Staff Reports
As Christmas approaches, most people are busy checking off their shopping lists. Meanwhile, Congress seems to have forgotten the concept of a budget, going on a spending spree that could make even Santa blush. That’s right, Congress has just proposed a whopping $100.4 billion in new spending, which they plan to slap onto America’s credit card. With such a price tag, one might wonder how long it would last. Unfortunately, this financial bonanza is only set to last about two and a half months—just enough time to feel the jingle in our pockets before the bills start rolling in again!
What makes this budget proposal even more alarming is the sheer number of pages involved—1,547 of them! Critics argue that this is designed to keep the average American from deciphering the madness inside. When the text was released, Congress expected members to read and vote on it in record time. Spoiler alert: no one appears to have cracked it open. Ironically, while attempting to pass this massive bill, they also tried to establish a new law that would allow them to keep their emails secret. If regular folks like us had to share our emails under subpoena, why should Congress be exempt? It’s a classic case of “do as I say, not as I do.”
Not only is the spending outrageous, but Congress is also throwing good ol’ American values out the window by funding censorship programs. Yes, you heard that right! They’re planning to use taxpayer dollars to regulate content online that doesn’t fit their liking. If that wasn’t enough to get the average citizen’s blood boiling, reports suggest that Congress is also reviving vaccine mandates, all under the catchy title of “pandemic preparedness.” Just when you thought the controversial gain-of-function research was a thing of the past, Congress seems eager to bring it back.
Beneath the holiday cheer, there’s even more eyebrow-raising spending. A tidy $15 million is set aside to make recycling “more accessible.” Has anyone ever had trouble finding a recycling bin? Spoiler alert: there’s probably one just five steps away! And what’s this about $3 million designated for inspecting molasses? One wonders if there’s been a concerning spike in molasses-related incidents. It certainly feels like Congress is living in its whimsical world, where wasteful spending has become the norm.
To top it all off, Congress is even considering giving itself a pay raise of $6,000 to “keep up with the cost of living.” While everyday families are scrambling to make ends meet, Congress seems to think they deserve a bump in salary because inflation has risen—thanks in part to their spending habits! It’s a real head-scratcher why they believe they’re more deserving of a pay increase, especially when many Americans are faced with financial hardship due to the policies they enact.
As Christmas approaches, one can only hope Congress decides to unwrap a better approach to governance than the fiscal gift-wrapping they currently showcase. With so much on the line, the focus should be on responsible spending rather than further burdening taxpayers. It’s a classic case of “Ho Ho Ho, who’s going to pay for all this?” The truth is, while they ring in the holidays, everyday citizens will have to deal with the fiscal hangover once the party is over. So as Congress hustles through the holidays, maybe they should remember that people are pooped from this year’s antics and are ready for a little more accountability and a lot less jingle in their spending.
