Issues - Cost of Big Government

Let's face it, the federal fovernment had grown too large ... and obtrusive. The federal government was created by the States for the sole purpose of serving the States, yet somewhere down the line it became a twisted behemoth parasiting off its creators, the States and its People. Today, this federal atrocity treats the states as though it created them. Yes, there are many self-serving clowns in Washington that wish it to be that way ... indeed, that's how they obtain and maintain power, yet it is completely backward from what our founders intended. This reversal of powers is also completely outside the authority of the United States rule of law, the Constitution.

The only legitimate and primary purpose of civil government is to safeguard the God-given rights of its citizens; namely, life, liberty, and property. Only those duties, functions, and programs specifically assigned to the federal government by the Constitution should be funded. I will fight all federal expenditures which are not specifically authorized by the U. S. Constitution. I will also actively pursue the restoration to the states all powers, programs, and sources of revenue that the federal government has hijacked.

The growth of the annual budet of the Federal government is a huge consequence of the ever rising national debt. As of this writing, on Feb 08, 2008, our national debt is $9,243,686,586,998.05. Your share of that debt is $30,376.24, the share of a family of four is, $121,504.95. Interest on this debt is one of the largest expenses of government, and unless the interest is paid, the debt will continue to grow as interest is added to interest. Then only way to get rid of this debt is to commit to a time period of paying it off, and PAY IT OFF. However we define this time period, three things must happen within that time.

• The annual reductions have to be made without fail.
• All interest must be paid as it accrues; and
• The government must not spend more than it takes in during the payoff period.

One of the greatest contributors to deficit spending is war. If the country is to get rid of debt, the United States cannot continue being involved gratuitously in constant wars. Our constitutional government, as concieved by our founders was not imperial, and was never planned to police the world at the taxpayers' expenses

I will fight for the systematic reduction of the federal debt through, but not limited to, the elimination of further borrowing and the elimination of unconstitutional programs and agencies.

The debt could be more rapidly eliminated if certain lands and other assets currently held by the federal government were sold, and the proceeds applied to the debt. This policy should be employed, and funds from the sale of all such assets should be specifically applied to debt reduction.

I reject the misleading use of the terms "surplus" and "balanced budget" as long as we have public debt. I oppose dishonest accounting practices such as "off-budget items" used unscrupulously to hide unconstitutional spending practices.

I will vote to end to the raiding by the federal government of the Social Security, Railroad Retirement and Medicare funds. Over a protracted period the Social Security system may be privatized without disadvantage to the beneficiaries of the system. However, the program has been in place since the 1930s, and workers and their employers were taxed for the program and paid in good faith. The government promised to deliver the benefits, and must meet this commitment.

I also support the abolition of the Federal Civil Service system, which is perceived to confer on government employees a "property right" regarding their jobs.