The Shutdown Debacle

Once again, Congress proves it’s only interested in posturing and expanding its own power rather than working for the good of the country it’s sworn to serve. The current government shutdown is the latest example of just how worthless our elected officials have become and how desperate the need is to clean house and find a new batch of leaders to guide this country back to respectability and success. I haven’t written here in quite some time, but I thought I’d take an opportunity to implore each and every reader to vote out all incumbents in the next few sets of elections. And when I say vote out the incumbent, I’m not saying vote for the other major party. Democrats and Republicans are the same and neither is worthy of your vote. Vote for whatever Independent candidate is on the ballot. The only way any incumbent Congressman should receive another of your votes is if they publicly agree to support the following:

A Congressional term limits amendment

A balanced budget amendment

An end to the Congressional pension system

These three things would go a long way to improving the quality of our Congress by eliminating lifetime politicians, reducing corruption, reducing the need for the constant campaigning of officials, and ensuring that our government’s power to spend money is limited to what it is able to earn.

Anyone that believes Republicans’ main motivation for creating the current stalemate is because of their desire to spend less money is naïve at best and probably edging more into the realm of stupidity. But that portion of their rationale is a good one, even if misguided. Allowing our middle class to suffer and die because they can’t afford the legalized gambling that we call the “insurance industry” is not the way to save money. But saving money is most certainly something we need to do.

So what should we be doing to help balance the budget? I’ve written about several of the ideas below in past blog posts and many are politically difficult, but here are some of my suggestions for real solutions to our budget crisis:

Pull all ground troops from the Middle East and stop all funding to foreign governments including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, and Israel. Trade agreements and providing food, medical, and disaster relief are the tenants of a successful foreign policy. A strong spy program is a necessary component of such a policy. Armed intervention and propping up dictators with cash is how you turn the world against us.

Legalize and tax marijuana. This drug should be treated no differently than alcohol. The war on drugs is a failure and right now we’re just encouraging crime and corruption by leaving the profits for Mexican cartels.

Eliminate prison time for drug possession. While some states have already done this, others continue to burden taxpayers with supporting these minor criminal offenses via expensive prison costs. Treatment, fines, and house arrest are much better options.

Prior to 2009, unemployment benefits were limited to 26 weeks. Since then, they remain at 99 weeks. We need to find some middle ground and we need to do more to encourage work over welfare dependence. I suggest we limit this program to 52 weeks with an additional 36 weeks of paid job programs. During those last 36 weeks, beneficiaries must choose from a variety of government programs to work in, gaining job skills and better preparing themselves for gaining employment before the total 88 weeks of government assistance ends. For those people unwilling to put in the time and effort, their time on the taxpayer dime ends at 52 weeks.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) should add soft drinks and candy to its list of exclusions since they offer no nutritional value whatsoever and contribute to our national obesity problem. While this wouldn’t necessarily reduce the cost of SNAP, it would at least make a dent in the medical costs for its members by reducing problems like diabetes and high blood pressure.

Any adult of child-bearing age receiving Medicaid benefits for more than five years must agree to a Medicaid-paid tubal ligation (female) or a vasectomy (male) in order to continue receiving benefits. If people spend years unable to afford health care, even with the advent of Obamacare, then they should be limited in how many children they can add to the tax burden of others. I know many people will gasp at this one, but if those able to pay their way are having less children due to cost while those unable to pay their way keep having more, you do the math and tell me where this country will end up.

Approve the Keystone Pipeline, improving our ability to profit from oil. To mitigate some environmental concerns, earmark a percentage of the tax profits for environmental programs.

Reduce farm subsidies. Unlike the 1920s and 30s when these subsidies were first introduced, farming is now big business. Taxpayers should not be forced to improve the profitability of these massive companies.

 

There you have it, real solutions instead of political grandstanding. Wouldn’t it be nice if our leaders took a similar approach?