President Obama has done something I heartily agree with. He’s telling companies that if they take government handout money – er, bailout money (a.k.a. our tax dollars) — there are things they can’t spend it on. For example, he’s set limits on executive pay, with a high end of $500,000, along with severe limits on perks. He’s attached strings to the money.
This, to me, is a basic principle of civilized life: “If you want something from me, I get to make the rules.” I’ve heard this ever since I started getting an allowance from my father. Its variation is stated simply, “beggars can’t be choosers.”
If you want a paying job from me, you have to show up at work at the time I decide, and do what I require for the amount of time I choose. In return for that, I will pay you a sum which I’ve decided is what the job is worth. In addition, I have the right to set other rules, such as “employees have to wear shirts and can’t wear flip-flops.” If you don’t like my rules, then don’t take my job or the money that goes with it. No worries, I’ll get somebody else.
If you want to borrow money from me to buy a house or a car or an appliance on time, I get to decide your payments, your payment schedule and your penalties for not paying. If you don’t like my rules, don’t take my money.
That’s the way life works.
So President Obama gets my props for attaching strings to these government handouts.
But I think we need to expand this principle so that it applies to EVERYONE who is taking tax dollars, not just big companies.
Do you want Food Stamps so that you’ll have enough to eat? Then I say there should be certain things you can’t use them for, such as junk food. No potato chips, no frozen pizza, no soda, no popcorn. You’ve got to be thrifty with them. No steaks. No crab or lobster or shrimp – those items are way too expensive. I say you have to buy the generic brand of macaroni instead of expensive imported pasta. In fact, maybe you should only be able to use food stamps for red beans and rice. After all, millions of people all over the world survive on red beans and rice, day in and day out. It’s cheap and nutritious enough to keep you going. You don’t like those rules? Then don’t take food stamps.
Do you want government money so that you can live? Well, there should be strings attached. You don’t get to go out to eat any more. No more concerts, no more going to the movies, no more going to paid sporting events. And no more booze or cigarettes – not on my dime. Get rid of the cable TV. You can live a perfectly good life without cable. In fact, you can live a perfectly good life without TV. Ever hear of the Public Library? Lots of great entertainment available – free. Have you got a fancy cell phone with an expensive plan? Sorry, you don’t need that either. Sure, you need a phone, but get the cheap one, with the prepaid minutes. If you need clothes, you’ll be shopping in the secondhand stores. Learn to sew so you can patch the holes in those pants. No more air conditioning. If it’s hot, sweat it out, just like billions of people do all over the world. And in the winter? The thermostat doesn’t go higher than 60. Too cold for you? Wear a coat. What’s that, you say — all of these restrictions are an affront to your dignity? Sorry, pal, I’ll pay to help you live because you’re having a rough time right now, but if you’re taking MY money and not doing anything to earn it, you don’t have any dignity. “Beggars can’t be choosers.”
President Obama thinks every American should have government paid healthcare. I strongly disagree, but if we go there, I think there should be some serious strings attached. Let’s start with these: If you smoke, you’re not eligible. If you drink, you’re not eligible. If you’re overweight, you’re not eligible. There should be dietary restrictions. No junk food. Lose the salt. No more cheese. Eat those seven servings of vegetables and fruits. And no more sitting around on your butt watching TV — you’ve got to exercise regularly and get preventative checkups. After all, there is no reason why my fellow taxpayers and I should subsidize any of your bad habits that will lead to increased medical costs down the road. We want you to be healthy so you don’t incur those medical costs. What’s that, you say – I’m taking away your freedom to live as you choose? No, I’m only taking your freedom IF you take my money. However, if you live independently of government money, then you have complete freedom to eat, drink, smoke, sleep and spend YOUR money the way you choose.
If we’re going to apply this basic “strings attached” principle to white collar executives – as we should — I can only hope that President Obama will apply this principle to ALL who receive my tax dollars.
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