Here & There Column 7-3-12

  Independence Day-Size Of Government

  Tomorrow we celebrate Independence Day commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence which was drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

  The Declaration of Independence is this nation's most cherished symbol of liberty.

  The political philosophy of the Declaration was not new as it expressed ideals of individual liberty.

  Thomas Jefferson is greatly known for his work in summarizing the philosophy in "self-evident truths" as he set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country (England). 

  Jefferson also became well known when he made another famous statement which said, "a government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have."

  As we celebrate the 4th we here in Sullivan County and New York State as well as nationwide can certainly understand that government is indeed strong enough to take everything we have.

  The size of government has risen tremendously and we must start reducing taxes and the size of government by applying well practiced principles to government.

  The size of government overall has risen tremendously--up 76% in the last decade and when politicians call for more government programs they are proposing to make this worse.

  We continue to hear politicians say that it's government mandates that raise taxes and taxpayers are saying reduce or do away with what is creating the mandates.

  Tax reduction should be all politicians top priorities. The economy suffers when government takes money from your paycheck that you would spend or invest for you and your family's future.

  Government waste and pork barrel spending is rampant and needs to be cut but our political process leads to too many compromises and reciprocal favors.

  It is imperative that we cease excessive government spending and do away or reduce any government tax or excessive regulation that cuts the bottom rungs of the economic ladder.

  As we celebrate Independence Day and the freedom we enjoy it's vital that politicians on all levels of government apply well practiced principles including a pay-as-you-go policy, employing top business consultants to evaluate government programs, adopting zero-based funding budgeting, eliminating redundant and outdated government programs and ending the practice of earmark appropriations. 

  Happy July 4th.