It’s time to give the GOP what they want. I’m serious. I am fed up with a Democratic congressional majority that is still functioning like an opposition minority. The time has come to use the power of majority to make the Republican Party and the Bush Administration put their money where their mouths are.
The War in Iraq:
The Bush Administration will get full funding for as long a surge as the President wants. On the following conditions:
- All the Bush Administration’s tax cuts are repealed and no new tax cuts for any of the upper tax brackets can be enacted so long as a single US Soldier is in Iraq
- No company or subsidiary of any company headquartered outside the United States is eligible for ANY government contracts.
- No future contracts may be awarded without competitive bid and approval by the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.
- All VA services and facilities must be fully funded. This must be done without increasing the federal budget deficit. Even if that means taxes must be increased to pay for it.
- “Don’t’ Ask, Don’t Tell” is repealed and LGBT Americans must be allowed to serve openly in the Armed Forces.
A Constitutional Amendment banning Gay Marriage:
The Bush Administration gets to give the far right the gift it has wanted to give for 6 years. Only, however on the following conditions:
- Gay and Lesbian Americans are able to claim the total cost per taxpayer of the over 1000 federal marriage benefits, the cost of marriage licensing, divorce and family courts, and child welfare services as a federal income tax deduction.
- Gays and Lesbians, as the only group now constitutionally barred from passing on social security survivor benefits will be the ONLY group given the option to invest their social security funds as they see fit.
- The creation of a Federal Divorce Tax
The Environment & Climate Change:
The Bush Administration gets it’s way on carbon emissions, oil drilling and mileage standards on cars. Only on the following conditions:
- Any new American vehicle that gets less than 20 miles per gallon is subject to annual federal tax of 25% of the original sticker price.
- Oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge must be conducted under the supervision of the World Wildlife Fund, and all oil profits derived from such drilling are subject to a new Federal Environmental Protection Tax of 20%
- Any American who buys a gas-electric hybrid can deduct 25% of the original sticker price annually from their federal taxes.
George W. Bush wants an open ended war? Fine. Then his “base” is going to have to pay their fair share of the bill for it. The GOP wants to use LGBT Americans as their political scapegoats? Fine. Then they will have to vote for a gay only tax cut. You can’t deny people equal citizenship and then tax them as equal citizens. George W. Bush wants to ignore climate change? Fine. Then his “base” will have to pay the real financial costs of that stupidity.
The Bush Administration and the Republicans have claimed for years that their agenda is good for America but have never been willing to step up and pay the resulting costs. Well now is their chance to prove the critics wrong. I say give President Bush and the GOP what they want, AND make them pay the real price for it. Then watch Republicans run from their own “agenda” faster than Karl Rove leaking a CIA Agent’s name.
It’s time we made this election debate one of “either/or”. Either you are for one America where we all have opportunity, security and equality or you are not . Either you believe all Americans are entitled to the rights and privileges enshrined in our constitution or you don’t. Either you believe that government is of the people, by the people and for the people, or you believe it to be a tool for the enrichment of a select view. Either you believe that mankind has a responsibility to be noble stewards of our natural world or you see the environment as a disposable asset to be exploited for short term gain at any cost.
It’s time we made this election to be what it truly is. A referendum on what kind of nation we are, and would wish to be.
1 comment:
David, obviously all of the campfire smoke that swirled around your head back in WI has caused irrepairable damage to your thinking process. All of these ideas are positively great. They are logical, fair and should be easily passed through Congress. Here is where your thinking process has difficulty, the Democrats do not have the cajones to even attempt anything this far-reaching. Even if they did accomplish turning these ideas into law, King George would either veto the legislation, or if that failed, would attach a signing statement saying it doesn't apply to me so there.
Love the blog, check it a couple times a week, hope you get to visit home during a camping weekend. Dan G.
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