My Money Goes Where? Gimme a Refund!

When I think of my tax dollars I like to envision the great American things that are being done with it... libraries, roads, ammo for our kick ass military. What I don't picture is the millions of dollars being sucked out of our budget and paid directly to the pockets of our ex-presidents. Now, I don't begrudge the former presidents'(or their widows) their social security or their medicare. Everyone (at this point and time) is eligible for those programs when they become of age. I don't mind the cost of the Secret Service either. We want them protected. What I have a problem with is the amount of money budgeted every year for phone calls, office staff, travel, office space, postage, and other miscellaneous overhead that should be paid out of their own (rich) pockets - not my (poor) ones.

Don't go thinking I am picking on the Democrats - the Republicans are just as bad. George W is at the top of the list with his request for 1.3 million dollars for 2013. His daddy? He wants $879,000. Clinton requests a smooth Mil for his overhead. And even Jimmy Carter wants his share... at the cost of $500,000.

We owe all this to the Former President's Act of 1958. That sweet deal was brokered so that our Presidents would be taken care of. Hmm. I thought that's what their pensions were for? Who knew we would be paying for staples, postage and paperclips forever. (Mrs. Reagan do you really need 7 grand for postage?).

Don't like it? Utah is spearheading a campaign in Congress to stop our tax dollars from funding these items. But only if the president makes over $400,000 a year. Not ideal, but hey - it's better than just shooting our tax dollars directly to the Office Depot.


~ J