Improvements for all Time

How, you might be wondering, would our government behave if we returned to our founding principles and a strict adherence to the Constitution. To reiterate, our original principles include small, limited transparent accountable republican government with equal application of the law to all citizens and corporate entities. Here are specific examples of what that type of governance would look like, and how it differs from the corruption we are subjected to today.

1. No bailouts. To anyone or any company at any time (except possibly in time of war to keep a crucial manufacturer in operation temporarily). It is an abuse of power and a violation of equal protection for the government to choose economic winners and losers. As in intervening on behalf of Bear Stearns but not Lehman Bros. In fact, the potential for catastrophic failures like those occurring in the real estate and credit markets would likely be lower if government did nothing to "ease the pain". Under our limited government approach Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would never have existed as quasi-governmental groups, much less have had any implicit federal backing. Without those two creating artificial demand for subprime mortgages, the RE bubble would not have been as large as it was and the ripple effect not so damaging.
2. Flat rate income tax. The vast majority of people would pay one, and only one, rate. Probably something between 10% and 20%. Those at the bottom of the income brackets, earning under maybe $25,000 per year would pay no income tax. Ideally, everyone would pay some tax, if we're to have an income tax at all, but this approach reduces the need for supplemental programs or credits for the poor that could be abused by both recipients and government officials. This scheme would eliminate all deductions, credits, and other tricks that politicians can use to grant favors to special interests and friends. Also, it ensures that nearly all citizens have an economic interest in voting and active civic participation.
3. No czars. The word, or the position, is not found in the Constitution and there is no accountability of them to Congress or the voters. Therefore, the czars and their offices, staff, and budgets are gone. And let's not be slick by labeling them "special advisors" or any similar.
   
4. The number of cabinet positions and their corresponding departments would be reduced, at least by half. Those that would remain include State, Justice, Defense, Treasury, and something that would address natural resources and infrastructure. Key agencies that would stay include FDA, CDC, Coast Guard (under Defense), and possibly FCC.
5. Balanced budgets. Congress could not pass deficit budgets unless during times of declared war.
6. No career politicians. Term limits are probably the only feasible route to accomplish this, although it is not without its own faults. In general, no person could hold elected office or appointed position for more than 8-12 years before having to return to private life for at least 2 or possibly 4 years. Also, Congress would meet only 5-6 months of the year in total. It was never expected or intended that legislators and top officials would be anything other than private citizens with real professions that paid their bills. Another solution beside term limits is to ban A/C from all federal buildings, with the exception of military posts. Congress would flee from Washington as soon as Spring arrived like rats from a sinking ship.
7. Social Security funds (or other non-discretionary entitlements) could not be used for anything but Social Security. Ideally, we would admit that this is the largest Ponzi scheme in the history of world and radically reform it. Make it into something like a mandatory savings/retirement account. Social Security is very tricky, both financially and political, so I won't expound on it here.
   

Go let this sink in for a while. I'll have a few more wacky radical ideas for you soon.

We Own That Dome

While we are on the subject of criticizing government, let me share some pictures from the 9/12 Taxpayer Protest March in DC.



I've never seen so many Don't Tread on Me or Come and Take It flags in one place before. And I've never felt so safe in Washington before either.

Message to Congress, the President, and the media: "Can you hear us now?!"

I encourage all of you to go right now to Meetup.com and search for your local Tea Party or 9/12 group. It's high time to restore respect for the Constitution, fiscal responsibility and restraint, transparency, accountability, and integrity to all levels and branches of our government.

Sons of Columbia

A favorite compendium of mine is the Book of American Values and Virtues: Our Tradition of Freedom, Liberty & Tolerance. I turn to it from time to time when I need words of inspiration and a reminder of all that we as a nation have overcome. The other night, after digesting the Declaration of Independence - which you all should re-read occasionally, especially when you hear any news out of Washington - I came to a poem that resides on the opposite page. I found it remarkable in its simplicity and clarity of vision, not to mention the message conveyed. The words had an effect on my and I would like to share them with you now.

Ye sons of Columbia, who bravely have fought
For those rights which unstain'd from your sires you descended,
May you long taste the blessing your valor has brought,
And your sons reap the soil which your fathers defended.
'Mid the reign of mild peace,
May your nation increase,
With the Glory of Rome and the Wisdom of Greece;
And ne'er may the sons of Columbia be slaves,
While the earth bears a plant or the sea rolls its waves.

Let Fame to the world sound America's voice;
No intrigue can her sons from the government sever;
Her pride in her Adams-his laws are her choice,
And shall flourish till Liberty slumber forever!
Then unite heart and hand,
Like Leonidas' band,
And swear to the God of the ocean and land
that ne'er shall the sons of Columbia be slaves,
While the earth bears a plant or the sea rolls its waves.

~ Robert Treat Paine

Ne'er shall the sons of Columbia be slaves.



Update: This is only part of the poem, the first and last stanzas. The entire piece, along with a short bio of the author, can be found here.

The Framework

Spring is here and all the plant pods are open. That means my sinuses are closed. Therefore, because I'm feeling a bit loopy, my brain being starved for oxygen, thus putting me on par with your typical elected official, I decided it would be a grand time to lay out what I believe are the critical, necessary characteristics of any good government. This is an easy starter into the bedrock values that underpin my suggestions for the future of the nation.

First, any government should be effective. While it should be obvious that we as a people would want any organization formed for our benefit to be able to efficiently and functionally accomplish its chartered mission, recent history in particular has shown that this is not obvious (see any federal department/bureau/agency, excluding the military).

Second, any government must be simple. By this I mean easily accessible to the average person. Laws, statutes, and regulations should be written as plainly as possible so that every literate individual can be engaged with his or her government and understand what their representatives and agents are doing. A great example would be the federal tax code. Presently, the tax code is 80,000+ pages long. Armies of lawyers and accountants are currently employed to both write and decipher it, which inevitably leads to numerous different interpretations and loopholes. (Also leads to tax "oversights" by supposedly intelligent and informed people like House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel and Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner. Those would be the guys responsible for respectively writing and overseeing enforcement of the tax code. Ooops!) A simple tax code would be 1 or 2 pages, consisting of such "complex" language as "multiple your income by 0.15. That is your tax responsibility."

Third, good government must be transparent. Transparency dictates that everything the government does, aside from what is related to national security, is open to inspection by the public. It also requires a simple and effective (see above) process for accessing government records, publications, and proceedings. Again, transparency enables the average citizen to remain engaged and knowledgeable about what the government is doing. It can also work to keep politicians and bureaucrats honest (I know, oxymoron.) because everything they do is open to the light of day. Except for the Pentagon, every government office should be a metaphorical clear glass building.

Fourth, good government should be small and limited in powers and scope. This could be two criteria, but I'll treat them as one since they are so closely related. If you consider it for a moment, you will see that small and limited are absolutely necessary qualities if government is to be effective, simple, and transparent. Really, it's intuitive - the larger and more complex something becomes, the less efficient, simple, and easily understood that thing becomes. Does anyone who has every been on the phone with tech support think Windows is simple and effective? Furthermore, I firmly and absolutely believe that you know best for your own life and have the right to the opportunity and power to make those decisions for yourself. Put another way, the closer to you the power is, the more likely that you will achieve the outcome you want. Conversely, the further away from you the power resides, the less likely that decisions will be made that best represent your wants and needs. In practice, your local and state governments should retains as much power as possible while the federal government looks after several critical functions. But at all levels of government, power needs to be clearly deliniated and as as limited as possible. Small and limited government keeps people who don't know you, or answer to you, from making important decisions for you. It also contrainsts ambition, corruption, and greed; and, when government is also simple and transparent, you will readily perceive when those in power are misusing their position. Then you can take action against the transgressors.

Now, some would argue that you cannot have an effective government if it is simple and small. I reject these claims. Such arguments presume that the government knows better than individual citizens and should thus have a wider, deeper role in the affairs of the country. They also assume that the government can do many things better. Beyond several key functions, such as national defense and a justice system, this is laughable and demonstrably false. Think of your own life. Don't you achieve more and get more done when tasks are well defined and you have a simple method to do it? Of course you do! That applies to any organization, including government. The less they have to do, and better defined those tasks are, the more effectively, quickly, and inexpensively can they do it. And, the better you can judge success or misuse of power.

Hopefully, it is clear to you, dear reader, that these 4 characteristics of good government were all instituted at the time of the founding and ratification of the Constitution. These are not radical changes for our nation; quite the opposite. They all exist to one degree or another still. Rather they are a framework for evaluating how well our government is representing us and how healthy our republic is. Unfortunately, our national problems today can be traced to a steady creep away from effective, simple, transparent, and small and limited government. Especially at the federal level. We The People must demand from our government a steady return to strict adherence to these qualities.

You Need to See This

This is why we need to return to our foundational principles, truly take responsibility for our own lives, and hold our elected representatives accountable. We simply cannot afford not to. More than anyone else, this is a problem for the youngest generations. Hey kids, you're right... your parents are out of touch with reality.

(Of course, so are you.)

Click here to find out how We The People are taking a stand for our future.

Where to Start

When I took a look back at my posts on the government, politics, etc., I found that my tone was a bit... well... angry. Now, I suppose I am angry at Washington. But I am not an angry person generally and do not like being angry, and anger only takes a person (or a group) so far. Moreover, I want this blog to reflect my more lighthearted side. How, or why did I become angry at our government to begin with? Some would say "unfairness". It's unfair that we responsible individuals should be taxed extra to pay for the extravagances of the irresponsible among us. It's unfair that no one in Washington will accept responsibility for any of the structural problems in the economy. And so on. Yet what is unfairness?

At this point, let me digress for a moment. A common retort to the criticism leveled at Congress and the Obama Administration on their economic policies is basically, "Well, what's your plan then?" Good question. If the plan is not to spend trillions upon trillions of taxpayer dollars (borrowed without asking from future generations) on projects of questionable long-term value, then what should our national policy on the economy, or America in general, be? Another question being bandied about is, "How did we get into this mess?" Also legitimate to ask. In many ways the debate over what we do now as a country reminds me of all those movies about sports teams that start as the worst duds ever but end up as the champs. What always happens in these movies, whether it's the Mighty Ducks or Miracle or Major League? The coach and the team go back to the fundamentals of the game and practice those until they are too tired to stand and so bruised they look like a rotten piece of fruit. Only then does the team move ahead to the more complex and challenging plays. We love these types of stories for a variety of reasons, but in large part because they present the truth: in all things, you need to crawl before you can walk and you need to individually know your position before you can function effectively as a team.

In short, that is what I believe we as a nation need to do. Return to the fundamentals.

Now, back to my anger and the notion of fair/unfair. Essentially, we think of something as unfair if we perceive it to violate one or more of our principles or values. Principles and values are our fundamentals, just like being able to skate well or throw and catch a baseball are foundational in sports. So, I'm pissed because Congress, Obama, the Fed, almost all the way down to Smokey Bear have acted in ways that I think violate basic principles of American society and government. I cannot underscore this enough - I truly think that our Republic is in grave danger; that the America that is the beacon of hope and liberty for the world might just fade away. Therefore, rather than be angry and simply rant, I will propose solutions based upon the principles and values that built this country and that I believe we can (almost) all agree upon. Returning to our fundamentals means, first, knowing what they are, and so that is where I will begin. I think that once we have our principles and values out in clear view, the answers to our national problems and the mistakes that have led to them, as well as the courses of action we should not take, will all become much more evident. And, regarding the actions we should take, even preferable and easier to implement. You'll notice that the title of this post is not a question - it is a statment. We know where to start. Please join me again soon and we'll start together.

Robbin' Hoods

It is a common misconception that Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor. In point of fact, Robin Hood retrieved from the corrupt and greed Sheriff of Nottingham what the latter had illegitimately expropriated from the hard-working common folk and returned the ill gotten wealth to same. In other words, Robin Hood took back from the tyrannical state what that government had improperly and immorally taken from the people. The citizenry was only poor because the state seized what wealth they had.

With this historical tidbit in mind, let me direct you to the latest snarlings of Congress and others in various levels of government. Some are "upset" about the fact that AIG, the insurance giant-turned ward of the feds, has paid $165 million in bonuses. Much of the money went to the financial unit behind the disastrous credit default swaps. While this might seem horribly unfair on the surface, the deeper truth is that AIG was contractually obligated to pay this money out, and did so with the full knowledge and at least tacit approval of the all the bigwigs overseeing TARP and the bailouts. That would mainly be Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner (who failed to pay income taxes for several years). So now the majority party in Congress, the loonies who has passed the bailout legislation, are hopping mad and want that money back. Listen to Sen. Schumer...



First, this is so disingenuous because Congress had the opportunity to limit how bailout money could be spend, but they didn't. In fact, Sen. Chris Dodd, head of the Banking Committee, specifically added an amendment that did away with limits on bonuses and compensation. Further, Congress and the Administration used AIG to, effectively, launder money. Federal tax dollars went to AIG, which was then directed to send that money to hedge funds, investment banks, and foreign financial groups who otherwise wouldn't have gotten TARP money.

Second, we can plainly see that those in power in Washington obviously believe that what the government giveth, the government can taketh away, and will do so by use of coercive force. Yeah, I really want these people in charge of my healthcare, business, energy sources, and everything else involved with my daily life. Today it's executives at AIG, tomorrow it could be "stimulus" dollars used for projects that Congress or Obama doesn't like. Maybe then they will decide that you didn't spend your own income properly or that your profession is making too much money. Now I direct you back to the story of Robin Hood and ask you to consider just whose money and wealth we're talking about here, and just who the greedy and morally-bankrupt players are. I think you'll see who the real 'hoods are and who's really being robbed.

Spending Our Way to Ruin

Okay, I've had enough. I withheld posting on politics during the election cycle, but now the fools and tools in Congress and our Chief Executive of Hope and Change are about to commit highway robbery of unprecedented proportions. First the House passes a bill that is estimated to cost the American taxpayers $820 Billion. I might point out that only Democrats voted for this, with 11 D's crossing over to vote 'nay'. Now the Senate - at least the Dems and a couple spend-happy Republicans - seems poised to agree to about $800 Billion.

Let's be clear here. This is not "economic stimulus". It is government spending, pure and simple. Obama said so. (Sorry about the Canadian thing, but this was the best version I could find quickly.) What is the difference you ask. Well, stimulus implies that you get some sort of positive ripple effect through the economy or boost in total value (GDP). Supposedly, we will see more jobs, better incomes, and such. This spending will not achieve this goal because it is no different than the typical congressional appropriation. These bills just buy stuff for government - federal, state, and local. There is no real investment of the sort that individuals and businesses make to create added value. Think of it this way. The feds are going to pay a lot of people to build federal offices, install computers, pave roads, etc. So beyond the paychecks of these select, lucky people there will be no value added to the national economy. At the same time, a massive amount of money will be taken out of private hands, which means that when creative and innovative folks come along saying, "Hey, I have a great idea for a better mousetrap", there will be no money for them to do it. So the jobs that would have otherwise been created at the new mousetrap factory, jobs that would last more than the time it takes to install a faucet in a national park outhouse, will never materialize. Here's an even simplier analogy: Could you ever afford to buy the things you really want or repair your car or house, or save for retirement, if you were constantly giving your hard-earned money to your wacky neighbor who only used your cash to add more garden gnomes and floodlights to his yard?

The other important fact is that Congress has to borrow or print all this money, or both. None of those are good options for our nation. First borrowing. We all agree that the root of our economic problems is the reck-loose borrowing and spending of consumers and businesses. Now we are being asked, in a most insulting way, to believe that the way out of our debt is to take on more debt for things we don't really need. Second, printing cash. Inflation. INFLATION. INFLATION! Click here if you don't know why inflation is a bad, bad, bad thing for America.

Speaking of debt... Think you are a fiscally responsible person, with a handle on credit card and consumer debt? Think debt isn't a problem in your life. Oh, aren't you a cute little deluded American. The recently-retired Comptroller of the Currency, the guy who is basically the head bookkeeper for the US, estimates that each American (not just taxpayer, each American) owes $184,000 on the national debt. And that figure keeps rising. Sooner or later, that bill will come due in the form of much higher taxes on everyone.

Back to this spending spree package. What's in it? Good question. The bill from the House is almost 200 pages long and sheds little light on what we taxpayers are actually spending money on. However, here are a few choice porkers:

• $2.825 Billion for broadband internet for rural communities.
• $650 Million for coupons for analog-to-digital television converters
• $140 Million for "climate modeling" (I thought the science was settled on that one?)
• $7.7 Billion for the Federal Buildings Fund
• $150 Million for the Smithsonian
• $50 Million for the National Endowment of the Arts

It just goes on and on, the wasteful, special interest-payback, vote-buying spending. In many cases, such as spending for the Dept. of Education, the appropriation in this emergency "stimulus" bill is twice the normal annual budget amount! The extra shame is that all this pork will inevitably be added to the federal baseline, meaning that it will be used to calculate next year's budgets. So, in a few strokes of the pen, government will have ballooned in size, power, and thirst for our money, all under the disguise of helping the little guy and gal.

All is not lost - yet. The Senate has not voted and the president hasn't signed anything into law. Take this opportunity to call, fax, email and generally pester your elected representatives into stopping this raid on our wallets and liberty. Because that's what this is all about - making everyone a recipient of government welfare. And that's just another way of saying losing your freedom. WE THE PEOPLE deserve much better. We deserve to be respected and listened to by our government. But only if we speak up. Go now and give them your opinion.

Guns are still legal

The Second Amendment says, "I ain't goin' out like that."


Gee, I never knew the Constitution was a House of Pain fan.

I would encourage every American to read the D.C. v. Heller decision. The majority opinion doesn't contain a lot of legalese and is, for the most part, straightforward. The dissenting opinions are a little more tedious to review. The footnotes in both are worthwhile, as well.

If you're lazy, and I presume you are, here are the highlights:

• The 2nd Amendment codifies an individual right that pre-dates the Constitution and was enshrined in English law as early as the mid 17th century.
• The amendment does not create this right, rather it is a recognition of a right that exists for all free people.
  
• Storage and use of a commonly available firearm, such as a handgun, for the defense of self or property, especially within the home or place of business, is protected by the 2nd Amendment. This means that the D.C. rules dictating that firearms be rendered inoperable are unconstitutional.
  
• The militia is the body of the people fit to fight. It is not the creation of state or federal government, as is the US Army (the raising of which is a Congressional power enumerated in Article I), but a ever-present subset of the population that may be called upon at any time.
  
• The Founders believed that the best protection from abuse by a powerful government, internal rebellion, or foreign invasion is a general population that keeps arms in the home and knows how to use them.
• Congress and the state assemblies have some leeway to regulate firearms, analogous to legislation criminalizing yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. For example, sawed-offed shotguns can be prohibited per the 1939 Miller decision because they have no common use in the military/militia.
  

A Day to Honor the Brave

To all those who have served in time of peace or time of war...

Thank you for your sacrifice.

One Nation, with a Purpose, revisited

It looks like the White House has found and read my blog. Must have been the NSA with all their "illegal" techno-powers.

Anyway, I have a question for the leaders of the Democrats. First you say that the campaign in Iraq was a distraction from fighting al Qaeda in Afghanistan and the reason why Bin Laden is still alive and on the loose. Then you say that Bush needs to bring the troops in Iraq home. So, why aren't you saying that we need to send the troops to Afghanistan to find Bin Laden? I seem to recall John Murtha saying something about re-deploying to Okinawa, but that ain't the same thing.

Also, is it just me, or are the Dems missing an opportunity here. They could support Petraeus, declare (partial) victory in the Surge, and call for a re-deployment to hunt Bin Laden. Such a plan would deflect some, if not a lot of the criticism that they just want to cut-and-run and are invested in American defeat on the field of battle. Their current position really pits them against American victory in Iraq and undermines their assertions that they support the troops.

For the record, I don't endorse the strategy above. I think we have to stay committed to the fledgling democracy in Iraq and continue to fend off the ambitions of the regime in Iran. Petraeus said what many have known or suspected for a while, the fighting in Iraq is a proxy war with Iran. It is not a civil war.

Sorry to be all political again, folks, but sometimes you have to confront reality. I promise to post some more whimsical musings soon.

One Nation, with a Purpose

Everyone knows what today is. I didn't intend for my first real post to be on 9/11, but in a way that is appropriate - I will have to save the stuff that's all about me for a later time and devote my attention now to the honorable fallen of this day six years ago and since.

I had a conversation today with a Korean national who has been living in the US for the past 6 or 7 years. He noted that in South Korea, home to approximately 45 million, national events hold the attention of everyone for a long time. The place just isn't that big so important events are more personal to people there. He contrasted this to his observations of Americans, the 300 million or so of us, that many have apparently lost all interest in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I had to agree that, lamentably, many (hopefully not a majority) don't seem to follow the military and political developments from our anti-terror campaigns with much interest or sense of personal involvement. The conversation ended there, but I was left thinking about his observations in the larger context of September 11th.

Americans are a free people and it is their prerogative to ignore what happens in the world around them, although this is not, in this humble bloggers opinion, a health prescription for republican (small "r") government and society. In fact, in times of national crisis and war, everyone should feel that they have a personal stake in it because our freedoms and polity are based on the concept that what affects one citizen is reflected in and naturally transferable to all citizens; i.e., we all have the same rights and to take away my rights is precedent for taking away yours, or certain benefits are available to me and you regardless of race, sex, religion, etc. That's essentially what I mean. I suspect that reasons vary for not paying attention to the war, but general prosperity and calm at home are probably the most prevalent. By and large, American do not feel the sting of lost blood and treasure; no significant tax increases to pay; no rationing; no large scale mobilization a la WWII. And as a percentage of the total population, the military is a small slice. I bet some Americans do not even personally know anybody in the service. Compare this the to endless supplies of entertainment distractions and work/family obligations and it's easier to understand the lack of personal involvement and focus.

Here's the bottom line. We need a national mission, a goal. Something around which we can rally and direct our energies toward. Preventing the next 9/11 is great for the federal government - that is their job. But John and Jane Q. Citizen need something more definitive and motivating. I think we can all agree that the Administration has failed to coherently and consistently articulate a national goal. This failure has left a space for partisan bickering, conspiracy theories, and general apathy. It has also allowed for the continuation of paralysis in many institutions. Unfortunately, one lesson that we as a nation have apparently not learned from that tragic day in 2001 is the dangers and malignancy of hyper-litigation as an acceptable status quo. Because of our tacit acceptance of endless lawsuits and court proceedings for so long and a lack of a national mission, Ground Zero remains a hole and captured non-state combatants enjoy privileges not extended to uniformed personnel, among other staggering failures of rebuilding and security improvements. The squeaky wheel has to once again become the American people united with a grand mission so that the next generation might know peace and be ignorant of fear.

I don't mean to preach (although there are a million more points I could offer) so I will end with this suggestion. Donate to charities and good works. Operation A/C and Operation Helmet are excellent groups who are sending care packages and armor to our troops overseas. Of course there is always the Red Cross and the funds for the relatives of 9/11 victims. The generosity and economic might of the United States is unrivaled. It's high time that we have a specific and meaningful purpose towards which to direct our industriousness and strength of character.

May Providence guide us in our noble endeavors and protect us from evil and indifference. May it be with our defenders under arms and bless our fallen.