Spring Break
Suggestions on how to solve daunting federal problems
Seth Stern
Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: Opinion
Since the New Year, President Barack Obama executed several unsurprising acts and two complete bombshells.
Last week, Obama's Justice Department moved to block an injunction sought by left-wing organizations and gun-control groups. The injunction would overturn a policy, studied for two years and signed in January, allowing concealed weapons to be carried in national parks.
This could be the result of advice from former President Clinton, who knows the consequences of infringing on gun rights, but don't count on rationale to endure forever.
Twenty-four hours later we learned Obama's stance against the Fairness Doctrine -- the Federal Communications Commission rule that requires broadcasters to discuss issues in an equitable manner -- became official. In two days, Obama stood up to several powerful liberal organizations and members of his own party desiring the return of the Fairness Doctrine. Beware, as one hand giveth, the other may taketh away.
Nevertheless, this previously unused ability to say "no" to liberals may signal hope for those shrewdly shunning the blue Kool-Aid.
We need tremendous restructuring to solve daunting problems at the federal level. I offer my suggestions.
The 2008 military budget was near $700 billion; trim that by forcing Iraq to use their surplus to rebuild their country, and a couple hundred billion more by withdrawing forces in stable sovereign nations. The U.S. shouldn't pay to provide protection to foreign nations and employment for local nationals on foreign bases. We certainly shouldn't do it while enduring our second depression.
Europe, Asia and all overseas operations should stand down except for short-term joint training missions and actual combat zones. Reduce funding for military technology development, we are by far the most advanced military on Earth. Until challenged we have to cut back.
Leave firearms completely alone; the industry is booming. Even in this recession firearms sales generate tax revenues. The law-abiding can and generally do only use firearms lawfully. Gun control legislation has never affected crime at any level.
Last week, Obama's Justice Department moved to block an injunction sought by left-wing organizations and gun-control groups. The injunction would overturn a policy, studied for two years and signed in January, allowing concealed weapons to be carried in national parks.
This could be the result of advice from former President Clinton, who knows the consequences of infringing on gun rights, but don't count on rationale to endure forever.
Twenty-four hours later we learned Obama's stance against the Fairness Doctrine -- the Federal Communications Commission rule that requires broadcasters to discuss issues in an equitable manner -- became official. In two days, Obama stood up to several powerful liberal organizations and members of his own party desiring the return of the Fairness Doctrine. Beware, as one hand giveth, the other may taketh away.
Nevertheless, this previously unused ability to say "no" to liberals may signal hope for those shrewdly shunning the blue Kool-Aid.
We need tremendous restructuring to solve daunting problems at the federal level. I offer my suggestions.
The 2008 military budget was near $700 billion; trim that by forcing Iraq to use their surplus to rebuild their country, and a couple hundred billion more by withdrawing forces in stable sovereign nations. The U.S. shouldn't pay to provide protection to foreign nations and employment for local nationals on foreign bases. We certainly shouldn't do it while enduring our second depression.
Europe, Asia and all overseas operations should stand down except for short-term joint training missions and actual combat zones. Reduce funding for military technology development, we are by far the most advanced military on Earth. Until challenged we have to cut back.
Leave firearms completely alone; the industry is booming. Even in this recession firearms sales generate tax revenues. The law-abiding can and generally do only use firearms lawfully. Gun control legislation has never affected crime at any level.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 10
Jordan Kelly
posted 2/24/09 @ 1:36 AM MST
The article missed the moral issues that pertain to general government intervention in the economy but that is not something I have come to expect and particularly not during the age of Obama. (Continued…)
CSU Grad
posted 2/25/09 @ 8:59 AM MST
Hey, I have an idea...
Why not auction us off on E-Bay? We could pay off the national debt and maybe, just maybe get someone to own us that actually knows what they are doing. (Continued…)
Citizen
posted 2/25/09 @ 10:06 AM MST
The big city mayors foolishly blame the firearms and not the criminal element somehow believing if their city were a gun free zone,.. the gangs and criminals would no longer be violent. (Continued…)
Arvensis
posted 2/27/09 @ 1:21 PM MST
"Thomas Jefferson had it right: "when the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty" and "liberty" is about forty seventh on the list of the top ten things the left or the right care about. (Continued…)
The Left
posted 2/27/09 @ 1:42 PM MST
Nope, delusion is a result of your conspiracy theory. The left does not want to ban guns. My point in using the "right" and the "left" is to highlight the stupidity of talking about gun rights in terms of "left" and "right". (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 2/27/09 @ 7:42 PM MST
Response to Sneed Hearn:
Pin-point accuracy with that quote from Thomas Jefferson.
It's great to know there are still a few thinkers scattered here and there, all along the watchtower. (Continued…)
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