Government Priorities in the U.S.

End Corrupt Practices

The days of letting business select our elected officials is over.  There was a time when this worked, but it no longer does.  What’s good for business is no longer good for individual citizens. 

Government’s main priority should be to rid itself of the corrupt practices it has accumulated over the past 120 years. Governing can no longer be left to those least equipped to do it correctly. Psychopaths, Communists, narcissists, con-men and flim flam artists need not apply.

Our current method of campaign financing has led to government by special interests and big money.  Only registered voters should be allowed to contribute to candidates who would appear on their ballots.  Let special interests exercise their free speech on their own websites. 

Our current method of vetting candidates needs to be greatly expanded to include their website with a comprehensive, detailed resume, reasons for running, associations and positions on all issues relevant to the office. Debates should be you-tubed, posted everywhere and required to include all issues that apply and none that don’t apply.

Our current method of passing Bills is flawed by a self-inflicted array of committees and rules designed to give legislators cover.  Bills are passed with no regard for the limited powers outlined in the U.S. Constitution.  Important Laws are not enforced.  Checks and balances have eroded away. 

Limited Powers

Government activities should be limited.  It should not encroach on human nature.  This includes the unique qualities of each individual and the tendency to act in their own self-interest.  Laws should be preserved to allow peaceful resolution of disputes. We believe each person is sovereign, with God-given rights and free will to choose their actions.  They should also be allowed to suffer the consequences of their choices.

Government should be set up to support free enterprise, personal freedom of its citizens and the opportunity for individuals and family units to be self-supporting. 

Property ownership is the cornerstone of a free society and should be guaranteed, so property passes to each generation of heirs.  Mineral and water rights should be included with the property and owned by the property owner to protect its value. Laws should protect property rights, so that no group or government would be allowed to seize property without the consent of the owner and then should be paid just compensation.  Laws should protect property owners from frivolous litigation.

Human Needs

People will need clothing, shelter, clean water, food, sanitation, electricity and means to heat and cool to preserve food and comfort.  People will need to be able to read, write and do math to fulfill their responsibilities and prolong their ability to be self-supporting.  

Most of these essentials should be available for citizens to produce or purchase in a free market.  Electricity and natural gas are provided by utilities. 

Legitimate government responsibilities should be preserved to supply those items that are most economically provided by government.

Legitimate Government Functions

Water

State government should be responsible for water supplies. This includes water resources like reservoirs, pipelines, desalination plants and water purchase contracts.  There should be more than enough for citizens, agriculture and business. Every year, rain water and snow melt travels into the oceans. States should ensure that more than sufficient supplies of rain water are retained for human use. Whatever species reside in brackish waters will need to find a new home.

County government is usually responsible for clean, safe water and sanitation and waste disposal.  This includes sanitation sewers for human waste and sewage treatment plants.  Storm water drains should be managed to preserve ground water and prevent flooding.  Maintenance is required on all of these systems and should be budgeted to stay ahead of replacement schedules. 

Waste Disposal

Counties should operate land fill and recycling operations that allow solid waste to be recycled and disposed of effectively.

Roads

Roads are normally the responsibility of local government.  They should be maintained ahead of replacement schedules to save costs.  Road beds should not be allowed to deteriorate. Rail and Air facilities should be provided and maintained by the carriers. All public transit should be sold to private carriers.

Police

Police are a deterrent to crime.  Law-breakers need to know that they will be discovered, arrested, convicted and punished.  Police should concentrate on solving violent crime and home break-in response.  Police usually don’t prevent crime, but it’s great when they do.

Fire EMS

Fire fighters may be volunteer or employed depending on resources available and structures within its jurisdiction. Citizens should have charged fire extinguishers and non-flammable blankets handy to put out fires before they spread. 

Accident Response

Problems are associated with auto and personal accidents when victims’ family are not present to take charge.  Cars are towed to towing lots and charged for towing plus $15 per day for storage.  Victims are taken for a $1000 ambulance ride to designated hospitals. 

Cardiac Arrest

If a victim stops breathing, CPR should begin immediately.  You can’t wait for the ambulance.

Nonessential Government Functions

These include parks, national parks, bike lanes, walking trails, public transportation, wildlife preserves, land holding, economic development, senior centers, daycare centers, recreation centers,

Non-Government Functions

These are functions that are too important to allow government to become involved.  They include education, healthcare, the arts, labor, energy, commerce, forestry, land-use planning, wildlife preservation, foreign aid and the media,

Government Failures

The federal government has failed to operate within its enumerated powers and the end result is unsustainable debt and unfunded liabilities.

The federal government has failed to operate within the limits of its revenue. It has failed to secure its borders, maintain the balance of powers and regulate without corruption.

State governments have failed to keep the federal government from violating the 10^th amendment, but instead have succumbed to bribery for federal squander-grants. State governments have failed to provide for adequate water supplies, but have instead succumbed to extortion by the shell fish and snail darters.

Citizen Responsibility

Citizens must have property rights and the rule of law in order to survive and thrive.

Becoming Self-Supporting

You should try to make enough money to become self-supporting. The desire for independence is linked to your free will and is part of human nature.

Work

The first order of business is to discover what you love to do.  Next, try to find someone who will pay you a salary for doing that.  Later, find out if you can be self-employed doing what you love to do.  In a free society, you will need to work for a living to become self-supporting.

Transportation

If you work outside the home, you may need some way to get to work. A reliable car may be needed.

Housing

This is your responsibility. You can live wherever you can afford to live. 

Food

Laws should allow citizens to purchase their own food or raise and grow it within reasonable zoning codes. There will be no pig farms allowed near the golf course or club house.

Health

If you are lucky, you have been able to stay healthy on your own with the occasional use of antibiotics.  The human body is designed to heal itself.  You do benefit from vitamins and minerals to supplement your food that should include protein, fruits and vegetables. Flossing and brushing your own teeth is also a good idea. The rest is really too expensive to mess with.  If you get really sick, you should take bids from stand-alone out-patient surgical centers or providers in India.

Nonessentials

You may have bills for college loans, internet games, newspapers, magazines, TVs, cable service, cell phones, fish food, designer jeans and soda.  If you can avoid these nonessentials, you will have a better idea of what it actually costs to be self-sufficient.

Trade with Foreign Countries

Third-World Countries who have not provided clean water, sanitation, DDT to control malaria and other chemicals to prevent disease should not be given anything or sold anything else until they do.

These countries also need to allow citizens to purchase private property and make it possible for its citizens to work and provide their own food and shelter. 

Businesses interested in extracting raw materials from these countries will need to reach agreements with property owners.

Missionaries have inhabited third-world countries for centuries, but their lack of understanding of human nature together with being out-gunned has prevented them from being effective in helping these unfortunate souls from reforming their own governments. 

Final Thoughts

If you find that you have been unable to reform your own government, you should try to find a way to do that while you still can.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader