Two Sides of the Same Coin

Someone commented on my posts and said that for a Libertarian, I seem to only target Republicans and not Democrats. They are partially correct, in that I target Republicans more often than Democrats, but this is the reason why. Democrats are the party of Big Government. They say so in their platform and don't shy away from it in their campaigns or literature. They believe in Big Government principles, and while I definitely do not share those principles with them, I respect the Democrats for at least honestly representing what they stand for to the American public.

The Republicans, however, are not that forward with what they actually stand for. If someone was to actually read their platform, or the infamous "Pledge to America", it would sound quite similar to Libertarian ideals. They claim to stand for smaller government, lower laxes, lower spending, less regulation, etc..... However, their actions do not match their words. In the new legislative rules that govern the House, the Republican majority passed regulations that essentially equaled to stricter Pay-As-You-Go rules, which force new House bills to secure funding before they are legally allowed to be passed. The new rules require that major entitlement bills can only be established with cuts or elimination of other entitlements. It also forbids a bill being passed that increases federal spending in one, five, or ten year windows. While that may sound like a good Small Government bill to pass, the exceptions listed in the bill make it a whole new ball game.

They allowed extending the Bush tax cuts, repealing the Health Care bill, cutting estate, small business, alternative minimum taxes, and trade agreements to be exempted from the new rules. Essentially, they have successfully exempted their entire legislative agenda from being tied down, while at the same time trying to gain political points for "battling the deficit and debt". They are telling the American people that they can sneak by them without any fear of consequence or repercussion.

What is even worse is that they have completely ignored the group that is qualified to accurately predict the financial impact of a bill, the CBO. The CBO, or Congressional Budget Office, is a non-partisan organization that reads legislation passed or considered in Congress and determines the financial implications of enacting that bill into law. They sent Speaker Boehner a letter that told him repealing the health care bill would add billions of dollars to the deficit over the next ten years. His response: "I don't think it will". Completely disregarding the most qualified experts in budget analysis by any member of any party is irresponsible. He refuses to acknowledge, or simply doesn't care about, the potential consequences to repealing that bill. Boehner honestly feels as though he knows better than the people who make it their career to accurately predict these things without bias or opinion drawn in.

The Republican Party is my main target of attack for this reason: they are a wolf in sheep's clothing. They have said time and again that they stand for reducing the deficit and battling the debt, all while recklessly increasing military spending and cutting taxes (which is how the government/military gets its money) and exempting themselves from rules that would otherwise battle a serious problem facing America today. Big Government policies are not the way to achieve stability and growth over the long term. And while Democrats push for these policies, they do so out of conviction and do not hide from that fact. It is time for Republicans to finally man-up and do the same. From the USA PATRIOT ACT, to the Cut-As-You-Go rules, the Republican Party doesn't stand for smaller government and more freedom. It is just the other side of the Big Government coin, and it is time that it is taken out of circulation.

All I Want for Christmas Is A Financial Collapse

Well, Christmas is behind us and it is back to work for Congress and the political community. While everyone is gearing up for what looks like one of the most explosive sessions in Congressional history, I feel a need to take a look back into what has transpired in the Lame-Duck session.

While Republicans in Congress threatened not to allow any work to be accomplished unless their agenda was passed, that attitude quickly changed as they worked toward comprehensive changes to American policy. Don't Ask Don't Tell, the controversial policy that banned Gay and Lesbian individuals from serving in the military, was repealed with sweeping Bi-Partisan support. Also enjoying Bi-Partisan support was the START Treaty, which created a new weapons deal with Russia, despite the continual objections by Republican Senator John Kyl of Arizona. Jobless benefits were extended for the long-term unemployed, giving people much needed cash during the Christmas season. Finally, 9-11 rescue workers will finally feel no need to worry about healthcare benefits, after Jon Stewart helped to fan anger over the bill's blockage by Republicans in Congress.

While all of these things were moves in a positive direction, there was one thing in particular that was a move in the other way. The Republicans in Congress threatened to block two key pieces of legislation, the 9-11 worker's bill and the Jobless benefits extension, because they would add to the deficit. The Republicans claimed that though they felt bad for both those groups, they could not justify passing those benefits until the National Debt and Budget Deficit is brought under control. That excuse would be understandable if they did not threaten to shut down the legislative process for extension of the Bush-era Tax Cuts.

Now for those that do not know, President George W. Bush, in an effort to spark the economy after the dot-com crash, cut the tax rates for all tax brackets. While they had temporary economic and political benefits, the worth of the tax cuts was negated by the upcoming wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those two wars boosted government spending to heights not seen since World War II. With the government's income being reduced by the tax cuts just put into place, the deficit ballooned to levels not thought possible. Republicans that are serious about deficit reduction should shutter at any mention of putting these irresponsible tax cuts back into place. It is wrong for the country and wrong for its citizens.

Republicans in Congress used the guise of cutting taxes to gain cheap political points. They claim to want to fight the Debt and Deficit, the two poisons that are killing America's future. However, they seem to pick and choose which projects they want to fight and let pass. What they don't tell the public is that those tax cuts that sound so good to the people actually counter what the Republicans claim to stand for. While the cuts put more money into the pockets of Americans, they also cut the government's income without significantly cutting the government's spending. These cuts are irresponsible and will add to the significant budget deficit that continues to grow.

Ultimately, if the Republicans are going to continue to claim that they are fighting for fiscal responsibility, it is time for their actions to match their words.

Behind the Numbers

There have been numerous reports recording an "enthusiasm gap" between liberals and conservatives. And while it is documented that a layer of complacency exists between the people in power and those out of power, the evidence used for this argument is....... ridiculous.

In an article on Politico, a source I frequent, the argument made for the existence of the enthusiasm gap is the registration of new voters. The argument was that when compared to '08, there have been significantly less new voters registered at college campuses, a place where liberals tend to congregate. However, they failed to recognize exactly what that meant.

While there were less new registered voters at college campuses this election cycle, there was such a significant increase in the number of new voters in '08 that there has not been enough time to get more people registered. College campuses have lost students due to the economy and more importantly, the ones that were newly registered in '08 are probably still in college today. That means that they would no longer qualify for new voter status, thus creating a drop in the number of new voters registered at college campuses.

Now, I am not blind to the current political climate. And even though I feel that anger directed at only one of the major parties is misguided, I also recognize that the current state of affairs has the Republicans poised to make gains in Congress. However, before they rejoice over less "liberal, elite, educated masses at college" in the voting pool (which by the way, when the @#$! did it become a bad or elitist thing to be educated???), they should start to look into the factors behind the numbers and not just the numbers' existence. While college students may not be enthused about voting for Democrats this November, it is not an indictment to that party but the two-party system as a whole. Both parties should be shaking in their boots, because no matter who takes over, nothing will change. And we're not going to take it anymore.

The Shoe Story

I once had an argument with a good friend of mine over education cuts. It was after Gov. Mitch Daniels had announced that due to budget shortfalls, he was going to cut education spending for a second time in a span of a month. My argument was that education cuts do not affect poor schools the same way that they affect schools in affluent districts. My friend didn't buy it. Then, I told him about my shoe buying experience.

I know that shoes and education policy may not seem to correlate but stick with me on this. My little sister had a choir competition at Ben Davis High School. It was in the middle of the school year, so I was in need of some new shoes. Conveniently, the school is across the street from a Foot Locker Outlet Store, so I went inside. I browsed and browsed and found a couple pairs for about $10 a piece and went up to the counter to pay for them. While he rung my shoes up, the friendly clerk asked my what my shirt said. I didn't even think about it and stretched out the printing so he could read it clearly. That was, if he could read at all.

You see, the clerk behind the counter preceded to tell me that he couldn't read at all, but that he made due by recognizing symbols that he saw everyday. An American citizen around the age of 20 was illiterate. It was unthinkable to me. And that is when I realized that things like that don't happen in the Carmel or Fishers areas. There isn't illiterate store clerks that live and work in Hamilton County. This was a man who lived, and will probably die, in one of the poorest areas of Marion County and will most likely never be able to read a book, magazine, newspaper, or website.

This is my point. Education cuts do not affect Carmel and HSE the same as they affect Gary Public Schools and IPS. When Carmel has to redistrict or consolidate an elementary school, it is a minor inconvenience for over-scheduled soccer moms driving their kids into class. When IPS has to shut down an elementary school, it means that single moms working two jobs now have to choose between making it to work on time and paying the bills, or getting their kids to school. The sad part is that many mothers pick the job over their kids schooling.

Legislation like No Child Left Behind is an example of schools held hostage. While schools that are already under-funded and written off fight to keep their students literate, the government gives a majority of the money to schools that are already achieving a 99% graduation rate and think of literacy as a preschool issue. The way things are going is backwards. And the more we allow, the worse it is going to get.

The time is now. We cannot continue to allow our schools to be held hostage. I am not saying that schools in affluent areas have done anything wrong, or should be stripped of any Federal or State assistance. Rather, they need to take less, since their constituents have the means to take on more of the funding responsibilities. The more money that is placed into inner-city school systems, like GPS and IPS, the more students, faculty, and staff that they will be able to retain. When more students graduate, more of them are literate and able to function as a productive member of society. The crime rate goes down, college attendance and graduation goes up, and entire neighborhoods and cities can be turned around.

It doesn't take much, but what it does take is determination from the government to finally correct their mistakes on this. Let's start funding the schools that actually need it. Let's start giving students in urban areas a fighting chance. Rather than punishing them for being born there, let's give them the best education in the world, and not force them into the cyclical world of poverty.

Let's eradicate illiterate store clerks once and for all.

Pledge to America

Remember the days when people used to say that you could trust a man by his word? I know that my father always told me to live my life in a way that allowed people to trust me by what I said, without having to prove it. I think the Republicans should listen to my father.

Back in the day, around this time in 1994, the Republican Party released "A Contract to America", their pledge to fix what they saw as the problems facing Americans. They claimed that they were going to change the way that politics were being run. And then......they didn't. They got their positions of power and rather than helping the people that needed it most, they exploded the deficit, ran two illegal wars, and violated the Constitution in a way that in mind-blowing.

Now, they have the "Pledge to America" and claim that they are going to fix what problems have occurred under Democratic rule. Forget that they ran the government for 8 years and committed crimes against the American people, but they are going to apparently do things differently after two years of saying "no" to everything.

For example, they claim that they are going to repeal the health care bill. Putting aside the fact that they have done nothing but mislead the American public about what is inside the bill, the idea that they could repeal it is ludicrous. If they regain the House, Senate, or both, it won't be by huge margins. Rather, they will have slim leads, if any at all.

Let's say that they get a bill passed that repeals the health care bill, do they expect that they will convince President Obama to go back on his greatest policy achievement yet?

They also plan on keeping Guantanamo Bay open and full of "enemy combatants". They plan on keeping people deemed a terrorist without a trial, without due process, without access to lawyers, for however long they deem necessary. How can they justify standing up for "freedom from government oppression" while they lock people away like the police state they claim Democrats want to establish.

Ultimately, nothing has changed. While it is clear that there needs to be significant change from what has been happening, it is not the other axis of evil that will get it done. The same old act is being played by the Republicans. And if they win one or both of the houses, be prepared for significant nothingness. Absolutely nothing. Because if history has proven anything, keeping the status quo in place pays better.

The Pope is on the Run!!!!!

As I scan the news networks online (because who really watches TV news anymore), I have noticed a lot of coverage about the Pope's visit to the UK. As someone who likes to follow events coming out of the Vatican, I was very intrigued to notice the response that he got when arriving. 

Six men were arrested, people rioted, families and college students were out in force speaking against his coming to their country. My only question is: why?

Here is a man who has taken the sexual abuse scandal head-on. He hasn't ran from responsibility as the leader of the church. And while there has been evidence of a cover-up in come cases, the important thing is that he is addressing the problem. He isn't hiding from criticism, nor is he denying the existence of cases. He is meeting with families, dealing with clergy who committed the acts and making decisive choices that will help repair the church and it's image.

I understand that people are mad. I whole hearted agree that the Catholic church has a long way to go before the public can ever consider giving them the benefit of the doubt again. However, protests that turn into riots are not a response that will help anybody. No answers are going to be given and no satisfaction will be reached through decisions made out of that anger. Rather, the people that are so upset with the church should ask questions of the Pope, rather than trying to lynch him. I understand the frustration and I know that there is a limit to the patience people have with this church. However, this is a man that can be worked with, reasoned with and who is willing to take responsibility and change the way that things are done. 

Now is the time for action, but not by us. We should be watchdogs, hounding the church until it makes the needed change. We need to ask questions, not take no for an answer and require proof before trust is restored. This is the action we should take, not rioting. Because, though it may give us satisfaction now, history proves that angry mobs only set things back for years to come.

The good old days

Primary season is over. The candidates have been selected and the mud-slinging is about to begin. One thing that can be easily observed about this election cycle is the monumental shift in one side's politics. I know that it has been said over and over by candidates and their party but let's look at election history.

Republicans won back control of congress by convincing people that the Democrats were extreme and out of touch. They painted the American public with the brush of moderation in politics and swept things up because of it. The Democrats used the same tactic in their conquering of congress in 2002, '06, and '08.

So it would make perfect sense for Republicans in this election season to simply use the same old tactics that every out of power party has used. After all, once they get in they will use the same old policies that have failed America time and time again. However, they are going farther and farther to the Right, alienating the American public and appeasing only their Republican electorate.

See, they have shifted extremely to the right. The "Tea Party" has seized the party and has put candidates on the ballot that normally would have been laughed off the stage. Some make racially questionable remarks, others can't even get the spelling on their website right and there are still others that want to eliminate entire departments overnight.

Now, I am in support of fiscal responsibility. We should reform the welfare system to have people go to college while receiving government support, not eliminate it entirely hoping that the "push kids into the water to help them swim" works. There are plenty of rational decisions that would put America back onto the right track without leaving it's citizens out in the cold. However, Tea Party candidates aren't interested in such proposals. They simply want to say whatever will get them elected by a Republican electorate that is still upset about the presidential election.

The problem is not the Tea Party, because they are not bad in and of themselves. They stand for the principles of fiscal responsibility, smaller government and appropriate delegation of powers to the states. However, they are not supporting or nominating the candidates that want common sense brought back to Washington, but rather having a foot race to see who can come up with the most extreme ideas. It is time that the Tea Party take responsibility for the people that they nominate and support. They need to realize that intelligent, workable solutions are available to the American public without much effort. The only thing we need to do is step up and remember that we have tried both sides of the coin and now is the time for an entirely different coin.