The French economist, Claude-Frédéric Bastiat (1801-1850) once wrote, “Legal plunder can be committed in an infinite number of ways; hence, there are an infinite number of plans for organizing it: tariffs, protection, bonuses, subsidies, incentives, the progressive income tax, free education, the right to employment, the right to profit, the right to wages, the right to relief, the right to the tools of production, interest free credit, etc., etc. And it the aggregate of all these plans, in respect to what they have in common, legal plunder, that goes under the name of socialism.” Bastiat was ahead of his time for his postulate proved not to be theory but fact as seen in the recent passage of the Illinois budget and tax increase bill passed during the independence day holiday.
I have captured some of the comments made by the leftist democrats and liberal republicans who voted for these expenditures and the tax increases that have been passed or are about to be passed onto you as they boasted how we finally have a budget. These pretentious “lawmakers” boast how they crossed political lines and courageously went against the grain to accomplish a marvelous feat while ignoring the cry of their constituents. Their work is nothing new and was prophesized over a thousand years ago. In the Book of 3 Timothy 3, the Bible reads, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,] blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
As you look at the attached list of expenditures, recall Bastiat’s words from above and look for these attributes:
tariffs,
protection,
bonuses,
subsidies,
incentives,
the progressive income tax,
free education,
the right to employment,
the right to profit,
the right to wages,
the right to relief,
the right to the tools of production,
interest free credit
I’ve called a few of these folks and asked if the official read the bill. The clerk initially replied that the rep or senator “was familiar with the bill”; my Spanish interpretation ”No, they didn’t but they kinda know what’s in it so they went along and voted in favor of it”.
The bad news is that you’re going to see a lot of waste. The worse news is that I’ve only gone through 34 of 638 pages, thus there’s a lot more to come. Look at the attached spread sheet and then you decide whether these are law makers or law breakers. Call the reps and ask them to justify your tax dollars going towards these expenses.
Jesse
