May
6, 2011
A
Citizen's Ideas For Fixing Our Nation's Problems
I
have often been asked to stop just pointing out all of our nation's
problems and complaining about the condition of our country and
instead suggest some fixes. I always responded by saying that any of
us ordinary citizens could come up with a pretty good list of fixes
if asked. Recently an 81 year old pen pal of mine named Betty Leggitt
sent me the following as her ideas for fixing the good ship America.
I was impressed by her common sense and easily understood
suggestions. I asked her permission to publish this and to name her
as the author. Fortunately she agreed and so here's what Betty thinks
need to be done. My point in sharing this is to simply point out that
many voters and all of our elected certainly understand what needs to
be done...they simply don't have the courage to confront these
problems with any real actions. Too many voters on each side are so
rigidly attached to their party of choice that they can't even
consider a more collaborative approach. For our politicians in
Washington, getting re-elected is far more important than fixing the
many challenges that will eventually result in great harm to our
children and grandchildren. Betty knows this, I know it, and I
suspect that most of you do too. What ever happened to common sense?
My thanks to Betty.
Dear
Mike, These are my ideas for fixing what's wrong in America today:
Do
not excuse the citizens from responsibility for our broken
government, too many have been buying into the nanny state of big
government by asking the government to provide, instead of being self
sufficient. After decades of this we are now in a crisis situation
and government, as we know it must end, be restructured and
downsized. The National debt is in the stratosphere with no
indication that this Administration and Congress have any intention
of stopping the rise. Our credit rating has been lowered with
indications that it may drop again. This Administration has no
budget and has not produced one since taking office.
Not all voters try to educate themselves on who they vote for which leads to the election of politicians that are unqualified for the office. Greed, corruption, and ignorance will eventually bring down America. Constant monitoring and vigilance will slow down the greed and corruption, which has been a problem since time began. However, ignorance is not a sin or a disease and can be cured but only if the desire is there to be cured.
The race card and class warfare are tearing the country apart. Respect for each other has disappeared and most of this has happened because of the political rhetoric, the news media, and the entertainment industry. Social Security , Medicare, Medicare Part D all must be restructured. Our life span has gone from 61 to 80 since 1937 - change the eligibility age to reflect the increase in life span. Medicaid, Food Stamps, Welfare and Disability: More oversight is needed to assure these programs are not being abused.
Close all federal tax loopholes. Simplify the code so that most people can file their return without the expense of a CPA.
Department of Education: Eliminate this entire agency. Education must be returned to the States. County schools will bring the parents back into the education system, provide a better curriculum, safer schools and involvement of local people in the education system. Mega Schools and busing should never have been instituted, this was social engineering at the expense of quality education.
Massively reduce regulations and rules. Too many agencies have been granted too much power to regulate and create laws that make it impossible to start up new businesses, and allow established businesses to grow. This burden has caused some businesses to fail. All rules, laws,and regulations by all agencies must be discarded if they stand in the way of progress. There is a need for rules, regulations and laws but they must be to only to protect the people, not hinder progress. Duplications of agency services must be eliminated. Close all unnecessary offices.
Earmarks must not be allowed. All requests for money from the Treasury must come without earmarks. Each request must stand on its own merits with clarification and justification for the expense.
Lobbyists have far too much influence. They must be required to reveal to the citizens who they represent, their agenda, and who they are seeking audience with in Congress.
Political correctness must be curtailed. This is just a way of avoiding the truth. Stop this nonsense.
No more bailouts. We have in place a very good system - Bankruptcy, It has worked for individuals as well as businesses and will continue to serve the purpose of helping people and businesses come back to solvency.
Government sponsored businesses must never be allowed. There should never have been, and never again should the government be in the venture capitol business. That is gambling with tax payer money.
Not all voters try to educate themselves on who they vote for which leads to the election of politicians that are unqualified for the office. Greed, corruption, and ignorance will eventually bring down America. Constant monitoring and vigilance will slow down the greed and corruption, which has been a problem since time began. However, ignorance is not a sin or a disease and can be cured but only if the desire is there to be cured.
The race card and class warfare are tearing the country apart. Respect for each other has disappeared and most of this has happened because of the political rhetoric, the news media, and the entertainment industry. Social Security , Medicare, Medicare Part D all must be restructured. Our life span has gone from 61 to 80 since 1937 - change the eligibility age to reflect the increase in life span. Medicaid, Food Stamps, Welfare and Disability: More oversight is needed to assure these programs are not being abused.
Close all federal tax loopholes. Simplify the code so that most people can file their return without the expense of a CPA.
Department of Education: Eliminate this entire agency. Education must be returned to the States. County schools will bring the parents back into the education system, provide a better curriculum, safer schools and involvement of local people in the education system. Mega Schools and busing should never have been instituted, this was social engineering at the expense of quality education.
Massively reduce regulations and rules. Too many agencies have been granted too much power to regulate and create laws that make it impossible to start up new businesses, and allow established businesses to grow. This burden has caused some businesses to fail. All rules, laws,and regulations by all agencies must be discarded if they stand in the way of progress. There is a need for rules, regulations and laws but they must be to only to protect the people, not hinder progress. Duplications of agency services must be eliminated. Close all unnecessary offices.
Earmarks must not be allowed. All requests for money from the Treasury must come without earmarks. Each request must stand on its own merits with clarification and justification for the expense.
Lobbyists have far too much influence. They must be required to reveal to the citizens who they represent, their agenda, and who they are seeking audience with in Congress.
Political correctness must be curtailed. This is just a way of avoiding the truth. Stop this nonsense.
No more bailouts. We have in place a very good system - Bankruptcy, It has worked for individuals as well as businesses and will continue to serve the purpose of helping people and businesses come back to solvency.
Government sponsored businesses must never be allowed. There should never have been, and never again should the government be in the venture capitol business. That is gambling with tax payer money.
Sincerely
yours,
Betty
Leggitt, Columbus, NC
I
could add to this list of ideas...but my number one choice is to
replace all incumbents and start fresh with new lawmakers...they
could hardly do worse.
These
are Betty's ideas. What are yours?
Mike
Tower
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