures. They want a free scooter. They want a check from the government. Well we can’t afford this compassion at someone else’s expense. That scooter is not free; taxpayers are footing the bill. The education is not free; someone takes out a loan that is guaranteed by the taxpayers. That disability check is not free; again the taxpayers are on the hook.
I am not against helping out people in need. But the manner in which we do it invites fraud and is inefficient. Do you wonder why education costs have far out stripped the pace of inflation? The federal government guarantees the loans. The schools know this, so they don’t care who they sign up. If they can qualify for a student loan they are in. Aptitude, intelligence, and desire, are secondary. When the graduate, or drop out for that manner, and can’t pay, the taxpayers stand behind the loan. The schools have minimal incentive to lower their costs. They raise their rates and the government guarantees more loan money. There is currently more student loan debt
than credit card debt in America. How scary is that?
I genuinely applaud every person out there who takes out a loan, gets an education, and then works to pay back what they owe. That situation applies to the vast majority of
people out there. But, there are plenty leftover who get the loan as an excuse to delay working for a living. They tell themselves and whoever is supporting them that “they can’t work, they are going to school”.And it sounds really good, too. Until they find out school is work, too. Or worst,
they graduate with a degree in Philosophy or Political Science, or some equally worthless field, with respect to getting a job. They now have big debt and no way to pay it back. The school doesn’t care if the former student can get a job. They have their money.
I think these mobility scooters are also a great idea; allowing those who age and ailment make it hard to walk. But, I shouldn’t be forced to pay for them. Sorry, I have my own bills and future needs. And since I, or more accurately, the taxpayers are paying for these scooters, the companies making them, again have little incentive to become more efficient and lower their prices. Make the people pay for them with their own money, and prices will come down to attract more customers.
As for Social Security Disability it is like so many of the government social programs. They were great ideas that have become corrupt. I have written about the street term “Crazy Money” in which people pretend to have a mental illness to get a check from Social Security. They even go a far as to coach their children to act up in the interview so they can be put on the dole as well. When the current two years of unemployment run out, often the next step is a disability check, which will pay forever.
47 % of the population already pays no federal income tax. They have no skin in the game. But all of them benefit, in one way or another from the things the federal government provides. What happens when it is 50% and the Democrats have officially bought and paid for their votes with these hand outs? (Caveat: I know normal Social Security is different and retiree have paid in their whole working life and are due the money paid out. That is a whole separate issue to be
addressed)
This whole notion the government taking care of you from cradle to grave; providing you with everything you need or think you need, is a cancer in this country. It must be excised and it must start soon. It is my firm belief that the things you get in life, you pay for. If you don’t pay for it, you shouldn’t get it. Is that tough? Yes, it is. But, if you really want to see tough, keep you eye on the European Union. They have been going down this socialist road a lot longer than
America has. It is a laboratory experiment in what will happen here.
Europe is in the process of coming apart at the seams. Their seams are busting, but Obama and the Democratic Party are playing follow the leader with their policies and philosophy. Unemployment ticked up, while the number of American looking for work dropped again. Payment for Social Security Disability are increasing at their fastest pace ever.
It’s time to fix that. Your vote matters. Remember that in November.
they graduate with a degree in Philosophy or Political Science, or some equally worthless field, with respect to getting a job. They now have big debt and no way to pay it back. The school doesn’t care if the former student can get a job. They have their money.
I think these mobility scooters are also a great idea; allowing those who age and ailment make it hard to walk. But, I shouldn’t be forced to pay for them. Sorry, I have my own bills and future needs. And since I, or more accurately, the taxpayers are paying for these scooters, the companies making them, again have little incentive to become more efficient and lower their prices. Make the people pay for them with their own money, and prices will come down to attract more customers.
As for Social Security Disability it is like so many of the government social programs. They were great ideas that have become corrupt. I have written about the street term “Crazy Money” in which people pretend to have a mental illness to get a check from Social Security. They even go a far as to coach their children to act up in the interview so they can be put on the dole as well. When the current two years of unemployment run out, often the next step is a disability check, which will pay forever.
47 % of the population already pays no federal income tax. They have no skin in the game. But all of them benefit, in one way or another from the things the federal government provides. What happens when it is 50% and the Democrats have officially bought and paid for their votes with these hand outs? (Caveat: I know normal Social Security is different and retiree have paid in their whole working life and are due the money paid out. That is a whole separate issue to be
addressed)
This whole notion the government taking care of you from cradle to grave; providing you with everything you need or think you need, is a cancer in this country. It must be excised and it must start soon. It is my firm belief that the things you get in life, you pay for. If you don’t pay for it, you shouldn’t get it. Is that tough? Yes, it is. But, if you really want to see tough, keep you eye on the European Union. They have been going down this socialist road a lot longer than
America has. It is a laboratory experiment in what will happen here.
Europe is in the process of coming apart at the seams. Their seams are busting, but Obama and the Democratic Party are playing follow the leader with their policies and philosophy. Unemployment ticked up, while the number of American looking for work dropped again. Payment for Social Security Disability are increasing at their fastest pace ever.
It’s time to fix that. Your vote matters. Remember that in November.
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