The Senate and the House of Representatives do many things which are rarely what I would like to happen in the United States of America. Here are some changes that would represent me and my values.
- Stop all deficit spending immediately. Lower the amount of money the government spends. Here are some simple ways to achieve lower spending. Stop all foreign aid. Do not give any money to other countries, entities, organizations, individuals, etc. We must maintain all legal or previous obligations and agreements until we can change these agreements. This reduction in aid should occur gradually so we do not devastate anyone who has become dependent upon our aid. A good plan would be to announce the change immediately and then in one year reduce the amount of aid by 20% and continue to reduce by 20% per year until we are not giving away money. We should not be giving money away to others. We need to fix all our own problems in this country and pay down our debt before we give another penny to anyone else.
- Reduce the size of our government. All government agencies except the military should reduce the number of employees by 10% starting immediately. No one should lose their job. Freeze all hiring and reduce the number of employees by retirements, buyouts, deaths, and people who resign. We need to reduce the size of the government to a level we can afford. Stop all wage increases for government employees for three years or until we balance the federal budget. When we achieve a balanced budget, meaning tax revenues exceed government expenditures, and we begin paying down the national debt then wage increases can be considered. We can not give wage increases to anyone until we balance the federal budget.
- Change our tax code so everyone pays a consumption tax on everything we purchase. Eliminate all other taxes such as corporate, income, death, gift, etc. Change the IRS mission to enforcing the collection of the consumption tax. It will take years for agents to clear all the unfinished tax returns and clear all the cases of people who owe back taxes. A consumption tax will make everyone pay taxes, and the problem of the rich paying no taxes would be eliminated. There are many rich people who pay zero taxes because the tax system is full of loopholes, and the wealthy can afford excellent accountants. The tax rate can be adjusted to whatever rate is needed to raise the needed revenue. During war or emergency times the rate would be adjusted higher. We need to generate enough revenue to balance our budget and begin paying down the national debt. We have to stop borrowing money that future generations will have to pay back. It should be criminal to burden future generations with debt from our spending.
- Sell the US Postal Service. Let private industry provide this service, although it seems very probable paper mail will be unnecessary in the future. Electronic communication is very likely to replace paper mail soon. The concept that we operate the postal service at a loss subsidized by taxpayers is stupid and absurd.
- Sell Amtrak. Private industry should be allowed to provide rail service just like bus, taxi, and the airline industry. Taxpayers are subsidizing the operation of Amtrak. If an entity or business can not generate enough money to operate without taxpayer funds it should not exist.
- Close the borders to all immigrants until we balance the budget. We do not need any extra people to feed, clothe, educate, house, provide health care, etc. until we ensure that all American citizens are clothed, fed, and have health care. We can begin legal controlled immigration again once we solve our own problems and ensure all American citizens have food, shelter, housing, and health care.
