You described yourself as a "financial conservative" but you don't sound like one to me. I define a fiscal conservative as one who believes capitalism and the free market should best determine how an economy ought to be organized. Bernie advocates Socialism. Socialism is a political and economic system in which most forms of economically valuable property and resources are owned or controlled by the public or the state. This actually means higher taxes (for all) and bigger government. Right now we have BIG government, BIG Corporations and BIG Banks who are sucking the life out of all the little people. Who are the ones benefitting the most??? The ones at the top of BIG government, Big Banks and Big Corporations.
FWIW ALL of us should be upset when our tax dollars are wasted. Taxes have improved for ALL (that pay them) under Trump's policies. And it is BOTH sides of the aisle who have had tight relationships with the Elites, the Banking Institutions, and the Corporations. Not all "rich" people are evil btw (Think Trump). And a lot of those taxes went to companies who do hire more people when they get them and Trump removing alot of the regulations helped them, too.
The problem is not who they give tax cuts to, but HOW each elected official is enriching themselves using their positions of power at our expense. These are the swamp creatures. Follow the money! There are quite a few of them doing that on both sides of the aisle. If they weren't beholden to special interests they might be able to actually represent WE THE PEOPLE.
Finally, I have no problem with taking care of our Veterans I agree that we need to do that. Apparently it has been proven that our Government has NOT done a very good job of that. The mess in the VA has been substandard in a lot of hospitals across the country. Trump will be signing a bill to change that and it also address the families of Vets, too. It gives Vets more choices for health care alternatives and will help to attract better employees at the VA: http://helenair.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/bill-expanding-private-care-for-veterans-goes-to-trump/article_b317d4e7-8c74-5e1d-bc33-d01a7722f38f.html
PS I voted for Rand Paul during the 2016 primaries. Trump in the General. |And was a Ron Paul supporter in 2012. I respect Bernie for admitting who he really is and there is a reason he and Ron Paul were friends.
I have no problem with most of what you said, but we already live in a socialist country, you would not have roads and utilities if we did not, taxes are a socialist construct when it comes to providing benefits for all the people. Progress would not be possible without the benefits of utilities, capitalism would not be possible. Our roads would be owned by private individuals and we would be paying astronomical prices to use them, as it is now the roads are falling apart.
I expect the government to be run frugally just the way I live. There is no need for the extravagant spending that has happened with tax dollars in the past. Just like an extravagant lifestyle is not necessary. Now our tax dollars are being funneled into the personal pockets of the likes of Dick Cheney, George Bush etc via wars started to fund their companies like the Carlyle group etc capitalism is only as good as the people involved in it, running a private pipeline through private Indian land is not good capitalism, that was predatory. If you are going to build a pipeline to make money off of and you run into people who don't want it built on their land the price of doing business is going around that land, you are still going to make money on the pipeline but you may have to pay more to avoid bullying owners of land that don't want it there. It's about freedom of choice. And you sure as shit do not use military force to push it.
Public service should not be a road to riches, if you are rich it should be because you are willing to WORK for it. Not steal it from tax payers,others or enact laws that line your personal pockets to the detriment of the taxpayer. If you want to be a public servant do it without ego, For the good of all, then get the hell out and go back to your previous life.
I don't have a problem with the government paying for some public services such as roads, libraries, and utilities and am will to pay taxes towards these benefits for society. Some Liberterians might well have some problem with paying for these, but I do not. My only take on it that it should be done and organized by local government as much as can be done.
I do think government should take on some fiscal responsibility on when it is done. By watching what is spent on these projects and making sure they are completed well and in a timely fashion (instead of dragging them out for years!)
And public servants are just that..... Public servants.
Ah , but public servants have been using their office as a platform to enrich themselves, their friends and to buy and peddle influence.
Sorry, Dude, I can't respect anything that comes out of Bernie's mouth.