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I'm Sick of "Bi-Partisan"!

Posted by Jefferson on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 5:22:08 PM
Stuart Rothenberg has an article today (20 Feb) on Real Clear Politics describing the House Democrats efforts to frame the recent anti-surge vote as "bi-partisan."  I generally consider (in hindsight, I wasn't intelligent enough before hand) the Iraq action a fool's errand.  But there are strategic implications, both good and bad, of this action that we will not know of for decades.  And, applying the theory of constraints one could easily conclude that the U.S. military fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq prevents the terrorists from applying their resources to actions outside of Iraq (like inside the United States).


The article and the rhetoric highlight a deeper and more disturbing problem in our government.  This wicked notion of "bi-partisanship."  Political philosophy runs along a broad spectrum in this country and there certainly are more than two political parties to choose from.  However, the electoral money is vested in the two parties so the smaller organizations never get the kind of attention and exposure that might help them to grow.  This brings me back to a broader point.  The unconstitutional declaration of war on Iraq.  I know I have lost some of you here but bear with me.  The Congress voted on an authorization to use force in Iraq, and some high profile radio hosts have dismissed this argument as overly technical.  However, if George Bush had received an actual declaration of war from the Congress none of them could now call this "George Bush's war."  If instead each individual member of Congress had been forced to vote yes or no on the declaration of war and not on a presidential authorization they could not hide behind the president's coattails. 

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Social Security Exit Strategy

Posted by Jefferson on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 4:23:00 PM
The Presiden't budget for 2008 again contains provision for voluntary personal retirement accounts.  This does little for those of us whose budgets are at the margins but maybe, just maybe this is the beginning of the end of this outdated program.

Sen. Max Baucus, my new personal mission in life, is on the record as being firmly against personal retirement accounts. 

I leads me to ask, what flaw of personal character makes one so opposed to personal economic freedom?  If we aren't in large measure in control of the fruits of our labors are we really free?  What is it about you and me that leads Sen. Baucus to believe that we are incapable of making our own decisions?  It all stems, I believe, from Niccolo Machiavelli's apt description of man's innate will to power.

Either way, I could do much better with the monies that are stolen from me by the Federal government.  Invested wisely, this would yield a much greater return than the government could hope to offer. 

But alas, that is not the reason we can't be trusted with our current social security payments.  The reason is that the program's funding has long since been taken.  Rather than invested wisely our employees (representatives) have been using it to buy their seats in congress with ever larger and more elaborate give-aways. 
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Wahooo, Ron Paul

Posted by Jefferson on Saturday, February 17, 2007 8:34:12 AM
Dr. Ron Paul of Texas has formed an exploratory committee to run for the Presidency of the United States on the Libertarian ticket.

Go to on the issues web page to find out how well Dr. Paul's philosophical views agree with your own.  

One thing is for certain, we need a change from the two-part, zero-sum election farce we have now. 
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Oh no, "the children"

Posted by Jefferson on Saturday, February 17, 2007 6:05:35 AM

 

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I see a leftist taking refuge behind the children, I instinctively place my right hand over my wallet.  Imagine how fast I made said covering maneuver when I read this little gem by E. J. Dionne of the WaPo.  Mr. Dionne is apparently very distressed that President Bush dared to cut the rate of increase in the SCHIP program.  For those of you not familiar (as I wasn't until I read the article) the SCHIP is a program to provide insurance coverage to children of familiies too well off to qualify for Medicaid and too poor to afford private coverage.  The proposed increase in spending is $4.2 billion over five years.  This is less than a third of what the Democrate chairman of the Senate finance Committee estimates will be necessary over the same period.

I, like most other fiscal/economic conservatives don't lack compassion.  In fact we share our resources willingly.  Most of us just understand the verity that the poorest use of a dollar meant for benevolence is to turn it over to the Federal government.  Anyhow, enough preaching and back to my point.  Mr. Dionne either doesn't understand economics or doesn't respect those who read his column enough to be completely honest.  Otherwise we couldn't get the following bit of ridicufied nonsense:  

    "if enacted, the president's budget would lead that year [2012] to $73 billion in tax cuts for households with annual incomes of over $1 million and $34 billion in cuts to domestic discretionary programs, many of them benefiting Americans of low and middle incomes.

So here is a president who believes passionately in redistributing income -- upward."

Notice the scope shift in Mr. Dionne's vacuous argument?  Yes, $ 73 billion in tax cuts for households with greater than $1 million in income but cuts of $34 billion in domestic spending.  The next sentence is where the "ridicufied nonsense" comes in: the $34 billion in cuts is not "income" as Mr. Dionne terms it.  He apparently would have you believe that this $34 billion was being stolen from the working class to finance chemical peals and Pina coladas for the evil, idle rich.  No, these are transfer payments folks.  Money taken from the people who earned it and given to those who did not.  The top 2% of income earners pay 42% of the income taxes to the Feds in this great land. 

How much is enough Mr. Dionne?  How much?

 

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