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Why Are Ron Paul’s Poll Numbers Improving?

September 20, 2011 By Editor 1 Comment

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Once considered a “fringe” presidential candidate, Texas Congressman Ron Paul is suddenly being taken seriously by voters and the media alike.

After finishing second to Michelle Bachmann in the recent Iowa straw poll, and having climbed into third in most polls of republican candidates (behind Rick Perry and Mitt Romney), Paul has become a force to be reckoned with. His poll numbers are improving.

So, why the sudden surge in popularity? Is it due to Paul’s debating skills or slick packaging by his handlers?

Or, could it be due to the electorate’s realization that our country faces some of the most severe economic, monetary, and security problems in its history, and Paul’s proposals for addressing them make more sense than that of any other candidate?

Unlike many of his competitors, Paul is very specific about how he would resolve our country’s many woes. According to his Ron Paul for President website, the ten-term congressman would do the following as president:

On the Economy

Veto any unbalanced budget submitted by Congress.
Refuse to raise the debt ceiling so politicians can no longer spend recklessly.
Fully audit (and then end) the Federal Reserve System, which continues to create money out of thin air to finance future debt.
End the corporate stranglehold on the White House.
Reduce gas prices by allowing offshore drilling, abolish highway motor fuel taxes, increase the mileage reimbursement rates, and offer tax credits for the use and production of natural gas vehicles.
Eliminate income, capital gains, and death taxes.

On Healthcare

Repeal ObamaCare and end its unconstitutional mandate that all Americans must carry only government-approved health insurance.
Allow purchase of health insurance across state lines.
Provide tax credits and deductions for all medical expenses.
Exempt those with terminal illnesses from the employee portion of payroll taxes.
Give a payroll deduction to any worker who is the primary caregiver for a spouse, parent, or child with a terminal illness.
Guarantee that Medicare and Medicaid funds are not raided for other purposes.
Make all Americans eligible for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and remove government-imposed barriers to obtaining HSAs.

On National Defense

Secure our national borders.
Avoid expensive land wars by using constitutional means to capture or kill terrorist leaders who attack the U.S. and plot further attacks.
End the nation-building that is increasing our debt and sacrificing the lives of our troops.
Follow the Constitution by asking Congress to declare war before one is waged.
Only send our military into conflict with a clear mission and the tools they need to accomplish it.
Ensure our veterans receive the care, benefits, and honors they have earned when they return.
Revitalize the military for the 21st century by eliminating waste in the military budget.
Stop giving rich dictators taxpayer money through foreign aid.

Are Ron Paul’s positions extreme? Some think so.

But, in an age of $1.5 trillion annual budget deficits (with 41 cents of every dollar spent
being borrowed), and a national debt in excess of $14 trillion (with $4 trillion having been added in the last 30 months alone), maybe not that extreme.

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Filed Under: Presidential Election Tagged With: congress, debt, defense, deficit, economic, economy, military, numbers, poll, Presidential Election, resolve, ron paul

Will The Debt Ceiling Compromise Actually Reduce The Deficit?

August 9, 2011 By Editor Leave a Comment

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With typical Washington hysterics, Congress struck a last-minute deal to raise the US debt ceiling, enabling the Treasury to continue borrowing and, supposedly, avoid defaulting on payments to our creditors.

The deal included neither the level of spending cuts the Republicans wanted, nor the tax increases the Democrats were looking for. Conventional wisdom says that since both sides were unsatisfied with the deal, it must have some redeeming qualities. But, since when is wisdom in Washington conventional?

The deal immediately increases the US debt ceiling by $400 billion, and allows the President to request another $500 billion increase which Congress could vote down (by attaining a veto-proof a two thirds margin). An additional increase of $1.5 trillion becomes available after a special committee identifies matching levels of spending cuts.

The agreement also calls for spending cuts of more than $900 billion over ten years, with discretionary spending being decreased by $21 billion in 2012 and $42 billion in 2013. The compromise does not include any tax increases.

The deal also creates a 12-person House and Senate special committee to identify further spending cuts. The committee must make its recommendations to Congress, which will hold an up-or-down vote (Congress cannot modify the committee’s recommendations). If the special committee fails to reach an agreement or if Congress rejects its recommendations, automatic spending cuts of at least $1.2 trillion (50% defense/50% non-defense) would go into effect.

So, will this compromise solve our debt crisis? The numbers aren’t promising.

For fiscal years 2008, 09 and 10, Congress recorded budget deficits of $1 trillion, $1.9 trillion and $1.7 trillion, respectively. The $4.6 trillion debt incurred during these three years is equivalent to total debt the US accumulated from its founding in 1789 through 1994.

Further, this agreement raises the debt ceiling from $14.3 trillion (which is 98.6% of our 2010 GNP) to $16.7 trillion. Plus, the spending cuts are “back-loaded” (discretionary spending is reduced by a mere $21 billion – 0.6% of the $3.8 trillion budget – in 2012), and can be waived in the future.

Clearly, the fact that these outrageous spending levels are up to Congress’ “discretion” is the problem.

Fortunately, the debt ceiling agreement also requires that the House of Representatives and the Senate vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.

Though passage neither assured nor likely, such an amendment is our only option for reclaiming fiscal sanity.

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Filed Under: Congress, Opinion Tagged With: congress, debt ceiling, deficit, economics, President Obama, taxes

Do Members Of Congress Serve The Public Or Themselves?

July 26, 2011 By Editor 1 Comment

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We’ve all been subjected to politicians’ flowery speeches about their selfless dedication to public service.

And, all too often, we’ve endured those same politicians’ evasive answers to questions about their unethical — and sometimes illegal — behavior while in office.

As we wade through the distortions, dishonesty and double standards, how do we retain faith in our elected officials?

The recent sad spectacle of New York Congressman Anthony Weiner sending lewd photos of himself to numerous women via Twitter illustrates this lack of accountability perfectly. When confronted with evidence of his transgressions, Weiner first claimed his account was hacked, then viciously attacked anyone attempting to clarify the numerous contradictions in his story.

Only when additional women came forward with more damning photos — several of which were taken in the Congressional gym — did Weiner admit he was lying and reluctantly resign (with his $1.2 million pension intact). Outrageous behavior indeed, but what would you expect from one of ObamaCare’s most vocal proponents who recently looked into securing healthcare waivers for New York City.

Unfortunately, there’s no shortage of such hypocrisy. There’s the censure of New York Congressman Charlie Rangel for tax evasion and the filing of misleading financial disclosure statements while he was serving as Chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

There’s the ethics investigation of California Representative Maxine Waters for intervening with federal regulators on behalf of a bank in which she and her husband had substantial investments, and where her husband once served on the board of directors.

And, there’s the recent revelation by Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank that he helped his ex-lover secure a lucrative post with Fannie Mae in 1991, while Frank was serving on the committee regulating it. Frank vigorously maintains that no conflict-of-interest took place.

With our country facing crises ranging from out-of-control federal debt to rampant unemployment to a rapidly devaluing currency, can we afford politicians so totally dismissive of the people they represent?

Nothing less than our national stability is at stake. For, why should the public respect the law when lawmakers don’t?

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Filed Under: Opinion Tagged With: Barney Frank, congress, Congressman Anthony Weiner, ethics, Maxine Waters, Obamacare, voters

We Need To Vote Out All Members Of Congress

May 24, 2011 By Editor 1 Comment

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THROW THE BUMS OUT!!!

An irrational rant by hysterical, right-wing extremists?

Actually, it’s a very rational opinion held by nearly all conservatives, most independents and a growing number of liberals. In fact, an October 2010 Rasmussen Poll revealed that “voting out every single member of Congress” was favored by 88% of Tea Party members, 38% of Democrats, and nearly two thirds of Americans overall.

Little wonder the party controlling both the White House and Congress got “shellacked” in the 2010 elections (where Republican’s gained 63 seats in the House, five seats in the Senate and added of six governorships ).

Even incumbent Republicans aren’t safe, as evidenced by the successful primary challenges several faced (just ask Utah Senator Bob Bennett or Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski). The electorate is fed up with entrenched politicians who are more concerned with accumulating power and getting reelected than with the will of their constituents.

Never was this disdain for public opinion more blatant than during the ugly legislative process that gave us Obamacare. Despite poll after poll showing the country’s clear opposition to nationalized healthcare, outrageous deals were struck to secure deciding votes.

Who can forget the “Cornhusker Kickback”? In exchange for Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson’s vote, Democratic leaders committed to full federal funding of expanded Medicaid coverage in the state (despite the fact that Obamacare slashes Medicare by $575 billion). Nelson provided the key 60th vote needed to overcome the Republican filibuster.

And, how about the “Louisiana Purchase”? In exchange for her support, Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu secured $100 million in extra Medicare subsidies (again, for voting for legislation that reduces Medicare subsidies for non-Louisiana residents).

So, what’s the answer to limiting the power of these imperial elected officials? Term limits would take a constitutional amendment, and would be vehemently opposed by the many vested interests that benefit from the current system.

An awakened and informed electorate is the best answer, and it increasingly appears that we have just that. We must continue to educate the public on governmental abuses and demand that those responsible be held accountable. And, when the elections roll around, we need to throw the bums out.

In the interim, maybe voters could secure waivers from destructive legislation. After all, over 1000 waivers from Obamacare have been granted so far.

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Filed Under: Opinion Tagged With: congress, federal government, government, politics, voting

The Perfect Storm Shows Congressional Ignorance

September 30, 2008 By Editor 2 Comments

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The financial bailout proposal is both an educational experience and a revelation of the quality of your representatives.

Clear all of the political smoke and take heed: If you ever wanted a lesson in representative government and see first hand how our representatives handle a crisis, pay close attention because you’re witnessing the process during the most opportune time as a voter.

Constitutionally, the process begins with the president exercising his limited authority by proposing a solution to this financial crisis based upon input from his advisors and cabinet members.

Using his limited presidential power to persuade, Bush takes to the air by televising his plea to the public, albeit filled with unsubstantiated scare tactics, all in an effort to convince citizens to demand immediate action by their representatives.

But, that didn’t work.

Congress, regulated by the constitution and under the growing suspicion and outrage emerging from the public, performed its constitutional duty and took its time to contemplate Secretary Paulson’s proposal, and summarily rejected it by expanding the proposal from 3 pages to 110.

That bill failed, and the economy, despite the pleas from the administration that the sky is falling, is still limping along.

The constitution is working, but our representatives aren’t.

What we’re witnessing is a house full of representatives, under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi, scrambling around and illustrating their incompetence by pointing fingers at each other because they do not know what to do.

What a perfect storm– a major crisis and an upcoming election all rolled into one.

Pay attention, John Q. Public. It’s not the presidential election that is important here, it’s your representative’s behavior and their ability to show all of us, once and for all, if they have what it takes to hold office.

If not, it’s your constitutional right to vote the incompetent ones out this November.

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Filed Under: Opinion Tagged With: congress, financial bailout, main street, Nancy Pelosi, representative governement, robert flessas, wall street