Government Shutdown

First of all, I apologize that there was no post yesterday.  I thought that I had one set up, but I made a mistake.  Sorry.

Now to today's post... I am writing this on November 3.  Tomorrow I leave for Italy for two weeks.  I return on the 17th.  I hope to post many great pictures of our travels between the 5th and the 18th.  I also hope that by the time that we return, the government shutdown will be over.

Why a government shut down?  Because we ran out of money.  We are not running a balanced budget.  In most governments, in most homes, we run a balanced budget.  Income and expenses match, or close to it.

If you overspend in most worlds, it catches up with you.

In the United States, we have given up on a balanced budget.  Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle overspend and print money to cover it.  Whatever amount they approve for the year, when they have overspent it, they need a continuing resolution.  In other words, raise the debt ceiling and borrow more money to keep the overspending going.

Can you imagine what would happen if our country actually balanced the budget???  All spending would have to be cut by about 25%.  Can you imagine the austerity measures that would have to be put in place?  Every  program cut by 25%.

My friend Paul reminds me to relax about all of this because it is more complicated than I think and it is not as bad as it sounds.  But it does concern me.

Anyway, I would like to think that me and 99 friends could go to Washington as Senators or congressmen and congresswomen, get along, speak with kindness to each other and balance the budget.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.