Executive orders - Tom Clancy [471]
Militarily? the civilian analyst asked. He gestured to the guy from DIA.
If we were not in the picture, now. But we are in the picture.
I ASK NOW that you will join me in a moment of silence, Ryan told the audience in Topeka. It was eleven here. That made it noon back home. Next stop Colorado Springs, then Sacramento, then, blessedly, home.
YOU HAVE TO ask yourself what kind of man we have here, Kealty said in front of cameras of his own. Five men and women dead, and he doesn't see the need for a law to control these guns. It's just beyond my comprehension how anyone can be as coldly heartless as that. Well, if he doesn't care about those brave agents, I do. How many Americans will have to die before he sees the need for this? Will he have to actually lose a family member? I'm sorry, I just can't believe that remark, the politician went on for the minicam.
WE CAN ALL remember when people ran for reelection to Congress, and one of the things they told us was, 'Vote for me, because for every dollar that taxes take from this district, a dollar-twenty comes back.' Do you remember those claims? the President asked.
What they didn't say was-well, it was actually a lot of things. Number one, who ever said that you depend on the government for money? We don't vote for Santa Claus, do we? It's the other way around. The government can't exist unless you give it money.
Number two, are they telling you, 'Vote for me, 'cause I really stick it to those rotten people in North Dakota'? Aren't they Americans, too?
Number three, the real reason this happens is that the government deficit means every district gets more in federal payments than it lost in federal taxes-excuse me, I mean direct federal taxes. The ones you can see.
So they were bragging to you that they were spending more money than they had. If your next-door neighbor told you he was kiting checks drafted on your personal bank, you think maybe you might call the police about it?
We all know that the government does take more than it gives back. They've just learned to hide it. The federal budget deficit means that every time you borrow money, it costs more than it should-why? Because the government borrows so much money that it drives up interest rates.
And so, ladies and gentlemen, every house payment, every car payment, every credit-card bill is also a tax. And maybe they give you a tax break on interest payments. Isn't that nice? POTUS asked. Your government gives you a tax break on money you ought not to have to pay in the first place, and then it tells you that you get back more than you pay out. Ryan paused.
Does anybody out there really believe that? Does anybody really believe it when people say that the United States can't afford not to spend more money than it has? Are these the words of Adam Smith or Lucy Ricardo? I have a degree in economics, and I Love Lucy wasn't on the course.
Ladies and gentlemen. I am not a politician, and I am not here to speak on behalf of any of your local candidates for the vacant seats in the People's House. I am here to ask you to think. You, too, have a duty. The government belongs to you. You don't belong to it. When you go out to vote tomorrow, please take the time to think about what the candidates say and what they stand for. Ask yourself, 'Does this make sense?' and then make the best choice you can-and if you don't like any of them, go to the polls anyway, go into the voting booth, and then go home without giving your vote to anyone, but at least show up. You owe that to your country.
THE HEATING AND air-conditioning van pulled up the driveway, and a pair of men got out and walked up to the porch. One of them knocked.
Yes? the lady of the house asked in puzzlement.
FBI, Mrs. Sminton. He showed his credentials. Could we come in, please?
Why? the sixty-two-year-old widow asked.
We'd like you to help us with something, if you might.