What's up with MONEY?

This week there have been a lot of articles written about how our (taxpayers) money is being wasted.  I have to admit, this is one of the few ways that I feel totally helpless.  Congress makes laws that don't apply to them, millionaires have legal loopholes that allow them to pay taxes around a 10-15% bracket, while most people I know are in the 20-30% bracket.  Hmmmmmm.  One of the things that B.A.B.E is about is saving, investing and growing your money.  Sure would be nice to be able to use what we really earn to secure our own futures! Our deal here is apolitical, which means we don't preach politics as I believe it's a personal decision who you vote for.  But, encouraging you to vote and make your voice heard, is a different story!  To make it easy, here is the handy address for said representatives:
http://www.house.gov/

Intersting accompanying article: http://www.foxbusiness.com/investing/2012/01/16/congressman-takes-up-buffetts-debt-offer/

Our Money is being hung out to dry!

Another thing?  Anyone who thinks that the rich should "pay more"  is missing the real point.  What "pay more" is supposed to mean is "pay your fair share".  That is fair and right.  What I hear people grumbling about, and what I think they think it means, is that the rich should pay more than the rest of us.  The United States was built on the principles of "work hard and get rewarded".  Not "some of you can work hard and share your wealth with those who choose not to work hard or have a career that doesn't pay as much as you make". Many people seem to have gotten into this mind set that we all should be equal, that there are no winners and losers, that there is nothing exceptional - or acceptable - about those who can rise up and excel.

What I wish everyone would do is learn to live within whatever means they have and be happy for those that can do better.  My disclaimer:  this does not count those folks that have special needs, illnesses, deaths, horrible and sucky situations that come about in life sometimes.  I had a friend that was a single Mom of an extremely special needs son who sucked every last dime she could get.  She did the best she could with what she had, but was always behind.  But, she - as a matter of fact - was happy for those that excelled, tried her best every day to rise above her situation - never quite making it  - but still tried to live that REAL American Dream of making a better life for herself and her son - honestly and with dignity.  Too bad there weren't more people like that in the world.