New requirement for spending politicians: I want YOUR permission to spend YOUR money on...

For far too long, our local state and federal politicians have gotten away with language that is really not truthful when dealing with the voters. For example, Governor Corzine last year said the following when suggesting new spending for stem cell research:

“New Jersey continues to forge ahead as a pioneer in stem cell research and discovery,” said Governor Corzine. “This ballot initiative represents a landmark economic investment that will create new jobs and spur new business ventures while bringing the potential of revolutionary life-saving treatments and cures to millions afflicted by some of the most devastating diseases and injuries."

If the governor was truthful he would have said:

We are asking YOU, the voter to write a check for our good idea that we think MIGHT help sick people get better. We will take YOUR check and give it to commercial business enterprises so that they will come here instead of another state and do this. Your initial deposit will only cover startup cost as this is going to cost a lot of money over time that YOU will have to pay as our state government doesn't make any money on its own. AS a matter of fact, because we routinely borrow money without asking YOU (even though the state constitution says we can't), we need additional money from YOU to pay interest. In addition, YOU should understand that in order to spend YOUR money, we will be giving jobs to other people to work for state government that will make sure that YOUR money will be spend the way WE want it and isn't wasted too much. These state workers will get generous retirement pensions that YOU are not eligible for because YOU earn YOUR money in the private sector even though YOU pay every cent that goes into these plans. These new state workers will get cars because we have suggested placing these stem cell labratories all over the state to reward our political friends in various locations. These cars will be paid for by YOU as well as the gas that goes in them.

And just so we are clear, this message is to EVERY PERSON IN OUR STATE! We aren't asking just the rich guys for this, we are asking EVERYONE. You will write us a check and even if we rebate some back to YOU, it will be a tiny fraction of what YOU paid us. Isn't that a great idea? Won't YOU support us?

Why don't politicians speak like this? You know why. Because not one of these wonderful programs would every be approved. So next time you hear Hillary speak about Universal Healthcare, Obama speak about his Green Energy Sector or John McCain about Amnesty for Illegal Aliens, translate the word investment to 'you will write a check to pay for it'. And every time a politician tells you that 'someone else' is paying the bill, replace those words with 'I am a liar who is telling you this so you are fooled into believing that someone else is paying the bill even though it is really you'.

---