Dear President Obama,
This morning while walking to work, a group of young adults on the Venice Boardwalk asked me for money. “We’re only $1.50 short until 40-ounces to freedom.”
Bewildered, mainly because he was homeless and I on my walk to work, turned around. Did I hear him correctly? I let the gentleman and his friends know I don’t have money to spare (hence going to work) and that the US Government took almost one-fourth of my $40k salary in taxes last year. Everyone standing around quickly chimed in, “Yeah, that’s why I don’t pay taxes.” “Fuck the government, who pays taxes?”
I let these people know nearly half of Americans pay zero income taxes. I then asked if any of these people collect government services such as unemployment or food stamps. A majority of the group, including the man who asked for money, said he uses food stamps. I then replied I’ve already given him money. A look of confusion swept the group, obviously unable to correlate their food stamps and my taxes.
Before walking off, the gentleman said the government ruined his life so he deserved an EBT card. I asked how they did so. He couldn’t reply, just kept saying they did.
I’m writing you this letter to illustrate the blatant fraud committed by people collecting government services. If you don’t have money for food, you shouldn’t be drinking. If you’re proud to take from the government (i.e. steal from the tax payer), you shouldn’t receive benefits. When you’re at a party and see someone cutting cocaine with an EBT card, something has gone awry.
I find it extremely disturbing in the midst of a financial crisis, we aren’t looking at food stamps, unemployment and free phones as ways to cut back spending. The highest median income is in Washington DC. Last year the White House had 54 Christmas trees. Your golf weekend in Florida could fund 351 furloughed Federal employees.
It is painfully obvious rampant spending, not income (because tax revenue is now the highest in 30 years) is the problem with our national debt. DHS recently released 5,000 illegal aliens, the White House wants to ax visitor tours and you plan to furlough federal employees while hiring 400 more. The sequester and budget debacle is a smokescreen for the real issue: government greed. The first thing cut should be politicians’ paychecks. Lest you’ve forgotten, you are an elected official who works for us. We do not work for you.
The attitudes espoused by Americans today are reminiscent of Maoism, where everyone feels government entitlement without pitching in. Having lived in China, seeing first-hand the detriment caused by government dependence, I will do everything in my power to stop us from traveling down that path. It’s why I volunteer. It’s why I stay politically active. It’s why I work hard. We are owned by China. We cannot keep spending money we do not have.
Mr. President, you’re a smart man. You know the policies put in effect will not benefit Americans long-term. Look at history, as it’s our greatest teacher. When more people take from the system than pay into the system, it collapses. America is being collapsed from within.
I would like to conclude by reminding you financial freedom is power. Government dependence is slavery. Take off the shackles. Let us keep our taxes and spend the money locally. This is how we change America. There’s a sleeping giant in America, and we’re starting to wake up.
It’s not about parties. It’s about people. Power to the people.
♥ BB
Also a friendly reminder about your campaign promise. FYI my taxes went up over $700 this year.
“I will cut taxes – cut taxes – for 95 percent of all working families, because, in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class.”
- Barack Obama
