78-13-B7

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Free Enterprise

Transcript I'm usually near the head of the line in pointing out the miracle of the market place. I never cease to be amazed at how new products come into being or what new service is provided for our convenience by someone just getting an idea and having a go at it. Right now, however, I have a direct mail advertisement offering a new service, and I'm filled with mixed emotions--admiration for the fellow who thought of it, but anger that the opportunity he seized exists at all. The ad opens with a colorful picture of a hand holding money and a blazing caption which reads--"Are you getting your share of the $5,276 per family--tax free--that the government will give out this year alone?" In smaller print, underneath the picture, it goes on to say--"If the answer is 'no' and you'd like to start getting, right now, your fair share of the $5,276 per year--tax free--perhaps for life-- then simply read the startling information inside!" Well, of course I looked inside where a letter started out--"For example--Dear Friend", which puts things on a cozy basis right away. But then you learn that our government has set aside a "mind boggling" (their words, not mine) "$286 billion to be paid out to people just like you and families just like yours." That's $1,319 per person. The letter goes on to explain that while the money is put aside, it is not necessarily being paid out, because we're not asking for it. Then follow about five pages of black type, alternating with red describing the funds available; giving examples of individuals who are receiving checks and explaining that we who aren't don't realize that the way to get the money is buried in over 100 different government documents where the ordinary person can't find it. In a box under a red headline you are urged to think about "these startling facts": "In one program 31 million of your fellow Americans are getting a U.S. government check every month." Then it tells you there are 19 million more in another program, 11 million in another and five million in a fourth and these are only four of 137 programs. The ad is leading up to a service for a fee. Send in $8.98 for a confidential report which will come in a plain paper wrapper. Read it from cover to cover, the ad says, and see how much money is waiting for yo u without gambling a penny. If you don't think any of that money is for you, return the report and get your $8.98 back. Then there is an ongoing newsletter called "New Government Cash For You". You subscribe to that but somehow, except for the first three issues on a dollar trial basis, they don't tell you the price. Now, I'm not going to name this advertiser or give an address because the whole thing points up the extent to which our government has departed from reality. Obviously, if every family could collect $5,276 then every family would have to pay the government $5,276. The only money government has is the money it takes from us. Right now it is true, 124 million Americans--more than half our population--are receiving all or most of their income from tax dollars. Right now the total unfunded obligations of our government pro-rate out to more than $30,000 for every man, woman, and child in the nation. We all get splattered when the bubble bursts. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening.		Details Batch Number 78-13-B7 Production Date 09/19/1978 Book/Page RPtV-361 Audio Youtube? No
		Added Notes