Why does it always cost so much money for Congress to pass legislation? If they’re doing their job, they’re only passing laws that, “regulate commerce… between the several states”, why does it always cost astronomical sums of money that inevitably result in higher taxes? When they finally achieve their goal of robbing us of one hundred percent of our incomes and that still isn’t enough to support all their social programs, what will they do? Just exactly how much money is enough?

And why are they allowed to vote themselves raises? Shouldn’t “We the People” be the ones who determine their worth and how much they’re paid? There must be something in the Constitution; I’ll have to look it up. Not that any of our elected officials would trouble themselves with adherence to a document deemed by them as antiquated and meaningless as the Constitution. But then, what of their oath of office? Seems they are, to the last, liars.

If our elected representatives in Government want to insist that we “sacrifice” during these “difficult times” shouldn’t they lead by example? If they were forced to lay off their ponderous teams of aids and interns, they would then be required to actually write the legislation they vote on. This is one way to get them to “read the bill.” The words of John Conyers, representative from my own district, come to mind as I write. The time has indeed come for “change.”

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There are a good many people out there who are adamant about not buying American made automobiles. Many of a conservative bent are against the help offered to and taken by the auto companies and their argument contains some degree of merit. I think the means by which the government stepped in and dictated the course of events was wrong; it could have been done many other ways and more economically for taxpayers. It would have been better, I think, to let the bankruptcy process run its course without the prior injection of taxpayer money. The results of such a measure would have proven more just for all concerned. The investors would have been better protected and the union would have taken a much deserved beating, since they are in no small way responsible for the state of the industry. In addition, a reduction in corporate tax rates to help ease the financial burdens on these manufacturers would have proved beneficial in the long term.

I think its fine for people to stand on principal, but there is a practical side to the matter as well. If we all jump on the band wagon and buy foreign cars thereby letting our manufacturing base fall to ruin, who then will build the military machine when the time comes to go to war? What would happen should the Chinese decide they’re ready to release their pent up aggression against us? I think its common knowledge that they’re building their military and they’re not doing it “just for fun.” Will they provide the equipment we would need to defend ourselves? Will the Russians? Perhaps we could turn to our Muslim friends in the Middle East.

During the events that lead to the founding of this country, I’m sure there were many who were, by principal, against the idea of violent revolution. But in the process of thinking things through, they decided that their love of liberty took precedence over their principal of peace. What good are principals when we’re locked in a gulag somewhere, without reason, and for an undetermined length of time? Should we stand on principal and let the manufacturing base disintegrate thus losing our means of providing for a national defense and subsequently our freedom to debate these issues? Where is the wisdom in this type of thought?

What good does it do for me to stand on my conservative principals and let my next door neighbor fall to poverty by supporting his foreign competitor? He will then join the ranks of the unemployed, and from there transition to the welfare rolls and I would then be paying his way. Can I realistically expect him to then support my industry; would he? When he is no longer able or willing to support my industry, what will come of me and my prosperity? There are things we can do to help in reducing the welfare state in this country and buying American is one of them. Remember the “Golden Rule!”

We desperately need to support our manufacturing base in this country if only to maintain a means for defending ourselves as a nation. In doing so we also help our neighbors in their quest for the prosperity we all desire. The frequently seen term “Buy American” has incredible meaning these days; in more ways than we are sometimes aware. There are times when we must cast aside our petty differences and stand united as a sovereign nation. Let us not succumb to the unintended consequences of our principals; we must think these things all the way through. Our survival as a nation hangs in the balance!