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Hernando Today

Five Critical Errors

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By JOHN NASH

Hernando Today

Published: February 11, 2009

Updated: 02/11/2009 12:59 pm

My computer has various sounds, which automatically play when some action, event, or mistake has taken place. When a fatal, or critical, error has happened, a voice, which sounds much like Homer Simpson of cartoon fame, exclaims, "Aw crap!" I think that there needs to be something like that in the Oval Office at the White House and in halls of Congress so as to alert them of a critical error.
Here are five such errors that our new, Democratically-controlled government can make that would trigger a loud "Aw crap!"
Attempt to take away firearms: Our new president (elected by a slim margin created by questionable tactics and inadequately educated voters) appears to be opposed to ownership of firearms by law-abiding citizens, in spite of what our founding fathers intended or what recent court decisions have reinforced. If he and the limp-wristed majority in Congress achieve a long-held naïve dream, legislation will be introduced to begin the process of disarming all but the criminal and terroristic elements of our society. That's not only dangerously unrealistic and unachievable, but would guarantee an increase in violent crime.
Increase taxes on the "wealthy: The Robin Hood mentality of socialist politicians motivates them to rob the rich and give to the poor. Trouble is: In real life, those "rich" are responsible for the economic base of the nation; without them, most of the "poor" would have no jobs. We're already taking far more than is reasonable, or safe, from that "rich" minority and are even extending the definition of "rich" well down into the growing middle class. Our governments would — even if responsibly and economically managed — still need to tax us, but continuing to overtax the top 15 percent of families is dangerously irresponsible, resulting eventually in accelerated economic collapse of the nation.
Attempt to make national intelligence transparent and beyond criticism: The recent appointment of Leon Panetta, as director of the Central Intelligence Agency, sends a strong signal that President Barack Obama will emasculate our national intelligence efforts and capabilities. Panetta is singularly unqualified to head an agency devoted to a mission that Panetta knows nothing about and has no experience in. In addition, Panetta has proudly proclaimed the ways in which he would remove many of the agency's major tools in making the nation safe from terrorism. Intelligence gathering involves large amounts of secrecy, and even sometimes working outside of a few laws. If we attempt to make our intelligence agencies operate openly — like a manufacturer of snack crackers — our days as nation of significance will end.
Increase welfare payments and other socialistic handouts: Obama regularly promised, during his recent election by racists, children and Hollywood airheads, that he was in favor of free health care for everyone (including, we assume, even illegal immigrants). Mister "yes we can" is also in favor of free college education for that same wide group, whether or not they can read in English or any other language; he also supports radically extended welfare payments, which are already far too generous and poorly controlled. We can't pay for the welfare benefits now being carelessly handed out; our national debt now exceeds our national assets (i.e., we're bankrupt). And we can't raise taxes further without exacerbating the current recession/depression.
Print more unbacked money: Once upon a time, every dollar our government printed or minted was backed by a dollar's worth of gold, which was stored comfortingly in Fort Knox. When the demand for dollars outstripped our supply of gold, we substituted silver, of which we had a seemingly endless supply. We then even noted, right on our paper currency, that they were "silver certificates." Although we once had so much silver stored in our national vaults that we were able to loan tons of it to secret labs in Oak Ridge, Tenn., where it was used in place of copper (which had "gone to war") to wire huge electromagnets needed in the production of fissionable metals. Today, with nothing of value required to back production of currency, the amount of money being printed is limited only by the supply of paper and ink, and the speed of the presses. That means that every unbacked dollar printed reduces the value of every other dollar in savings accounts or used in trade. Another name for that is "inflation," which could be the end of the U.S. economy if it comes in conjunction with a serious recession, such as we now are in.

Of Cabbages and Kings is a regular column in this paper. The author welcomes rational, relevant comment sent to him at john@have-eye.com.

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