American Consequences - March 2018

Send us a message, question, or criticism at feedback@americanconsequences.com

I’m not against government assistance. I’m just worried about how our government assistance programs are funded and how that assistance is allocated. For instance, we currently spend more on federal poverty programs than it would cost to eliminate poverty in America. (And by the way, that would give Pat Day, above, a pretty good argument against my stand on UBI... Just give people the money!) Re: The American Jubilee (November 2017 issue of American Consequences ) I would forgive student debt under two conditions: 1. No new student debt guaranteed or financed federally 2. The universities be forced to return 25% of debt amount This way everyone will suffer. No free lunch, especially the education-government complex. – Tim Parker P.J. O’Rourke comment: Tim, I agree. The current student debt is not going to be repaid anyway. I don’t mind kids coming out of college a few grand in debt – makes them go get a job. But why should taxpayers guarantee that debt? And why should that debt be allowed to reach ridiculous risk levels? As to your second point, I’d make it a lot more that 25% for colleges with bloated endowments.

cohorts enrich themselves by their warfare policies, creating even worse debt, on the taxpayer dime, then have the utter gall to cast aspersions on the people’s declining incomes and negligible tax contribution, we are treated to an offer of extreme austerity. No offer to reduce the ridiculous military wastage problem, not to mention new wastage programs, literally walling people apart from their own money. – Pat Day P.J. O’Rourke comment: Pat, of course I can’t be trusted with the public’s money. I don’t trust you with it either. Nobody can be trusted with the public’s money, especially not the public (as embodied in the government that you so rightly point out wastes money all the time). This does not mean that decent people shouldn’t try to help the unfortunate. It just means that we have to think carefully about how to help. And I think a Universal Basic Income would do more harm than good. Ask ol’ P.J. if he’s EVER BEEN ON ANY KIND of Government assistance. – John Reinhardt P.J. O’Rourke comment: Sure I have, John! I’m on Medicare and collecting Social Security right now. More to the point, my dad died when I was eight and my mother and sisters and I would have starved if it weren’t for Social Security and VA benefits. Furthermore, I went to college on federal and state scholarships.

American Consequences 17

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker