Few things can unite Americans these days. Political, religious and social issues have produced harsh, ragged battle lines across which ugly accusations and threats are regularly hurled. The 21st century may become America’s most acrimonious period, yet there is one thing virtually every citizen agrees on: 2009 was a terrible year. It’s taken the worst economy since the Great Depression to bring us together.
Everyone is hoping that 2010 will be a year of recovery. We’re all eager to see the unemployed return to work and foreclosures to abate. We want to hear about economic growth, a sound banking system and a brighter future for our children. However, wishing for such a year apart from sound policies and strenuous effort will only lead to disappointment. So, here are my recommendations for a truly Happy New Year:
Now that it’s clear that trillion dollar stimulus programs will not produce sustainable economic growth, it’s high time America returned to the notion of private sector job creation. Reducing taxation and regulatory burdens, as Ronald Reagan did in 1981, is a formula guaranteed to produce economic growth. After all, it works every time it’s tried. 2010 should be the year we unleash the greatest generator of wealth known to man: American business.
The most obvious place to begin job growth is in the energy sector. Instead of shackling America’s energy producers with the so-called “cap and tax” foolery, we should embark on the greatest energy producing campaign in our history. Drilling for oil on American soil (and off-shore), building hydro-electric dams, constructing nuclear power plants, harvesting the trillions of cubic feet of natural gas available to us, and fully utilizing our 250-year supply of coal will employ hundreds of thousands, reduce the cost of energy and dependence on foreign oil, and generate substantial tax revenue. Imagine American companies employing American workers producing American energy and paying American taxes. It would be a win, win, win, win in 2010.
One manifestation of California lunacy is our man-made water shortage. The brainiacs in Sacramento have chosen fish over farmers, and agricultural carnage is the result. For goodness sake, turn the water back on! And while we’re at it, California’s governor should begin negotiations to purchase water from the Columbia River. 5% of that massive river’s flow would keep California green perpetually. Oh, by the way, more farming means more jobs, more consumer spending, a growing economy and more tax dollars for our beleaguered California budget.
Trumpeting the blessings of increased tax revenue for federal, state and local governments isn’t an argument for additional government spending. On the contrary, the federal and California bureaucracies are bloated beyond all propriety. The national debt stands at some $12 trillion and we’ve just been told California faces another $21 billion shortfall over the next 18 months. Enough! 2010 should be a year of trimming the fat and fraud in government. Finding and eliminating ineffective and wasteful programs is an idea whose time has come.
I’m one hawk who is sick and tired of America fighting wars in ways that nearly guarantee defeat. We may have prevailed in Iraq (at great cost) but Afghanistan is a black hole that will destroy the lives of our brave fighting men and women and waste untold billions. Since we are not willing to fight to win we shouldn’t be fighting at all. America needs to become much smarter in deciding when, where and how to fight.
Private sector jobs, energy, water, smaller government and smarter use of our military. It’s not rocket science. Perhaps there is one more wish to add to the list: politicians smart enough to do the obvious. Happy New Year!
Posted by Jerry Pomeroy in Holiday Musings, Limiting Government, Military, Taxation