TAX FREEDOM DAY
Did you pay your taxes by today? If not, you may be looking at stiff penalties. But Americans are already penalized by a tax burdon that is way too large. The size and scope of government at every level is too high. This year, Tax Freedom Day is April 26, 2006 — so you actually have another week 
and half before we reach this symbolic point of the year. What is the symbolism of this day? The Tax Foundation computes all of the money that you pay in taxes (income tax, sales tax, etc.) and they figure out what percentage of your annual income it takes to pay your burdon. The dates moves around as you can see by the graph. That said, our Republican President and Republicans in the United States Senate and House of Representatives can ask themselves today, and on April 26th why, with GOP ‘control’ of the federal government, Tax Freedom day isn’t sometime in late February or early March…
ROACH v. BILBRAY? FUTURE v. THE PAST
Since I wrote my apparently-controversial column last week, suggesting that perhaps businessman Eric Roach should run a vigorous campaign in the GOP primary for the full two-year term in the 50th Congressional District, I have certainly received a lot of feedback. I’ve talked to several members of Congress and Party leaders, been in communication with both Roach and Bilbray, and got to have a pleasant chat with the San Diego Union Tribune reporter who has done a great job covering the antics of the 50th.
My argument remains the same. Which is that the Republican Party nationally has a huge problem. And that is that the rhetoric that we have espoused to achieve our titular majorities in Congress, and the White House, is significantly disconnected from the reality of our acheivements. Case in point is that we continue to tell everyone that the Republican Party stands for limited government, lower taxes and lower spending. Yet with full GOP "control" of the government apparatus inside of the beltway, the federal government is larger than ever, taxes are higher than ever, and spending is greater than ever.
I agree completely with something that Brian Bilbray told me yesterday when we spoke on the phone — which is that we all need to be concerned about the size of government not just because of the dollars involved, but because philosophically the federal government’s role is just too large. That said, government has just grown-and-grown, including during Mr. Bilbray’s tenure in Congress. Bilbray passionately defends the ‘class of 1994’ which propelled Newt Gingrich into the Speakership. Yet, this group of Congressional veterans has had literally no impact on shrinking the size of government. As I have said, the government is significantly bigger today for all of their efforts.
I encourage you to read through this Heritage Foundation Study, although if you are a conservative, it may ruin your weekend.
At some point, every Republican is going to acknowledge that merely electing a majority who choose to affiliate with your party is not a victory. Republicans needs a governing majority of party members who believe in, and are committed to the GOP platform. We don’t have that now, which is why EVERY House race that comes up is an opportunity to wage the battle and send a patriot to Washington, D.C. who understands that the really enemy to the Republican Party is not the Democrat minority, but the liberal Republicans who make a mockery of our Republican majority by stopped us from fulfilling our promises to limit the size and scope of the federal government.
READ MORE ON "AMNESTY" AND BUSH’S UPCOMING CA TRIP…
**There is more – click the link**
April 15th, 2006 at 12:00 am
There can be a difference between amnesty and guest worker programs–the guest worker program can and should include penalties for past behavior (illegal) while amnesty is, as you point out Jon, “general” in nature and sans penalties. The real problem is the situational ethics nature of illegals–who claim it’s “ok” to break the law provided it is to ‘better themselves’–how ironic that taxes are currently due; situationally, like the illegals, I could choose to break the law and not pay my taxes just to better myself. I prefer the rule of law, applied in all situations, not selectively excused.
April 15th, 2006 at 12:00 am
It seems rather obvious on the face of it that one no-brainer “penalty” for coming into America without permission would be ejection from the country. So in my world view, anything short of that (some say ‘extreme’ measure) would be some level of amnesty.
Again, I am using as my barometer justice for people who are mindful of our nation’s immigration laws, and have been waiting for permission to enter.
Why should anyone who entered the U.S. illegally have a plac in line in front of those folks?
April 15th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Your commentary reflects the perennial dilemma facing conservative Republicans. If we purge the liberals from our ranks, we make our party smaller but give it a more coherent message and philosophy. But if we turn against the liberal Republicans (like Arlen Specter), we may elect Democrats who will institute policy changes that move the government to the left. When Clinton had a Demo Congress during 1993-94, the nation suffered through massive cuts in the defense budget, massive tax increases, the assault weapons ban, enviromentalism run amock, and a bunch of liberal judges who are still wrecking havoc. If we try to be too “pure” in our ideology, will we get the same thing again? If we go back to those bad old days starting next year, will the cost to the nation be worth it, even if we do in fact rebound in 2008 with a newly purified Republican majority? Remember, we still haven’t been able to rebuild the military, reverse all the tax increases and impeach the liberal judges that we saw approved during the Demo-Clinton era. I’m not saying the current Republican Congress has done all that well; indeed, overall, they’ve hurt the conservative cause more than the Dems could have. But don’t forget that being in the minority, even for a couple of years, gives the Dems the power to do all sorts of damage.
April 15th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Jon, you mention the GOP Platform: What is that? Haven not heard any such talk in YEARS!
April 15th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Right on Jon. A perfect example of the unfairness in amnesty-style immigration policies occurred in 1985 with my mom’s family in Lebanon.
After becoming refugees in the Lebanese Civil War, they filed for immigration visas. They were approved ELEVEN YEARS LATER!!
Meanwhile, millions of illegals were granted amnesty in 1986.
Needless to say, my cousins (who would have been productive potential Americans) were prevented to come to the USA even for a short personal visit because once you apply for immigration, you are barred from entering the USA until approved.
By the time they were approved, their kids had grown, and the war had ended four years earlier.
They chose to stay in Lebanon.
The message conveyed is that the fast track to citizenship is to sneak across the border NOT by following the law.
And that’s a real shame.