Energy Independence- There’s nothing original about this idea: drill for oil domestically. We have the technology to produce oil cleanly and efficiently. Now, that may be a difficult statement to stomach in light of the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, but it is nonetheless true. Were it not for unreasonable regulations on drilling in the U.S., there would have been no need to drill in water too deep to manage problems easily. For that matter, there would have been no need to be in the water at all. (None of this diminishes the poor management or negligence of BP.)
Domestic drilling would have the added benefit of producing domestic jobs, not only in oil production and refining, but in construction, steel and transportation. And it would increase our Gross Domestic Product. So, we have a simple solution to several problems facing our Union today. This is not to say we shouldn’t research and develop real alternatives, but we must stop allowing ideology to trump practicality and security.
This proposal requires no additional legislation; it requires a lifting of current restrictions. This is about as close as government can come to actually creating jobs. Contrary to what they would like us to believe, government cannot create jobs, it can only create an environment conducive to growth. It can’t create jobs because taxes are the only revenue source. Therefore, any wage paid by government is done by taking money from another without the exchange of tangible property (the taxpayer receives nothing of equal value). Real jobs are created when someone is willing to pay to meet a real need, not a perceived need which government tries to meet.
Foreign Policy- George Washington cautioned us in his Farewell Address to “steer clear of permanent alliances with any part of the foreign world.” He told us to always take care to remain in a “respective defensive posture.” As for war? I’ll paraphrase George: let’s finish the commitments we’ve already made, and be done with it.
I concur with his assessment on these and other issues. He was definitely the right man for the job of setting the course of a newly formed United States of America. He gave sound advice with regard to both foreign and domestic policy. The United States must stop meddling in the affairs of other nations, and tend more carefully to her own. This is not to say we don’t extend a helping hand when one is requested, or that we never defend a nation under attack. But what the Father of America said is true, and I’ll paraphrase it again. If we go about the business of liberty, our prosperity will make other nations jealous for our achievements. They’ll make themselves a free people without our interference and, for the most part, without our help.
As for remaining in a “respective defensive posture,” we need to make certain those who would do us harm understand our patriotism runs deep. An attack on one U.S. citizen is an attack on all. When foreign nations extend an open hand to us, we’ll shake it. If a fist, we’ll beat them bloody. If all nations knew without a doubt any attack against U.S. interests would be met with a swift and sure response, the people of those nations would police themselves accordingly, just as we do. The yearning of all humanity is to be free and secure. Their jealousy for liberty would compel them to take charge of their own governments, by whatever means, as our Founders did.
If the U.S. were producing her own oil, the stability of the Middle East would be irrelevant to the stability of energy prices here at home. Whatever help Congress voted to give, to whatever nation that formally and officially asked for it, would then be received as bona fide goodwill. It would not be construed as the U.S. “looking for ways to take oil.”
The UN may, at a point in the past, have represented the interest of peace and prosperity. Today it does not. It is hostile to our interests. There is no justification for the support of a body that does not have our best goals at it’s core. UN policy is contrary to our Constitution and we should withdraw membership.
Healthcare- Create a system in which patients, physicians and insurers enter into a contract without government intervention. Physicians would agree to provide the best possible care. Patients would agree that, in exchange for more affordable care, they’ll assume they’re treated responsibly and forego any thought of lawsuit if things don’t go the way they hope. Insurers would agree to pay the bill they receive, and it would be much smaller than what they receive now. It would cover costs for procedures and tests absolutely relevant to the treatment, nothing more. The physician would no longer perform unnecessary tests to prove what is already known, because there’d be no need to protect against a lawsuit.
This approach may require the removal of certain restrictions from both medical professionals and insurers, but it doesn’t require any new legislation. As I’ve said, Congress should be doing very little to affect our daily lives. What the States choose to do is up to the States. If we’re not pleased with the direction of our State, we have 49 more to choose from. (Our federal government is another matter entirely.) The United States is a one-of-a-kind enterprise and we really must return it to greatness.(Credits go to http://scottrupert.com/ for the given information.)
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