Will the Fourth of July Become Dependence Day?

[audtatious]

The founding fathers of this country had a passion to be independent of the persistent tyranny and irresponsibility of the then-king of England, George III. They even delineated many of his abuses toward the American colonies in our nation’s most landmark document, the Declaration of Independence.

The founders felt so strongly about these abuses that it led to a revolution against Great Britain, which ultimately led to our independence.

Our independence today is not bound by any external sovereign power, although we are under constant threat of a different kind of external tyranny – Islamic fascism. However, our independence today is threatened by a similar kind of irresponsibility, our own federal government.

We must accept the fact that the threat of Islamic fascism will be with us indefinitely, which has prompted us to develop new defenses against this worldwide network of terrorism. But we can not accept the growing list and magnitude of irresponsibility by our own government toward its people.

Our founders would hardly recognize the nation today with the list of issues we have created and allowed to grow to threatening proportions.

Our free market system has created the most successful economy in the world, and perhaps in history. Due to its success, our economy has been saddled with regulations and taxes that have slowed its growth and world competitiveness, but it has thrived in spite of these barriers.

Some of the regulations have been necessary, but the taxation has been excessive as evidenced by people being taxed on earned income, and then taxed again on investment income and then taxed again when they die.

The most current economic threat is that tax rates will once again increase if Congress simply does nothing before the end of 2010, and once again those increases will slow our economy and possibly send it into a recession.

Sadly, Congress has shown that it is real good at doing nothing.

Congress’s collective excuse for confiscating more revenue from the people is to feed the tsunami of federal spending which has been allowed to get out of control. This persistent fiscal irresponsibility would certainly cause our founders to start another revolution.

“We the people” have never objected to paying taxes for just causes such as wars and national security, but the bulk of fiscal overspending today is for social insecurity with no end in sight.

When the founders severed all relations with Great Britain, they also severed any dependence on any British-made goods. They found all the natural resources they needed in the new land to be totally independent of any new exploitation by Britain.

There would be no need for any more Boston Tea parties.

But over the last 100 years we have allowed this country to become dependent on a new exploitation from external powers – namely, for energy. We are already experiencing this exploitation through the price of oil and gasoline, and it will only get worse, because Congress continues to impede the use of all of our natural resources to counter foreign exploitation.

Former President Ronald Reagan’s quote on how government works is painfully too true: “If it moves, tax it. If it moves too fast, regulate it. And if it stops moving then subsidize it.”

We need a new revolution, not with bombs and bullets, but with votes and voices from we the people. Otherwise, our annual July 4th Independence Day celebration could become just another Memorial Day . . . “Dependence Day”.

Our founders would not allow that to happen, and nor should we.

http://www.northstarwriters.com/hc120.htm

[rn79870]

Yes. You've hit the target here. Now, all we need to do is correctly blame the person who has the responsibility to make government work properly, or better yet, replace him with a person who will do so. Why is it that all of us here at Nico see and recognize the problems that we are facing and will face, yet those in charge of the government fail to take notice?

I'd like Helio to comment on the radical Islamic entity comments, but he's on vacation and unavailable. Darn it Helio, much as I hope you're having a great vacation, I kind of miss your comments. Hurry back.

[audtatious]

No one person can fix the Gov.

[OriginalWheelman]

Why is it that Congress holds more power than the president but people always choose to blame him?

[rn79870]

I don't believe congress does. The president has the option of an "executive order" available to him, congress does not.

[audtatious]

He can't use Executive Orders to do anything he wants.

[rn79870]

Of course not, he probably can't find where Clinton left them...

On a serious note, he could open oil exploration in restricted areas, or he could allow off shore drilling to name a few.

[audtatious]

From what I understand there is some new exploration starting off Florida. I'm sure he could choose to do things or he can let congress hash it out like they should be doing in the first place.

[WDRacing]

Great thread Matt. I think about exactly that on a daily basis. I think one of the main issues is that people don't know HOW to change things. Or when/where to vote for this or that. Or who to write when it comes time to for their reps to cast their vote.

Believe me, if we could educate the masses and basically hold there hands we could probably make this a better place to live. I admittedly could use guidance myself on a great deal of issues.

So what is the solution?

You show me the way and I'll follow...even if it is to vote against you

WD

[Encryptshun]

My commentary on this subject may not be popular, but then again I've never exactly shied away from a good debate. I don't believe that any of us have a voice in government anymore. Yet supposedly all of us do. And that's the thing...as we increase our population so do we increase the impracticality of a direct-representational governmental system. Sad truth is the impotence of parties outside Democratic and Republican. Sad truth is the marginalization of the poor in the political process. Sad truth is that campaign contributions are more often selfish investments with incredibly high rates of return than philanthropic or altruistic endeavors.

I agree that we are becoming what we always swore to stand against -- a lumbering and impersonal government that serves more to sustain its own bloated homeostasis than to preserve and uphold the rights and freedoms of its people. I can think of no leader or congress in my lifetime who did not merely attempt to mask and misdirect attention from this fact.

People pay so much attention to the election of the President but I'm constantly surprised at how many people don't even know the NAMES of their own senators and representatives. We need to get better at caring, but it is difficult to care because the issues on the table get so goddamned complex that they are extremely difficult to understand. And thanks to that polarizing mindset that we are in, conservatives versus liberals (instead of conservatives AND liberals who need to and should work together, embracing the diversity) we are much better at pointing fingers when something goes wrong than we are at learning how to compromise.

[ishkabibble]

Why is it that all of us here at Nico see and recognize the problems that we are facing and will face, yet those in charge of the government fail to take notice?

When you are that rich, do any problems really matter?

Or maybe they are just too busy reinvesting most of their capital into corporations "for the good of the population" (double )

[audtatious]

What is your solution? Penalize people making some number over what you call rich? Make Corporations pay 90% taxes because they don't deserve to make money at the expense of their employees?

Who invests in business ventures?

[ishkabibble]

My solution is get rid of corporate welfare, handouts to Congress' rich buddies, and golden parachutes for poor performers.

But thanks for putting words in my mouth.

[audtatious]

You are welcome

Golden Parachutes can only be gotten rid of by the companies board. I agree on handouts to congress's buddies

[ishkabibble]

The golden parachute is actually contrary to the purpose of a corporation (increase shareholder value). But, yeah, nothings going to be done about them without some shareholder lawsuits.

[WDRacing]

Unless someone randomly executes the wealthy shareholders...

[audtatious]

I do agree. The board needs to put in some form of performance requirement. If not, it will keep happening.