For Energy policy, I like your closed Military base idea. For bases over 50 miles from a major population center, I could see turning those over to energy companies to build nuclear power plants.
But for closed Military bases near a major population center, I'd rather see "free enterprise zones" set up. Think of it like an "Indian reservation" for the rest of us. Sell of the properties in small lots/suites to companies for businesses. No state taxes (it is Federal property) and auction the leases off. lease it to businesses for 10-20 years, at the end of the lease terms, the jurisdiction over the territory returns to the state, the lease holders own their pieces, but are subject to state property and sales taxes after the state gets it back.
You'll never get the 17th repealed. Too esoteric for most people, and if you try to explain it, their eyes glaze over. Here's an alternative, also in the form of a constitutional amendment. I'm actually thinking seriously of setting up a website and petitions and starting to promote this one:
The “You Represent Us” amendment:
- Congress shall make no law establishing compensation or benefits for United States Represenatives or United States Senators.
- Any law of the United States which provides for compensation or benefits for United States Senators and/or United States Representatives, which is in effect at the time this amendment is ratified by the several states shall be null and void after December 31 of the year of ratification.
- Effective January 1 of the year following ratification of this amendment, United States Representatives and United States Senators shall be employees of the State they are elected to represent. They shall receive compensation and benefits as defined by the legislatures of their state. They shall be subject to all laws which apply to elected officials of their state.
Any thoughts on that?
Other than that, require every bill to open with a statement of which actual enumerated power within Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution authorizes the Congress to propose and pass the bill. "General Welfare" isn't an enumerated power. Read Federalist #41 if you don't believe me.
Every law has a sunset after 10 years. If it's good, it can be passed again. All existing US Code and regulations will be set to sunset within 10 years as well. If we need that law, we'll pass it again.
Oh, and the Repeal Amendment or something very similar should also be a plank in the platform. Get it passed and ratified.
However, We the People have to be more vigilant. And at every level of government, from the city council up. Too many times, Councilman Jones calls up Congressman Sugar Daddy with the sob story, "Congressman, we really need a playground for our park, but we can't afford it. I can't ask my citizens to pay taxes for that. Can you get us a grant and tax the good people of Wisconsin and Idaho, pay some bureaucrats to review our application and set the rules, pay some 'federal inspectors' to make sure we follow all of your Washington rules, and give us the money as a 'grant' to pay for a new playground." And Congressman Sugar Daddy brings home the money, collected from everyone else. When that happens, you don't just need a new Congressman who understands the proper role of the federal government, you also need a new city councilman who also understands the limits of the federal government and why it's really bad to ask them for stuff you should be doing yourself. If the project isn't important enough that Councilman Jones can ask his golf buddies, the guys at the bowling alley and everyone at his church to pay for it, then it shouldn't be done.
It seems to me that the candidates so far are all interested in sound-biting Obama. That is an incomplete approach. We all know the question. What's the answer?
Certainly not the ineffectual leadership in the House, where a great victory has been frittered away. What we need to know from the Republicans is, "What is the program for reconstruction?"
You and I, for example, are discussing "Energy." Why are not the candidates discussing it? I am a lot more interested in Nuclear Powerplant Construction than I am in someone's "personality." You and I are offereing policy options, the candidates are not.
What I fear most is that the GOP will take the White House, but lose either the House or Senate. Without control of all three, and without a Program, a Plan, and Leadership, disaster, especially economic disaster, looms.
The GOP was born with the death of the Whig party. It was messy, and it took a while (and the Civil War) for the GOP to establish itself. Now the Republican Party is either on its deathbed, or needs to be completely restructured from within, which is certainly preferable to to the 1860 option!
I realize this is all a very tall order, but our team has to start right now. It took the Whigs a long time to die. We don't have a long time ... and we do have better communications.