Open Thread On Fixing America The Right Way

Here are a few of the concrete ideas for change:

• Cap Federal Spending - It is important for Conservatives to come up with a plan to stop the overspending in Washington, D.C. that has lead to a $13.3 trillion national debt.  “Place a firm cap on overall federal spending, and limit future year-to-year growth to inflation plus population growth. Federal spending is on an unsustainable trajectory because we lack a mechanism that forces Congress to live within agreed upon spending limits. A binding cap will force lawmakers to make the tough decisions required to get us back to fiscal sanity.”  There are other great ideas in cutting federal spending and your ideas would be much appreciated.
• Put Entitlement Programs Under the Budget - According to The Heritage Foundation, “the middle class retirement programs, Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, will cause federal spending to jump by half, from the historical average of twenty percent of the economy to thirty percent by 2033. This tsunami of spending is a major threat to limited government because it runs on auto-pilot with automatic increases locked in by each program’s governing laws. While other programs are constrained through annual budgets, entitlements get the first call on resources.”  Solutions for America urges policy makers to consider “requir(ing) the Big Three entitlement programs— Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security—to live within firm, congressionally approved budgets.  If Congress is ever to control spending, it must end the era of open-ended entitlements. Currently, Big Three spending is on autopilot—increasing automatically year after year. Entitlement spending must be brought into the congressional budgetary process. Lawmakers should establish a five-year budget for these programs and include protective mechanisms, such as triggers, that will automatically keep spending within the congressionally approved limits.”  Do Red Staters have any other ideas on how to reform entitlement programs?
• Revive Federalism- ObamaCare imposes a federal mandate that all Americans in the 50 states buy health insurance.  This is a clear violation of the idea of federalism.  Solutions for America argues that “the federal government has usurped the states’ traditional role in areas such as transportation, education, health (especially Medicaid), homeland security, and law enforcement. Washington must cede vast swatches of its policymaking authority—and the funding that goes with it—to states willing to reassume leadership in these areas.”  Congress needs to consider ideas that will restore the traditional role of the states.
• Loan Welfare Money to Able Bodied Recipients - As Robert Rector and Chuck Donovan have written for The Heritage Foundation that Congress needs to take another run at Welfare Reform.  “Why not treat a portion of welfare assistance to able-bodied adults as a loan to be repaid, rather than as a free gift from the taxpayers? Such a policy change would reduce the moral hazard associated with dependency, while providing temporary help to those in need.  Clearly, welfare as we knew it did not end, as so many of us had hoped 14 years ago (the 1996 Welfare Reform Law).  Adjusting for inflation, total welfare spending is nearly twice what it was before 1996.”  Solutions for America argues to “limit the unsustainable growth of welfare spending, and require recipients to give something back.  Aggregate welfare spending now approaches $1 trillion annually and does more harm than good. Congress must treat all 71 means-tested welfare programs holistically, as a discrete category of federal spending, and cap annual year-to-year welfare spending growth at inflation.  This will force Congress to consider new approaches that could actually help the poor surmount poverty. To this end, Congress should require able-bodied adults to treat a portion of certain welfare benefits as loans to be repaid rather than as an open-ended grant from taxpayers.”  Also, Congress should study how many of those 71 means-tested welfare programs are redundant and eliminate the ones that allow for double dipping.  Seem reasonable?
• Stop Overpaying Federal Workers- Federal employees are overpaid at a time when the private sector is experiencing great pain.  Solutions for America argues, “pay federal workers wages and benefits comparable to what their counterparts earn in the private sector.  Federal employee compensation is far too generous.  Total compensation—hourly wages plus benefits—is 30–40% above that of comparable private sector workers.  By bringing federal compensation in line with market  rates, Congress would save taxpayers approximately $47 billion a year.”  James Sherk of The Heritage Foundation recommends the following: Abolish the General Schedule and implementing market-based performance pay; Expand the contracting out of non-essential tasks to the private sector;  Reduce the generosity of the benefits the federal government provides; and end restrictions on dismissing underperforming federal employees, thus incentivizing increased productivity.  These seem like some common sense solutions to the problem of federal bureacrats making more than the average American in the private sector.
• Keep Taxes Low - Do not implement a Value Added Tax, a Carbon Tax, nor the Obama Tax Increases of 2011.  Solutions for America suggests that “tax increases, especially those loaded on small-business owners (our most productive and entrepreneurial individuals), are counterproductive at any time.  To raise taxes during a recession is a recipe for crippling economic growth and job creation. Maintaining the tax burden at its current level is the least Congress should do.”  Red Staters must have other suggested taxes to reduce or abolish.
• Implement a Pro-Growth Strategy- President Obama’s $862 billion monstrosity of a "Stimulus Plan" has lead to a $1 billion earmark for a special project in Illinois and a program to study the effects of Cocaine on Monkeys.  A real strategy to encourage investment and real job creation would be to reduce government interference in the free market.  Solutions for America argues for policies that ”encourage investment and job creation. Reduce the top tax rate on corporate earnings—currently the second highest among all industrial nations—and let businesses immediately deduct investments in new plant and equipment.  These two changes to the tax code will unleash the most productive investment and create the most private sector jobs. Specifically, lawmakers should align the top rate on corporate earnings to those that prevail in our 30 largest trading partners—approximately 25%.”  This is a target rich environment for pro-growth ideas that retreat from the President’s failed economic policies.
• Stop Taxing Seniors- Why do seniors have to keep paying taxes as they get older?  The federal government should not maintain policies that essentially force older Americans to retire when they still can work.  Here is another solution for America.  “As part of the broader effort to reform entitlement programs, seniors who wish to work beyond retirement age should be freed from the burden of paying Social Security payroll taxes. Employers willing to retain or hire these older workers also should be exempt from paying the employer share of the FICA tax.”  This would be a stimulus program for older Americans and an idea that makes sense.
• Peace Through Strength - President Ronald Reagan promoted the idea of maintaining a strong military as a means to protect American citizens.  Solutions for America argues that ”a robust military is the surest way to deter aggression and reinforce U.S. diplomacy. To accomplish this, the Pentagon procurement holiday must end. Congress must refurbish our armed forces, especially our depleted Navy fleet and vital missile defenses.”  Congress needs to make sure that our defense infrastructure stays strong in the face of emerging threats from rogue nations and entities.

Hot Video: 'Those Voices Don't Speak for the Rest of Us'

 

Video from the Republican Study Committee, a group of over 100 Conservative Congressmen in the House of Representatives.

Ground Zero Church Is Left In The Dust,But Not The Mosque

The battle raging over the Ground Zero mosque is bringing new attention to another, less publicized controversy involving a house of worship in Lower Manhattan.St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which once sat right across the street from the World Trade Center, was crushed under the weight of the collapse of Tower Two on September 11, 2001. St. Nicholas was the only church to be lost in the attacks, and nine years later, while City of New York officials are busy removing every impediment to the building of the Cordoba mosque two blocks from the site, St. Nicholas’ future remains unclear.The last bit of hopeful news for St. Nicholas came two years ago, in July 2008, when church officials and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced a deal which would have allowed the church to be rebuilt about two blocks from its original location.The Port Authority agreed to give the church a parcel of land at Liberty and Greenwich Streets, and contribute $20 million toward construction of a new sanctuary. The Port Authority also agreed to build an explosion-proof platform and foundation for the new church building, which would sit on top of a screening area for cars and trucks entering the underground garages at the new World Trade Center.Trouble emerged after St. Nicholas announced its plans to build a traditional Greek Orthodox church building, 24,000 square feet in size, topped with a grand dome. Port Authority officials told the church to cut back the size of the building and the height of the proposed dome, limiting it to rising no higher than the World Trade Center memorial. The deal fell apart for goodin March 2009, when the Port Authority abruptly ended the talks after refusing to allow church officials to review plans for the garage and screening area underneath. Sixteen months later, the two sides have still not met to resume negotiations.St. Nicholas Church’s difficulty in getting approvals to rebuild stands in stark contrast to the treatment that the developers of the proposed Cordoba mosque have received. New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, state Atty. Gen. Andrew Cuomo, and a raft of city officials have all come out publicly in favor of building the mosque, and the city’s Landmarks and Preservation Commission recently voted unanimously to deny protection to the building currently occupying the site where the mosque is to be built.The mosque is proposed to rise 13 stories, far above the height of the World Trade Center memorial, with no height restrictions imposed. So where is the equal treatment of religions? Where is the outrage from the left on this? I had a blogger try and say this ground zero Mosque was just about racism or whites and Christians. What say you leftists now?

Dem Congresswoman Uses Muscle to Silence Constituents

 

One of the most unbelievable things I’ve seen – aside from the beating of Kenneth Gladney and the “tolerant” liberals who supported and promoted his still-denied justice because he was a black conservative. Illinois congresswoman Melissa Bean barked at constituents and whenever anyone tried to stop the locomotive of distraction and get the congresswoman to do her job by answering to her constituents, her muscle, according to video and numerous eyewitnesses, sprang into action and intimidated them into silence. This is why we need lots of videos of these representatives and their purple shirt style thugs. This was a public meeting and filming is aloud at those public events.

Reid Breaks With Obama On Ground Zero Mosque

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid broke with President Obama Monday over the proposed mosque near Ground Zero, saying the controversial Islamic center should be built elsewhere.Spokesman Jim Manley said in a written statement that Republicans should show their sincerity about sensitivity to Sept. 11 survivors by backing a high-profile bill to grant health benefits to rescue workers, something that stalled in Congress earlier this month.But at the same time, Manley put Reid on the record for the first time in the hyper-sensitive and volatile mosque debate."The First Amendment protects freedom of religion," Manley said. "Sen. Reid respects that but thinks that the mosque should be built some place else."Reid's comments added another high-profile voice to the mosque controversy. The president first stepped into the fray Friday when he appeared to endorse the Park 51 project during a Ramadan dinner at the White House. The next day, he clarified that he was merely commenting on fundamental religious freedoms -- not specifically on the "wisdom" of the mosque project. Then White House spokesman Bill Burton said Obama was not "backing off" his original remarks.Well maybe the left can make this about racism since their religious freedom straw man didn't stick. People are fed up with Obama and his insistence to go against the American people on every issue. Have you ever wondered why Obama and the left are always on the side of the terrorist organizations like Hamas?
A Hamas leader says Muslims "have to build" a mosque near ground zero.Mahmoud al-Zahar said Muslims "have to build everywhere" so that followers can pray, just like Christians and Jews build their places of worship.Al-Zahar spoke Sunday on "Aaron Klein Investigative Radio" on WABC-AM. He is a co-founder of Hamas and its chief on the Gaza Strip.Sen. Chuck Schumer says Al-Zahar's comments don't carry any weight because Hamas is a terrorist organization. Schumer hasn't taken a stand on the mosque.Rep. Peter King, who opposes the mosque, says he won't respond to Hamas.          We need to pray for these Muslims. We need to show the world what these Muslims intentions are with this mosque. We need to show the faces of the morners at ground zero when they hear the call to pray in Arabic as a reminder of the religion that promoted this kind of terrorism. In time the truth of why this Mosque was built at ground zero will come out. And when it does the world will see this religion for what it is.                                                            

It's Elderberry Picking Season In Michigan

I know who cares about elderberries? Well when you are sick in the middle of winter you will wish you had some. I know a lot about plants in Michigan and around the world. I know about their medicinal values and when and how to collect them. So feel fee to ask me anything about this at any time or on any post. I picked elderberries and now I am slow drying them. They should be ready in a few more days. I let them slow dry so they grow some of the yeasts that are good for your stomach. When you get sick just pull the dried berries out and eat a handful every couple of hours till you feel better. You can make a wine,syrup or put the fresh berries in vodka to drink when you feel sick. I like the vodka cure for obvious reasons. I have a 25 year old frankincense bonsai tree that I use some of the sap to fight off viruses in combination with the elderberries. You can find the elderberry bushes on the sides of rural roads. I know I've seen many on I-75 going up to northern Michigan. The berries are dark black and the leaves are a string of 5 leaves on one leaf. Do yourself a favor this year and pick some elderberries. Or do what I do and buy some bushes for your yard. The birds love them and I love the wildlife in my yard. Have fun looking for the berries. But once you've found them you will find them there every year. Good hunting.

Pastor Schools NBC News Host Over Ground Zero Mosque

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Pauline Jelinek and Julie Pace - Associated Press Writers - 8/15/2010 6:45:00 AM

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - President Barack Obama is under fire for his endorsement of a proposed mosque near the site of the 9-11 Islamic terrorist attack in New York City.


Speaking to a gathering at the White House Friday evening to observe the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Obama said that he believes "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country."

"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," he said. "This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable."

Asked Saturday about the issue during his trip to Florida, Obama tried to reframe his Friday remarks saying "I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right that people have that dates back to our founding."

Obama said that "my intention was simply to let people know what I thought. Which was that in this country we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion.

The White House quickly followed up on Obama's latest comments on the matter, with Obama spokesman Bill Burton saying that the president wasn't backing off in any way from the remarks he made Friday.

"What he said last night, and reaffirmed today, is that if a church, a synagogue or a Hindu temple can be built on a site, you simply cannot deny that right to those who want to build a mosque," Burton said.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who was among those who met with Obama on Saturday, lauded the president's position. Crist is running for the U.S. Senate as an independent.

"I think he's right - I mean you know we're a country that in my view stands for freedom of religion and respect for others," Crist said after the Florida meeting with Obama and other officials. "I know there are sensitivities and I understand them. This is a place where you're supposed to be able to practice your religion without the government telling you you can't."

Others were quick to pounce on Obama's statements.

In a statement Saturday, House Minority Leader John Boehner said the decision to build the mosque wasn't an issue of religious freedom, but a matter of respect.

"The fact that someone has the right to do something doesn't necessarily make it the right thing to do," Boehner said. "That is the essence of tolerance, peace and understanding."

Added Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.: "President Obama is wrong. It is insensitive and uncaring for the Muslim community to build a mosque in the shadow of ground zero."

Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene of Florida took Obama's Friday speech to mean the president supports the construction.

"President Obama has this all wrong and I strongly oppose his support for building a mosque near ground zero especially since Islamic terrorists have bragged and celebrated destroying the Twin Towers and killing nearly 3,000 Americans," said Greene. "Freedom of religion might provide the right to build the mosque in the shadow of ground zero, but common sense and respect for those who lost their lives and loved ones gives sensible reason to build the mosque someplace else."

The mosque would be part of a $100 million Islamic community center two blocks from where nearly 3,000 people perished when hijacked jetliners slammed into the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

The proposed construction has sparked debate around the country that has included opposition from top Republicans including Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich as well as the Jewish civil rights group the Anti-Defamation League.

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This is what I think of this mess this Mosque has put us in. The Muslims and the left want this to be about defending the freedom of religion. This is nothing of the sort. This is about zoning. Just because you are a religion doesn't give you the right to put up a Church or Mosque anywhere you want. Some things are just inappropriate to most Americans. No one is limiting there freedom any more then not being able to have a strip club next to a school isn't against your freedom of speech. I can't scream fire in a crowded theater. This insensitive move by the Muslims is very antagonistic to the rest of the religions in America. If they are trying to promote hate and anger they are doing a great job. But that is what they are trying to do. If a Christian, Jew,Hindu ... hurts that Mosque in any way they will win. We must protest this Mosque by pointing out their intentions and agenda. But we must not ever show anything but Love for them. As more Americans eyes open to what the Muslims are doing with this Mosque their weak foundation will fall on it's own. We should not burn the Qua ran or any other kind of non-Love action. If we can show them Love it will all work out in the end. Please keep vigilant in peace and spread the Word.

Real Or Fake?

Play the game real of fake and see how you did. Democrats give the government way too much credit.

What Would Reagan Do About Our Struggling Economy? Open Debate

 

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