Our nation's economy is struggling. This spring, it grew only 1.6% and is expected to keep a snail's pace in growth. With such low growth, there will not be many jobs created and unemployment could actually get worse. I am not trying to paint a picture of gloom and doom, but I think we need to be realistic about our current reality. We need to know our situation and demand action from our elected officials to take the appropriate steps to resolve our economic woes. Taxing and spending is not a good economic strategy.
Consider the major economics Greece is facing. What caused their economy to meltdown? One of the primary contributors was decades of governmental overspending. According to a May 7 WSJ article, "Greece shows that the welfare state model of development, dominated by public unions, onerous regulations, high taxes and the political allocation of capital, has hit the wall. Down that road lies more Greek tragedy."
The US economy - it's Greek to me!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Observations On Our American Government
This is an article I wrote and posted about a year ago but felt strongly about putting it on my blog once again. I hope you enjoy this brief article!
Allow me to share with you a few important observations about our American government. This is not meant to be in-depth and all-inclusive. It is shared with the hope that it will enlighten the reader and encourage more participation in our American government!
2. Men cede to government some of their natural rights in order to give government its powers. Government only has the powers given it by the people.
"...governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed... " Declaration of Independence
"Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of government, and it is equally undeniable, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers." The Federalist #2
3. Our government's role is to secure our unalienable rights.
"...all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men..." Declaration of Independence
"Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint." The Federalist #15
"A wise and frugal government...shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement...This is the sum of good government." Thomas Jefferson (1st Inaugural Address)
4. Our government is accountable to the people and the people are to hold the government in check.
"In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government..." The Federalist #51
Based on these and other writings from our founding fathers, I am of the firm conviction that our government was designed to be a small and limited government. Our founders did not see a government that dispensed our every need. They saw our government as securing our rights as individuals to pursue life, liberty and happiness.
Allow me to share with you a few important observations about our American government. This is not meant to be in-depth and all-inclusive. It is shared with the hope that it will enlighten the reader and encourage more participation in our American government!
1. All men are endowed by God with unalienable rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I must stress that these rights are God-given and are not distributed or granted to us by the government.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness... " Declaration of Independence
"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." Amendment IX
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Amendment X
2. Men cede to government some of their natural rights in order to give government its powers. Government only has the powers given it by the people.
"...governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed... " Declaration of Independence
"Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of government, and it is equally undeniable, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers." The Federalist #2
3. Our government's role is to secure our unalienable rights.
"...all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men..." Declaration of Independence
"Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint." The Federalist #15
"A wise and frugal government...shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement...This is the sum of good government." Thomas Jefferson (1st Inaugural Address)
4. Our government is accountable to the people and the people are to hold the government in check.
"In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government..." The Federalist #51
Based on these and other writings from our founding fathers, I am of the firm conviction that our government was designed to be a small and limited government. Our founders did not see a government that dispensed our every need. They saw our government as securing our rights as individuals to pursue life, liberty and happiness.
What's On Our Mind? Foxx Finds Out!
Kudos to NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx! As our elected official, she asked our input on what is important to us, what is on our mind through a Townhall by mail. We responded and Congresswoman Foxx recently shared the results.
Some key highlights of the results are:
There are some other key insights on taxing and healthcare. The voters have spoken!
Some key highlights of the results are:
- 92% do not want another stimulus bill
- 86% support repealing the health care legislation
- 90% disapproved of the bank/automaker bailouts
There are some other key insights on taxing and healthcare. The voters have spoken!
Senator Burr On Responsible Energy Solutions
The following is from an email issue alert from Senator Burr:
The energy tax legislation our opponent has endorsed would cause increased energy prices, job loss, and decreased revenue for North Carolina.
While our opponent supports this job killing legislation that would cost North Carolina families approximately $1,400 a year in new taxes by 2020, Senator Burr is working to ensure our energy costs are predictable.
Senator Burr has introduced a comprehensive, workable energy policy for our country that encourages economic growth and keeps Americans safe. His bill, the American Energy Act of 2010, would drastically reduce our dependence on foreign oil without adding job-killing taxes that would further damage our economy like the Democrats plan.
Senator Burr is the only candidate in this race that has a plan to secure a clean energy future without levying heavy taxes and imposing burdensome regulations on small businesses.
Stand with Senator Burr today and join a coalition at www.workingfornc.com.
ISSUE ALERT: Senator Burr Working for a Responsible Energy Solution for America’s Future
It should come as no surprise that the liberal special interest groups have endorsed our opponent as she continues to stand with them and actively support job-killing, Cap and Trade energy tax legislation. These groups are the very same groups funded a $2 million smear campaign intended to distort Senator Burr’s record and sway North Carolina voters.The energy tax legislation our opponent has endorsed would cause increased energy prices, job loss, and decreased revenue for North Carolina.
While our opponent supports this job killing legislation that would cost North Carolina families approximately $1,400 a year in new taxes by 2020, Senator Burr is working to ensure our energy costs are predictable.
Senator Burr has introduced a comprehensive, workable energy policy for our country that encourages economic growth and keeps Americans safe. His bill, the American Energy Act of 2010, would drastically reduce our dependence on foreign oil without adding job-killing taxes that would further damage our economy like the Democrats plan.
Senator Burr is the only candidate in this race that has a plan to secure a clean energy future without levying heavy taxes and imposing burdensome regulations on small businesses.
Stand with Senator Burr today and join a coalition at www.workingfornc.com.
NC Senator Burr Opines On The Budget
The following is from an 8/20 email update from NC Senator Richard Burr.
Yesterday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its mid-year budget outlook, which contained more disappointing news about our country’s fiscal situation. According to the CBO, the federal budget deficit – the annual difference between what the federal government collects in tax revenue and what it spends -- will be $1,300,000,000,000 (or $1.3 trillion) for this fiscal year alone. For Fiscal Year 2011, the deficit will be nearly $1.1 trillion -- $71 billion more than CBO projected in March. Even more disturbing, CBO estimates that the cost of legislation that Congress has enacted since March – in just five short months – will increase federal spending by $400 billion over the next decade. This report just proves what we already knew – that Congress is spending our country into unsustainable debt that will burden our children, grandchildren, and future Americans for generations to come. I will continue to promote and vote for sound, fiscally responsible legislation to stop out-of-control spending and get our economy back on track.
Senator Burr is exactly right and I appreciate his candor with us. While there have been many things to keep our elected officials busy, what is preventing them from doing something about our economy? Raising taxes and raising government spending is not the answer! As Senator Burr states, we need to reign in spending and get our economy back on track.
Yesterday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its mid-year budget outlook, which contained more disappointing news about our country’s fiscal situation. According to the CBO, the federal budget deficit – the annual difference between what the federal government collects in tax revenue and what it spends -- will be $1,300,000,000,000 (or $1.3 trillion) for this fiscal year alone. For Fiscal Year 2011, the deficit will be nearly $1.1 trillion -- $71 billion more than CBO projected in March. Even more disturbing, CBO estimates that the cost of legislation that Congress has enacted since March – in just five short months – will increase federal spending by $400 billion over the next decade. This report just proves what we already knew – that Congress is spending our country into unsustainable debt that will burden our children, grandchildren, and future Americans for generations to come. I will continue to promote and vote for sound, fiscally responsible legislation to stop out-of-control spending and get our economy back on track.
Senator Burr is exactly right and I appreciate his candor with us. While there have been many things to keep our elected officials busy, what is preventing them from doing something about our economy? Raising taxes and raising government spending is not the answer! As Senator Burr states, we need to reign in spending and get our economy back on track.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Foxx, Burr Earn High Scores As Fiscal Conservatives
NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx and NC Senator Richard Burr recently earned high scores for being fiscal conservatives and supporters of small government.
The Club for Growth published it's 2009 scorecards based on the votes by members of Congress on economic issues. Some of the issues they consider in the scorecard are lowering marginal income tax rates, cutting and limiting government spending, Social Security reform, and school choice.
Congratulations to Congresswoman Foxx and Senator Burr. I also thank you both for your votes that help promote growth for our nation's economy.
The Club for Growth published it's 2009 scorecards based on the votes by members of Congress on economic issues. Some of the issues they consider in the scorecard are lowering marginal income tax rates, cutting and limiting government spending, Social Security reform, and school choice.
Congratulations to Congresswoman Foxx and Senator Burr. I also thank you both for your votes that help promote growth for our nation's economy.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Our Economy - We've Got To Keep It In Mind
The following excerpt is from an email newsletter from NC Senator Richard Burr. Senator Burr wrote, "On a more somber note, this week, our national debt reached $13 trillion dollar mark. It is abundantly clear that business as usual in our government must stop. I have co-sponsored several bills that would cut government spending, but many of these failed to garner enough support to be approved. Our budget deficits are a tremendous threat to our nation’s future. We must work together to prevent our children from having to pay off more debt simply because we are afraid to make tough choices about our priorities. The current debt crisis in Europe should be a wake-up call to all of us that we must start making hard choices now.
In this regard, last night, the Senate voted to approve the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010. Originally intended as a bill to fund our military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, by the time this bill got to the floor of the Senate, it was full of spending that is completely unrelated to our troops. I have always been proud to support funding for our troops and our national defense. However, I am disappointed that this year, the supplemental funding bill is – once again – filled with unrelated spending that is not paid for with cuts elsewhere in the budget. I am especially disappointed that money is being taken away from our U.S. veterans to send money overseas. I supported amendments that would have improved the bill and covered its $60 billion cost, but unfortunately, these amendments were once again rejected by the majority in the Senate. I voted against this bill as it takes our country even closer to the edge of financial collapse."
I know there are many things facing our country right now, but one thing we can't take our eye off is our economy. What is being done to lower our debt and get people employed? There is far too much at stake to hope our economy will fix itself.
In this regard, last night, the Senate voted to approve the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010. Originally intended as a bill to fund our military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, by the time this bill got to the floor of the Senate, it was full of spending that is completely unrelated to our troops. I have always been proud to support funding for our troops and our national defense. However, I am disappointed that this year, the supplemental funding bill is – once again – filled with unrelated spending that is not paid for with cuts elsewhere in the budget. I am especially disappointed that money is being taken away from our U.S. veterans to send money overseas. I supported amendments that would have improved the bill and covered its $60 billion cost, but unfortunately, these amendments were once again rejected by the majority in the Senate. I voted against this bill as it takes our country even closer to the edge of financial collapse."
I know there are many things facing our country right now, but one thing we can't take our eye off is our economy. What is being done to lower our debt and get people employed? There is far too much at stake to hope our economy will fix itself.
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