Budget Deficit Peace-Of-Mind

[Martin Hash]

There is huge deficit that nobody seems to be counting even though it is the most important deficit of all – the peace-of-mind deficit that is cured by a balanced budget. How much angst does our national debt cause? How many people are kept up at night? How many children fret? How much anger is the result of the constant daily harp, harp, harping of headlines, predictions, and worry? Supposedly, half of all adults have problems with depression – how much of that is due to government borrowing?

My personal opinion is that the value people would assign to balanced budget peace-of-mind, multiplied by the number of people it affects, is so HUGE that it becomes more important than any financial claims from Special Interest groups that cause the deficits. If most people had a chance to cut whatever is necessary to achieve a balanced budget - without being guilted or fearmongered - they would.

There are two other components for consideration:
(1) Most people are NOT Marxists. They do NOT think that “The Rich” should be the scapegoats. Most people have risen about their envy and self-righteousness.
(2) Most people are affected by guilt ingrained from church values or historical precedent, which makes them vulnerable to the cacophony of screaming demands from Special Interests who exploit that guilt. Guilt and fear also contribute to depression. Guilt and fear are also a component in the peace-of-mind equation. People who use guilt and fear to achieve their own selfish interests should be sanctioned against.

Peace-of-mind costs MUST also be included in budget calculations.