National Issues

By Jeff R. Mathews

National Sovereignty, the Economy, and Healthcare Legislation

I believe one of the main functions of government is security. However, since WWII our national forces have secured borders worldwide while our own borders remain wide open. This could be corrected simply enough by reassigning our forces to our own borders, as well as deny social benefits and services to those who enter the county illegally. Additionally, in order to remain free and independent, we need to be the masters of our own fate + not entering into treaties that take precedence over the Constitution, and not becoming too indebted to other countries. I believe in the sovereignty of the individual, and in the rights each of us have protected by the U.S. Constitution. Noteworthy among them are the rights to property (no eminent domain abuse), life (determine our own fate and provide for ourselves), and liberty (exercise of all affirmative rights + including right to bear arms and be free from government intrusion).

Economy

Unempolyment is rising, the value of the dollar is falling, and our debt is expanding. Business and industry is being harmed by excessive taxation and regulation at all levels. If this continues, we won't have the resources necessary to sustain or secure our country. The best way to reverse these trends is with free-market incentives coupled with American initiative and ingenuity. This country was once an economic giant, and can be so again, but it will take tax and regulatory reform. We should remove the tremendous burden imposed by government + which would result in a new expansion of economic recovery. Give people the freedom to improve their lives by creating personal wealth. The reduction of individual and corporate taxes would make available increased investment capital, which is a better solution than trying to tax and regulate our way to prosperity.

Healthcare Legislation

I do not support the recently-enacted healthcare legislation. I mave myriad reasons and rationales for my lack of support, and could compose a complete paper on the subject + far too much to include here. However, let me at least state that while I believe there were (and are) many aspects of our healthcare system that needed reformation and/or improvement, the new healthcare law was not + in my opinion + the best way to properly and most effectively handle and address the problem issues. The methodology by which the law was passed (i.e. political buyouts and bribes), the complicated nature of the legislation (over 2300 pages + most of which had not been read and fully understood by the very member of Congress who voted for passage of the bill), the likelihood of increases to our national debt (and increased taxation on the portion of our society that pays proportionally the most taxes already), the intrusion by the federal government upon the sovereignty of the States by select provisions of the law (e.g. 4th, 9th, and 10th Amendment violations; just a partial listing), and the upswell in federal bureaucracy that typically accompanies the passage of sweeping new federal laws, tells me that we hare headed for more trouble and problems in the future as a result, than this law(s) was intended to address and correct.

Energy

The United States has sufficient energy reserves and resources required to satisfy our needs for centuries if we allow ourselves to tap into and develop them. This would require incentives and rewards for developing all forms of energy.