PB30 Party On

Recent polls show that something like 85% of Americans believe our country is headed in the wrong direction. Put me in that camp. Republican President Bush’s approval numbers have dropped below 30% and those that believe the Democratic Congress is doing a good job have fallen below 10%. In the last two years, gas prices have doubled, food prices have skyrocketed, retirement plans have been reduced in value by 20 % and the value of housing is down at least 15%. The stock market has lost 2000 points. Neither of the political parties has served us well, and neither appears to have a handle on how to address the problems America is facing. The presidential candidates do not inspire confidence. America is falling into despair because neither party seems to know what we want. Fortunately I do.

A military we can be proud of. OK. We have that.

A hardheaded, no nonsense, foreign policy that makes it clear that the U.S. can be your best friend or worst enemy. In the future, when and if we go to war, it needs to be as a country, not a political party.

An economic policy that makes our currency strong. The dollar has fallen to the same level as the Canadian “loony” for goodness sake.

A domestic policy that doesn’t include bailouts. Yes, we must take care of Americans who are not able to help themselves. But we should be reducing reliance on government and increasing self reliance. John Smith said, “He that shall not worke shall not eate.” It was a solid prescription for success in 1608 and will be just as successful in 2008.

A space program with a plan. What in the world is going on at NASA? There wasn’t a person alive watching the moon landings in 1969 who did not anticipate spending spring break on Mars by 2000. Let’s get there. The space program is the nursery of high tech. Also the way to stop asteroids before they stop us.

Politicians who have at least the average morality of say, a Russian gangster. That is, if a person is a thief, a wife beater or wife cheater, a drunk, a dope addict, an out of control gambler, or financially irresponsible, why is he or she entrusted with the government?

Cheap energy. Americans like big houses, big cars, big companies, and big ideas because we are big people. Nothing wrong with that. It’s our culture. But they all require cheap energy. Should we drill for oil in Alaska or the Atlantic? How about the Pacific? Nuclear? Wind? Geothermal? Bio-fuels? Coal? Natural gas? Fuel cells? Hell, yes, all of the above. What we are doing now is like starving to death inside a McDonald’s because the French fries are too greasy. Let’s start drilling!

Competence. Cranes inspected by the government shouldn’t fall down a week later. Neither should freeway overpasses. Airplanes should be inspected on a regular basis, not all the same day shutting down the air transportation system. Government regulated banks shouldn’t fail. The IRS should be able to answer questions about taxes. Social security should be secure.
Immigration policy that makes sense, somewhere between putting the southern border at Guatemala and rounding up half the country’s workforce and deporting it. If you are here and working, we can make you legal. If you are a criminal you are going to have to leave. Today. And, yes, put up a fence.

Freedom, free enterprise and capitalism. These are what made America successful in the past; they will do so again.

There you have it. Why is that so difficult? Why can’t the Republicans and Democrats put the train back on the track? Why can’t they even talk to each other? I know what you are thinking. Perhaps we need a new political party. One which understands that talking about problems isn’t the same as solving them. It is time to launch the New Whig Party. It’s too late for ’08. But the way things are going, we’re going to walk into the White House in 2012. Remember, you heard it here first. You know I’m right.