Posted on 09/18/2009 12:13:19 PM PDT by Y2Krap
HOW TEXAS CAN SAVE AMERICA FROM WASHINGTON Written by Governor Rick Perry Thursday, 17 September 2009
As the federal government continuously churns out ideas and policies that drive our nation deeper and deeper in debt, citizens and taxpayers are right to be worried.
From federal "stimulus" bills that force state governments to change laws, raise taxes and increase spending, to cap and trade proposals that will run our energy industry into the ground, to emerging plans for an unprecedented and unsustainable expansion of government health care, it is clear that the swollen river of our federal government has overflowed its banks.
Washington is increasingly out of step with folks out here in flyover country who do not share the inside-the-Beltway belief that a benevolent, all-knowing government can expand and encroach without limit, because individual Americans simply cannot be trusted to make right choices.
This mindset has driven the explosive growth of the size, spending and intrusiveness of the federal government. Our founding fathers would be appalled at the way their successors are ignoring individual liberties, contemplating more tax increases, and interfering further into private enterprise.
Washington bureaucrats must be reminded that America is not some windowless laboratory where they can tinker with theories with no regard to consequences. Real harm is resulting from policies that are disastrous for America's future, bankrupting our country, and mortgaging our children's future.
Fear of this emerging future and frustration with an administration run amok are fueling the resurgent interest in the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. "We the people" are standing up and demanding an audience.
It drives the talking heads crazy, but I'm proud of those level-headed Americans who are pushing back through the growing TEA Party movement.
This groundswell of classic American activism is giving citizens a conduit for their beliefs and sending a clear message they will not stand idly by as Washington spends their tax dollars and limits their freedoms with increasing arrogance. I predict that our increasingly frustrated national electorate will look to the states for answers, starting with Texas.
The success of the Lone Star State has proven that the journey to a desirable future begins with fostering individual liberty and encouraging personal responsibility while celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit. Our relative economic strength is proof that people thrive when given the opportunity to strive with minimal government interference.
In 2003, our Legislature's first order of business was tackling a $10 billion deficit. Fortunately, conservative leadership principles prevailed and we cut spending to right our listing ship of state.
Six years later, Texas has a balanced budget with money set aside to cover contingencies and leads the nation in exports, Fortune 500 companies and economic vitality. At last check, our unemployment rate was nearly two points below the national average.
Because Texas leaders not only cut spending but also pushed through tort reform and began sensible investments in job creation, our state is in much better shape than just about any other. Our reformed legal system has not only protected employers from frivolous lawsuits, it has also increased access to healthcare for our citizens while lowering their overall costs.
This continued application of proven, conservative fiscal principles and unapologetic embrace of individual liberty has created a magnetic pull on business owners and citizens looking for a fresh start. We haven't been adding roughly one thousand people to our population every day solely because of our great live music and barbeque.
That certainly doesn't hurt, but folks are more attracted to a climate where people know they can not only risk their capital with a chance for a good return, they can also enjoy a quality of life that is unreachable in most other states. People come to Texas for the modern version of the classic American dream.
Our success notwithstanding, you won't catch Texas resting on its laurels or abandoning its principles. During our recent legislative session, we turned a few heads when we refused federal unemployment funds that would have mandated increased taxes over the long term and more government expansion.
We also cut taxes for 40,000 small businesses, knocked out legislation that would have opened the door to frivolous lawsuits, and passed bills that will improve education by bolstering our universities and increasing accountability in our public schools.
I'm pleased that a number of other states are taking a similar tack by drawing clear lines and standing on proven conservative principles. Fortunately for their citizens, leaders like Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Haley Barbour of Mississippi are also standing tall in the face of a metastatic federal bureaucracy. We can only hope that more states will follow suit and pursue reforms that actually work.
Barring the unforeseen and unlikely event that the powers-that-be in Washington wake up and change their approach, people will continue to press for limited government, endure in their belief in the power of the individual, and cast their lot with the protections of the Tenth Amendment.
Hopefully, exercising our speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment will finally rouse Washington from its slumber and bring our nation out of this recession, strengthen our Union, and chart a course to long term prosperity and opportunity for all.
Rick Perry is the Governor of Texas.
Well, as much as I don’t like or trust this man, it’s refreshing to see the words anyhow.
Very well Said.
I agree with every word you said.
He’s got a tough primary with KBH. This is a campaign style op-ed, designed to marginalize his Republican opponent as one of those beltway types. I’ll bet it works.
Well, it won’t break my hear if it does work. KBH ain’t my cup of tea either.
KBH is a first clas RINO and has sold out Texas more than once
Interesting article written by a Texas Governor who:
1. Signed legislation to ban teens from using tanning beds.
2. Pushed to force 11 year old girls to be immunized with Gardasil.
3. Built toll roads all over Texas and pushed for the seizer of millions of acres of private farm and ranch land for the Texas Trans-Corridor.
4. Signed legislation to grant Illegal Aliens In-State Tuition to pubic universities.
5. Signed a bill to require that backseat passengers wear seat-belts.
I disagree with this.
The inside-the-Beltway belief that a benevolent, all-knowing government can expand and encroach without limit is because they believe individual Americans simply cannot DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
We must show them the errors of their beliefs and deeds. Vociferously when we can. Violently if we must.
"This country belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it." --Abraham Lincoln
Every right minded Texan (my whole family) will vote for Rick Perry not KBH. I used to like her. Now, not so much.
Yep, You are right. But he is a much better person for the job than KBH.
Yep. You have it pegged. “Tex” Perry is a fraud, but KBH is worse.
Yep, You are right on all counts. But he is still a much better choice for governor than KBH.
Secede.
I have someone saving me a spot there and an oven in the camper so the cookies will be freshly baked when we arrive!
Governor Goodhair is a better choice then KBH.
Though I’m still hoping for a ‘REAL’ candidate to come along before the primary. Maybe Debra Medina, if she gets some legs, maybe.
She didn’t vote in the ACORN de-funding bill. Wonder which way she would have voted? KBH doesn’t need to be Governor of our Great State of TEXAS!
Sorry, but a man who forces me to wear the a seatbelt in the back seat of a car, wanted to seize millions of acres of private property and wanted to force my 11 year old daughter to be immunized against an STD has no credibility whatsoever when he claims that he advocates limited government
“Though I’m still hoping for a ‘REAL’ candidate to come along before the primary. “
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I could get excited about that too, but am cautious about the opposition I have seen so far.
I have never met “Governor Rick” and he is from my county. He was slightly younger than me. I do know his father, was a delegate at the Texas Republican Convention with him. Our families have known each other many many years.
Ole Kay baily must be crying in her Chardonney.
And Houston Mayor Bill ACORN White must be busy cutting ties in his office
Perry will be reelected. He is the only one that can be trusted to keep TEXAS from becoming just another also ran State.
Rick Perry is a Nanny State RINO.
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