Dear Congress.....
As I watch the billions of dollars in future deficit spending pilling up to help aid the United States with the current economic crisis, I can’t help but think “what about the people that played by the rules and spent wisely?”. It seems to me that over and over again with every line on a document and vote of Congress, the people who played by the rules are being asked to tighten their belt and understand that the actions taken are for the betterment of the country.
I’m as patriotic as they come and have worked my entire career in DoD. I believe that I do put our country FIRST. However, that loyalty does not mean that I don’t believe in equality. I don’t believe it is prudent or responsible of government to aid the less fortunate routinely at the cost of the responsible, while making limited effort to curtail government spending to the extremes necessary. It seems far easier to spend for extremes than to reduce.
Why are individuals that paid their bills, started businesses, stayed within their means either being asked to; 1) tighten their belt so that stimulus can be created 2) not receive stimulus funds because of personal income level alone.
My position is this, if a person starts a business the odds are that if they’re good at what they do, the business should be remotely successful. That said capping stimulus funds per income with no other measurement taken seems asinine. It is no more than punishing those who succeed. Saying “yes we know you worked hard and did your job correctly, but please understand while we stimulate others with your tax dollars”.
For another example take those, like myself, who stayed within our means as far as housing was concerned. We paid our mortgage, managed our money correctly and responsibly. How come the government has not made lower interest loans available to those citizens? Why are mortgage rates still at 5-7%? I have spoken personally with many in the mortgage industry that have point of fact stated “if your credit was worse, we could help you”. How is that encouraging growth? How does that provide stimulus? And more importantly how does that embolden the American spirit? It simply acts as a slap in the face of responsible citizens in mass.
I realize that some, some, had very serious issues or circumstances that led to their personal financial/economic issues. For those I am truly sorry. I am very much for buttressing unemployment benefits and building up buffers for those that lost a job or met an unfortunate circumstance. However, that said, I don’t think you simply turn your collective backs on those that did well. And that, more so than not, seems to be Congress’s lock-step today. And sadly, this will fail as small business erodes and more and more citizens are removed from work as businesses fight to survive.
As a business owner I am responsible not only for maintaining liquidity and business but in making sure my employee’s families have a secure platform to conduct their lives from. This takes a great deal of planning and focus. Areas of stimulus for business could focus on reduction of payroll taxes (nearly the highest in the world) which would create immediate stimulus to a company and thus, all the families within it. We could also reduce the two lowest tax brackets to 5% and 10% instead of 10% and 20%. This would provide immediate help to the “middle-class”, whoever that may be.
In my life I have always tried to help others when I could, whether it be loaning personal monies to help a person in a jam, dedicating my time to a cause or simply donating as I have to multiple charities here and abroad. However, I have found in recent months that I have to say ‘no’ more than ‘yes’ to my charities. This is a direct impact of effects on my business. I have at times foregone my paycheck for weeks to make sure my employees were paid in full. I provided the top-tier of healthcare to my employees as well as retirement. These items are no noble effort and should be assumed by a business owner. However, when I hear things like “this bracket doesn’t get a stimulus check because they make too much “or “you can’t refinance because your credit is too good” or “you should be able to payer higher taxes”, it makes me sick to my stomach. Was this the America founded in 1776? An America focused on riding the back of the hard worker till there is nothing left to ride? I think not, I hope not, I know not!
In times of crisis we should and must focus on the best interests of ALL not simply those that make for great sound bytes. I would hope my leaders; those chosen to represent ME and my interests would not simply turn a shoulder in the face of difficult choices. I would hope we don’t lump problems together for band-aid solutions. I would hope we don’t make grossly negligent assumptions. I would hope we realize what the true foundations are of this great land and that while the correct options may not be popular or socially gratifying, they are the correct options. I write this as a business owner, father, son, brother, husband and patriot. I write this as a citizen of the United States of America who hopes that my voice, my words; do not fall on deaf ears.
I’m as patriotic as they come and have worked my entire career in DoD. I believe that I do put our country FIRST. However, that loyalty does not mean that I don’t believe in equality. I don’t believe it is prudent or responsible of government to aid the less fortunate routinely at the cost of the responsible, while making limited effort to curtail government spending to the extremes necessary. It seems far easier to spend for extremes than to reduce.
Why are individuals that paid their bills, started businesses, stayed within their means either being asked to; 1) tighten their belt so that stimulus can be created 2) not receive stimulus funds because of personal income level alone.
My position is this, if a person starts a business the odds are that if they’re good at what they do, the business should be remotely successful. That said capping stimulus funds per income with no other measurement taken seems asinine. It is no more than punishing those who succeed. Saying “yes we know you worked hard and did your job correctly, but please understand while we stimulate others with your tax dollars”.
For another example take those, like myself, who stayed within our means as far as housing was concerned. We paid our mortgage, managed our money correctly and responsibly. How come the government has not made lower interest loans available to those citizens? Why are mortgage rates still at 5-7%? I have spoken personally with many in the mortgage industry that have point of fact stated “if your credit was worse, we could help you”. How is that encouraging growth? How does that provide stimulus? And more importantly how does that embolden the American spirit? It simply acts as a slap in the face of responsible citizens in mass.
I realize that some, some, had very serious issues or circumstances that led to their personal financial/economic issues. For those I am truly sorry. I am very much for buttressing unemployment benefits and building up buffers for those that lost a job or met an unfortunate circumstance. However, that said, I don’t think you simply turn your collective backs on those that did well. And that, more so than not, seems to be Congress’s lock-step today. And sadly, this will fail as small business erodes and more and more citizens are removed from work as businesses fight to survive.
As a business owner I am responsible not only for maintaining liquidity and business but in making sure my employee’s families have a secure platform to conduct their lives from. This takes a great deal of planning and focus. Areas of stimulus for business could focus on reduction of payroll taxes (nearly the highest in the world) which would create immediate stimulus to a company and thus, all the families within it. We could also reduce the two lowest tax brackets to 5% and 10% instead of 10% and 20%. This would provide immediate help to the “middle-class”, whoever that may be.
In my life I have always tried to help others when I could, whether it be loaning personal monies to help a person in a jam, dedicating my time to a cause or simply donating as I have to multiple charities here and abroad. However, I have found in recent months that I have to say ‘no’ more than ‘yes’ to my charities. This is a direct impact of effects on my business. I have at times foregone my paycheck for weeks to make sure my employees were paid in full. I provided the top-tier of healthcare to my employees as well as retirement. These items are no noble effort and should be assumed by a business owner. However, when I hear things like “this bracket doesn’t get a stimulus check because they make too much “or “you can’t refinance because your credit is too good” or “you should be able to payer higher taxes”, it makes me sick to my stomach. Was this the America founded in 1776? An America focused on riding the back of the hard worker till there is nothing left to ride? I think not, I hope not, I know not!
In times of crisis we should and must focus on the best interests of ALL not simply those that make for great sound bytes. I would hope my leaders; those chosen to represent ME and my interests would not simply turn a shoulder in the face of difficult choices. I would hope we don’t lump problems together for band-aid solutions. I would hope we don’t make grossly negligent assumptions. I would hope we realize what the true foundations are of this great land and that while the correct options may not be popular or socially gratifying, they are the correct options. I write this as a business owner, father, son, brother, husband and patriot. I write this as a citizen of the United States of America who hopes that my voice, my words; do not fall on deaf ears.
Good letter...amen.
ReplyDelete