Back to Basics

Corruption in government – it starts with the election process.  Special interest groups, labor unions, big pharma, all making campaign contributions supporting the candidate that is going to give them the back room deals they are after.  Why do you think this country is in this much trouble!  They have all basically bought and paid for the candidate of choice, the one who is looking out for their special interests instead of the interests of the American people.  The corruption needs to stop now, and reform needs to start with the funding of political campaigns.

The democrats seem to want to make everything equal – take from the rich and give to the poor.  So let’s start with campaign funding.  Let’s implement this equal for all system for the politicians, right from the start of the campaign process.  It’s time for a radical campaign funding change.

Instead of companies and individuals supporting one candidate over another, campaign contributions would be made to a government fund for each elected position.  There would be one fund for the president, one for each state senator race, one for each representative of the house race.  All campaign monies would go into this fund and NO OTHER funding for campaigns would be permitted.  The money from these funds would then be divided equally to all candidates running for that position, whether it be two or more.  Everyone would have an equal opportunity in campaigning for the desired position.

How the campaign spends this money would be up to them, but they would have to limit spending to only the money received from the fund.  It would be restricted, of course, to legal activities only.  At the end of the campaign a full disclosure of the money would be required within a specific timeframe and an audit would be completed on the final campaign funds.  Any money remaining from the election would be returned to the fund for the next elections.  There could be no “outstanding balance due” at the end of the campaign.

A radical move, but the problems we see in the government today are because every special interest group and every company has their own agenda and they have all made deals with the politicians to get what they want.  They donate and expect to receive benefits in return – and they don’t just mean a thank you letter.  The government is no longer run by the people, for the people.  It is being run by special interests and big business.  This has got to stop!  Start the reform where the corruption begins – the campaign funding.  Equal opportunity for everyone.

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!