WHO ACTUALLY PAYS THE BILLS?

Our local newspaper, the Parsons Sun, has over time included a constructive array of very informative articles concerning local, state, and federal government matters. Including the one in the Tuesday, January 21, 2020 edition, titled “Legislative Session’s focus is on Medicaid.”

A most worthy of taxpayer attention front-page article, highlighting various cost impacts of Medicaid expansion under consideration by our Kansas Legislature. In part, the reporting notes that most of the $1.1 billion in spending increases in Kansas Governor Kelly’s proposed $19.8 billion state budget from all funding sources, relate to “expanding Medicaid.” Further pointing out that, “The state would pay 10% of the expansion costs and the federal government would pay 90%. Which to some likely represents a good and irresistible deal.

That is, until one gets responsibly in touch with some “oxymoron-based” wording that has become much too commonplace in our government budgeting/spending speak. Such as, “the state would pay,” and “the federal government would pay,” etc. 

Wording that of course masks the reality that it is actually present and future individual/business taxpayers who ultimately do the “paying.” Wording also drawing little to no attention to another reality—we consumers of products and services also ultimately “pay” the taxes and tariffs levied against for-profit businesses. Just as the cost of so-called "government" subsidies, grants, etc., are likewise one way or another also ultimately "paid for" by "we the people."

Could there by a remote chance be some “connection between”: (1.) our seemingly growing tendency to avoid speaking plainly about who ultimately must pay the bills, and for example, (2.) “our” rapidly growing and out-of-control (now $23 trillion) National Debt? A most shameful legacy being passed to the backs of our nation’s now youth and the not yet born. Generations who will ultimately suffer the one day inescapable consequences of our avoidance (through innocent ignorance or intent) of communicating in the plainest and most responsible of terms—about “who actually pays the bills” of our local, state, and federal government.  

                                                                —William James Moore 

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Footnote: The above article was also published by our local newspaper, the Parsons Sun, in the Opinion/Public Mind section, page 3, of the Sun’s Weekend, Saturday-Sunday, January 25-26, 2020 Edition.