UNCOMMON CENTS 96

IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT? THIS IN SPITE OF THE DATUM THAT ONLY 1/7 OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET IS USED FOR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING. THE REMAINING 6/7's REPRESENTS DEFENSE, INTEREST ON THE DEBT AND GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS. OUT OF A BUDGET OF 2.9 TRILLION, 60% OF THE MONEY IS WASTED ON ENTITLEMENTS. YES, I CONTEND WASTED ON SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, WELFARE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES. OF ONLY 40% OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET WOULD A LIBERTARIAN APPROVE.

WITHOUT ENTITLEMENTS THINK OF WHERE WE COULD BE? EVEN WITH THEM OUR ECONOMY AND STATUS IN THE WORLD GIVES A CITIZEN PAUSE. YET IF TRUE CONSERVATIVES COULD GET THEIR WAY, WE COULD BE CLOSER TO A LIBERTARIAN AMERICA. AS RONALD REAGAN, DECEASED EX-PRESIDENT, SAID "THE VERY HEART AND SOUL OF CONSERVATISM IS LIBERTARIANISM." LIBERTARIANISM ENCAPSULATES RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE SPONTANEOUS ORDER OF MARKET FORCES THAT HOLD THE KEY TO PROGRESS AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING. "WHY?" THE PERCENTAGE OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS IS INCREASING. "WHY?" PERHAPS THE LIBERTARIAN IMP, HIDDEN IN ALL OF US, WIGGLES WITH A MESSAGE IT WANTS TO COME FORTH. LIBERTARIANISM ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY AND EFFORT. IT RESPECTS MARKET FORCES AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PRODUCE WEALTH, REDUCE POVERTY AND UTILIZE RESOURCES, HUMAN, TECHNOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL. PERSONAL FREEDOM IS THE KEY. AS LONG AS ONE PERSON DOES NOT INFRINGE UPON THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER, HE OR SHE SHOULD BE FREE TO TAKE STEPS ON THE ROAD TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY, WEALTH AND PERHAPS, ACCIDENTALLY, HAPPINESS.

HINT: THAT 60% OF THE BUDGET WHICH SUPPORTS ENTITLEMENTS NEEDS TO GO. AS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY A SUBSTITUTE SYSTEM TO PLAY FOR RETIREMENT IS NEEDED.