More Government Spending Won’t Strengthen What’s Weak in America

The president returned to familiar turf inside the United States Capitol on Wednesday to meet with Democrat lawmakers to discuss the budget, a massive spending proposal that promises to plunge the country deeper into debt.

Since we were kids, we’ve been told that money doesn’t grow on trees, but you wouldn’t know that from the way Congress has been doling out dollars of late. Based on media reports, the Senate majority are expected to ask for somewhere between $3.5 trillion and $4 trillion dollars for the upcoming fiscal year.

Of course, contained within those trillions are vital and critical items – military spending to ensure our nation’s safety, infrastructure to keep America operational and, especially in the midst of a global pandemic, measures intended to protect our citizens’ health and well-being.

Yet, also included are dollars many liberals and radicals want to “transform” America – i.e., turn upside down and inside out fundamental values and traditions that have distinguished the United States for well over two centuries.

Sadly, there seems to be a prevailing philosophy in Washington these days that money will solve any problem, and the more money we spend, the fewer problems we’ll have.

It’s just not true.

Take for instance our ongoing battle to eradicate poverty.

Since President Johnson declared a war on poverty in 1964, nearly $26 trillion in taxpayer funds has been spent to fight it.

However noble and well-intentioned, the campaign has failed miserably.

Government is rarely (if ever) the solution to a problem, especially when it comes to eradicating social decay.

But is that a message you expect to hear from President Biden or other liberal lawmakers? Don’t hold your breath.

In reality, the very best thing we can do to help eradicate poverty is to strengthen marriages and families.

Why?

The poverty rate goes from 8 percent in marriages to 38 percent after divorce.

What’s perplexing to me is that none of this is even any longer debatable. We’re now decades into the “free love” and me-centered mindset the 1960s ushered in. What has it given us?

We’ve seen how things that once promised instant pleasure have instead delivered pain, poverty and dependency.

The spending debate should be over. Just look at the results of years of social reengineering. The picture they paint isn’t pretty.

I might also add, don’t be fooled by expressions of seemingly good intentions from politicians.

By now many of you are aware that the federal government will begin distributing (Thursday) an expanded child tax credit to moms and dads in the form of monthly payments – up to $300 per child. Many argue this isn’t an additional benefit but merely one that pays the benefit forward and will provide families with much needed income for things like braces and unexpected home repairs.

There’s no question that extra dollars can keep the wolf from the door – but how do you feel about growing dependent upon the government or growing accustomed to the monthly check from Uncle Sam? And what about families who fail to budget accordingly and pay adequate taxes as they go along? Accountants are warning that many families will be hit with a large tax bill next April.

Here at Focus on the Family, we’re pouring ourselves into the task of strengthening families by promoting the beauty and sanctity of marriage and the value of children.

It’s true that money is needed to make things happen, but the problems besetting our country these days aren’t really fiscal in nature – they’re social and spiritual.

Please join me in praying for a greater awareness and understanding of the root of our problems.