*** This is an unfinished draft - Dixon
 |
| CLEAN UP THE GOVERNMENT MESS and DO IT NOW ! |
Let's begin at that point and consider what we know. We know the history and philosophies that molded our civilization, and we know that the entire world changes every day. (At times without direction)? Plato got everyone thinking about morals, values and ethics. He figured that if mankind didn't pay attention to these crucial elements of civil society, they would recede in a fog of greed and self promotion. Today it looks like he was right. Those elements that were so important to the formation of modern civilization, are now seen as less so. In fact, they seem to be passing away.
All of a sudden traditional family units (one man+one woman+children) for example, are becoming rare. The supporting institution of marriage is becoming irrelevant. In America, our elected representatives in government at all levels, (local, regional and national) now scheme and purchase votes. Running for political office is now a nasty game of which candidate can utterly destroy the other. Or which candidate can spend the most money campaigning. Good men and women with outstanding credentials and proven abilities no longer run for office. They don't want to subject themselves or their families to the disgusting negative politics required to gain an office. This is obviously not a good trend.
Recently, America has engaged in an unpopular war in Iraq and Afghanistan - without a clear purpose. There is a hint of nation building involved, and addressing (a relative few) terrorist locations, and possibly protecting important oil fields in Iraq and (relatively unimportant) oil pipelines in Afghanistan. The American public is not "tuned in" to this war on terror and have lost confidence in our political leadership. They are asking how we got to this point, and what do we need to do to rebuild the integrity and honesty of our government?
Like most Conservatives, I think we will find the answers by reviewing the past? We will find good advice and solutions in our founding documents despite their age. This paper is necessarily cobbled together by a simple mind rather than an expert but hopefully, will promote a few helpful ideas.
All of a sudden traditional family units (one man+one woman+children) for example, are becoming rare. The supporting institution of marriage is becoming irrelevant. In America, our elected representatives in government at all levels, (local, regional and national) now scheme and purchase votes. Running for political office is now a nasty game of which candidate can utterly destroy the other. Or which candidate can spend the most money campaigning. Good men and women with outstanding credentials and proven abilities no longer run for office. They don't want to subject themselves or their families to the disgusting negative politics required to gain an office. This is obviously not a good trend.
Recently, America has engaged in an unpopular war in Iraq and Afghanistan - without a clear purpose. There is a hint of nation building involved, and addressing (a relative few) terrorist locations, and possibly protecting important oil fields in Iraq and (relatively unimportant) oil pipelines in Afghanistan. The American public is not "tuned in" to this war on terror and have lost confidence in our political leadership. They are asking how we got to this point, and what do we need to do to rebuild the integrity and honesty of our government?
Like most Conservatives, I think we will find the answers by reviewing the past? We will find good advice and solutions in our founding documents despite their age. This paper is necessarily cobbled together by a simple mind rather than an expert but hopefully, will promote a few helpful ideas.
I have developed a great admiration for THE FOUNDING FATHERS. They were at once, brilliant, wise and capable. They created laws and designed an outstanding government of the people. The written documents they created are as applicable today as they were when written. They have successfully guided Americans for 234 years and with deliberate care, will continue to do so for the future. But we have strayed from those guidlines.
The solutions for America's tumultuous problems are within the documents, history and traditions that form our government's foundation. Today our government has gone off the path and broken or bent almost every word of advice given to us by the Founding Fathers. We have to devise a clear and intelligent plan to get back on the right road and correct (and perhaps solve) America's problems.
THREATS FROM WITHIN
1. The structure of our government is now unbalanced. The three equal branches are no longer equal. Legislation can restore balance and return oversight provisions.2. Election to the Supreme Court is a life time job. Election to the Presidency is limited to two four year terms. That was the intent of the founders. The legislative branch, however, does not confrom to the orlginal intent. Serving in either the House of Representatives or the Senate was not intended to be a life long job. It has become so.
In addition, two significant faults have added to the problem:
a. The Congress has the power to set their own pay and entitlements.
b. Those serving in the Congress have allowed the desire to win
elections and preserve their jobs to become their primary ambitions.
elections and preserve their jobs to become their primary ambitions.
There are at least two ways to correct this:
a. Term limits must be established. This will be no easy
accomplishment. Possibly the responsibility to do this
might be shared with the Supreme Court.
might be shared with the Supreme Court.
b. No elected government official should set their own pay. It
might be determined and adjusted by _____________
or the Supreme Court.
might be determined and adjusted by _____________
or the Supreme Court.
c. Entitlements must be controlled.
d. The Executive Branch must use it's Veto to help control
earmarks and excessive spending.
3. War on terror. There is no "defensive war." The term is an oxymoron.
Every modern nation must protect it's citizens from:
Every modern nation must protect it's citizens from:
a. Threats from within (internal), and
b. Threats from without (external)
Threats from within All known internal threats except natural disasters are thought to be controlable if recognized and countered. Communism for example, was squeezed out of America. Radical Islam is also expected to take long time to erase. Uncontrolled Immigration is another internal threat. It has become serious because immigration laws are not enforced.
3. Entitlements. Many entitlements are not needed or excessive.
a. Welfare - is a necessary and needed entitlement. It must be
strictly controlled.
b. Medical care - is a necessary and needed entitlement. It must be
strictly controlled.
strictly controlled.
c. Social Security is a necessary and needed entitlement. It must be
capable of it's original intent as a supplement only to insure at
least poverty level retirement funds.
capable of it's original intent as a supplement only to insure at
least poverty level retirement funds.
THREATS FROM WITHOUT
Advancing technology has supplied weapons so powerful they were not dreamed of even 10 years ago, but I want to focus on the ultra-powerful nuclear bombs available right now. The estimated number of atomic bombs available right now varies quite a lot. These numbers are generally conservative estimates.
Russia.....................................850 (Atomic Bombs)
United States.................. ........500
France.......................................60
China........................................55
United Kingdom........................Unknown
India........................................Unknown
Pakistan...................................Unknown
North Korea..............................Unknown
Israel.......................................Unknown
There are at least 1400 nuclear Bombs being stored at locations around the world - and any one of which can wipe out a city of 20,000,000 people and make the surrounding area unlivable for decades.
Theoretically the number of nuclear bombs we have now are capable of destroying our planet.
***This is an unfinished draft only - Dixon
No comments:
Post a Comment