I realized recently that I have lived through the administrations of twelve different Presidents: six Republicans and six Democrats. Some were very good Presidents, and some contributed very little to society or our country. That is the subject of a later post, however.
Having lived through these twelve administrations, I can say (with an elder statesman’s degree of certainty) that there are some improvements that could be made to our government. There is always room for improvement. Right? So I am presenting the five most important changes that I believe would greatly enhance life in the United States. (All of these issues have been addressed in greater detail in previous blogs.)
Sooooooooo, I want you to use your imagination. (while imagination is typically a liberal trait, I need my conservative friends to exercise the left side of their brain for the purposes of this blog!) Similar to the imagination it took to create that classic movie, ‘Wizard of Oz’; and that recent movie, ‘The Butler’, I want you to imagine that I, Grandpa T, am not only a blog writer of no reputation, but am now ‘King Grandpa T the First’, King of the United States of America. You can refer to me as KGTF, for short. Ready? Imagination activated?
Hear ye! Hear ye!
1. INITIATE TERM LIMITS
If I could wave my magic wand, (as no doubt King Grandpa T would have) the first decree would be to institute term limits across the kingdom.
In colonial times, our federal representatives had to leave their occupations for the privilege of serving the people. Once they had done their duty to the country, they returned to their previous occupations. Many of these representatives faced financial burden by not being able to oversee their day-to-day interests.
Today, we have too many professional politicians. They begin their careers at the local, county and state levels, and they eventually work their way to a federally elected position. My opinion is that all of these elected officials be limited to 12 years of federal service. Representatives could serve up to six two-year terms, and Senators could serve two six-year terms.
There was a huge groundswell for term limits in the early 90s, but it was not passed by our federal representatives. Many of the current states do have term limits for people elected to state offices.
Power corrupts. Even though many of our elected officials begin with the best of intentions, they soon put forth more effort in getting reelected than in managing affairs that are good for the country. They succumb to special interests, especially those special interests that come with campaign contributions and votes. These special interests do not always convey principles that are good for the realm (country).
In short, we need fresh people with fresh ideas to meet the challenges of a changing world
2. REPEAL AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE(OBAMACARE)
As king, I would behead anyone that would present a proposed law for the land that is 2,000 pages long, and requires 20,000 pages to administer. (Or at the very least, I would have them fired!) But lo and behold, it is currently acceptable for the Council of Jesters in that foreign land called Washington, DC. They passed it without having read it!
Not only was it proposed and passed, but it is also a law that is unconstitutional, unaffordable, and was directly responsible for a five-year economic spiral from which we are just now beginning to recover.
Really? The Constitution of the United States says that health care is a mandate? Not hardly!
If you think current health care is expensive, then pass laws limiting medical malpractice awards and halting frivolous lawsuits. You would be amazed at how much would be saved in health care costs. Every doctor you know is paying over 6 figures (that’s over $100,000!) for medical liability insurance. How much do you think pharmaceutical companies pay? Your drug cost reflects a large percentage of drug company liability insurance costs. Watch television? How many times have you seen, “If you suffer from any of the following 169 symptoms, and use the drug XYZ, you may be entitled to a settlement.” The barristers sponsoring these ads are doing it to sue your drug company!
Businesses are in business to make a profit. Once this law was passed, businesses downsized their workforces in anticipation of the additional 20-25% increase in their labor costs attributed to Obamacare. They did this 5 years ago in anticipation of the full implementation of the program. That coincides with the increase in unemployment, the downturn in the economy, and the decreasing value of real estate. Coincidental? I think not. Obamacare is directly responsible for all of these events, and the sooner someone has the fortitude to face it and repeal it, the sooner we will be on the road to recovery.
Therefore, I, King Grandpa T decree that all proposed legislation is to be 50 pages or less, clearly written in language understood by my subjects, and not place any excessive burden on the Exchequer. Punishment for failure to do so will result in dismissal from the court!
3. PREVENT VOTER FRAUD/REQUIRE VOTER ID
Before I was King, I would feel downtrodden when my favorite politicians did not win an election. Now I get downright belligerent when I think an election has been stolen.
Remember, an election is only as honest as the election supervisors. Don’t you get a little concerned when you hear that there were 18,000 votes cast in a district with only a maximum of 10,000 eligible voters? Do you get concerned when there are 19,500 votes cast in one district, all for one candidate without one dissenting vote? Both of these events took place in the last presidential election.
Why, oh why, do all the states not require a picture ID to vote? I have to show a picture ID three or four times a month. It is painless. Yet, my former Midwest home state failed to pass an amendment requiring a picture ID during last years election. The favorite argument was that it would cost the state just under $60 million to assure all of its eligible residents had photo ID’s. They thought this cost was excessive, so the state had decided to build a $1 billion football stadium instead.
Come up with any argument you want, but in my realm, all eligible voters will be required to produce a photo ID to prove they are a subject of the kingdom. Then they can vote for the jester of their choice.
4. BALANCE THE BUDGET
I am glad to say that the majority of my subjects that read my decrees know how to balance a budget. In my kingdom, Queen Grandma P the Only, sees that there are adequate funds in the Exchequer.
In that foreign land of Washington, the Council of jesters and their leader are overspending the funds in their Exchequer at the rumored rate of $200 million an hour! How long can these people expect this to go on before their kingdom is bankrupt? (Rumor also has it that they print their own money, and pay their debts with it. They call this economic stimulus.)
If they were to seek my counsel, I would tell them to eliminate the Departments of Energy and Education. These two, outdated departments were both established by that head jester, Jimmy Carter. They serve no justifiable purpose for their realm.
I would advocate the repeal of Obamacare in an effort to save the 16,000 additional IRS jobs that are required to administer the program.
I would propose a simple, flat tax across their realm. In this way they could save the expenses required to support the existing 128,000 member IRS Army by reducing it to less than 25,000.
Many smart people in Washington who have had business experience would be both willing and capable of offering excellent suggestions on how to get their Exchequer out of the red. But the head jester and his cabinet of jesters and advisors have only 9% of their people with experience in the private sector of their economy. They do not have experience with making money in the capitalistic kingdom, only experience on how to spend other people’s money. They have proven to be overachievers in their endeavors.
5. REFORM WELFARE
In that foreign country of Washington, there are 84 agencies associated with different welfare programs. Whew! Many of these programs were begun with the best of intentions, but ran amok. Many were supposed to be temporary but developed a pulse to become permanent.
Additionally, 15% of the people of that kingdom receive food stamps. That equates to 1 out of 7 of their subjects!
The total cost of all these programs exceeds $800 billion per year! This represents the largest single expense in the budget within the kingdom of Washington. Something needs to be done to reduce the subjects’ reliance on these programs.
A reformation of these programs would go a long way to assist the balancing of the Exchequer.
Back to reality.
There you have it! My five suggestions for items greatly improving life in the United States. I have more, but I am limiting myself to the five about which I feel most strongly. I now have to give up my title and my throne because Grandma P says it is time to cut the lawn and slap another coat of paint on those lawn ornaments. You can see who wears the pants in this family! (I do wish she would take off that damn tiara!)
