Washington, DC, has long been the stage for ghoulish fiscal horror, but a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) shows just how dire the unchecked spending situation has become. The report, titled “Expired and Expiring Authorizations of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2024,” reveals a staggering $516 billion in appropriations tied to expired authorizations – programs legally dead but still consuming resources and dragging taxpayers along as unwilling victims.
Nearly two-thirds of this $516 billion – $320 billion, to be precise – funds programs whose authorizations expired more than a decade ago. According to the CBO, 49% of the acts tied to this funding have been expired for over ten years. These aren’t harmless oversights. As investigative journalist Jeremy Portnoy put it, they’re fiscal zombies – rotting relics of bad governance.
Where Do the Zombies Feast?
The real horror isn’t just the expired authorizations; it’s what happens to the money. Once appropriated, these funds vanish into the shadowy executive branch labyrinth, where often they’re repurposed – Washington’s favorite euphemism, meaning the money is redirected without oversight.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, were these funds quietly returned to the Treasury or did they go to padding bureaucratic budgets, bloated climate initiatives, or ideological experiments disguised as “equity” programs? It’s as if zombies were handed a blank check and invited to snack freely on taxpayer dollars, while Congress refused to ask what’s on the menu.
Let’s not let Congress off the hook, either. The undead appropriations shuffle along because lawmakers lack the courage to kill them. Sunsetting expired authorizations would require Congress to do something radical: read bills, conduct audits, and make tough decisions. But in Washington, punting the problem down the road is always easier than risking political fallout by cutting even the most absurd programs. […]
— Read More: www.libertynation.com
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.