Where Do We Start Fiscal Responsibility?

What does one want out of their representative? And how do we know who to vote for in the Senate, House, or Administration without feeling like we’re being duped, lied to, or betrayed? These are not easy questions to answer my friends, especially in today’s market.

Disinformation, perfidy and corruption are quite copious in politics of our time. It seems you have to be an elitist just to run for office nowadays, and definitely a part of society to get elected. What happened to the good old days when farmers, doctors, or plain old business owners were the norm for our civil servants? Those that could truly identify with the strife and travails we “small people” go through on a daily basis. Fortunately, I saw something yesterday. Something that may ease your heart and guide your mind just a little.

I attended a COMPASS (Community Outreach Making Partnerships At Sumner Schools) fundraiser and the keynote speaker was none other than one of our senators, Bob Corker. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I voted for Senator Corker in the last election without ever meeting the man or knowing much about him. But much of that has changed recently, simply because of the tumult in our country and politics in general. You see, I’m not much taken by most of our politicians these days, not unlike many across our great nation. Living through the plethora of lies and deceit in recent years has left me no less skeptical than many of you. However, I was moderately impressed by this man’s life and his pursuit of the American dream. I lie in harmony with his economic views and the presentation he gave us this day.

Growing up in Chattanooga he attended public schools, which I’m sure is one of the many reasons he gives support to COMPASS. He worked regular jobs during his youth, no different than many of us. He attended UT and graduated with a degree in Industrial Management, henceforth working in construction until he mustered up $8,000 to start his own business. From there he took to helping people on a grander scale, by entering the public servant arena in 1994. It has been nothing but a beneficial battle from there. And make no mistake about it, I’m not stumping for Mr. Corker, I’ve simply witnessed something that I want to share with you. Something I find illuminating and not too rife in politics today.

What is on all our minds these day? Most certainly not the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. At least not as much as it was two or three years ago. Not necessarily the threat of terrorism, immigration, same sex marriage, right to life, or whether or not Sarah Palin may or may not be running for president in 2012. Jobs, national debt and the economy is what fuels our passion, wrenches our gut and keeps us awake at night. What lies in the future for our children and grandchildren in the decades to come is what many are fretting over and talking about. Are we being sold down the river by the elitists that talk down to us while speaking out of the sides of their necks? Yes, I think we are. Everyone knows that, whether they want to stand up and say it or not. The Obama supporters of two or three years ago have seen what’s happened to our country ¾ and even they don’t like it.

So, what am I getting at? Corker has a vision, a bill he wants to get passed in the not to distant future. As a member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee it is an issue he would have more expertise on than most. He spoke for about twenty minutes while presenting graphs, pie charts and figures that spelled economic doom for our great country. It wasn’t anything new. Nothing any of us logically thinking individuals hadn’t already known. He also wasn’t charismatic or sonorous, at least not in the same halls as our unctuous President. But what he did have was plain and simple talk. An unashamed and unabashed presentation that told us, not only how difficult it was to get anything done in Washington, but what was direly needed to stop us from falling off the precipice. I don’t think anyone reading this needs to be told in great detail what I’m referring to, so I’ll skip the gruesome details of that parody.

Senator Corker wants to pass a bill that limits Congress to spending 18% of our GDP. Think about it folks. I don’t know if he can get it done, but it would be quite impressive. Personally, I don’t know if it can get us out of this mess, but I think it’s a good start. It would limit what the government could spend, and that’s something unheard of today.

Such as pay-go. Presumably something passed that says Congress can’t spend unless they cut expenditures in one area to compensate, or raises fund for the expense. Such as additional taxation. It’s simply pay as you go, no more debt. Unfortunately, many ¾ no, let me correct that ¾ most congressmen don’t see it that way. Pay-go is pay as you go, except for what Congress considers emergencies or extreme measures. Then it’s okay to stick it in. What are these extremes or emergencies? That’s simple. Whatever they consider them to be. Any arbitrary that suits one or more congressmen’s agenda would fall into this category.

But let me digress. If an 18% cap were placed on spending it would immediately do two things. First, it would cut down the spending of our federal government. Of which they are currently spending in excess of 20% right now. And according to the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) we will be at 90% of our GDP in our lifetime if we don’t do something to curb the spending. Secondly, it would give our government the right incentive. What do I mean by that? Well, we all know that when we make more money at a particular activity we tend to strengthen and grow that activity in order to make even more money. Right? The only way Congress could feed their rapacious appetite for spending would be to grow the GDP, which means helping business rather than crippling it. If they get to spend 18% of the GDP it would behoove them to grow the GDP.

So, if I took anything away from this COMPASS event, other than getting an opportunity to help our children vis-a-vis a benevolent organization, it would be seeing at least one individual in our Senate is on the right track. I exhort you ladies and gentlemen, when you hear or see this bill come to fruition in the not too distant future, be sure to pay attention. Be sure to check it out for yourselves and get behind it, as it is a start to handling fiscal responsibility with regards to our leaders. A start to handling what may be the demise of the greatest civilization that has graced this earth in the last 2500 years.