No Way to Run Our Government

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The federal budget had a completion date of May 15. Congress stumbled and no budget was submitted; it may not be ready until after the November election. Is this any way to run our government? Why wasn’t the budget completed?

SEC employees (31 of them) were caught watching porn, some for up to eight hours a day. No one was fired — only reprimanded (whatever that means). Is this any way to run our government?

Congress passed a 2,000-page legislation in the middle of the night that no one understood nor had read. Is this any way to run our government?

Seven experts from the National Academy of Engineering signed off on a report concerning drilling safety recommendations. Inserted, after their report was submitted, was that they recommended a six-month moratorium. They angrily protested that they had been misrepresented to justify political decisions. Is this any way to run our government?

The administration has adopted the Keynesian theory of spending its way into prosperity. This theory had pretty much been rejected until it was rejuvenated by some starry-eyed liberal professors even though the European countries have seen the light and have decided to slash spending first. Is spending our way into monstrous unsustainable debt any way to run our country?

The worst-run businesses in our country are the post office, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Amtrak, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. They all run at deficits, are broke and owe hundreds of billions, even into the trillions. Our government is totally incapable of running a business. Now it wants to run all businesses — even our personal lives. Is putting absolutely incompetent people in charge any way to run our government?

We currently have the most dysfunctional government in memory. Your vote in 2010 and 2012 can change this.

Monroe Diefendorf

Pinehurst

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JER 2 years, 10 months ago

Could you enlighten your readers with the names of the candidates you would like us to vote for or should we just vote a straight GOP ticket? I'm sure whoever is on the GOP ballot will be able to correct all these wrongs but I just wondered if you had any names yet.

JER 2 years, 10 months ago

Ed, I think you misinterpreted my remarks. Mr.Diefendorf letter blames all our problems on Democrats so I was just asking him to the name the Republicans who will solve all the problems. And I'm afraid I'll have to ask you the same question: Since you believe that all current members of our government "suck" and should be thrown out, who do you see as the "third party" saviors for our nation? Don't get me wrong, I agree with you that the GOP belief that unrestrained big business is the solution to all of our ills, along with their belief that we must be waging war someplace, is what got us into this mess. But I don't see how kicking everyone out and starting over will solve our problems either. When it comes down to it, the current system is what needs changing. Every member of congress is a "special interest" who really only cares about things that effect him (or her) and their constituents. They have lost track of what is best for the country as a whole and focus only on getting stuff for themselves. They all enter into the back room deal making where I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine to get what they want. I think one of the most profound changes that could be made to the system is to have each piece of proposed legislation voted on based on it's own merits. No added amendments and last minute riders to slip unrelated legislation through unnoticed. I think this change would go a long way in getting us back on track.

commonsense77 2 years, 10 months ago

The library should keep the Pilot in the fiction section. The federal budget runs from October 1 every year. There is no such May 15 deadline. In past under Speaker Gingrich Congress missed the October 1 deadline and had to pass a " continuing resolution" to keep the government running for a period under the previous year budget. It was done under Speaker Gingrich, Speaker Hastert when I worked for the US House. I believe Speaker Pelosi may have used it as well but don't know first hand.

It is sad that Mr. Diefendorf chooses to show his lack of basic civics as I learned the Federal Budget year in 9th Grade.

OldSpook 2 years, 10 months ago

And yet another otherwise good argument destroyed by an unnecessary insult.

bs_master 2 years, 10 months ago

post office is not run by the government, it is independent and operates solely on postage sales. it does however have to report to the government and is expected to operate on a no profit basis. that is all revenue should equal liabilities, or as close as possible, in a fiscal year. it is handicapped somewhat because when postage increases are needed they have to run a gauntlet of committies and the board of governors to finally get it approved. private companies are able to add fuel surcharges, at will, if their operating expenses explode because of fuel prices. This happen a couple of years ago when we were paying close to 5 dollars per gallon. the postal service has yet to recover from this spike in operating costs. it is common to call the post office a government agency, but that is not true!