How is the Government Spending Our Money?

 

As one of the village elders let me try to make some sense out of things I’ve been thinking about. Youth brings with it a sense of vigor and even invincibility, as most youngsters never, ever think about the inevitable senior years. I didn’t. When you are in your 20s, 30s, and 40s, you still have a fair amount of play in you. After all one is really busy with one’s life and even having fun or at least your version of it.

 

The next thing you know, here comes the Big Five-0, bang! You are now a half century old. It still hasn’t sunk in yet for most. By the time you know it, you hit 60. For me I can’t remember much about the ten years between 50 and 60 except it went by fast. Then reality starts seeping in and now you realize your are not getting old, you actually are. 

 

In retrospect, as it is often referred to, there could have been things that should have been more carefully considered in those youthful years. Things that perhaps youngsters should be told or even taught and learned in “school.” We should be having this talk about senior care and senior years with the youngsters in our lives right now. Maybe they’ll listen. 

 

For instance. Cost for Long-term care for seniors who need it vary widely by service type and location, with 2024–2025 reliable data showing annual national costs often exceeding $70,000 to over $127,000 per patient. Most seniors can’t afford this. Their families are burdened with these costs and what if they can not find the money? Home care giving by family members is equally expensive as well as physically and mentally exhausting. Most have not planned for this. 

 

With the $ trillions we collect from taxpayers every year shouldn’t the government underwrite all these costs and expense for each citizen? I think so. Or would we rather buy bombs and bullets? The current administration is asking Congress for an additional $1.5 trillion for war making. How about peace making and using that money at home? This is what we should be talking about.

 

In our society we are just focused on the wrong things and we are completely distracted. This is what government should be doing for citizens, the ordinary people who give government their authority, instead of what our government is actually doing with our money. By the way the rich, famous and wealthy don’t have this to worry about. Congress either.

 

Perhaps instead of spending $ billions and $ trillions on war, death and destruction and other senseless folly, these 30, 40 and 50 year old politicians, and elected officials, the new ones who are replacing the old ones, will see the value in investing taxpayer money into meaningful programs for people such as underwriting the cost of senior care. These and other critical, quality of life management things like other medical care costs and expenses, housing and education issues are what elected officials should be working on but more importantly this is what “We the People” should be demanding that they work on. Let’s start talking more about this subject. The conversation continues with the midterm elections, and it’s time to get loud.