BUILDING A BETTER GOVERNMENT
I AM SORRY TO SAY than in my mind our current government has become little more than a dis-organized criminal enterprise. if it were an organized criminal activity it would be efficient and not Thirteen Trillion Dollars in debt.
Howver, instead of just complaining about Government on a Federal (and most States) basis I have an obligation to say what I believe Government should look like and what I think it should be responsible for. Especially what I have observed it is capable of doing resonably well even if not cost effectively.
Let me think:
1. Provide for the nations defense and prevent armed and unarmed invasion by foregin powers and masses. Secure our borders.
2. Uh…….Give me a little time…….. I’m trying to think of something else I want the Federal Government to be in charge of.
In the process of (re)building the Federal Government we should examine all current Federal Departments and Agencies.
For example:
The Department of Energy was formed in the 1970’s with the goal of making the U.S. LESS dependent on foreign oil. At the time we were importing about 30% of the oil we used. Today, the Department of Engergy has a budget of more than 24 Billion Dollars and we are importing 70% of the oil we use. If this were a private enterprise it would be broke and out of business.
How about the Federal Department of Education? Could someone please tell me what the purpose of this department truly is? Again we have liftime employment and benefits for those who work there but aside from that, I am unaware of any real, practical, positive help they provide my local schools. Sorry, issuing ill-conceived, unwanted and often unfunded “mandates” don’t count. Our schools are best managed on a local basis with very little interference from State Government and none from the “Feds”.
I could continue department by department and agency by agency but will instead let the reader think of all the the Federal Agencies and Departments they come in contact with and ask themselves what they truly accomplish other than issue a lot of regulations and rules which complicate and make our lives more difficult and expensive. To me, it does not count that these Departments and Agencies provide a place where employees shuffle papers around and build “Kingdoms”.
Do any of these agencies or departments ever get “sun-setted” or shut down no matter how ineffective or wasteful they are? If so, can you name one?
Even programs and agencies most of us could support like Social Security, Medicare and a few others are so horribly mis-managed, stolen from (by Congress) and inefficient that they are un-sustainable and virtually bankrupt. In the long term the only way the government will be able to make Social Security viable is to keep increasing the age of eligibility to the point that we qualify for benefits one month before we die.
I would ask the reader to make a list of the Departments and Agencies that they believe Government manages efficiently and cost effectively. How about the Postal Service?
Your own thoughts are welcome and it is okay to disagree.
Just something to think about. …..BOB
