Monday, April 20, 2009

Imminent?

There is now the possibility that real change might be coming to our wonderful nation. President Barack Obama announced last week that he will cut dozens of programs in an effort to "restore fiscal accountability to the federal budget." He has also said that there will be no favorites that will be spared scrutiny. I believe that this will happen during a special cabinet meeting where officials will be required to give report on the programs they watch over. If any of these are found to be lacking in purpose of not worth the money being spent, they will go down the tube. Fabulous...
...if it actually happens. I really hope that the current administration is serious about this. I know that he says there will be no "sacred cows" as he calls them, though I doubt he really would cut some of the larger departments that are mismanaging their funds and lack importance. I am quite interested to see the outcome of this call for fiscal responsibility.

Perhaps what intrigues me more and causes me a bit of cynicism is that this announcement came directly following the controversy concerning the President's upcoming budget. The proposed budget was, I believe, even larger than previous President George Bush's which drew much criticism from Democrats. Interesting that they are not in an uproar about even more money being spent by one of their own. It seems to me that President Obama made this announcement only in response to the budget controversy and not because he really wanted to do it. The budget was a test to see if people were really paying attention or if they were still just so excited to have a charismatic, and (as much as I'd like it not to be an issue it still is) black president. This has proven to the administration that ctizens are still watching closely. We've been offered the promise of Change, and we want it. Even if it is not the same change I personally desire, the people want change and so far have been offered nothing. i really do hope that the President and cabinet do take the opportunity to effect some real change and help restore the confidence American citizens should be able to have in their elected officials.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Proof...it would and will get done

Most people that find out my political beliefs and my strong disgust for current government practices usually try to give me some reasons why they think I am wrong. I welcome this to an extent as I fiercely believe that everyone should have the right to express their feelings and that we gain something interesting from every interaction with another intelligent person. Most of the time my beliefs are not changed since I have run the gamut when it comes to political convictions. Some might find it interesting to know that I once favored systems such as socialism and communism in theory, while still believing their earthly forms to be severely flawed. Over the past couple of years my research and love of politics and this country have led me to solidify my beliefs behind the standard of the Constitution, a place from which it most likely will never stray. For this reason I feel compelled to communicate calmly and openly about my views so that others can begin to understand what can be a better political philosophy. Sometimes however I need a little vindication and it comes in the following form.
One of the main reasons that people always give me for needing government intervention in our lives is that things would not get done were it not for the government. I almost always will respond to this by saying that is not true and professing my optimism towards people in general. I have had no concrete examples of man vs. government to share until now. Recently during my daily news search on CNN I came across this article out of Hawaii. I hope you all read it but I will briefly relate here what it says. It seems that a road was washed out that provided entrance to a State Park. Since building roads is government territory the plan was laid to rebuild the road. It was revealed that the funding was lacking and that the project would probably not take place for at least two years. Several businesses relied on the road being open and feared bankruptcy inevitable. The government did nothing to help them. They were going to lose their investments and be forced to close down. Is that what happened? If so, I would have nothing to write about. The people who relied on this road united in a common cause and did the work that the government could not. They fixed the road and did it in 8 days with no government money. Even had the funds been available it assuredly would have taken much longer than 8 days to finish the project. Plus I am sure that the price tag at the end of the 8 days was much less than the $4 million price tag that the government had placed on it.
This is the kind of example I am looking for. The government need not interfere in most aspects of our lives as we possess that ability to do it ourselves and should be given that chance. Private companies and individuals could complete every task the government does for much less money and in much less time, not to mention that personal fulfillment of each individual who knows they helped complete something worthwhile. We can do it without the government and in fact were meant to be in charge of our own lives. If you doubt that, read the Constitution again.

PS. I hope people realized that my previous post about the Constitution being figuratively thrown in the trash was written in jest since it was April Fool's Day. I hope that everyone also realizes that that is the way our country is going. We must cling to and fight for our rights and beliefs. The founding fathers knew what they were doing and left us a legacy to uphold.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Entire Constitution Repealed

This has been coming for a long time, slowly but surely. It is one of the most feared things in all of the political world in my mind. It appears that sometime today, the powers that be will call for a special session to ask for the complete divorce of the government from the Constitution. Sources also say that this measure is expected to pass now that the majority of lawmakers follow are in line with the president's form of socialistic rule. Could this really be the end as we know it? I for one, insanely fear what might happen tomorrow if this passes. The ramifications would be horrendous and throw our country into turmoil. I can only pray that those who can make a difference will. The era of big government will only get bigger and soon the government will be controling every aspect of our lives, from the school we attend - to the job we can get and how much money we bring home - to the ways we can worship with our family - to the revoking of all privacy and free speech laws - and the right to purchase the means of protecting ourselves from intruder and intruding government. I fear for what will happen tomorrow.

Ever the optimist, I wish everyone a wonderful and fearful April the first.