Bailouts, Stimulus, and Responsibility... Oh My!

The news has been rife with discussions about the government's numerous attempts at saving the country from ruin. We would all like to believe that the extreme spending being passed and shoved down the throat of the American public is for our benefit, and that it will actually improve our financial state of being. The more I hear, the more disingenuous it sounds... and the more disturbed by the whole situation I become. It seems that those in power think that they have an unlimited piggy bank to pull from and that their constituencies are all too happy to foot whatever bill is required. I for one am not.

What is even more upsetting to me, I think, is the preponderance of these plans (stimulus spending, bailouts, etc) to pander to those who were the least responsible. Here are these banks that due to decreased regulations (thanks Mr. Greenspan) were able to deal out sub-prime loans to those who were obvious financial risks, and when (surprise, surprise) they defaulted on these loans, the banks look to big daddy government to save them from their own irresponsible stupidity. Or those who took out the loans from the banks when they knew they couldn't afford it. When did the idea of living within our means become so blasé and antiquated?

I remember as a young man being taught the importance of fiscal responsibility by my parents. You earned the money you got by working hard, and you only bought what you could afford. Credit was a tool, but only to be used when you knew you could pay it back (and not just the minimum monthly payments). Debt was something to be avoided as much as possible, and savings was a must! I can say without reservation that the lessons I learned in my younger years have carried throughout my life. Does that mean I never splurged? No, but I never went so far that I was in danger of drowning in an ocean of debt.

Now we are rewarding those who have been the most irresponsible. If a company has put themselves in a position where they are failing financially, I say let them. Someone, some company, will rise up to fill in the gap. That is the American way. When we instead save companies and individuals from their own stupidity then we set the precedent for failure. What drive is there to succeed or be responsible if the government is going to pull everyone out of the muck and mire of their own making?

I want to see America back on its feet as much as the next guy, but it can't happen as long as we are spending money that only exists in some future tax period, and it won't happen as long as we keep rewarding failure and irresponsibility. The companies and individuals lead to this situation with their irresponsible behavior and now our government is following suit. When will they learn?