State, federal government needs a return of common sense

Friday, March 27, 2009

But on the national scene Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, "people don't care about pork barrel projects," referring to the stimulus bill.

Do people really not care that $500 billion of our money sprinkled across federal agencies to fulfill wish lists, or that more than $200 billion will to go the states not to create jobs but to fix budgets? Maryland representatives spilled those beans on public television. Gov. Martin O'Malley himself said the teacher pension program will benefit, but even Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert, Prince George's) realizes this is a temporary fix and he is still pushing for cost sharing with the counties. His slot machine scheme isn't working.

The rest of the federal money is going primarily to special interest groups to fund the marsh mouse, the Pacific salmon, to control the brown snake in the Philippines, pay for abortions overseas, etc. What about jobs?

According to the chamber of commerce, small businesses employ 50 percent of all nongovernment jobs and create 60 to 80 percent of all new jobs. Small businesses will receive nothing other than the continuation of existing programs. Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th) couldn't explain that recently before the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce so he skipped on to say 95 percent of America will get a taxable tax cut of $13 a week, even those that don't pay taxes. Mr. Hoyer wouldn't dare point out that the tax increases planned on individuals making $250,000 annually squarely hits small businessmen.

Calvin Woodward, a reporter defending the administration, recently said small businesses don't really create jobs anyway. On C-SPAN, Mr. Hoyer and his house buddies were all smiles as they congratulated themselves for having the courage to sign the $787 billion stimulus illusion before they even read it, no less. Shouldn't courage link to personal consequences?

I didn't notice any of these brave souls offering to resign if this second trillion-dollar giveaway of our grandchildren's money doesn't work. How did we get to this brave new world of the free lunch and change we can believe in? Tax breaks that aren't really tax breaks, job creation that isn't really job creation and class envy. It's now stylish to attack the achiever once they cross the $250,000 line solely because it makes you feel better. Forget that achievers and the risk takers are the ones who create jobs, pay the most taxes and make the largest contributions to charities, foundations and endowments which otherwise would be funded through taxes.

We are to believe that government creates jobs, regulates cheap energy into existence and bestows the American standard of living on those worthy. We just have to figure out to what victim class we belong to qualify. Forget that personal success used to involve personal responsibility and hard work, living within your means. The government and Mr. Hoyer have. Just get out the old checkbook.Maryland has been doing it for a while.

Mr. O'Malley wanted to make $50 million high schools with Olympic pools a standard, but that was before. I wonder if Maryland will also stop funding American Indian powwows and healthcare for people that aren't even citizens, now that teacher pensions are in trouble. But you say the stimulus will fix it all. If the goal was just to stimulate the economy and create jobs then why not go to the source? Why not just rollback payroll taxes, which instantaneously puts money in people's pockets and they can decide how to spend it? We don't need Mr. Hoyer courageously obligating us and our grandchildren to generational debt. Just roll back the capital gains tax. Ask any CPA, they'll tell you it works every time to stimulate business. Even China has no tax on capital gains.

Fix healthcare costs by tort reform so the loser pays. Mr. Miller talked his way around doing anything to really fix tort law years ago. Are these just oversights? Slim chance; those in power are not about to give away golden opportunities to grow government and control and manipulate people. If you actually fix anything, you lose that control, government influence decreases and people's freedom increases. We can't have that.

Now the trend is for local politicians to cheerlead a growing anger at our electric companies, the goal is to make electric consumers a new victims' group. Has anybody bothered to read the bills written in Annapolis lately? They require a graduated dependence by energy companies on alternative energy. Sounds good. The fact is, this alternative energy doesn't exist, so Maryland will let the companies pay their way around this fact with substantial fees. In 2010, companies will be expected to round up 5.5 percent alternative source energy; in 2022 its 11.5 percent or pay up. Who do you think will actually pay? That's right, you and me.

But politicians are quite happy to see you get angry at energy companies. It keeps you off their backs. Really interested in more electricity? Add to our one nuclear power plant. Even Greenpeace acknowledges nuclear power is a viable option. Ever wonder why hydroelectric power plants aren't built anymore, the most efficient alternative energy available? Extremist environmentalists don't like these plants; they're worried fish can't swim upstream. Politicians want you to believe they can simply buy prosperity and regulate cheap energy into existence. Now Mr. O'Malley even wants to control operations at Maryland power plants. Is there no limit to the level of incompetency to be foisted upon us?

Our state and nation is being held hostage by a blizzard of such poor decisions. We are spending away our children's future and squandering our freedoms for style over substance.

None of this is working. Will Maryland citizens stand up and demand a return to common sense?

We'll see.

Thomas Sasscer, Huntingtown