As the title of my blog indicates having lived in Montana for the majority of my adult life the phrase "Dumb Cowboy" often refers to a person who may have thoughts which are different than the majority and thus are often looked at as being dumb. I have chosen it as I have developed a thought process which I feel will be contrary to what appears to be the accepted norm and thus may be considered dumb. We shall see.
This dumb cowboy however having reached the age of 60, considered a baby boomer, educated at Notre Dame University, ran my own business etc. etc. etc., has come to the conclusion that I can no longer sit on the sidelines and not express my "opinion" on the state of the United States of America. This country is in trouble and I beleive that it is a direct result of "ALL" elected officials on the national level not having the guts to do the right thing. This is because they cower and fear the repurcussions of our media, which has gone wild and thus base thier opinions on what will get them re elected rather than on what will be best for the country I so love.
Therefore as a beginning I am willing to express 10 simple ideas that if adopted, followed or otherwise incorporated into the national aggenda would have immediate results. Some may find them controversial but those same people can either defend an opposing or different point of view or tell me why I'm wrong. Thus:
1. Bill Clinton left the country with a surplus. Today we are in real danger a financial disaster in this country. regardless of how or who is to blame. We must therefore raise taxes on those who make in excess of $250,000.00. While this sum is arbitrary I beleive it to be fair. Do those who oppose this worship God or money. How much is enough.
2. Limit defense spending. Form an unbiased committe, give them 6 months to figure out what we need and what we don't then cut this monster to the level it "needs" and not to a level to appease those with a vested interest.
3. Limit Social Security and Medicare to those who have an income at retirement of less than $250,000.00. Why should the taxpayer take care of those that obviuosly can take care of themselves. I beleive a great majority of those affected also believe less government is better, so let's give them less government.
4. End subsidies for farmers. I grew up on a farm when commodity prices were at a level that drove many out of the business. Thus subsidies were probably a good thing. Today I know a retired NBA Coach, who because of his income as a coach was able to buy large tracts of farmland and today gets paid not to farm it. I think a poor little kid in America needs a government dollar more than the modern day farmer, which for the most part are now large corporations.
5. End subsidies for large oil companies. Take 50% of the money, listen to guys like T. Boone Pickens and do something real to end our dependance on foreign sources of energy and take the other 50% to reduce our debt level.
6. Reintroduce the draft. The vast majority of those sacrificing life and limb for our country do so because of economic necessity and the inability to find a decent job. This draft is not just for military but also to devote 2 years of one's life to giving something to our country. Just as John Doe's child from Appalacia or the slums of New York joins for the money, (meager though it is) so also should Obama's daughters, George Bush's grandchildren and all should be required to serve. god knows the country needs them.
7. End the war on drugs. A recent survey showed that over 50% of the female prisoners being held in Federal Prisions were there because of non violent drug offences. Legalize marijuania, tax it, and treat rather than imprision those that need it.
8. Require any corporation, incorporated in any State of the U.S. which geneates in excess of ten million dollars in revenue be required to pay 15% of the excess to the U.S. Treasury. In addition any emloyee, officer or director of these same corpoations who is compensated in excess of 25 times the maximum amount paid to their highest non-corporate employee pay an excise tax of 50% of this amount.
9. Require every U.S. Senator and Representative to publish a dailey report on any paid lobbyist they met with. In additon any paid lobbyist would also be required to publish a dailey report listing every Senator and Representative they met with, or otherwise had a conversation with and what the talk was about.
10. Immediatly adopt a flat tax of 8% on all individuals, in which case we can revisit one above.
Dumb Cowboy
