| Jimmy Stewart's character portrayed in "Mr. | | | | need adjustments NOW. Additional taxation will |
| Smith Goes To Washington" would have been | | | | further burden the middle Americans who have |
| right at home last week in Washington D.C. | | | | enough on their plate as it is. The Fair Tax or |
| surrounded by the "Porkmeisters" of the current | | | | other tax alternative may give the financial |
| day. Déjà vu here we go again. | | | | income to not only fund these needed programs |
| Conveniently, the closure rule has been simplified | | | | but eat away the swelling national debt and make |
| removing the spectacle of a 'elected citizen' | | | | America competitive on the world stage. One |
| fighting with the Filibuster Rule. | | | | major benefit would be to remove the need for |
| There won't be a pair of pants big enough to | | | | any lobbyist looking to buttonhole an elected |
| remove the evidence of this pork outrage from | | | | official to get their client a tax loophole. No |
| the Depositary For The National Archives. | | | | corporate or individual taxes would do away with |
| Participants will be left with explaining to their | | | | pork-laden bills and stealth riders, as there would |
| future heirs and families their roles as a fully | | | | not be any IRS code to modify. The safety net |
| operation "Porkmeister". Under the faint shield of | | | | for low income families will offset any increase to |
| just getting their 'due' for their district deals are | | | | the family budget for a national sales tax and |
| struck and America's future is mortgaged up to | | | | have built in protections against additional burdens |
| its eyeballs. If there ever was a case for term | | | | to the lower income segments. This program can |
| limitations this is it. Familiarity of this modus | | | | make a lot of sense but will be fought tooth and |
| operandi breeds contempt. The chart in the "club" | | | | nail by all the special interests protecting their little |
| ranks the biggest porker of them all. "Gosh if I | | | | corners of the world. Term limitations could put a |
| could just get to the top" muses a sharp elbowed | | | | dent into the "Career Politicians" where pay backs |
| elected official pushing toward the money trough | | | | and back scratching are the rule. Having fresh |
| for the daily hit of slop from the tax payer | | | | faces each term would be a learning curve for |
| money flow of tax revenues all in the pitch of | | | | each with no long-term memory to resource of |
| darkness. Waistlines increase as the 'Let's Make A | | | | who is owed what favor. Fresh ideas, fresh |
| Deal' is played out daily. Long term seniority can | | | | approaches with new points of view. That is the |
| magnify and command even more pork. Is there | | | | base of attraction for Barak Obama. Thus far, |
| any 'Mr. (Ms.) Smiths in Washington now? Maybe, | | | | appears untethered to special interests and is |
| Barak Obama and Tom Colburn with their plan to | | | | outside of the old party machine. Obama has |
| put the budget online could at least shine the light | | | | shown the ability to reach across the aisle to |
| on the players so they could at least "Man Up" to | | | | Senator Tom Colburn, the biggest thorn in the |
| "Yeah, I sponsored that pork attachment". | | | | "Porkmeister's" side to put the budget and bills on |
| Senator Barak Obama from the State of Illinois | | | | the Internet for ALL to see. It will take fresh |
| and Abraham Lincoln with Senator Tom Colburn | | | | thinking and fresh ideas with a flow of fresh blood. |
| from the State of Oklahoma and Will Rogers with | | | | America was founded based on a "can do" |
| being Junior Senators from their respective states | | | | attitude. Lately, the country is reeking with |
| perhaps could bring with them the spirit of Lincoln | | | | negativism and frankly its becoming tiresome. |
| and Rogers to Washington. Wow! Would that be | | | | When lawmakers are below attorneys in the polls |
| refreshing for a change? Both of the parties are | | | | the electorate are on to them. Changes must |
| stinking up the country right now. As a nation, we | | | | come. Special interests must be put aside and |
| deserve better and we must DEMAND more. | | | | some new "Mr. (Ms.) Smiths Must Come To |
| China recognizing the power of the Internet has | | | | Washington". |
| restricted its use and has even developed its own | | | | If the tough issues are not addressed soon, |
| system. With a host of Internet monitors trying | | | | families will be increasingly under financial pressure |
| to get their arms around any communication that | | | | with their very credit and financial foundations at |
| will show their government in a bad light is | | | | stake. Things have to change. Unfortunately, the |
| censored. The Chinese are now mastering the | | | | situation many times needs to get really bad |
| online power of satire where if you can't read | | | | before it gets better. With enemies trying to |
| between the lines, then your not understanding | | | | destroy our way of life, we must become strong |
| the writers drift. The cat is out of the bag in | | | | again from within. A return to looking at making |
| China. The Internet is America's only hope that | | | | the tax system fair and removing much of the |
| the Bloggers in China can marshal enough support | | | | special interest lobbying efforts to grab a loop |
| to prevent their country from taking a wrong | | | | hole at the tax payers expense would be a good |
| turn. The same hope remains for America. The | | | | start. The Fair Tax could do just that. Will this be |
| Blogashere and other online activity in the Internet | | | | an easy sell? No way! It will be tough to do. It will |
| will bring all the governing bodies under close | | | | impact the "Porkmeisters" and many of the |
| scrutiny for all to see. An informed electorate is | | | | lobbyists trying to buy influence. Term limits with |
| America's hope. Truth eventually will come out. | | | | real limited campaign budgets will broaden the |
| Having all congressional bills and budgetary items | | | | citizen pool with people who want to compete on |
| online with ALL the sponsors named will point the | | | | the basis of ideas not how much cash they can |
| brightest and most focused stage spotlight to the | | | | raise. When some campaign budgets approach the |
| proponents of pork. | | | | governmental budgets of some countries, it's time |
| Operating in darkness shields the "Porkmeisters" | | | | for a change. It now is a campaign of exclusion |
| from scrutiny. | | | | for lack of a large cash stash to run for office. |
| If a project is so weak and without merit and the | | | | After the term is up, the elected "new blood" |
| only way for its passage is to stick it on the | | | | needs to go back to work where they were |
| trailing tail of a bigger bill than that is just so lame | | | | making a living before. No where was this valued |
| and impotent. | | | | citizenry participation meant to be a "life time |
| Yes earmarks and "secret endorsements" lead to | | | | calling". Serve the term, do great work and go |
| runaway spending. Since the line item veto was | | | | back to work. No full retirement for part time |
| struck down the executive branch has little option | | | | effort that has not measured up, representatives |
| but to rattle the sword and veto the entire bill | | | | need to pay Social Security just like other |
| and hope that it there are not enough additional | | | | Americans, no special parking spaces, nothing. To |
| votes to over ride the veto. Otherwise, | | | | serve in an elected capacity is a privilege not |
| Presidents would need to hold their nose and sign | | | | another entitlement. Serve one term and go |
| it any way. Perhaps it is time to make another | | | | home and get back to work and encourage |
| effort to take another run at putting the line item | | | | others to run and serve. Pass it on and keep it |
| veto in place with hopes of getting a better play | | | | going. Definitely, becoming a "Porkmeister" and all |
| with the Supreme Court. Until then, we are left to | | | | that it brings with it is not the goal. Making |
| try and shine a light on the budgetary and | | | | America a better country needs to be the only |
| legislation enactment by putting everything online | | | | goal through positive and innovative thinking and |
| and let the public see exactly who is doing what. | | | | bringing in fresh blood to the fray. Limiting |
| Parading ones voting record and actions can only | | | | campaign spending, reducing term limits, passing |
| help to mute the abuses that are currently under | | | | the Fair Tax, bringing back the line item veto, |
| way. | | | | putting the budget and bills on internet with ALL |
| There are huge challenges ahead for America in | | | | sponsors being identified will be a good start. |
| the Social Security and Medicare sectors that | | | | Will the real America please stand up. |