New Contract for America?

I've never been a big fan of Laura Ingraham, but I'm not thoroughly familiar with her program. A recent "Google search" (can't I just use google as a verb?) revealed an interesting post on her website called the "Top for '10: Winning Washington by Empowering Americans"

From her site:

1) Taxpayers' Bill of Rights (TABOR). Limit federal spending growth to the percentage in population growth plus the rate of inflation; provide taxpayers the option of filing a post-card sized return using a low, flat tax rate of 15%

2) End Tax-funded abortions. Stop federal payments to Planned Parenthood and prohibit any taxpayer-subsidized health insurance plan from covering abortion

3) Defend American Borders. Complete America's border-protection initiatives using remaining funds from the so-called stimulus bill

4) King Dollar. Preserve a strong dollar so that Americans' savings aren't wiped out by inflation and the U.S. dollar remains the world's reserve currency

5) Empower American Business. Immediately slash corporate tax rates to 15% and scrap the capital-gains tax altogether

6) Defend America. Strengthen America to defend our homeland and fully fund an operational, layered missile-defense system

7) Statism Exit Plan. De-fund czars; immediately cease bailout payments to failed companies; ban future bailouts

8) End Generational Theft. As few believe America's entitlement programs will be able to pay benefits to future generations, provide younger workers the choice of diverting payroll/Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts

9) Restore America's System of Justice. Introduce penalties for frivolous lawsuits, where those who launch unsuccessful lawsuits are liable for the defendants' legal bills

10) American Energy Independence. All-of-the-Above strategy that embraces alternatives, expands and accelerates exploration and production of oil and natural gas, and jumpstarts dramatic increases in nuclear power




Some interesting stakes are presented. I'd like comment and amend a few things:

1. Balance the budget: My apologies to the Congress and/or White House, but enough is enough. We really need to start running a surplus to pull ourselves out from under this national debt, but the first mandate would be: net budget of zero. No one borrowing, no more printing.

We cannot prolong the pain.

2. Federal Funded Abortions: Planned Parenthood is corrupted by individuals preventing prosecution of statutory rapists. There are WAY TOO MANY folks NOT in favor of abortions to even consider this program. This would be a major polarizing topic for the voting public. I'm the first to say that politically, abortion is way down the to-do list after a mountain of economic goals.

3. Shut the border down! Countries are defined by our language, culture and borders. In addition to national security issues, the economic impact of the 12-15 million illegal immigrants is too big to ignore.

4. Reversing the crashing dollar: I would need some help here, but let's start by supporting Ron Paul and ENDING THE FED and turning OFF the printing press.

5. Business Investment: Ms. Ingraham is spot on with this one. Can I add reducing or eliminating the death tax as well.

6. Defend America: Well, let's defund the UN, ship their headquarters overseas (I hear Switzerland is nice year round), reduce our senseless troop occupation all over the globe and then we can move forward.

7. Statism Exit Plan. Czars, bailouts, corporate takeovers, firing CEOs, government stock ownership in banks -- all comes to end IMMEDIATELY!

8. Entitlement Programs: Every program is bankrupt. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, even the Post Office -- it's time to stop pretending all of this works.

9. Read Above -- all I'll say is YES! YES and YES!

10. Drill NOW! Go get the oil, go get the natural gas, go build nuclear power plants. Stop pretending the global warming is a state of emergency to reshape society.

This doesn't make me a Laura Ingraham reader or supporter, but I start to get the sense that more people are saying and thinking the right things. Keeping this honest, preventing corruption and pet projects -- well, that's an entirely different challenge.