Off-topic Thoughts

Okay . . . disclaimer up-front.  I'm a Republican.  Not a "dyed in the wool" one but most Republican basic beliefs and my personal ones tend to line up fairly well.

• the less government the better
• minimize regulations
• decisions are best made as close to the individual voter as possible
• If people make decisions they must live with the consequences of their decision.

But I sure got upset at this last weekend's Republican debates.  Seems some folks suggest long-term consistent positions are a positive, and if someone has changed their positions it's bad.  Both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich were put to task for changing some of their past positions.  Seems some believe folks should always be consistent.

But I believe consistency is not always a virtue!  I'm suggesting that if someone is always consistent, it is a PROBLEM, not a virtue.

Can you imagine in baseball, if a batter always bunted, or if a pitcher always threw a curve ball what would happen?  Their stay in the major league would be very, very short!  Batters would quickly adjust to the curve ball pitcher and in just a few innings batters would just tee off on the guy!

Situations change.  And different situations call for different responses and strategies.  Change is not a four letter word.

Imagine a world where everyone stayed consistent and unyielding in their beliefs.  No compromise . . . ever.  Nothing would ever be settled.  Republicans would just always say 'No new taxes!' and Democrats would never consider significant reductions in the size and scope of government.  Republicans . . . . no revenue increases and Democrats . . . no spending cuts.  Stalemate.   And things would just continue to get worse and worse.

Oh . . . wait a minute!  That is EXACTLY what is happening today.

Republicans . . . sometimes a tax increase may be okay.  A minor increase in taxes to super high-income individuals won't halt economic growth.  These folks can still get by.  And maybe . . . just maybe . . . to pull America out of the huge deficit we're in we may need to ALL PAY A LITTLE MORE TAX!  Not forever.  But maybe for a few years, we do.

Democrats . . . we've GOT to HUGELY reduce the size of our government and our regulations.  Sure groups of people will be hurt and they will protest and complain loudly.  But America is spending WAY too much.  And if we do raise taxes some, that money has to pay off our debts.  NOT MORE SPENDING!

We all probably know in our hearts we have to 1) reduce our spending, AND 2) increase our revenues.  BOTH!  PERIOD.  So get over it and start addressing the problem.

Our elected officials have to learn to compromise and NOT always be consistent.  Things that may make sense when our economy is growing and vibrant just don't make sense when times get tough.

I really believe that the major factor influencing Americas politicians . . . Republican and Democrat . . . is striving to get re-elected.  Make the voters happy and you're re-elected.  We need to remove that as a possibility so our elected officials can focus on what is good for America and not what will get them elected again.  Term limits are mandatory but will be hard to make happen.  Not sure it that is realistic or how to really get that started.  This has been talked about for years and years and nothing ever happens . . . except more talk.

But in the mean time, it's okay to change your thinking on things.

I honestly agree with Republicans  that our real problem is WAY too much government spending.  When you take it program by program it's hard to say no.  Health care for everyone . . . sounds good!  Medicare and Medicaid . . . fantastic  And this list goes on and on!  Quite frankly it would be nice to give everyone in America a new Lexus!  But we have to be realistic.

So many American look to the government to take care of them, rather then take care of themselves.  There is a feeling of entitlement . . . that they DESERVE unlimited unemployment, etc.  They are owed!

 So to stop or cut these programs back will make folks MAD.  Lots of fussing and complaining!  And if a politician is worried about getting re-elected, they will cave.  Give the people what they want.  But we've got to cut back . . . dramatically.

I'm a believer in going to each government agency and saying . . . your funds are cut 30%.  YOU figure out how to best fulfill your agency's mission with the new level of funding.  Each agency will figure it out!  Maybe it's not an across the board 30% . . . maybe it varies agency by agency, but the cuts should be large.  And these cuts are not just one-year cuts . . . they are long term cuts.

I wouldn't have said many of these things a few years ago.  But I'm changing my mind.  Our situation has changed and my positions have migrated in response to the new environment.  So I'm not consistent.  THANK GOD!