Don’t get me wrong, Madoff deserves his sentence, but what about our government officials?????

Why did Bernie Madoff go to prison? To make it simple, he talked people into investing with him. Trouble was, he didn't invest their money. As time rolled on, he simply took the money from the new investors to pay off the old investors. Finally, there were too many old investors and not enough money from new investors coming in to keep the payments going. Next thing you know Madoff is one of the most hated men in America and he is off to jail.

Some of you know this. But not enough of you. Madoff did to his investors what the government has been doing to us for over 70 years with Social Security. There is no meaningful difference between the two schemes, except that one was operated by a private individual who is now in jail, and the other is operated by politicians who enjoy perks, privileges and status in spite of their actions.

Do you need a side-by-side comparison here? Well here's a nifty little chart.

BERNIE MADOFF
Takes money from investors with the promise that the money will be invested and made available to them later.

SOCIAL SECURITY
Takes money from wage earners with the promise that the money will be invested in a "Trust Fund" (Lock Box) and made available later.

BERNIE MADOFF
Instead of investing the money Madoff spends it on nice homes in the Hamptons and yachts.

SOCIAL SECURITY
Instead of depositing money in a Trust Fund the politicians transfer it to the General Revenue Fund and use it for general spending and vote buying.

BERNIE MADOFF
When the time comes to pay the investors back Madoff simply uses some of the new funds from newer investors to pay back the older investors.

SOCIAL SECURITY
When benefits for older investors become due the politicians pay them with money taken from younger and newer wage earners to pay the older geezers.

BERNIE MADOFF
When Madoff's scheme is discovered all hell breaks loose. New investors won't give him any more cash.

SOCIAL SECURITY
When Social Security runs out of money the politicians try to force the taxpayers to send them some more; or they cancel S/S to all those who paid into it.

Bernie Madoff is in jail.

Politicians remain in Washington with fat medical and retirement benefits.

This would almost be funny if it weren't true!

I've been saying this for a while. It's time to clean house and bring in new people on both sides of the political spectrum. Put in place term limits of four years, just like for the president. And when you're done serving your country, you go home and go back to what you were doing before. You don't get a hefty retirement or ridiculous medical benefits. It's time to bring in people with more than just a degree. We need leaders with actual knowledge of running a business.