Bush Tax Cuts Should Be Made Permanent

By Caomhin

There is talk in some people of “the new normal,” which is essentially a view that our economic situation will never vastly improve over where we are today in the sense that there will be high levels of unemployment, lowered consumption levels, and a generally poor economic climate.  I strongly disagree with this notion.  I strongly disagree with this sentiment.  We are the greatest country on the face of the Earth.  Americans can overcome any obstacle that is thrown in their way provided that we are not hindered from doing so from external forces.

Government is not inherently bad.  I am a proponent of effective, efficient, and accountable government at each level.  On the other hand, big government, is inherently bad.  A large, bloated government puts a strain on its people through unnecessary regulation, high tax burdens, and disincentives to create among other things. Contrary to what Joe Biden recently said, essentially that government should get the credit for every innovation..ever, his view is completely wrong.  Milton Friedman’s assertion is correct.  Freidman, of course, said:

The greatest advances of civilization, whether in architecture or painting, in science and literature, in industry or agriculture, have never come from centralized government.

Innovation spurs economic activity along with other factors such as certainty, the potential for profits and growth, and freedom in the market place.  “The New Normal,” does not exist if we lower tax rates and cut spending, if we eliminate inefficient, ineffective programs and focus on maintaining a streamlined government that is responsive to the needs of the people and respects them as individuals.

We have a number of crisis heading our direction from the recently passed health care abomination to social security and Medicare.  We have the means to fix these programs and eliminate billions in waste.  We have the ability to start moving towards a partially privatized system of retirement which, when proven effective, will hopefully lead to a completely privatized system.  In terms of the current economic conditions taking disposable and investible income out of the private market to put in the government’s coffers is an astonishingly bad idea.

We are Americans, we do not begrudge someone success, we wish it upon them.  We should not be green with envy when another person reaches great heights, we should congratulate them.  When the representatives of our government go on enormous and never ending spending sprees with the citizens’ money, it is shameful when they go on TV and claim the government “can’t afford” to stop their reckless indulgences.

I am whole heartedly behind Sens. Coburn and DeMint’s crusade against earmarks and I commend Sen. Coburn in particular for reminding the GOP that they can and will face primary challenges should they ignore what the people want.  What the people want, of course, is an end to the earmark process, lower taxes, more freedom, and good governance.  We are entitled to this and we are entitled to leaders who will provide this for us.  We will continue to take our fight to the ballot box and we need these tax cuts to be permanent.

The Grassroots Make it Happen!

By Caomhin

Congratulations to everyone who made the 2010 elections unfold the way that they did.  Without question the candidates worked their tails off and put in a tremendous amount of work, but the hardiest work, and the thankless work was done by the voters of every district.   This work has paid off wonderfully.

I have not blogged much as of late but I am still here and I am putting in the work, albeit offline.  Yesterday we had the opportunity to make numerous phone calls and distribute slate cards at a local polling precinct for the GOP ticket here in Pennsylvania.  Like many people across the Commonwealth we are greatly pleased that today we can call Tom Corbett our Governor elect, Pat Toomey our Senator elect, and here in the 15th Congressional district we have someone like Charlie Dent to represent us in Washington.  Congratulations are also due to Pat Meehan, Mike Fitzpatrick, and Lou Barletta among others.  I mention them because they are from our neighboring districts.  We also have taken control of the Commonwealth’s Legislature.  Yes, those small donations and the hours of work absolutely pay off.

With regards to the national elections, we did very well, but I am not satisfied.  I am not satisfied when someone as clueless and inept as Harry Reid retains his seat.  I am not satisfied when we lose a race like this and I am not satisfied when we essentially forfeited a very winnable Delaware race.  We need better candidates and we need to understand that electability matters.  If you don’t believe me now just think of that each time you see Harry Reid and Chris Coons on TV for the next six years.

At this hour I am still hoping Dino Rossi can pull out the win.  I am very happy that Marco Rubio won his race handily, ditto for Rob Portman and Kelly Ayotte.  Special congratulations are due to Jaime Herrera and Raul Labrador as well, a couple of candidates from Washington and Idaho respectively whom we very much liked.  (To The Tea Party Express and their candidate of choice Walt Minnick, I hope you enjoy your losses.  The Tea Party Express jumped ship at the last second once they realized Raul was going to win.  The better candidate won, yet another example of being both electable and having strong conservative values.)

Work starts now for the next election, 2011, where many state and municipal elections are going to be held and if you live in a state where you feel that you’re up against big odds, that’s good.  First, you’re motivated, and nothing is better than motivation.  Second, there is no off season and even more reason for you to be involved and to take on a leadership role.  The grassroots has and will continue to deliver tangible results and will continue to hold elected leaders accountable.  This process never stops nor should it.  It is when people like us let our guard down that we get trampled or neglect local elections where real in roads can be gained.  When we stop looking we get people like Lisa Murkowski who desperately cling to power and will say and do anything to maintain power.  We don’t’ let our guard down and we certainly don’t forfeit.  Let’s gear up for next year starting now.  One last note I’d like to add is that if you are in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, or Northwest and are looking to contribute here or looking to network feel free to hit me up.