Post by Tim Collins on Feb 15, 2009 10:39:02 GMT -7
The combined Congress of The United States just passed what has been described as the largest spending bill in our history. They did so according to members of both houses have stated without even reading the final document. It is done. So now the debates are starting, after the fact, and everyone is focusing on perceived flaws in the legislation and in the process by which it was passed. All of this is a waste of time. The bill has been passed and the debt growth is going to begin. Hopefully with the accompanying intended effect of reviving the economy.
Where do we go from here?
For the average responsible citizen the logical action upon taking on debt, for example when buying a home, is to have a plan for meeting those debt obligations. The responsible citizen develops a budget, plans their spending to match their obligations and sticks to the plan to both keep their home and continue to enjoy life. The hope is to reduce their debt while growing their income.
Can we expect our government to take the same approach? I fear not, but if our government is wise it will try to do so.
If we wish to act responsibly in this era of newly created and astronomical debt, then we must take some necessary steps to prioritize our national spending. Listed below, in no particular order and presented as only starting points for discussion are my thoughts on what we can do.
Prioritize payment of our obligations.
Let us begin by returning the word TRUST to established trust funds such as the Social Security TRUST Fund, the Highway TRUST fund and others that can be identified in the maze we call the Federal Government.
I propose that all funds collected through our tax system and earmarked for these funds, be placed in actual banking accounts and left untouchable for any purpose other than that for which they were intended.
Starting during the Viet Nam War Congress recognized that when funding for the war was denied by congress, it could borrow from Social Security to pay the bills. Since that time the borrowing has not stopped and the loans were accounted for "off-budget". Let us end this charade or borrowing from Peter (the designated beneficiaries of social security) to pay Paul (the pet projects of our elected officials/administrations).
TRUST it should have some meaning.
Revise House Rules for presenting the Budget for a vote.
The "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" Commonly called "The Stimulus Act", all 1100 unread pages of it clearly demonstrated the impossibility of considered debate for budget bills by Congress.
The annual budget process of the Federal Government creates similarly large pieces of legislation every year. I suspect these bills are too passed with only a cursory review of the final document. Granted during their development myriads of staffers and even key legislators in committees review areas near and dear to their own interests, but even when the final bill is complete how many can say they understand the bill in its entirety. Too few if any I would suggest.
Under The U.S. Constitution, Congress, specifically the House of Representatives is charged with writing the budget, The Senate is given the chance to review and consent. Over the years, under the power granted by The Constitution, The House and The Senate have developed rules for meeting this budget process obligation. Basically The House and The Senate through their respective committees write their own versions of a budget and then form a joint committee to reconcile the bills.
The end result is then voted on in its entirety. Much like the stimulus bill, it is a massive document and the individual members of both houses vote based upon instruction from their parties through the committee members.
Let us demand that Congress re write their own rules (as is their right) to present the budget by Federal Department instead of voting on an all or none basis. The current process makes it much too easy to consent to the wishes of the most successful of the lobbying groups, and too easy to insert earmarks under the threat of -"there is too much necessary funding in this bill to allow it to fail because of some small amount that is questionable".
Let us also demand that a separate section of the budget be developed specifically for earmarks. As citizens we have become enamored of our politicians by rating them on how much bacon they bring home from Washington. A sad measurement of congressional ability, but alas a common one. Let us put these earmarks out on the table and make them plain for all to see. Perhaps the very open nature of such a section in the budget would provide restraint for the most wasteful of the earmarks, if not that then at least we could have some debate on the issues individually.
In the past some have called for a Presidential line item veto to achieve the same end. This is a pipe dream as it is patently unconstitutional, and I am glad it is so. The founding fathers of this nation devised this check and balance intentionally. Congress controls the purse strings to restrain a President from acquiring "Royal" powers through financial favors. In theory The House, as representatives of the people, would show better restraint on spending, and The Senate, the representatives of individual States would restrain The House from usurping States Rights with the budgeting process.
Congress is charged with controlling the public purse. Let us demand that they show both transparency in process and priorities in spending.
Debt Reduction
As we move forward with this stimulus spending, let us demand a plan for payment of the debt incurred, and an on-going method to reduce debt in general.
In the 1980s we watched many countries, particularly in Central and South America, struggle for survival under heavy foreign debt loads. Do we wish for the US to also see this fate? No we do not. National strength is more than a massive military. Financial strength has been a hallmark of this nation since at least the post civil war era. We must return to the idea that debt, while necessary, must also be controlled and our obligations met.
The only way to achieve a reduction in debt is to control unneeded spending and develop a payment plan for buying back our international borrowings.
This is only a rough draft of ideas. I will expound further as time permits, but I welcome any and all ideas you may have on how we instill financial discipline in our government, while taking care of our national priorities. Those priorities in my mind are:
1. Taking care of the weakest/neediest of our citizens. The elderly, the disabled, the very young, the impoverished. Building systems that give a hand up when needed, and a hand out as needed.
2. Our National Military Defense. The object of maintaining a strong military, in all its forms, is to deter the aggression of others TOWARD the US. Our military must be maintained at the size and with the strength necessary so that anyone wishing us ill, must think long and hard at the consequences they will suffer from our ability to strike back. Our military exists to protect us, not the world.
3. Humanitarian assistance to anyone anywhere in times of natural disaster. Perhaps we need to consider forming a military like force whose sole job is to respond immediately to disasters such as Katrina, the tidal wave, etc. This force should be organized in a command and control system like our military, but staffed with specialist in field medicine, environmental recovery, utilities, transportation and housing. My view is that in an hours notice, hospital ships, helicopters, food, shelter and all needed materials should be on their way to assist a disaster of any size.
Service in this force should be counted much like military service and receive the same benefits - IE "we don't ask for experience we give it" on the lower ranks, and for professionals such as doctors and engineers - join this service and for each 2 years of service 1 year of your tuition costs will be forgiven.
Again just starting points for discussion.
Where do we go from here?
For the average responsible citizen the logical action upon taking on debt, for example when buying a home, is to have a plan for meeting those debt obligations. The responsible citizen develops a budget, plans their spending to match their obligations and sticks to the plan to both keep their home and continue to enjoy life. The hope is to reduce their debt while growing their income.
Can we expect our government to take the same approach? I fear not, but if our government is wise it will try to do so.
If we wish to act responsibly in this era of newly created and astronomical debt, then we must take some necessary steps to prioritize our national spending. Listed below, in no particular order and presented as only starting points for discussion are my thoughts on what we can do.
Prioritize payment of our obligations.
Let us begin by returning the word TRUST to established trust funds such as the Social Security TRUST Fund, the Highway TRUST fund and others that can be identified in the maze we call the Federal Government.
I propose that all funds collected through our tax system and earmarked for these funds, be placed in actual banking accounts and left untouchable for any purpose other than that for which they were intended.
Starting during the Viet Nam War Congress recognized that when funding for the war was denied by congress, it could borrow from Social Security to pay the bills. Since that time the borrowing has not stopped and the loans were accounted for "off-budget". Let us end this charade or borrowing from Peter (the designated beneficiaries of social security) to pay Paul (the pet projects of our elected officials/administrations).
TRUST it should have some meaning.
Revise House Rules for presenting the Budget for a vote.
The "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" Commonly called "The Stimulus Act", all 1100 unread pages of it clearly demonstrated the impossibility of considered debate for budget bills by Congress.
The annual budget process of the Federal Government creates similarly large pieces of legislation every year. I suspect these bills are too passed with only a cursory review of the final document. Granted during their development myriads of staffers and even key legislators in committees review areas near and dear to their own interests, but even when the final bill is complete how many can say they understand the bill in its entirety. Too few if any I would suggest.
Under The U.S. Constitution, Congress, specifically the House of Representatives is charged with writing the budget, The Senate is given the chance to review and consent. Over the years, under the power granted by The Constitution, The House and The Senate have developed rules for meeting this budget process obligation. Basically The House and The Senate through their respective committees write their own versions of a budget and then form a joint committee to reconcile the bills.
The end result is then voted on in its entirety. Much like the stimulus bill, it is a massive document and the individual members of both houses vote based upon instruction from their parties through the committee members.
Let us demand that Congress re write their own rules (as is their right) to present the budget by Federal Department instead of voting on an all or none basis. The current process makes it much too easy to consent to the wishes of the most successful of the lobbying groups, and too easy to insert earmarks under the threat of -"there is too much necessary funding in this bill to allow it to fail because of some small amount that is questionable".
Let us also demand that a separate section of the budget be developed specifically for earmarks. As citizens we have become enamored of our politicians by rating them on how much bacon they bring home from Washington. A sad measurement of congressional ability, but alas a common one. Let us put these earmarks out on the table and make them plain for all to see. Perhaps the very open nature of such a section in the budget would provide restraint for the most wasteful of the earmarks, if not that then at least we could have some debate on the issues individually.
In the past some have called for a Presidential line item veto to achieve the same end. This is a pipe dream as it is patently unconstitutional, and I am glad it is so. The founding fathers of this nation devised this check and balance intentionally. Congress controls the purse strings to restrain a President from acquiring "Royal" powers through financial favors. In theory The House, as representatives of the people, would show better restraint on spending, and The Senate, the representatives of individual States would restrain The House from usurping States Rights with the budgeting process.
Congress is charged with controlling the public purse. Let us demand that they show both transparency in process and priorities in spending.
Debt Reduction
As we move forward with this stimulus spending, let us demand a plan for payment of the debt incurred, and an on-going method to reduce debt in general.
In the 1980s we watched many countries, particularly in Central and South America, struggle for survival under heavy foreign debt loads. Do we wish for the US to also see this fate? No we do not. National strength is more than a massive military. Financial strength has been a hallmark of this nation since at least the post civil war era. We must return to the idea that debt, while necessary, must also be controlled and our obligations met.
The only way to achieve a reduction in debt is to control unneeded spending and develop a payment plan for buying back our international borrowings.
This is only a rough draft of ideas. I will expound further as time permits, but I welcome any and all ideas you may have on how we instill financial discipline in our government, while taking care of our national priorities. Those priorities in my mind are:
1. Taking care of the weakest/neediest of our citizens. The elderly, the disabled, the very young, the impoverished. Building systems that give a hand up when needed, and a hand out as needed.
2. Our National Military Defense. The object of maintaining a strong military, in all its forms, is to deter the aggression of others TOWARD the US. Our military must be maintained at the size and with the strength necessary so that anyone wishing us ill, must think long and hard at the consequences they will suffer from our ability to strike back. Our military exists to protect us, not the world.
3. Humanitarian assistance to anyone anywhere in times of natural disaster. Perhaps we need to consider forming a military like force whose sole job is to respond immediately to disasters such as Katrina, the tidal wave, etc. This force should be organized in a command and control system like our military, but staffed with specialist in field medicine, environmental recovery, utilities, transportation and housing. My view is that in an hours notice, hospital ships, helicopters, food, shelter and all needed materials should be on their way to assist a disaster of any size.
Service in this force should be counted much like military service and receive the same benefits - IE "we don't ask for experience we give it" on the lower ranks, and for professionals such as doctors and engineers - join this service and for each 2 years of service 1 year of your tuition costs will be forgiven.
Again just starting points for discussion.