Sound the trumpets! Hang the banners! Unfurl the flags! It is time to unleash a new political party in the United States. Move over Democrats. Tremble with fear Republicans. The newest and greatest political party to appear in the history of the United States of America is making its debut!
The name? Our new party is called ‘Government Revisions Utilizing Many Practical Years’ party. If you are having a difficult time remembering the name, it is perfectly acceptable to refer to the ‘party’ by its acronym. We are the ‘GRUMPY’ party!
In lieu of having a donkey or an elephant as a mascot, we will use Grumpy from the fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as our mascot. Why? First of all, Grumpy is a person, not an ass or a mammoth. Secondly, Grumpy looks a lot like me and most of my readers, both in appearance and temperament!
Our party is founded on the basis and belief of ‘common sense.’ As the party chair, I make a motion that we accept the definition of common sense as follows: Common sense is knowing the difference between right, wrong and stupid! All in favor of accepting this definition signify by saying aye? Opposed? Motion carried unanimously! (Could it get any easier?)
The GRUMPY party will now establish the party plank. The following items have been submitted for the GRUMPY party plank.
Balance the budget,
Term limits,
Uphold the constitution
Support our military and law enforcement officials,
Stop illegal immigration,
Reduce corporate taxes,
Birth control,
Attack terrorism wherever it rears its ugly head,
Balancing the Federal Budget
Balancing the budget will never be an easy task, but it will always be a necessary one. No other item poses as much of a threat to the US, or our way of life, than our mounting national debt. We may think that external enemies are our largest threat, when in fact, it is our internal fiscal policies that will eventually have a greater and more devastating effect.
Social/welfare programs take up the largest share of our budget. There are 79 welfare programs managed by the federal government! These programs, in fiscal year 2011 cost America $717 billion! Social security cost us $785 billion. Medicare costs totaled $574 billion. That accounts for $2.1 trillion of our $3.7 trillion total budget! How can we afford this? The short answer is that we can’t, so the government continues to borrow. The current interest on this debt is about $260 billion every year. This is the interest cost during a time when the interest rates are historically low. It is anticipated that, when the fiscal 2013 figures are released, all of these expenses will increase.
There was a ‘talking head’ on television yesterday that forewarned that at our current rate of government borrowing, and with interest rates expected to rise to a modest 6%, that by the year 2022, the interest rate costs on our growing debt will exceed $1 trillion! That is only 8 years away!
Social Security, Medicare and the other welfare programs need to scrutinized and revamped or eliminated altogether.
Currently, the federal government pays 75% of the welfare costs, with the state governments paying 25% for the 79 programs that exclude Social Security and Medicare. The states provide the administration for these programs. During the Clinton administration, there was a bill passed that put the limit for receipt of welfare to a 5-year term. Do you think that is being enforced at the state level? Probably not, with the ‘big brother’ federal government footing 75% of the cost. Our party plank proposes that the federal government cuts their welfare contribution for the 79 programs to $210 billion, which matches the states’ contribution. That would save over $500 billion. You can rest assured the state governments would become much more ‘efficient’ out of necessity.
Here are some suggestions for further reduction of government spending. We could eliminate most, if not all, of the czars. We currently have 38 czars drawing salaries and employing their own staffs. We could eliminate the Asian carp czar, bird flu czar, climate czar and the Great Lakes czar without much governmental degradation! (Yes, these are real czars!) We could eliminate the Department of Education and the Department of Energy. They are both unnecessary and were not a part of the administration until Jimmy Carter became POTUS. The country survived before their presence.
Term Limits
The GRUMPY party recognizes that balancing an inflated budget requires smart people with a sense of what is right for America. Most of the people currently representing our electorate are more concerned with getting re-elected than with doing what is right for our country. Thus the term limits.
During the early 90s, there was a groundswell movement to place term limits on our federal officials. It was popular with the majority of the people in the United States, but it never became a law. Why? Because the Supreme Court, that group of legal adventurers that do not have any term limits, determined that it was unconstitutional.
Grandpa T’s Rule Number 1: Politicians are more concerned about getting re-elected than they are about doing what is good for the country.
We need to raise that groundswell again. Additionally, we should put term limits on the Supreme Court. They should not be allowed to fossilize while sitting on the bench!
Uphold the Constitution
Our forefathers agonized and debated over what would be in our Constitution. They masterminded a document that has not only been a model for this country, but for other democratic countries that followed us.
So does it not appear that more effort is being placed on circumventing the constitution than on enforcing it?
Obamacare? How exactly was that determined to be constitutional by the fossils, oops, I mean the Justices of the Supreme Court? Politics! You can imagine the pressure placed on these Justices to further this program because it would garner votes for the Democratic party. It was another ‘feel good’ program that was not affordable and now appears to be unmanageable. Remember, the Republicans have been strongly criticized for opposing this program.
The Constitution and the Bill of Rights have insured individual freedoms. Yet, we have people continuously attempting to chip away at both in the hope of converting this country from a democratic nation to a socialistic nation.
The GRUMPY party position? Defend and enforce the Constitution!
Support our Military and Law Enforcement Officials
The GRUMPY party supports our Military and Law Enforcement officials for all of the sacrifices that they have made to protect our country and to ensure our safety.
We, oftentimes, overlook the dangers that law enforcement faces. I have known many people that were in the military but were also cops. I have often said that I would rather be in the military, because you normally knew who the enemy was. When you are a cop, the enemy looks just like anyone and could strike at any time without warning. A routine traffic stop can turn into a policeman’s fatality.
If you don’t support these people, then imagine yourself in the position to replace them and do the job yourself. You would appreciate their service all the more!
I find it interesting that our current POTUS has taken it upon himself to criticize the law enforcement community on numerous occasions. Trayvon Martin and the current situation in Ferguson comes to mind. Aren’t the Secret Service basically policemen? Isn’t their mission to protect and to serve? What would the POTUS do if they walked off the job? Hmmmm.
Stop Illegal Immigraton
There are ways to become a legal US citizen. It takes time and effort to become a legalized US citizen.
Allowing 10,000 illegals to cross the border every day is not the way to develop a stronger America. Our southern border is so porous that it has been used by terrorists. Many of these people are illiterate, diseased and of questionable character. Yet, the POTUS has deemed “mean” the Republicans that want to strengthen our southern border.
A policy that allows temporary work permits needs to be put in place. The borders need to be regulated.
The GRUMPY party position is that we do not want people in this country whose first act was to commit a crime by entering it illegally. There are laws and we need people to have the guts to enforce them.
Reduce Corporate Taxes
We exist in a global economy and yet we expect our corporations to compete globally while paying the highest corporate taxes in the world.
The real way to strengthen our country, increase employment and expand our economy is through private businesses and corporations, not by increasing the size of government. Corporate taxes represent about 16% of the federal taxes received. That means that 84% come from working, tax-paying individuals. Reduce corporate taxes and we will really stimulate the economy, not artificially stimulating the economy as the Federal Reserve has been doing. Reagan did it. Even JFK reduced corporate taxes to stimulate the economy.
Grandpa T’s Rule Number 2: Corporations and businesses are in business to make a profit.
The GRUMPY party supports cutting corporate taxes in conjunction with cutting government spending.
Birth Control
Here is the GRUMPY party’s most controversial position concerning birth control and abortion. The GRUMPY party has decided not to have any position!
Yup. As a man, I have never understood how something as personal as birth control and abortion have made it to the national arena. Isn’t this a very personal item?
I have my opinions, but I also firmly believe this issue should be at the state governmental level or lower. I would be perfectly content with allowing any woman to choose her own option concerning this matter. As mentioned, I have difficulty understanding how this has been elevated to a national issue.
Terrorism
ISIS is a well funded, well organized terrorist group that has already killed Americans and is holding other Americans hostage. Where did they get their money? Which countries are giving them military and financial support?
Whether you call them ISIS, Hamas, Al Qaida or any of a number of other names, it all boils down to the same thing – they are all terrorists. They will kill innocent people without mercy. They particularly relish nabbing and killing Christians or people of any religion that differs from their fanatical teachings. They especially enjoy capturing American Christians, which equates to being a ‘terrorist twofer.’
The GRUMPY party position? Kill and engage any terrorist organization that rears its ugly head. (I would like us to go to the sponsors of these terrorists, but I would sound like a warmonger if I were to say that Iran and Saudi Arabia would be prime suspects. Saudi Arabia, you ask? Remember, most of the 7/11 terrorists were Saudis. Yet the POTUS knelt to kiss their king’s hand.)
There you have it. We have launched a new political party and have established a party plank. This is much more of an accomplishment than what has been done in Washington during the month of August. I can hear the groundswell for GRUMPY party support gaining momentum as my fingers fly over the keyboard. And just like the Russians invading the Ukraine, we launched our party during the Congressional summer recess and while the POTUS was golfing.
Sometimes, it is just too easy.