Buy American

Do you want to help create jobs in the US?  Refuse to purchase products not made in the USA.

The next time you go shopping, check the made in label on each item you consider.  If it does not say USA, don’t buy it. Find and purchase an item that is made in the USA.  If you cannot find one, complain to the store management.

Only through consistent consumer action will retailers get the message.  As retailers start demanding US made products from their suppliers, US manufacturers will start ramping up production to meet the demand.

Now there will be a cost. US made products will cost more in most cases.  However, the increase in US employment will help with all of those pesky government costs like unemployment insurance, the deficit, food stamps, and Medi-Cal (Medicaid).  As more are employed, the use of these programs will go down and so will the cost.

Also, how many of you have called a customer service line and been connected to a call center in India, China, The Philippines, Mexico, etc?  Demand that the companies you deal with connect you to a representative in the United States.

Only when consumers start demanding it will the corporations start providing it.

What would minimum Federal Government Look like?

In his blog on Huffington post Robert Reich pointed out that Rick Perry’s desire to minimize the Federal Government would save the Blue States from the Red states.  As most Blue states are donor states.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/post_2351_b_943232.html

I thought what a minimum Federal Government would look like. Here are some possible outcomes:

1.    No Department of Education

2.    No Department of Transportation

3.    No Department of Health and Human Services (including Social Security and Medicare)

4.    No Labor Department

5.    No Agriculture Department (no Farm Subsidies)

6.    No Energy Department

7.    A scaled back Justice Department

8.    A scaled back Commerce Department

The functions performed by these departments would have to be picked up by the states.  This would be difficult in all states.  State taxes would have to be raised to cover the losses of Federal funds.  This would most likely in a net tax reduction in donor states like California but result in huge state tax increases in recipient states. 

I wonder how that would go over with the right wing supporters of Mr. Perry?

It’s Time to reorganize our Military

The United States needs to change the mission of the US Military from world policemen to defense of the United States. 

Since World War II the United States has maintained a Military capability to fight wars anywhere in the world.  Why?  The Defense Department should only be concerned with defending our country.  We have no need to for thousands of troops in Europe, Korea, and Japan.

NATO was created to oppose the threat from the Soviet Union.  The Soviet Union dissolved years ago.  Why is NATO still around?  They are there to stop an enemy that no longer exists.  Why has NATO not been disbanded?  We could save Billions annually by returning those troops home.

The US has maintained operations in Okinawa since the end of World War II.  Why? Japan has the resources to defend itself and could do so without our military. 

The US has maintained a force in Korea since the end of that war. Again, the South Koreans have the resources and resolve to defend themselves.  US Troops are not needed there.

Redeploying the US military to defend our own borders would allow us to control the violence along our southern border, while scaling down the military and saving billions of dollars annually.

Also, a scaled down military would serve as a deterrent to a future president that may want to go on another war adventure in some country for oil, glory or political advantage.

Add to that the ending of US occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan.  We can then pursue a policy of not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.  Think of how much attention we could then give to solving our problems here at home.

Time for the President to Take Charge

Donna Brazile published this today on CNN.COM

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/08/12/obama.control/index.html?eref=igoogledmn_topstories

Congress has shown that it has neither the will nor the ability to handle the nation’s economic problems. The so called super committee will accomplish nothing.  President Obama needs to start channeling George W Bush and issue some Executive Orders.

First, Declare an Economic State of Emergency.

Then Put the lawyers to work to find the loopholes that allow him to spend existing funds on creating jobs.  For example the Federal Highway trust fund can be used to repair roads and bridges. 

Order his departments to redirect their funds to creating jobs.  Get people back to work they will buy stuff and the economy will get back on track.

If the obstructions in Congress don’t like they can try to stop him.  I’ll bet they will complain but do nothing.

What we need is a President with the courage to act while Congress postures.  It is an opportunity for the President to stake out the territory of the best interests of the country over politics as normal. 

That will win him more support than anything else.  With public support, Congress will fall in line.

Extreme Ideology Does Not Help

As our nation’s problems are debated, more extreme viewpoints are being heard.  These extremist opinions offer no solutions.  They serve only to make things worse. 

Extreme opinions serve only to widen the gap between the different camps in our political and social spectrum. 

This inability to reach consensus creates the gridlock the Silent Majority so despises.  Most Americans would prefer that government work to ensure that what needs to be done gets done.  That is not happening. 

Right now our Federal and State Government are a bad imitation of the Three Stooges.  The House is being held hostage by tea baggers.  The Senate won’t even consider anything coming from the House because the tea baggers won’t talk to any Democrats.

If Washington continues to be dysfunctional, how long, before states start deciding to go it alone and dump DC?

Texas Gov. Perry has already advocated Texas succession.  If things don’t change the idea may well catch on with other states. 

That would spell the end of the United States.

The problem is just as bad in our State Government.  Extreme ideologies on both ends make event the simple task of creating a state budget almost impossible. 

My advice to elected representatives both state and federal: DO YOUR JOBS.

1.    Collect and wisely spend the people’s money.
2.    Do what is necessary to provide necessary infrastructure.
3.    Pass and enforce laws necessary for a stable society.
4.    Shut up unless you have something useful to say.

Has the US become too polarized to Govern?

The recent legislative battle over the debt ceiling has pointed out the growing political polarization of the US.  This polarization is now getting in the way of effective government.

Paul Starobin wrote this article for the Wall Street Journal in 2009 on splitting up the US.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204482304574219813708759806.html

Texas Governor Perry has already advocated Texas succeeding from the union.  Perhaps California should consider it also.

As a donor state California sends more money to DC that we get back in services from the Federal Government. That money could be better spent in California. Either by individuals in the form of lower taxes or by in the more directed state services.

I am apparently not the first to have this idea.

http://calrepublic.tripod.com/  already had a proposed declaration of Independence for California.

Ideological Purity

There is a move on both ends of the political spectrum to enforce purity of ideology.  The problem with this trend is that no one ideology has a sufficient majority to run the country. 

The radical right wants to turn this country into a fiefdom for the rich.  The radical left wants to make the rich as poor as the lowest among us.   Both ends despise the middle where most Americans are

The Right wants to cut spending except for the Defense industry and corporate subsidies.  The Left wants to tax businesses out of existence.  

Neither side wants to talk to the other.  Both ends are not talking to the middle. 

This bodes ill for the country.  Since neither of the extremes holds a majority in both houses, or a veto proof majority in either house. Their ability to govern according to these principles is non-existent. 

We need to return to the middle if we want to actually solve the problems that plague our country.

If you don’t believe ideological can be disastrous, lust look at the California legislature.  No middle and nothing gets done.

Dump the Dollar Bill

In the frantic search for ways to save federal tax dollars, one option has been overlooked. Dump the paper dollar bill and use instead a dollar coin.

Coins have a 30 year life span compared to the 40 month life of a typical paper dollar. The savings could be in the millions of dollars per year.

Just Vote on the Debt Ceiling

Washington has gotten itself tied in knots over the current debt ceiling negotiations. The argument is not over the debt ceiling itself but on the add-ons demanded by the various interest groups.

Here is a radical concept. Just vote on a bill with the debt ceiling increase only. Leave the tax and spending negotiations for another day. This will solve the immediate problem and allow more time for the other issues to be settled.

Of course, it will require congress to act like adults. That may be a bit too much to ask.

Bankruptcy for California

Should California declare Bankruptcy?  Given the unending budget problems this state has, Bankruptcy would seem to be the only solution. 

There are legal issues however.  Currently there is no chapter in the Bankruptcy law to allow a state to declare Bankruptcy.  I have therefore sent the following letter to Congressman McNerney’s office urging him to introduce a bill that will add a chapter to the Bankruptcy to allow states to declare Bankruptcy and outline the procedure for a state bankruptcy.  I have also sent the same letter to Senators Boxer and Feinstein.

If you agree, I suggest you write or email them as well.

Dear Congressman McNerney:

I am writing to urge you to introduce legislation to amend the US Bankruptcy laws to allow states to declare Bankruptcy.  The ongoing budget issues in California are at a point where the survival of California as a state is now in question.

The law should be changed to allow California to declare Bankruptcy.  This includes the ability to void state labor contracts, reorganize pension plans, Void state contracts with vendors and if necessary amend the state constitution. 

It appears that only through the bankruptcy process can California get its financial house in order.

I urge you to submit this legislation as soon as possible.