Pretty much…
Federal Legislative Criteria
This is a idea I’ve been kicking around for a while. Has anyone here ever asked his or her Congressman or Senators what criteria they rely on when they write a bill, co-sponsor a bill or vote on a bill? If you’ve ever read a House or Senate bill, particularly one of the uber-long and complicated ones like The Affordable Care Act or Dodd-Frank, you’ve probably wondered if there are any criteria at all, other than to make it so long and complicated that no one will or can read it. I’ll bet, without a great deal of effort, we here at B4V can come up with a comprehensive list of criteria that we could forward to Congress in the form of an open letter.
Number one, IMO, would be, what is the goal of the legislation, and is the means to achieve that goal allowed by the Constitution?
Second: do the projected benefits outweigh the projected costs? (ie. can we afford it?)
Third: Has the issue been addressed before, and, if so, what was faulty about previous legislation that prevented it from solving the problem? IOW, is it a new idea, or has it been tried before?
Fourth: will the proposed legislation duplicate any existing program/s (think the dozens of federal jobs and job training programs currently in existence)?
Fifth: is there a sunset provision in the bill in the event that (a) it doesn’t achieve the stated goal, or (b) it does achieve the stated goal?
Well, I think you get the idea. Everyone feel free to chip in. I have a feeling we can come up with a very long list, most of which will come as a complete and utter surprise to our lawmakers.
The Obama Oligarchy – Year 5
Well here we are going into year 5 of the Obama oligarchy and I can’t help but be amazed at how liberals, who were once so principled in human rights, minority rights, fiscal restraint, advancement for the poor, and smart foreign policy have abandoned those positions possibly in light of their failures, but whom have also redirected their energies at demonizing any and all opposition, led by none other than their Leader.
It wasn’t long ago that their then future Leader was excoriating the current President for “taking out a credit card from China” and spending their grandchildren’s money for political expediency, and claiming that to be morally wrong and unpatriotic. Well that same Leader has now doubled the credit line on that credit card, wants even more credit, and claims it to be “investing” now in our future, with nary a peep from his loyal and devoted base. It wasn’t long ago that the Democrats who were in the minority claimed it to be their patriotic duty to oppose the majority and “fight” for what they believe in, claiming in to be the “heart of a democracy”. In fact their beloved pant suit politician once aggressively proclaimed:
It wasn’t long ago that 6% unemployment was considered too high, that 3% GDP growth was considered anemic and the beginning of a recession, and that “enhanced interrogations” were a violation of civil rights, but now we learn that they consider 8% unemployment to be an improvement, that 2% GDP growth is a sign of good things to come and that fatal drone strikes are the messy results of war.
In fact, we are learning quite a bit about our American leftists as this Obama oligarchy embarks upon its second term, none of which is very pleasant. One of our leftists here claimed that enhanced interrogations were a primary motivating factor to switch allegiance to a party that was more strident about protecting human rights, only to mildly disapprove of fatal drone strikes on 16 year old boys. We have also learned that other leftists who were once sticklers for the “rule of law” now have no problem with executive orders on issues like immigration that bypass Congress and create policy by fiat. We also learn that those same liberals who were against “wars of choice” and deposing world leaders, suddenly had a change of heart when those same actions were taken against Libya. And in respects to Libya, our liberals are curiously uninterested in learning the facts of the events that surround the death of our Ambassador. In fact when their favorite pant suit politician was asked about it, she claimed “what difference does it make”, and proceeded to enter into retirement amid fanfare of glowing accolades.
I am sure I missed quite a bit, so I welcome all of my conservative colleagues to chime in on how duplicitous, hypocritical, demagogic and shameless our liberals, and their ruling elite, have become.
This is Harry Reid’s Senate
A Couple Months Too Late, But People are Waking Up…
From Pew via Hot Air:
As Barack Obama begins his second term in office, trust in the federal government remains mired near a historic low, while frustration with government remains high. And for the first time, a majority of the public says that the federal government threatens their personal rights and freedoms.
The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Jan. 9-13 among 1,502 adults, finds that 53% think that the federal government threatens their own personal rights and freedoms while 43% disagree…
Perhaps it took the way Obama has become increasingly arrogant since re-election to get people to understand what is going on? I don’t know of a re-elected President who went with more of a “my way or the highway” attitude upon being re-elected. The general run of things is at least some sort of attempt to bridge the partisan divide and extend some sort of olive branch to the defeated…all we’ve got from Obama is demands that GOPers cave in, and, also, accept blame for everything that is going wrong. Not exactly the way to appeal to us…
For the longer term, this poll encourages me greatly in thinking that our future battles should be fought out over personal liberty – even if it means we have to engage in tactical retreats on some issues. If our strategy is to restore America then key must be re-energizing the spirit of ’76…that one-time ardent American desire to just live free or die. It is the basis for reducing the size of government, creating a genuinely free economic market and, of course, allow us in our localities to run our own affairs without let or hindrance from the federal government. This is not necessarily the time to emphasize what we are against but, instead, to emphasize our commitment to personal liberty…after all, if we believe that freedom is best and that our ideas are true (and I answer “yes” to both) then we must believe that if given a genuinely free and fair debate – impossible under current, tyrannical conditions – people will come over to our side. That is, people will come to understand that freedom really is the freedom to choose to do the right thing – and that, in the end, wins for us all down the line.
But, meanwhile, we’ve got a government more and more out of control – remember, we have a Raisin Administrative Committee – and ever more determined to curtail our rights. Unless all of us who believe in freedom unite – and that includes uniting with people who have widely divergent views – then we’re doomed.
Patty Andrews, RIP
The last of the Andrews Sisters has passed away at 94. Before my time, of course – but I remember my dad liked them and I’ve seen them in movies. A class act, a great talent – and a symbol of a vanished America.
The GOP Establishment Fought Against Ted Cruz
You can watch Cruz’ dismantling of Hagel over at The Right Scoop. Hagel is ill-informed, often has strayed in to anti-Semitism and is clearly unfit to be Secretary of Defense. Obama will probably still get him through as Democrats do hold the Senate majority, but it will be clear for all time that Obama picked an unfit man and Democrats approved an unfit man simply because they wanted someone who could twist the GOP…and, of course, be Obama’s willing tool in hollowing out our military and coddling our enemies.
In Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Pat Toomey (all of whom were unwanted by the GOP establishment) we have just the sort of Senators we need – leaders who are well informed, aggressive, capable and able to communicate the truth clearly to the American people. They are revitalizing the GOP brand as we speak – as we sit here, still in the slough of despond over our loss last year, here is the future…here is where we pick ourselves up and get back in to the fight.
Fear Not, Americans: The Raisin Administrative Committee is on the Job!
Thank goodness for Big Government!
Long-time California raisin farmers Marvin and Laura Horne have been forced to experience firsthand the costs that America’s regulatory state imposes on entrepreneurs, especially innovative members of the agriculture industry.
No longer do farmers enjoy the ancient right to sell their produce and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Indeed, Horne v. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture exemplifies the extent to which all property and business owners are made to suffer a needless, Rube Goldberg-style litigation process to vindicate their constitutional rights.
In this case, the USDA imposed on the Hornes a “marketing order” demanding that they turn over 47% of their crop without compensation. The order—a much-criticized New Deal relic—forces raisin “handlers” to reserve a certain percentage of their crop “for the account” of the government-backed Raisin Administrative Committee, enabling the government to control the supply and price of raisins on the market. The RAC then either sells the raisins or simply gives them away to noncompetitive markets—such as federal agencies, charities, and foreign governments—with the proceeds going toward the RAC’s administration costs…
I mean, my goodness, that was a close shave! Imagine if we lived in a world where raisin growers could grow as many raisins as they wish and sell it for whatever price they want! Utter chaos would certainly ensue. There would be an unregulated market out there – and such things have been known to put an eye out when in the hands of irresponsible people – you know, citizens. But we’re safe from all that – there are plenty of wonderful government regulators in the Raisin Administrative Committee on the job to protect us from ourselves. And better than that, some of the Horne’s fellow raisin growers – clearly from altruistic reasons; couldn’t possibly be out of a desire to limit competition – are entirely on the government’s side here…protecting us from having to make our own choices! After all, we know that there are only two valid choices a human being – unsupervised by government – can make: to have an abortion and to have sex.
All kidding aside, this is what Big Government is all about – and the fact that some of the Horne’s (allegedly) private sector competitors are on the government’s side illustrates what I mean about a Big Government/Big Corporation alliance to suppress the people. The United States is simply awash in bodies like the RAC and various administrative authorities – essentially unsupervised by anyone; do you want to bet that Obama and the entirety of Congress are completely ignorant of this case? – ruling over people who are doing nothing other than what people do. In this case, a couple raisin growers are just growing raisins – a wanted and needed crop and if they can grow more and better than other people, then they deserve to prosper…but Uncle Sam (and their competitors) say, “no”…you can’t do better than others. If you do, then you must surrender what your hard work has produced so that we can make things all fair and square with those who aren’t as successful as you.
This is the battle we need to fight – the fight for a free market, opportunity society. This is how we can build a 60% majority – by fighting for the real rights of the American people.
UPDATE: Details on the RAC:
The Raisin Administrative Committee is comprised of 35 members representing producers; 10 members representing handlers of varying sizes; 1 member representing the Raisin Bargaining Association (RBA); and 1 public member. Members serve 2-year terms of office that begin on May 1. Producer and handler members are nominated at meetings and by mail ballots.
Meetings and mail ballots? Oh, that sounds like it can’t possibly become an old-boys network which works to protect those most juiced in with government.
There is a list of government agencies, but it doesn’t even begin to cover it all; the RAC is not listed…it is part of the FDA and Lord only knows how many similar bodies are covered by the FDA and all other Departments of government. Someone needs to get us a genuine list of all agencies – and a one paragraph description of what they do.
Illegal Immigration: The Issue is Coming to an End
First, a report from the Wall Street Journal:
Net migration from Mexico has plummeted to zero thanks to changing demographic and economic conditions on both sides of the border, a new study says, even as political battles over illegal immigration heat up and the issue heads to the U.S. Supreme Court.
After four decades that brought 12 million Mexican immigrants—more than half of them illegally—to the U.S., the curtain has come down on the biggest immigration wave in modern times.
“The net migration flow from Mexico to the United States has stopped and may have reversed,” says the report, which is based on an analysis of U.S. and Mexican government data by the nonpartisan Pew Hispanic Center…
There are three reasons this is happening:
1. The Mexican economy, relative to the United States economy, is doing pretty well. There simply isn’t as much economic need to migrate as their used to be.
2. The United States economy – especially in home construction – is not as vibrant as it once was, and so there is less need for a pool of cheap labor.
3. The Mexican fertility rate has cratered – going from about 7 children per woman 50 years ago to just over 2 children per woman today, and continuing to rapidly fall. Mexico’s fertility rate will probably drop below replacement level in just a few years. Long term, this means fewer young Mexicans and thus a simply smaller pool of people who would even want to move to the United States.
Of course, once we get rid of Obama, the United States economy could well take off in to boom times and that would act as a magnet for immigrants – but it would also benefit the Mexican economy, thus providing yet more reason for Mexicans to stay home. Additionally, the trends in Mexican migration are not exactly duplicated in non-Mexican migration, but the fact of the matter is that all south of the border is growing economically and all of those nations are undergoing rapidly declining fertility rates…there might be a little over hang of Salvadorans coming after the Mexicans stop, but it won’t last long. If anything, our next illegal immigrant problem will come from Africa as people there get wealthy enough to flee nations which are basket cases or likely to become such in the future…but its a long trip from Africa to the United States and we’ll never again have a situation where a large population of potential illegals is separated from us by a mere walk.
My point here is that the illegal immigrant problem, as such, is over or will be very soon. The problem we have is what to do with those who came in the past 20 years – and in that, my fellow Republicans/conservatives we have a choice: we can welcome them per Rubio’s plan or we can provide one, last insult which will ensure Democrats getting 70% of their votes for the next 50 years. What will it be? You know my answer – I have favored amnesty since 2007 (even back then I knew that the realities were changing – I wasn’t thinking in terms of electoral math but just hard facts: birth rates declining, economy improving = less and less Mexicans coming across the border; so, why make a gigantic, heart ache issue out of it?). I’m with Rubio; secure the border (which, at any rate, is mostly about protecting us from cross-border drug/slavery gangs and possible terrorist incursions) and provide a path to legality for those already here. Issue ended. Yes, as these people become citizens over the next ten years, they will give a majority of their votes to the Democrats – poor, immigrant groups have always voted for whomever showed willing to pass out some government assistance (and this goes all the way back to when my Irish Great-great-grandfather arrived in the 1850’s…Irish Catholics became dedicated Democrats for more than 100 years because the Republicans didn’t welcome them or offer them any aid); we can break that by welcoming them, providing some aid and while we’ll initially only win 35-40% of their votes, we’ll get their grand-children voting for us at least 50/50 (additionally, we’ll have made Americans out of them because that is what will come along with our welcome and our aid – teaching them of the greatness of America: right now they are being taught to despise this nation by liberal Democrats…you want that to continue?).
The issue is over – our choice is to decide how we want to wind it up? I go with welcoming and helping and turning them in to conservative, pro-life, gun-toting, patriotic American TEA Party fanatics…what do you want to do with them?
UPDATE: Rubio has received some kudos out there for his reform proposal, but he’s also getting some stern pushback from some conservatives. Allahpundit has the run-down.
The objections seem to revolve mostly around the fact that the 1986 immigration reform act was a complete failure on the enforcement end and, so, a lot of people are worried that Rubio will get rolled by the Democrats – leaving us with toothless enforcement mechanisms while a whole lotta amnesty is going on. That is a legitimate worry, but Rubio has said he’s firm: no strong enforcement, no Rubio vote…and if Rubio votes against, I can’t see the proposal getting the necessary 60 votes for cloture in the Senate (a Rubio “no” would give a lot of GOPers cover to go along with the “no”…just as a Rubio “yes” gives a lot of cover for going along with the “yes”). I can definitely see scenarios where Obama and his Democrats poison-pill immigration reform just so they can race-bait on it going in to the 2014 mid-terms…we’ll see if that eventuates; but it is risky for them…honest Latinos who are not race-baiters (ie, almost all of them) simply want to ensure that family members can’t be deported…Democrats killing the bill by inserting enforcement-destroying provisions might get themselves a bit of a backlash. At all events, having a prominent, Latino GOP Senator being out front on this issue and essentially giving any honest Latino what he wants vis a vis immigration is already doing well by the GOP.
Another objection is that doing this won’t win the GOP a huge number of Latino voters. To me, this is a big “no kidding” objection…of course it won’t. Its not designed to. It is because we want to be merciful (seriously, I doubt that too many GOPers have to stomach to round up millions of people and send them home…there’s just something un-American in such a concept) and we need to deal with the problem that we move on this…and, in purely political terms, it gets a monkey off our back. We no longer have to carry around this issue, trying to court Latinos while Democrats are telling them, “those GOPers are going to deport your uncle Jose”. It clears the field and allows us to compete…and, remember, a crushing victory against liberalism means getting not all of the liberal voters, but just 10 or 15% of them…this will allow us to start doing that.
A Fun Way to Mess With Obama
From Instapundit:
SPEAKING OF IDEAS THAT THE GOP COULD OFFER, I think a series of legislative proposals aimed at implementing promises Obama made in 2008 would be fun and politically profitable: Cutting the deficit in half, closing the revolving door between government and business (my USA Today column this week will be on that one), implementing greater transparency, etc. Just send one bill after another over to the Senate. . . .
Agreed – perfect idea. Of course, Obama and his slavish media would try to pretend that all that is just rot…but if we did do it – and keep doing it – then it would start to impress itself on the public mind, and that would work to our benefit.
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