Back to Basics

It is quite obvious we have two completely different views on the role of government, as well as health care, in the United States.  We have those on the far left that believe everything belongs to them and everyone should work for the government so they can all receive their handouts.  We have those on the right that believe the government should be limited in power and that those who work should be able to keep what they earn.  Those that earn have paid taxes so those that want to receive have been able to do so.  But the balance is slipping and those who earn can no longer afford to pay for those who don’t.  Thus the battle.  Unfortunately, the left is pulling the race card at every opportunity, even when it doesn’t exist.  You’d think we were back in the 1960’s!  I’ve read comments that include all the racial innuendos, foul language and demands that the right get out of the country.  If the right left where would you get your handouts?

So I put forth a totally radical option to be considered.  Create a uniform income tax for everyone (yes, I know the left is screaming already that this isn’t fair – get over it).  Say this tax, as an example, is 25% no matter what your income.  This money is put into the actual government operations given in the powers of the constitution.  Those that have paid into the Social Security system and Medicare will also continue receiving benefits from those programs as it was long ago promised to them.  They’ve paid their dues, they deserve their benefits.  As for the other “social” programs, each individual may opt in or out of the program by a simple check of a box on their tax returns and W-4 filing status.  If you choose to opt in to the social programs, then you will pay an additional 25% of your income to taxes to help pay for these programs.  Monies collected from the additional tax must be put into a fund and held specifically to cover the costs of these programs.  If you choose to opt out of the social programs then you will not pay any additional tax to cover these programs but you will also not be eligible to participate in any of these programs.  No money in, no money out.

These social programs would have to be self-funded.  Only monies collected from the additional taxes can be used, no other federal monies could be diverted to cover these programs.  If the programs ran out of funds then they would be out of funds until the next tax season.  People could also voluntarily donate to these social programs if they choose, whether they wanted to participate or not.

Those on the left get all the social programs they want.  They can determine how many and what types of social programs they want and their elected officials can determine the budgets and monies available based on the taxes collected for these programs.  Those on the right get what they want – limited government into their daily lives.  If you want the social programs then put your money where your mouth is!  Start paying into the programs you want to collect from.  Your free ride is over!

March on Washington DC – September 12, 2009

March on Washington DC

The numbers vary from tens of thousands to 2 million people that turned out for the March on Washington DC protesting the direction our government is taking.  This doesn’t include the number of people who may not have been able to get there because the city was in gridlock.  Whatever the final numbers, it is apparent that the people have awakened and are speaking up.  ARE YOU LISTENING NOW?

I was not able to attend the event, but spent the day watching from the video feed from Foxnews.  It was quite an impressive crowd of all ages, carrying American flags and hand-made protest signs, covering the grounds from the Capitol to the Washington Monument.

Crowds gather from the Capitol to the Washington Monument

These are grass-root Americans who until now have remained the silent majority, raising children, working, going on about their daily lives until they became so angry at a government no longer listening to their soft-spoken voice that they finally had to speak up and start yelling.  That they did as they joined the march to the Capitol, organized by the FreedomWorks Foundation.  They wanted to be heard as the crowd shouted “can you hear us now!”

Speakers at the event included Rep. Tom Price (GA), Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN), Rep. Mike Pence (IN), Sen. Jim DeMint (SC), Dick Armey – FreedomWorks, (former U.S. House Majority Leader).  The universal theme was too much government.  It’s not only the government takeover of the health care system, it’s also about Cap and Trade, government bailouts, TARP, and most important the failure of the government to listen to the people.

One of the main themes was this country has been built on dedication and hard work.  There were no government bailouts, no government handouts, no government health care.  The founding fathers created this country with limited government, because they knew that was the only way the country could succeed.  People still believe in these basic values and are demanding the government return to the foundation it was built upon – to return to the US Constitution.  They have a love for this country, the freedom it has provided and they want to make sure those freedoms are restored and preserved.

This isn’t a racial battle, yet the democrat’s and president pull the racist card at every opportunity.  This is a battle of the people wanting to save the United States from those who are trying to destroy it from within the ranks of the government itself.  If they won’t start listening now, then these same people are planning on returning next year to make their voices even louder.  “Can you hear us now?”

Strangely enough, President Obama claims he didn’t know there was going to be a march on Washington today, yet he had his own health care event in Minnesota.  Can we say “YOU LIE!”

Will the President and Congress start listening?  Only time will tell.  The people are awake and are ready for battle.  They want our country back!  Are you listening – can you hear us now?

Dear Members of Congress:

I wonder how you can sleep at night knowing how you are destroying the United States of America. As an elected official it is entrusted to you to uphold the constitution, listen to your constituents, and then vote on legislation that is for the people, not some government takeover. It is your job to limit spending and not to act like some child running loose in a candy store. It is your job to ensure the safety of this country and not create an open invitation with revolving doors. Do you not remember 9/11? How do you go home at night and think you’ve done a good job at preserving America?

Your spending is out of control! It reminds me of the joke I’m sure many have seen about the person who asks “How can I be out of money, I still have checks left in my checkbook?” You act like you have an unlimited number of checks and magically the money is there to cover those checks. Whose money are you spending? Wouldn’t it be nice if we all had unlimited credit. We could all be out spending, boosting the economy – until the bills came in. Then CRASH – reality hits and you can’t pay those bills. The banking industry is in trouble, the housing industry crashes, and the auto industry goes bankrupt. To attempt to boost the economy, you give us Monopoly money so we can go out again and buy a car at the government’s expense or possibly purchase a home. The bills are coming in and who’s going to pay for them?

Then you go out trying to sell healthcare reform, taunting that if this doesn’t pass the entire economy is going to collapse. When did not insuring 15% of the people suddenly turn into a crisis that is going to make our economy collapse? The insurance companies, drug companies, doctors and hospitals are all still in business despite rising costs, and they are still treating patients. If 85% of the people are happy with their health coverage and you think that presents a crisis then you better start looking at your own numbers, because by those standards you are all failures, and we should be reforming you (just wait until election time). To top if off, some of you think the report by one of your own kind is downright wrong and that this new healthcare “reform” will not cost us more than the country can handle. Did any of you learn basic math, never mind basic economics?

On top of all this you have the audacity to suggest immigration reform, which equates to open the borders. Do you not realize there are laws in place to limit immigration? How on one hand can you insist that certain groups of people obey the immigration laws and jump through all the hoops, while other groups that sneaks across the border illegally should be handed citizenship on a silver platter. The message you send is: Break the law – get faster and better results. To put the icing on this cake, the head of Homeland Security (better named Homeland Insecurity), who is from one of the states experiencing one of highest rates of illegal immigration in the country, attacks one of the most successful opponents of illegal immigration and doing his job. Because he is doing his job you want to stop him! The floodwaters are rapidly rising and you want to take down the dam.

When was the last time you were really in the REAL world? I can’t believe most of you don’t have families that at some time in this food chain won’t be affected by these laws and spending habits you’ve developed. Your children, grandchildren and future generations of yours will have to live in the world you are creating. Is this the world you want to leave to them?  Answer one question:  If you were put back into the real world of the public without any governmental benefits for serving in Congress, would you want the legislation you are passing to be forced on your life?  (If you can answer yes, then put Congress on the same medical plan.  If you have to answer no, then don’t pass HR3200.)

I know I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing I robbed my children of the freedoms I cherish. That I sold out to some other power. But then that would take having a conscience, compassion and a love for this country. When did you lose it, if you even had it? You call us Nazis, right-wing activists, brown-coats, the mob…but we are just concerned American citizens, voicing our constitutional right to speak out against those of you who we feel have sold out.

(P.S. There are some members of Congress who really do care about this country and are fighting the best the can, and to them I apologize for writing this in such general terms. I have recently developed a newfound respect for those Congressmen who have to tolerate the stupidity on a daily basis. Truly, I don’t know how you do it.)