Onward.... towards a New Day

Next in line in the Hoover Report - Ideas for Renewing American Prosperity, is an article by Heather MacDonald, a "fellow" at the Manhattan Institute, but I skipped over hers and the thoughts of some others to focus on the ongoing debate between the two reigning "powers" in our nation to focus on the thoughts of Darcy A. Olsen, President and CEO of the Goldwater Institute in Phoenix.

"Conservatives often lament, 'If could only find the next Ronald Reagan'.... The reality is that even Ronald Reagan failed to turn the tide in Washington.  The Federal government has been tightening its grip for a century.  We cannot afford to indulge in this 'knight-in-shining armor' fantasy.

But what if the solution to the Washington problem isn't in the Federalist Papers?  James Madison wrote that the Federal and State governments, each with explicit protections for liberty, would provide a 'double security'.  Alexander Hamilton argued that if either government violated the peoples' rights, 'they could make use of the other as the instrument of redress.'

The framers understood that the real rival to power is power, and the only power sufficient to to rival Washington is the collective body of the 50 states.  The Founders didn't give us one Constitution, but 51.  The Constitution provides a floor for freedom, not a ceiling.  State constitutions can augment freedoms far above the Federal baseline.

Skeptics want  to say that Federalism is dead, States have come too dependent on Washington.   That is too often true - but not always.  When the Supreme Court gutted private property rights with the Kelo decision in 2005, the solution didn't come from Washington.  Instead, 45 States strengthened their own constitutional rights.  When the Obama administration threatened to impose 'card check' rules to unfairly help Unions to organize businesses, the solution didn't come from Washington.  Instead, States drew up laws that are now protecting millions of workers.  

State citizens and State lawmakers must do what the Framers equipped us to do.  Put on the full armor of liberty.  Then it truly will be morning again in Washington." 

Do you sense this literal "breath of fresh air" coming out of the West?  While we wring our collective hands wondering what will happen if California finally dries completely up and blows away, we forget there are minds at work throughout our nation, seeking answers to the enigma posed by our politicians failing to respond to their statutory responsibilities.   That it comes out of the Goldwater Institute does not surprise me!

Who has ever heard of the Kelo decision, nine years ago?  Not I, nor do I want to suggest that I know all of the ramifications of this decision.  This I do know.  Washington isn't working.  You may want to lay it all at the feet of the Obama administration, but remember, I have been awake during every Administration since Harry Truman assumed office as our President and have voted in every Federal election since then is well.   I first saw where our government missed the mark in tying us to the problems involving the governments of North and South Korea, not only through my young eyes, but also through the minds of a friend, a Japanese Colonel who wasted away a huge portion of his life, fighting Koreans.

You think we have problems in the Middle East.  Wait to see those that come about when the North Koreans loose their military preparedness on their neighbors to the South.

I pray it doesn't happen and I also pray that the American public will awaken to my basic premise - Washington isn't working, on your behalf and on behalf of my children and grandchildren

Towards.... a New Day

Of course, you ought to know I am getting old and some might even say, senile.  But I vividly remember those days when people really cared for one another - more than just a posting on FaceBook, or Tweeting, or whatever form of "communication" seems to be popular these days.  There are times when I recall those ancient comments about the pending fall of Rome - and others, and wonder, does anyone realize, that unless we get serious about our tomorrows, the life we leave behind could become a torment to the next generation?

Enough, I don't like to complain but I really was disturbed when I forwarded a reference to our future with possibilities and realized, no one responded.  OK, they didn't understand my interest.  For the next few days, I plan on copying the quotes I forwarded and offering my response.  It might be like standing up against a wall and allowing others to shoot at me, but that's OK as well .  Let's see if we can get started on some serious debating.

The reference I forwarded came from the Hoover Daily Report (www.hoover.org) under the heading, "Ideas for Renewing American Prosperity".  First up is a voice that used to be heard with regularity in a time when our leaders were actually serious about our future, yours and my offspring.  I have been amazed about George Shultz since the days when he was heading up one of the several divisions of the Bechtel Corporation in California.  I was in recruiting at the time and had an applicant who had just returned from the Middle East where he had held responsible positions with two major engineering firms.  I had no idea who George Shultz might become, but on the day when we talked about possibilities for my candidate, he was most gracious and a careful listener as I related the items on my applicant's resume that I thought might interest Bechtel.  At that time, there was no interest, but he let me have his personal office phone number in case I had others that I thought might qualify.  Then, of course, he went on to greater opportunities.  Now, let's review what he has had to say recently

"Let's get back to governing in the way called for in our Constitution.  In the executive branch, this means the President governs through people who are confirmed by the Senate and can be called upon to testify by the House or the Senate at any time.  They are accountable people.

Right now, the White House is full of unconfirmed and unaccountable people responsible for various subjects and all too often, the cabinet officers work through them.  The right way is for the President to regard his cabinet as part of his staff.  That way, you have access to the career people - something unavailable to White House staff.  I have had the privilege of leading four units of government and, believe me, when you work with career people, they will work with you and they have lots to offer. Among other things, management will improve, something that is sorely needed today.  Of course, for the system to work, Presidential slots must be filled, so the Senate should give nominees a prompt up or down vote.

Don't you think it's about time Congress lived up to its Constitutional duties derived from the power of the purse.  Continuing resolutions are a total cop out.   The way to build a budget is to set a framework and then work from the bottom up.  Hold hearings, understand what the departments and agencies are doing, and help set priorities.  That way, the budget will be up-to-date, and such a process, which in large part is operational in character, will get everyone into more of a problem-solving mode.  So, better budgeting will also reduce knee-jerk partisanship. 

Our country's prosperity and self-confidence will improve when when we see an Executive branch that can set sensible policies and execute them: management matters.  And we will be better off f Congress does the hard work involved in executing the power of the purse."

OK, let's hear come Sherwood-speak.  As I typed those words, my mind went back to the days when we had some actual "debates" on the power of the Presidency vs. the accountability of the Congress. We used to elect a President on the basis of his popularity and a Congress by their pre-determined interest in representing the people of their State or district.  It should be obvious that it is not the people who are uppermost in the minds of our legislators, but the dictates of their political persuasions.  We have a President elected by the so-called liberal Democrats and a Congress yearning to make certain he is the last of his kind.  I used to think it. was a racial issue, but as we see more and more minorities being elected to the Congress, I have the feeling that race is no longer a factor.

Shultz makes a valid point.  The Congress should give the President a prompt "up or down" vote on his nominees.  That has not been the case, regarding many of his appointees.  This, in my opinion, is why we have the impasse.  The President recognizing his responsibilities has had few, if any, other options. I admit, I am prejudiced in favor of the President for far more reasons that just the impasse with this Congress, but my reasoning has more to do with the intransigence of the Congress.  As soon as his opponents get wind of a probable nomination, sheer politics takes over.

I would like to point out that this President inherited a deficit unheard of in our history and within the six years he has held office, we are well on our way to a full recovery and the future seems brighter than at any time in our history, but I won't.  And I expect you will respect my decision.

I am listening....

Pardon the delay. My editor is a close friend and I really do not like imposing on the good nature of good friends. I trust you will understand. Better yet, I pray that you will respond. What do you think about "using" the talents of good friends?

Wow! What a day to start this. As you will learn, I love the art of politics and I will have comments on the state of politics as I write. To tell you the truth, both sides of the critical issues of our day are suspect. They were elected to office to serve the "We, the people".... as described in our Constitution and it ought to be apparent, "We" are the missing ingredient in most of the solutions they have to offer. So, tonight, as you listen to the President of the United States put forth his proposed agenda for the coming year, take time to realize this is his perspective. You may differ from his, but if you do, I pray that you will offer a reasoned response and not just the words offered to you by your favorite political "think" tank.

But politics is not the intent of my efforts. I have lived a long time, going on my 85th birthday in August, and I have learned a lot, forgotten even more, but this I believe with all of my heart. There is a God and none of us really know Him if our lives do not resemble His teachings and they should not be restricted to the dictates of any one particular religious ethic. In saying that, I do not wish to demean any particular religion. You ought to be free to make up your own mind. I have a strong belief in the ethic defined by our nation's Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. I have opinions and have come to realize that they are always subject to change as long as others do not try to force their opinions on me. I live to learn and even at my advancing age, I am eager to hear about new ideas, even old ideas with a new twist..

When you hear the responses to the President's speech tonight, take care that you do not merely echo their thoughts. They get paid to say what you will hear and - regardless of which party has fashioned the comments, you can believe that you need to carefully examine their content.

With that, I am out of here. Plan to spend the day examining the employment opportunities in our community, the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee, my adopted home. I love it. Yes, I was born in Michigan, graduated from Yale, but that was not the college in Connecticut. It was a great place to start, but I have also traveled a lot and stand amazed at this land we call the United States of America. I am proud of every acre and the people who occupy who occupy even a fraction of each acre. We do amazing things and our reason for being ought to focus on encouraging others to do even more. Think about this and I'll be back tomorrow. I trust I will see you then.

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