Monday, December 24, 2007

Presidents and Federal Government Reform

Resolved: The American Federal government is too big.

The federal government has more employees than is legal or necessary.
The federal government is inefficient.
The federal government unjustly over-taxes the people of America.
The federal government uses tax money (and debt) to fund illegal social, education, and scientific programs and departments.
The federal government has infringed the rights of states in several areas.

Resolved: A US president has power to rein-in the federal government.

A US president can veto excessive spending bills referred to him by rogue congresses.
A US president can speak out against the abuses performed by the federal government.
A US president can restrict, resize, or dissolve any of the executive-appointed offices and departments.
A US president can appoint secretaries, attorneys, and judges who will uphold the US
Constitution.

Resolved: The vote cast by a citizen of the United States for president should be affected by the above resolutions.

Resolved: The above resolutions are not the only rod by which to measure a candidate.

Inquired: Which candidates understand and affirm the above resolutions?

Inquired: Which of those who understand and affirm the resolutions have an applicable plan for reforming the federal government back into legal limits?

Inquired: Which of those with a plan would be able to implement their plan without destroying the nation? In other words, would the government and country still be able to function, or govern and defend itself?

Ron Paul is almost completely a libertarian. He offers very conservative principles to the disillusioned, betrayed conservative grass roots. His speeches are full of the resolutions above. But I have not heard him describe how electing him as president would make a difference. What changes would he make, and how would he make them? How would he deal with the fall-out? I notice in my own life that God, who certainly knows all of my shortcomings and sins, will prune them a little at a time, so that I can still function. I believe this is because He loves me, not just the mold of perfection. I doubt that Ron Paul would have the patience to reform the government in a way that would leave a working system in place. On the other hand, he has been in the legislature for some time without accomplishing anything aside from building a record for himself (not even a name for himself until he publicized it by running for president).

Rudy Giuliani does not seem interested in restricting the government at all. He is a social moderate, who therefore thinks government involvement in social matters are justified. (On a side note I do not think that murder is a social issue; neither is abortion.)

Mitt Romney is a businessman. He has shown his capabilities as an executive. Making an organization run efficiently and productively is his record. In business, you do not want to cut the influence of your company, or reduce profits. Yet in government, that is just what needs to be done.

Though Huckabee was a pastor more than a businessman, he was also an executive of a state. As governor of Arkansas did he exhibit any tendencies toward reforming the government? Granted, he was working with a congress of democrats. Is there anything he is saying now that indicates he will reform Washington?

Are these men just going to treat symptoms? Throw more money at problems? Cut out the cancer so deeply that you've amputated vital organs? Must we the voters be content with a man of the hour, who can get us through the next four years, but will leave the federal government unchecked in its decent toward tyranny?

What do any of you readers know about these candidates or the others running? Are my assessments wrong? Do any of the other candidates meet the resolutions with strength, vision, and confidence? Can you reassure me that a vote for Huckabee, which I am intending to cast, will be for the good of America?

Can we the people do anything now to prepare the field of candidates in the future?
Please comment.

To God be all glory.

4 comments:

Robert said...

Renee at http://montanamaiden.blogspot.com/ has postings on Ron Paul on Dec 21 and Dec 17.The first one has a link to an interesting article comparing him to the three candidates you mentioned.

Our national newspaper had two articles on Ron Paul last week.It sounds like he would be the one to reduce the size of the federal government.

The problem is how he would be able to get congress and enough of the public to go along with his vision.People are content to treat the symptoms rather than go to the root of the problem.

Did you have the pigfest for your birthday like you mentioned in an earlier post.

Lisa of Longbourn said...

Exactly. The problem is implementation. And does he know how to be a comprehensive leader? Should Ron Paul just be an advisor, a voice for the constitution?

Yes! We had a Pigfest, but it was just this Saturday. Expect a summary soon. It was great!
To God be all glory,
Lisa of Longbourn

Anonymous said...

Lisa, I have been reading your blog for a few months now, but this is the first time I have commented. I just wanted to say thank you for your insightful and interesting posts. Your blog is one of the few that I check on a regular basis. I especially appreciate the way you examine different issues from a Biblical worldview.

In Christ,

Lauren

Lisa of Longbourn said...

Lauren,
Thanks for reading! It inspires me to know I'm not writing into the void! = )
To God be all glory,
Lisa of Longbourn