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Freindly Fire

America and Spain: Still at War!

by Chris Freind

We are a nation at war---a war that has dragged on far too long. Once and for all, it is high time to punt political correctness and destroy the enemy that has been dogging us for years. Victory must be achieved.

Death to Spain!

It is downright embarrassing that America has not beaten back the Spanish in 110 years. Don't these people take a siesta every three hours? But don't blame the military. Blame the politicians who are squandering the hundreds of billions in revenue the government is reaping from the Spanish American War Excise Tax. That's the one cleverly disguised on our phone bills. Let me repeat: in 1898, Congress passed an excise tax on telephone bills to provide funding during the Spanish American War. This was considered a targeted tax, since, at the time, only the very wealthy had telephones.

I'm not a very swift guy (which is why I am in the media), but common sense would seem to dictate that if we're still paying to fund the Spanish American War of 1898, then the outcome has yet to be determined. Otherwise, why would the politicians not have rescinded the tax? And to think I will have to forego Spanish paella as my patriotic duty until the hostilities cease. Bummer.

I need to contemplate these developments over some non-Spanish wine.

*******

After some research, here the deal. There is good news and bad news. First, the United States did indeed defeat the Spanish, although it did take a whopping 109 days. The bad news is that not only does the excise tax remain, but the wine I imbibed while conducting my research came with an 18% tax to rebuild Johnstown after a flood. In 1936. The state sales tax, by the way, is calculated on top of the Flood Tax. Welcome to the People's Republic of Pennsylvania.

What's incomprehensible is that these taxes have never been rescinded, and probably never will be. Why? Because if we do, our politicians authoritatively tell us, there will be the "inevitable shortfall of revenue". And then what would we do?

No Courage

It sounds like a broken record, but where are the leaders? Where are the elected officials who stand up for what is right, and take the case to the people? Where is a President who understands the power of the bully pulpit? These are not rhetorical questions, nor are they partisan in nature. The very act of taking these monies out of honest taxpayers' pockets (in addition to the already burdensome tax load) for politicians' pork barrel projects is treasonous. This is, first and foremost, about principle. Our founding fathers' greatest concern was the unchecked power of government. That is why they built safeguards into the wonderful system they designed.

We the people entrust our elected leaders to provide good stewardship for the country. They are failing miserably. The Washington culture is so pervasive that many who arrive with good intentions and traditional values fall victim to the mantra that "it's not the people's money, it's government money, and we know what's best for the people". This program sounds good, and it "only" costs $5 billion, and this bailout just has to be done, and its pricetag is "only" $20 billion. Before long, were talking about real money, and a majority of legislators and presidents are playing the game, dancing the Washington two-step. Taxes never get repealed, because politicians become addicted to the drug of "government money".

Here's a newsflash. Despite what they think inside the Beltway, Americans' resources are not unlimited. We can, and in fact have been, running in the red for quite some time--- both the government and the people. Our debt has doubled over the last eight years, and China is our nation's bank. Notwithstanding the idiot speculators who had no clue what they were doing, far too many Americans are finding it impossible to make ends meet. Food prices are skyrocketing, gas is $3.50/gallon, housing prices are plummeting, and quality, affordable healthcare is fast becoming a thing of the past.

What's the solution? Put more money back into the people's pockets. It is their money, and they---not the government--- should have full discretion over those funds. A good starting place would be rescinding every "temporary" tax on the books---immediately. How to deal with the "shortfall"? Remind the President that he has a veto pen, and stop the frivolous spending. Will most Americans really miss seeing their tax dollars---second highest in the world--- spent on a monument to longtime New York Congressman Charlie Rangel? Or the infamous Bridge to Nowhere?

Speaking of going nowhere, one more solution comes to mind.

Term limits. If we limit the time politicians can wreak their havoc, we would finally be getting back on track.

Let's start this November.