As the campaign ramps up between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, there are very different approaches being provide by both candidates.
Harris adopted Trump’s “No Tax on Tips” proposal, but other than that, they have taken very different paths on how to handle the nation’s finances as well as what role the American people will play.
Harris has proposed some give backs. For example, she has proposed a $50,000 tax incentive for startup small businesses, a $25,000 grant for first time home buyers, forgiveness for college graduates of student debt and up to $6,000 tax break to purchase car seats and cribs for those who want to start a family.
This money is already in the hands of the government, or will be, and if you do what you are told and do what they want you to do, they will let you have some of it back for those who start a business, buy their first home or have a child.
Trump’s approach is very different. Trump has proposed no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security benefits that are paid back to seniors, and no tax on overtime.
This approach is for the government to never get your money in the first place. They also apply to the working class or the retired working class who depend on Social Security.
Trump doesn’t have to take a dime form anyone to pay for one of these programs, but Harris would need $50,000 from the national treasury for every new start up, $25,000 from he treasury for every first time home buyer, $6,000 for every family having a child, and millions form the treasury for student loan forgiveness.
Many can debate which policy they prefer, but the bigger question comes down to who is better at managing money.
And to consider this: If the government is better at letting me have money for what I need when I need it than I am, why not let them have it all?
Think about it.
If anyone supports the Harris plan, they have to believe the government is better at managing money than they are.
Why would a family need $6,000 to purchase basics for their new baby? They either mismanaged their own funds, or someone took it from them in the first place. The latter is more likely true, and that someone was the government.
Rather than driving down the price of new homes to make them affordable, Harris proposes the government kick in $25,000 for first time home buyers.
And each government handout from Harris is tied to you qualifying, or doing what the government wants you to do, to get the money.
Currently the government has a debt of $35 trillion and counting.
At some point you would think that the government spending would have to slow down or be reduced in order to get the nation out of debt.
One plan accelerates government spending while the other looks to keep the dollars from getting to Washington to allow them to spend it in the first place.
When you spend your dollars, the government already gets a cut of virtually every transaction. Activity is what makes the economy go ’round. And when you have the money in your pocket, you control the economy. Consumer spending chooses which products are favored over others, which fuel source is best, etc.
Government intervention disrupts the consumer economy. Through regulations, fees, subsidies and grants, the government can pick and choose winners and losers instead of consumers.
Some regulations are good. Breaking up the monopoly of the Bell telephone system in the 1980s has led to a communication boom, and now most people have a cell phone with access to the world at their fingertips.
Other regulations have led to higher priced vehicles that some mechanics say come with less reliability.
But if the government is better than we are, why not let them have all the money? Why not let them make the decisions for all of us?
Why should we decide what car is right for us, or what groceries we prefer, or what temperature our thermostat should read?
Harris and her comrades are much better at making these decisions than you.
And it won’t stop at start-up business incentives and student loan bailouts. Once the slipper slope of government intrusion begins it doesn’t stop.
And what starts out as temporary aid to help during a downturn becomes permanent funding that keeps people trapped on government assistance for generations.
Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society proved that.
It’s not that we shouldn’t help those in need. We should. But is it really helping someone to shackle them to government assistance for life?
Right now, you still have a choice. But government never shrinks. It only expands, and if you are ready to let them take control of what Harris is selling, don’t expect it to ever stop. It won’t be a question of letting them have it all. They will take it all.
Earl Watt is the owner and publisher of the Leader & Times in Liberal, Kansas. Watt started his career in journalism in 1991 at the Southwest Daily Times. During his career, the newspaper has won a total of 17 Sweepstakes awards from the Kansas Press Association for editorial content and 18 Sweepstakes awards for advertising. Watt has been recognized with more than 70 first place awards for writing in categories from sports and column to best front pages, best sports pages and best opinion pages. Watt is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and is the descendant of several patriots who fought for America's freedom and independence.
