I was asked what I thought about the 'fiscal cliff' as a fiscal conservative, a Constitutionalist, a Libertarian and a foreign policy hawk. My response surprised a number of individuals who have long known me. My honestly thoughts upon the issue, 'it's Thelma and Louise time, baby!!..Over the cliff with the accelerator to the floor!!!"
The Roman Republic fell because it could not manage its political and economic affairs. The Roman Principate decayed for many of the same reasons. (For those who do are not that familar with Roman history, there never was a Roman Empire. It was the Roman Republic, Roman Principate, and the Roman Dominate.) I see no reason the United States of America won't follow suit if we fail to manage our affairs. As a fiscal conservative and constitutionalist I find the current inability for the governments to rein in their spending to be appalling. For 60 years we always prioritized other goals and crisis ahead of fiscal responsibility. Now it is time to pay the piper; if we do not pay soon the fiscal reckoning will take us down as easily as any of the past civilizations that crashed under such foolish policies, such as Rome.
As a Libertarian, I have to shake my head at the willful ignorance that the entire American polity shows at all levels. Do Americans really believe they are entitled to governmental services at the levels we have now without much higher taxes? If we are going to take the route of more government services, then it is time to be honest and start paying for them, or if we really do want low taxation, it is time to start cutting to the bone. I do not see a will to recognize the reality of the situation on any side. At the moment we need more revenue streams into the government and major cut backs on the cost of government. The fiscal cliff will give us both those, major cuts and increased revenues. Maybe with major fiscal crimps on the Federal government we can see some of the reversals of the erosion of the Constitutional freedoms with so much policing of the populace and paramilitarization of the police, yet that is a topic for another day.
But what of my fourth political personal pole, strong defense; I personally think that the United States has been fooling itself in how we conduct our grand strategy and geopolitical planning for the last 17 years. Maybe a 25% reduction or more on defense spending will force Washington to sit back on its haunches and start thinking instead of throwing money and forces at every problem that comes along. (I have my serious doubts about this..but I can hope).
Maybe I'm a pessimist, but I think the best long term result for America is both parties to lock up in January The Budget Control Act of 2011 will hurt, but sometimes the bandage has to come off the wound fast.
The Roman Republic fell because it could not manage its political and economic affairs. The Roman Principate decayed for many of the same reasons. (For those who do are not that familar with Roman history, there never was a Roman Empire. It was the Roman Republic, Roman Principate, and the Roman Dominate.) I see no reason the United States of America won't follow suit if we fail to manage our affairs. As a fiscal conservative and constitutionalist I find the current inability for the governments to rein in their spending to be appalling. For 60 years we always prioritized other goals and crisis ahead of fiscal responsibility. Now it is time to pay the piper; if we do not pay soon the fiscal reckoning will take us down as easily as any of the past civilizations that crashed under such foolish policies, such as Rome.
As a Libertarian, I have to shake my head at the willful ignorance that the entire American polity shows at all levels. Do Americans really believe they are entitled to governmental services at the levels we have now without much higher taxes? If we are going to take the route of more government services, then it is time to be honest and start paying for them, or if we really do want low taxation, it is time to start cutting to the bone. I do not see a will to recognize the reality of the situation on any side. At the moment we need more revenue streams into the government and major cut backs on the cost of government. The fiscal cliff will give us both those, major cuts and increased revenues. Maybe with major fiscal crimps on the Federal government we can see some of the reversals of the erosion of the Constitutional freedoms with so much policing of the populace and paramilitarization of the police, yet that is a topic for another day.
But what of my fourth political personal pole, strong defense; I personally think that the United States has been fooling itself in how we conduct our grand strategy and geopolitical planning for the last 17 years. Maybe a 25% reduction or more on defense spending will force Washington to sit back on its haunches and start thinking instead of throwing money and forces at every problem that comes along. (I have my serious doubts about this..but I can hope).
Maybe I'm a pessimist, but I think the best long term result for America is both parties to lock up in January The Budget Control Act of 2011 will hurt, but sometimes the bandage has to come off the wound fast.
No comments:
Post a Comment