"I hope the government will help me out..."

I was recently conversing with a Liberal. She works in a nice, relatively secure state job, like me.

She was expressing with frustration her perception that her “relatively secure state job” was being threatened by Governor Walker’s recent apoplexy-inducing bill. This job security (along with the much-less stressful work culture) was a large part of the reason she left her previous job higher-paying job.

She used to work for a local company. While there, she picked up some very nice computer-technical skills. There are many people who work at this same company… get the skills and the credentials… then, leave the company and head for the “consultant” circuit. As a consultant in this field, she could easily be making a plush six-figure salary.

After some of her Walker-critical remarks, I asked her whether she would consider the “consulting” route. She said, “No, I like Madison too much.” (You see, these consulting jobs can be a less-than-optimal life. Sure, you make good money. But, you usually work in a distant city. So, you spend a lot of time flying back and forth. It’s technically “free” flying, though, because the costs are covered by the hiring company.)

At this point, I have no beef with my Liberal friend. She’s allowed to have those attitudes and opinions. The decision about how to live, and how to spend her working years is her's to make. In her shoes, I would probably make the same choice, at least until my daughter was grown and out of the house.

But, she said something that kinda set me off. (I know. You’re shocked, aren’t you?)

As the conversation turned towards retirement and pension, she said, “Of course, I hope to save enough money to cover my retirement. But, if it doesn’t work out I just hope there will be some government program to help me.”

*sigh*

Do you understand what you just read?

In case it didn’t jump out at you, allow me to paraphrase: “I have a lucrative money-making skillset. With those skills, I could make a LOT more money than I am right now. But, I choose not to employ that skillset, because it would be an inconvenience to me. I would have to travel. I would have to work harder, and I wouldn't get the life of relative ease that I am enjoying here. So, I’ll opt for the easier road, and I’ll enjoy my days now. I will save what money I can. But, in case it doesn’t quite work out, I’ll let the government pick up my slack when I’m old and in need.”

THAT my dear friends is one of the things that is wrong with America. And, in my humble opinion, if that attitude is not curbed quickly, it will be the death of us all.

I’m sorry, Dear Liberal Friend, but there is not now, nor will there ever be, enough money in the federal treasury to help every single old person who didn’t successfully manage their wealth through their working years.

What she is describing here is not Socialism. It’s not even Communism. It’s WORSE. At least, in Communism, the state mandates the forfeiture of your assets during your “according to your means” working years, before you get to your consuming “according to your needs” retirement years.

This loosey-goosey Liberal economic dementia actually allows my friend to keep her current earnings… spend them on vacations, and concert tickets, and new computer technology and iPhones, and surgeries for her pets. THEN, when her retirement portfolio “doesn’t work out”, she just extends her up-turned palm to Mommy & Daddy Government imploring, “Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!”

Ugh, people. This is horrible.

When I challenged her, she said, “Well, don’t you enjoy your nice 40-hour work week? Don’t you enjoy your easy work schedule? And, not having to travel for your job?”

Sure… who doesn’t “enjoy” easy things? But, the question is, “On whom are your depending for your old-age security?” Are you depending on yourself? Are you working as hard as you can, doing everything to provide for yourself? And, if you fail, are you prepared to bear the brunt of that fate?

Or, are you expecting “someone else” to take care of you?

God help us all.