Dakota Beacon

“We contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.”  Winston Churchill

In America in our era, we have settled on a system of two major parties.  This is supposed to work because they are supposed to represent two distinct philosophies of government.  On the one side, the Democrats are the party of big and growing government, ostensibly to make sure that our every need is met by that government and that it will function so as to “level the playing field” – which translates into redistribution of our assets.  The other party is the Republican Party.  Their sole reason for existence in this scheme of things is to provide a contrasting philosophy and practice.  They are there to balance this tax-and-spend practice with one of private enterprise, individualism and reverence for personal property, which includes our businesses and our incomes.  This is all we need them for.  When they begin to sound like Democrats we just don’t need them any more because we already HAVE Democrats. 

As the so-called Republican “debates” drag on, it is discouraging and somewhat disconcerting in the face of the strength of the Tea Party Movement, that the Republican candidates on the whole seem to be willing to have the discussion the Democrats want – how best to tax us enough so as to sustain the growth in government and keep up the spending as if there were no tomorrow.  They seem to be competing with each other on how to come up with a tax plan that is so brilliant that we will all embrace it and love them.

People!  Could we please forget about tax plans here?  The last thing Americans desperately seeking employment and in peril of their world dissolving, want to hear about  is someone’s “9-9-9” plan or “20-20” plan or “15-15” plan or “fair tax” or “flat tax” or “everybody’s-gotta-pay-a-tax” plan.  Let’s just be honest here.  There is no tax plan ever conceived anywhere that will satisfy the appetite of this monstrous and growing government. 

Can someone out there in this Republican wilderness just STOP the talk about tax plans?  The only topic that should be under discussion is what departments and programs they are going to cut and how fast they can get it done.   

While there have been vague references by some candidates along the lines of spending cuts (Libertarians Gary Johnson and Ron Paul come to mind), the one candidate out there whose graphic suggestion resonates so far is Michele Bachmann.  Bachmann has said she would give immediate notice to the employees of the Department of Education, turn out the lights and lock the door behind her.  Stark and matter-of-fact.    Now, you will have to admit that this is much more appealing to angry and distressed citizens than having the Sheriff give them notice, turn out their lights and lock their doors.  And rightly so, for this is, in fact, the choice that we will face if we don’t stop and reverse the spending pattern immediately, The money is not there any more.

We don’t need to hear one more word about taxes because given our debt and its service and the enormous cost of this overwhelming government bureaucracy that totters on the withering shoulders of our dwindling productive class, if we took the last dime from every millionaire, the last penny from every kid’s piggy bank, shook the lint out of every pocket of every homeless person and went through the upholstery of your sofa, we could not handle this debt.

So, taxes be damned.  Let’s talk about cuts.  Instead of hearing how Rick Santorum would build up our military, let’s find out what he will cut so as to keep the doors of West Point and Annapolis open, because at this rate they must close soon.

Does the famous Mr. Cain have specifics or does he expect that everything can be propped up, business as usual, through the magic of his “9-9-9” tax scheme? 

Rick Perry seems not to have a real grasp on just what he would cut but appears to depend on notes from staff read on the way to the podium.  Anyone with a clear vision would be able to come up with names once prompted. 

There is simply no point in asking Mr. Romney.  He sounds like one of those Republicans who sound like Democrats – the kind we don’t need.

The Libertarians and Michele Bachmann seem to be the only adults at the table when in comes to the “reality factor”.  In reality, we cannot rationally discuss military adequacy, to say nothing of greatness or the strength needed to deter aggression.  Today, given our fiscal mess, that discussion would of necessity take place in the realm of fantasy.

To you eager and hungry educators out there, be advised that the golden goose is now twirling on the spit.  Don’t even ask.

If you are on Social Security, don’t get too comfortable.  The Treasury might still keep sending you checks for the same dollar amounts, but those dollars will be worthless unless we STOP THE SPENDING – NOW.  Some of you will be old enough to have been in school when they still taught us history.  If so and if memory serves, you will recall what happened to Germany in the wake of World War I.  The net result of their fiscal meltdown was desperation such that Adolf Hitler looked like an answer.  Younger folks can just google “Zimbabwe”.  (In English this means, “abject misery, hopelessness and utter despair”.)

And all the while this disaster is boiling over on the front burner, our government and its feckless executive are working overtime, planning more welfare programs, more regulations, running guns to Mexican banditos, egging on Commie Wannabes on Wall Street and on your street, hoping, doubtless, to gin up a real civil crisis that they won’t want to let go to waste – and our Great Republican Hopes are duking it out as to the best tax plan to keep picking our empty pockets so as to stoke this hungry stove.

I will give Michele Bachmann this: she is consistent.  What she tells the people of Iowa she also tells the people of New England or Florida.  She understands the absolute need to stop the hemorrhaging and to shut off the gas and water to Washington.  She’s outspoken on this and has demonstrated the courage of her strong convictions.  She has led the fight against Obamacare, against raising the national debt ceiling and against overreaching government regulation.  Ron Paul and other Libertarians have supported her but she’s been willing to stand alone if necessary.  Now she needs to forget about who is or isn’t paying enough tax and focus on the real problem: SPENDING. 

Sally Morris is a member of Americans for Constitutional Government and the Executive Committee of the Valley Tea Party Conservative Coalition.  You are invited to visit their website at “vtpcc.com”.