WHAT COMES FIRST…THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?

With all the problems facing our daily lives in the United States of America, it is difficult to determine just where to start attaining resolutions. Because of the stature of our country as one of the world leaders, our actions have greater significance and urgency. Trying to make this blog brief is virtually impossible, because of the severity and complexity of the issues.

Consider the topics (not in order of importance) the War in Iraq, Immigration, Border Security, Inflation, Social Security Insolvency, Health Insurance/Medicare, Cures for Cancer, Crime/Gang Violence/Prison populations, Illegal Drugs, Real Estate Foreclosures, Education, Foreign Aid, United Nations Effectiveness, Poverty, Funding Entitlement Programs, National Debt, World Terrorism, Election Process, Earmarks (Pork Barrel Projects), Agricultural Subsidies, Entitlement Programs, National Debt, Extension of Tax Cuts, Increasing Gasoline Prices, Oil Dependency, Energy Policy, Congressional Accountability, Local and Federal Governmental Reform, and the issues requiring solution and prompt attention go on and on.

If you have not noticed with the never ending primary election process and lame duck Presidency, nothing is being accomplished in the House or Senate. Our House and Senate, and the Congressional Leadership promised only two years ago longer work weeks and bipartisan solutions. Currently there is little or no legislation of consequence being addressed or accomplished.

The USA desperately needs leadership and we need it now, not after the inauguration in January 2009. Let’s begin with the issue of high gasoline prices as a starting point. This is a basic economic supply and demand issue. Rapid economic growth in India and China plus environmentalist objections to drilling in Anwar are root causes for our high gasoline prices. Further, the failure of Congress to establish a National Energy Policy adds to the problem’s severity.

Congress should act now and start by demanding the State Department contact all the oil producing countries and tell them that all US foreign aid will stop immediately, until they increase oil production. More supply means lower prices. Additionally, Congress can and should immediately legislate a temporary reduction of speed limits across the nation that will improve miles per gallon statistics and reduced consumption. American’s won’t like this, but both actions will cause gasoline prices to fall immediately. We need political guts and leadership now, because gasoline prices are currently destroying our economy.

Anyone who does not recognize the fact that the Islamic and Socialist countries who are producing our imported oil want high oil prices and the direct negative impact they have on the USA economy is naive. There is only so much oil available in those countries and they are milking it for all it is worth, because when it runs out their economies could collapse, unless they prepare now for that day. Look at Dubai building a tourism industry, as an example.

Next, we must accept the fact that Terrorism is a huge and real threat to the very existence of the American Way of Life. It is naive to think we can get out of Iraq immediately after the coming election. This current call by politicians is pure political speak to generate votes over an unpopular war. I do believe we can start bringing some troops home immediately. We must firmly tell the corrupt Iraq government to get their act together NOW and stop giving them anymore money NOW. Let them learn to live on their oil revenue or face the reality of becoming a part of Iran. Believe me, Iraq does not want to renew their years of war with Iran, never mind having their homeland taken over by Iran.

Next, before the coming election we must seal and secure our borders with both Canada and Mexico. Some of the troops can come home from Iraq to support the under staffed Border Patrol, and they could be further re-enforced by various National Guard Units on a rotating basis. The next Congress must reach an acceptable solution to the Immigration problem, because it is unrealistic to ship over 12 million illegal immigrants home.

I clearly support immigration, but I insist it be fair and legal. Congress must determine a way to identify everyone in this country and that can be done with a tamper proof National Identification Card for a small fee. The ACLU will scream, but I believe our citizens will support the program. In reality, only people with something to hide should fear a National Identification Card. The ACLU will not pay for the damages caused by the next terrorist attack or the costs we now absorb from the illegal immigrant community. It is foolish to think we can send all the illegal immigrants home, because if we did most restaurants in America would have to close. Mexico must be told sternly to cooperate or we could start sending their people home, which would collapse Mexico’s economy.

Sealing the borders will immediately reduce illegal immigration, many illegal immigrants will return to their original homes. The flow of illegal drugs will be quickly reduced eliminating a great source of funding for gang activity. Reduce gang activity and you reduce prison populations, court/police protection expenses and some of the funding being absorbed by taxpayers for emergency room visits by drug victims and illegal immigrants.

Securing the border will immediately have a trickle down impact on several of our major national problems. The added expense to our national treasury will more than be offset by the corresponding reduction of numerous federal expenditures.

Much is to be gained and little if anything is lost. America is long overdue in running our government like a business and if any businessman ran his business like Congress they would be fired, not reelected. It is time to consider your Congressional vote more seriously and demand performance accountability. Experience has proven that Congress immediately starts huffing and puffing after a tragedy and demands immediate action. History has shown that their action has often been hasty, ill conceived and does not solve the problem. Surely, it is far more prudent to act aggressively now, before it is too late. When will we ever learn from our experiences?

WHAT COMES FIRST…THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?

COMMANDER GRANGER