Saving All the Programs

Once upon a time, I attended a seminar in economics, where the visiting professor from Canada advised that if we wanted to cut losses, we had to be vigilant and merciless. He was referring to the billions upon billions of dollars that we waste every year. Given that as a guideline, I have an idea how we might do that and get away with it.

First, we have to prioritize. On an international level that means minding our own business, and letting others mind theirs. It means going after international criminals with Interpol, not an army.

Then there's Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. That's about fifty billion a year down the tubes. You know, there's a reason why the Roman Empire collapsed.

Then there's narcotics. Let's legalize it. Empty the prisons of non-violent offenders and pardon them. Following this, within a week, the action would cripple drug cartels, other criminal groups and terrorists. That would save a chunk of money, wouldn't it?

How about modernizing government agencies so they work? Put them in the hands of career personnel, not political appointees. Then remove all taints of partisan and religious influences. That would save money ill-spent.

Ralph Nader suggests paring down the military budget by half. I tend to agree with him. Fifty billion right there. Streamline the FDA so it functions with the European models. That would do away with the bribery and corruption aspect. Several hundred million a year.

Finally begin edging back the buying power of the dollar to the more stable gold standard. That would stabilize inflation, and give a sense that the government is working for the people and not the other way around.

Ever ask yourself how stupid is stupid? When JFK told us to ask not what our country could do for us, but what we could do for our country...I thought that was a stupid remark. I still think it's a stupid remark. Who's the employee in that equation?

Do you know when I first started out with the idea of suggesting a few things that would help make changes that work, I thought it would be much too hard. In actuality, though, it was easy. I took partisan politics, bribery, corruption, and religious influences out of the equation and voila!

Does this qualify me to be the next President of the United States? Well, I don't know. I'm not a professor of law, I don't have much money, I'm not a hockey mom, and outside of fixing my toilet Joe the Plumber doesn't really influence me. Guess I'm out of luck. Damn.