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This
evening President Bush will deliver his annual State of the Union
Address. If the event runs true to form, we can expect a parade of
Republican feel good statements that will be applauded by other Republicans and
a parade of Democrat feel good criticisms that will be applauded by other
Democrats. Very little of what is said will be authentically
dedicated to real issues and very little of what is real will be turned to
authentic action. The low approval ratings for the President and
Congress will likely be validated.
In
advance of the evening, I wanted to take 10 personal shots at what a real
issues-real solutions State of the Union Address might cover.
For brevity, I will offer a list and skip the rhetoric. We
will be getting enough of that later this evening.
The
Economy
Problems-
We are in trouble due to our failure to live within our means, address
unfair practices by our trade partners, enforce our domestic laws, simplify the
tax code, and address core issues on a timely and effective basis.
Solutions-
(1) Commit to reforming the tax code within 1 year - a consumption tax
offers the most distinct advantages. (2) Assume a no yield position against
trade partners (China, Japan, etc.) who practice unfair policies. (3) Make tax
cuts permanent with an attached balanced budget requirement.
Energy
Policy
Problems-
Through oil imports, we are funding those who support terror and
dysfunction in the Middle East and mortgaging our future to those who wish us
harm. Fuel costs are draining the discretionary income of the
average family.
Solutions-
(1) Cut the taxes on all domestic oil exploration and production and
offer incentives to energy pioneers. (2) Look to France as a model of safe and
cost effective use of nuclear power - get moving on the 21st
century. (3) Open Alaska, our oceans, and other "envirojacked" areas for
exploration - do it cleanly, as we are able to do.
Education
Problems-
We have a 30% dropout rate for all students and over 50% for all
minorities and a mental dropout rate (poor skills and retained knowledge) that
is even higher. This is a miserable rate of failure in an
increasingly competitive world.
Solutions-
(1)
Remove the stranglehold that unions, government agencies, and tenure have on our
schools. (2) In that money does not improve education, begin rewarding schools
for performance versus need. (3) Concentrate on two words - relationships and
accountability - reestablish local authority over both.
Illegal
Immigration
Problems-
This is the greatest government sponsored criminal enterprise in
America's history - jointly supported by both political parties.
We have gone from a nourishing rain to an overwhelming flood of poorly
absorbed and unaccountable illegal immigrants. We should fix the
leak in the boat before we repair the motor.
Solutions-
(1) Begin funding and enforcing our existing laws - empower state and
local authorities. (2) Immediately deport any undocumented alien who breaks the
law - any law. (3) Enforce our borders and implement stiff penalties for anyone
who employs an undocumented alien.
Iraq
Problems-
We
are entangled in an unpopular and expensive war with a poorly defined mission
and foggy potential outcome.
Solutions-
(1) Keep our troops on their bases as the Iraqi government has
requested. (2) Use airpower against any country that intrudes on Iraqi
sovereignty with weapons or personnel. (3) Hold an Iraqi referendum on our
presence - begin a phased withdrawal without a 70% vote supporting our
presence.
War
on Terror
Problems-
We are losing the PR battle at home and abroad with our use of torture,
circumventing our laws, and holding people without due process.
Nonetheless, much has been done right - that we have not had another
domestic attack speaks volumes.
Solutions-
(1) Disavow torture and circumventing due process and our laws - we will
not win by abandoning our principles. (2) Renew and expand our efforts to get
Osama bin Laden - bring him to justice in a decisive fashion. (3) Hold
terror-supporting countries - like Syria and Iran - fully accountable - use
airpower to make our point.
Health
Care
Problems-
We have a hybrid health care delivery system that is stuck somewhere
between the opportunities of a free enterprise system and the control of
socialized medicine. Costs and access are a major concern to most
Americans.
Solutions-
(1) Fully fund all government health programs to stop shifting real costs
to those with private health care insurance. (2) Provide tax rebates to support
Americans in purchasing private coverage - keep healthcare out of government
hands. (3) Reduce legal vulnerabilities and regulatory controls - allow free
market economy to work its magic on medicine.
Social
Security
Problems-
We have an unsustainable system that is quickly working toward bankruptcy
and excessive debt for our children. For too long government
bureaucrats and excessive entitlement demands that were not intended to be a
part of the social security program have robbed these funds.
Solutions-
(1)
Stop government from borrowing from social security funds and require that they
begin repaying IOU's. (2) Spread the accountabilities for patching the system
fairly - begin by raising retirement age to 67. (3) Return the program to its
original purpose - create and fund other entitlements separately.
Deficit
Spending
Problems-
America
is becoming a debtor nation that is borrowing on the futures of our children and
grandchildren. The national debt exceeds 9 trillion dollars and we
have over 50 trillion in promised future entitlements. Much of
that debt is owned by foreign countries that use it to blackmail us into
accepting unfair trade practices.
Solutions-
(1) Line item veto, a balanced budget amendment, and binding rules
preventing hidden or attached earmarks. (2) Freeze all government budgets and
do not replace retirees. (3) Cut taxes and the rainbow of unnecessary and
inefficient federal programs they support.
The
Environment
Problems-
The
science behind global warming has been clouded to a point precluding reasoned
deliberation. The importance of clean air and water are not up for
debate - responsible environmental action certainly should be.
Solutions-
(1) Illuminate the real science first - then establish policies to match
the authentic realities - guessing is not science. (2) Avoid feel good
initiatives like corn-based ethanol that are expensive and add to world's food
problems. (3) Incent nuclear power, hydroelectric, and other clean, cost
effective and efficient technologies.
Current
events call for something better than business as usual this evening. It will
be my pleasure to be proven wrong in anticipating something
less.
Carl
Mumpower
11th District Republican Congressional Candidate
#45
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