Posted on 09/26/2005 11:38:23 AM PDT by Keyes2000mt
There was a time when there was a purpose to our politics. In 1995, the GOP came to Washington promising to reduce the size of the federal government. Those of us who were Conservatives saw an opportunity for a better country. With the shackles of big government removed, economic opportunity would increase. Educational choice would become a reality as schools would reform around the choice of parents, not the demands of bureaucrats. The Federal government would contract and freedom would increase as the importance of the tenth Amendment was recognized.
Something funny happened on the way to getting America's freedom back, the Republican Party became the establishment. Of the class of '94, a confluence of events has diminished their impact. Some members became part of the establishment like Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) who has few words about the size and scope of the federal government as he serves as baseball grand inquisitor, going far beyond in reasonable interpretation of the mission of his "Government Reform" committee. Others were defeated for higher office such as Rep. Linda Smith (R-Wa.) or lost for re-election like Rep. Randy Tate (R-Wa.). Still others made pledges to limit themselves to three or four terms, kept their pledge, and left like Rep. Helen Chenoweth (R-Id.) did.
Regardless, what had seemed to happen is that big spending Democrats have been replaced by big spending Republicans. The most laughable part of our government is that the House Majority which almost to a person supported the Balanced Budget Amendment, now votes for $300-400 billion deficits.
In the midst of this situation comes the Republican Study Committee, led by Rep. Mike Pence (R-In.) has proposed common sense rational reforms called Operation Offset. In the face of the necessary funding for Hurricane Katrina recovery, they propose that rather than increasing the deficit, we should offset the spending on Hurricane Katrina with responsible spending cuts.. The proposal would cut $900 billion from the Federal budget over the next 10 years by delaying the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit for 1 year, cutting Corporate Welfare, and eliminating wasteful projects like a $200 million bridge that will lead to an island where 50 people live.
The sad thing is that this proposal is considered so revolutionary and that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay can claim with a straight face that there's no more spending to be cut from the federal budget. At last, someone in Washington is standing up for fiscal responsibility and sadly this is in opposition to our Republican leadership in Congress.
Too many of our leaders in Washington are drunk on power, using the largesse of the federal government to buy their own re-elections, and keep the majority. However, a majority that stands for nothing, that wastefully squanders America's wealth, and builds a debt that their great grandchildren will have to pay will be swept out of office sooner or later.
If you want to see not only a continued Republican majority but a more fiscally fit country, than contact your Congressman and urge them to support Operation Offset.
As Mark Steyn recently observed, Republicans stand for limited government, for big government, and for everything in between. The Democrats stand for nothing, except for unrestricted abortions.
Done. I just emailed my congressman.
bump
Restart the Reagan Revolution PING !!!
How true. Granted our deficit/debt is out of control now, but I shudder to think of what things would be like with the tax and spenders were in control. Not only would our debt be sky high, but our taxes would be out of control too. The high taxes would lead to job loss which would then lead to increased deficits/debts. No matter how bad things get, you can always count on dumbocrats to make them worse. That's why I think the '06 elections are so important. We really need to maintain our majorities.
Hold on a second.
Clinton gave us a surplus. That was under a Republican congress. In 2000 the economic bubble burst and then we had 9/11 right after that.
We were forced to spend money in order to get this country back on track. Then Bush gave across the board tax cuts. Then we had a war.
During all this time, money was spent so that people can get off the government dole. Would you rather have people collecting welfare or people trained so that they can get off welfare?
No Child Left Behind - would you rather give money(I know I wouldn't either) to schools that achieve success or promote failure.
This is how Bush has reacted. He is spending money to ecnourage people to make something of their lives. He is not rewarding failure.
My only issue was the transportation pork package. However, if it all gets cut, the RATS will use this to get back into power, then the whole legislative dynamic changes.
You have to have one. Do you prefer cat food or dog food?
" but I shudder to think of what things would be like with the tax and spenders were in control"
I used to think that too, but anymore I doubt the spending would have been any worse under the dems. The non defense spending curve has really bent upwards since Bush took office.
Spending almost $ 14,000 per student in tax money, the D.C. public schools were unarguable the academically worst-performing schools in the nation. You think MORE money helped these schools ?
Schools do not need more money to achieve success. They need highly-skilled teachers, ambitious curriculae, and discipline. You think NCLB helped with any of that ? You see mass-layoffs of current, mediocre teachers ? Thought not. You see new, good academic curriculum put in place ? Not seen it anywhere. How about discipline ? Naw, thought not.
Public schools cannot be fixed so long as they are the bastions of unions and democrats. They should be shut down and education become the responsibility of parents and children.
They need highly-skilled teachers, ambitious curriculae, and discipline.
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And you won't find that in the government school system. Not for the last 25 years in fact.
"Public schools cannot be fixed so long as they are the bastions of unions and democrats. They should be shut down and education become the responsibility of parents and children."
Worked in my little hamlet in NJ. But I agree. We should start with getting rid of all nepotism and patronage jobs in the school system. When that is done, property taxes will be reduced by half.
I do like the idea of home schooling. Pay a teacher, get 10 kids in the class and have at it. Cheaper then property taxes.
During the Bush admin.: 9-11, WOT, Iraq war, airline bailout, Katrina, Rita and all of last years storms. Hell, thats enough stuff to pay for!
I would be happy with a broad and general riot..
Won't happen.. since most republicans are RINOS..
Must be; else why do "we elect" so many of them..
"We" seem to already have the government that "we" deserve..
ping
There's a lot of fat to be cut from the Federal Government, remember when they were calling for getting rid of 3-4 government departments. We still don't need them. If you need to spend more, you offset with cuts elsewhere.
Education is the biggest boondoggle IMHO. Schools in poor areas are used for daycare centers and have deteriorated into indoctrination camps in wealthier districts.
Going to college used to be a privilege and if your parents couldn't afford it... you worked 3 jobs to achieve it. I don't mind having to pay my own tuition....but it really gripes my grits to see others have it handed to them... and knowing they'll fart around, play awhile and squander the resources./rant
What's wrong with unrestricted abortions? :) HA!
Thanks for the ping. Great article.
Nope. Didn't happen.
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