Big Government
Our founding fathers did not like the idea of a big central (federal) government and that's why I don't like it. They understood that too much power given to the federal government makes it too powerful. That's pretty clear, isn't it? You would think. They also understood that when a central government gets too much power it is very hard for the people to get that power back. Typically, that's when the violence starts.
Though we must have a strong and stable central (federal) government, that doesn't mean that we, the people, need to give up our vested powers or our freedoms. Our founding fathers understood this completely. Providing a fair criminal justice system and a strong military to protect U.S. citizens is good. Monitoring the movement of money done daily by American Taxpayers or monitoring their phone calls is bad. We can have one without the other.
Our founding fathers had previous experience with a government that wanted too much power and the right to regulate more than it should. When the British monarchy attempted to disarm them at the beginning of the Revolution they decided that they would never have the power and freedom that they desired if they allowed it. They refused, sighting the English Bill of Rights of 1689.
Our Second Amendment should declare to us very loudly that we can never, ever give up our right to "keep and bear arms". We may need them should the government get out of hand. The founding fathers understood this. The militias that they prepared to stand ready were not only designed to protect the people from foreigners, but to protect them from their government. We should take heed. We must never allow the federal government to disarm us, like other governments have done to their people.
In fact, in these strange times when we are all keeping one eye on our government, the second amendment needs to be at the forefront of every citizen's mind. Each adult male American Taxpayer ought to be well armed and well trained. This may sound alarmist, but like our founding fathers, we don't know what the future holds. If the need should ever arise, it would be too late to get armed properly. If we can't defend ourselves against a government that has become power happy, we are in deep trouble. We can learn this from history. Our founding fathers understood it.
Over time the U.S. federal government has become too large and too inefficient. It has gradually become like a giant octopus with it's arms around every facet of American life. Those of us who have been around a while can tell a big difference between the 1960's and today. These days our federal government has laws and rules that regulate too much of what the people do. Not only that, but the unending waste of tax money has become so disheartening that you seldom hear our national debt mentioned. People just don't want to think about it.
Who can we blame for all of this? Strangely enough, we have no one to blame but ourselves since the federal government is what we make it. It's a reflection of what we want. If we want it to be big it will be big, and if we want it to be small it will be small. When it comes to personal and social freedoms (and personal responsibility) it's a reflection of our unwillingness to govern ourselves. And so it gradually gets bigger.
In case you haven't noticed, our federal, state and local governments have become more powerful as American society has become more lawless. More laws to curb lawless people automatically gives more power to the government. People running to the government for this and that gives more power to the government. Understanding this will help us understand the need for self-government, which is what our founding fathers had in mind. Am I making this clear enough? Reliance on the federal government for everything hands them the power that you should have. Along with that power also goes some freedom (and usually some money) that later on you will wish you had back. That's just how it works.
Our idea that the federal government is the answer to everything bad that happens to us is one of the reasons that it has gotten too big. The more we ask of them the more power we are giving to them - and the more money they will need from us in the form of taxes to accomplish what we ask. This is how the government gradually gets more and more power. We give them the power. A good example is FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). Since the 1800's federal emergency relief has gradually grown into this big inefficient monster that we call FEMA. We all know first hand how FEMA dropped the ball when New Orleans got hit by Hurricane Katrina. In the case of FEMA maybe it would better for the federal government to transfer that power (and the tax money) to the state governments. This would be one step towards making a smaller central (federal) government.
Because we have become accustomed to looking to the federal government for everything, it has also gotten too involved in our private lives. It's tentacles stretch to every facet of life that we have asked it to. This would include personal matters, basic civil responsibility, the social upkeep of those who refuse to take responsibility for their actions, and even those who can't work or who refuse to work. The unwillingness to self govern automatically brings about involvement by the government in one form or another. Hence, we have "big government" and an ever growing list of laws required to govern those who won't govern themselves. But not only has our federal government gotten too big, local and state governments have naturally followed the same pattern. They too get involved when Americans choose to reject self-government.
When you drive the government says you must wear your seat belt. When you fly the government is watching as you board. When you move money around the government wants to know how much and where it's going. If you don't have your child in school the government will be sending Child Protective Services to see you. The government may be listening to your next phone call. If you buy a gun the government wants to know all about it. The government may take your child away if they hear you gave him a spanking. If you ride a motorcycle the government may tell you that you must wear a helmet. The government may even be monitoring your internet research. The latest proof of our "government gone wild" is cameras being installed at street intersections so that you can be monitored even when you are sitting at a stop sign! In my hometown the local government has made it illegal to burn your leaves in Fall. These are all freedoms that the American Taxpayers have lost through the years - along with many more. Do you care? Do you care about taxes upon taxes on every little thing now days so that government can maintain and gain even more power? Or do you think that some self-government might be in order?
I think that it would be a good idea for us to address this problem of "big government" in some nationally televised open forums. I say let's get it all out in the open. How do the American Taxpayers feel about the federal government being so involved with their lives these days? If they don't mind, then that's fine with me. Remember, my administration will be one where the will of the people returns to Washington decision making. If the people have no problem with how big the government has become then we will leave it as it is. However, if the American Taxpayers want some of their freedoms (and money) back, then I believe it is the responsibility of the federal government to back off and relinquish those freedoms. The world is not going to end if a motorcycle rider doesn't wear his helmet. And what business is it of the government what you say on the telephone?
Taking power away from the federal government means putting power and responsibility back in the hands of the people. But the personal responsibilities that go along with freedom and power also need to be made clear to the American Taxpayers who are not familiar with the freedoms that 1960 offered. To me the "big government" issue needs to be addressed, but self-government also needs to be (explained and) addressed. Therefore we will indeed address this issue when I take the White House in 2008. When I say "we", I mean the taxpayers, their elected representatives, the Vice-President, and the President.
We will address "big government" together, using the "Meet and Vote" process. This way the American Taxpayers will get the opportunity to vote on any proposed changes. These nationally televised meetings promise to be spirited, to say the least. The powerful are not so easily separated from their power. They will fight, but they cannot win. If you want real change in 2008 vote the American Taxpayer party. [To understand how the "Meet and Vote" program works please go to Index 1 and click on "Meet and Vote" program.]
| INDEX 1 - AGENDA | INDEX 2 - ISSUES |
