Jane Chastain : Politically Direct

The response to the annual State of the Union address usually receives about as much attention as a quilting contest.

If the State of the Union address is a yawner, than the response is a sleeper: a deep, deep sleeper.

Not this year.   With the country’s economy stagnant and jobs as scarce as boyfriends for Ellen DeGeneres, we were ready for the unvarnished truth and that is exactly what we got from Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

Read the rest of this entry »

I call them “tragedy tramps,” those who would seek to capitalize on human suffering.

The events in Arizona have made us sick to our collective stomachs.  Even as we go for the Alka-Seltzer, there are those who make us sicker still by trying to capitalize on this tragedy. Read the rest of this entry »

The new Congress began with something quite extraordinary, a reading of the U.S. Constitution.

One of the new rules imposed by the new GOP leaders is also quite extraordinary: The author of every bill must submit a “statement citing, as specifically as practicable, the power or powers granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact” it.

Just how many of our established federal programs or agencies are Constitutional? Read the rest of this entry »

In 2010, the U.S. suffered through another 12 months of weak economic activity, record home foreclosures, high unemployment and financial uncertainty.  Nevertheless, there were many seminal events that fell into the following categories.

The Good:

The November election gave Republicans a “do-over.”  They will take back control of the House of Representatives in the 112 Congress.  The new leaders have pledged to end earmarks, to cut runaway federal spending and bring the country back in line with the Constitution.

The Defeat of the $1.1 trillion Omnibus Spending Bill:    This bill bypassed the normal budget process.  It was loaded with pork and new projects that would have been difficult to cut or eliminate and it would have provided funding for some of the most onerous provisions of the unpopular health care law that the new Congress will try to eliminate.

The Defeat of the (bad) Dream Act: Another back-door amnesty bill.

The Bad:

Wall Street Reform:   Imposed $19 billion in new taxes and fees on banks (which consumers will end up paying) and failed to address Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (a major cause of the housing meltdown).

The Food Safety Bill: It grows the government, increase food prices and drive small producers out of business without making our food any safer.

The extension of unemployment benefits:    Why the rush to pass another 13 months of unemployment benefits with no work or job training requirements?  While many people have had trouble finding work and need extra help, extending unemployment benefits in this manner will discourage many from taking  “less than the perfect” jobs because they can now afford to wait.  Also, many people, who can and would have retired, will be living on the public dole for three years now . . . because they can.

The Ugly:

ObamaCare: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a misnomer.  Reliable studies show that this unpopular bill will drive up the costs and reduce the quality of our health care.  The bill failed to address the primary reasons for our spiraling health care costs.  It burdens providers and insurers with regulations that reduce consumer choice and eventually will drive everyone into a one-size fits all government program.

The recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick to run Medicare and Medicaid:  This man is enamored with the British health care system.  He has made it clear that rationing is one of the ways that he will control costs.

The confirmation of Elena Kagan as a Supreme Court Justice:   In her confirmation hearing, Kagan gave us proof that she believes the Constitution is nothing more than Silly Putty that can be twisted or bent into any shape desired by “progressive” justices.  She believes even wrongly decided Supreme Court decisions trump the original intent of our founders.  She pledged her support for the unconstitutional welfare state that has taken us the brink of financial collapse and  refused to endorse the concept of “natural law” or “inalienable rights” contained in our charter, the Declaration of Independence.   Nevertheless, the Senate confirmed her and she will be around to pervert our laws for the balance of her life.

The elimination of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell:  In passing the bill that allows homosexuals to serve openly in the military, the outgoing lame duck Congress overruled the objections of the majority of our service chiefs and put an additional burden on our military during a time of war.  This was a cheap political payoff to the Democrats’ radical base.  It puts our military and our country at risk.

The Extraordinary:

The tea-party movement motivated average citizens to rise up and take back the government.  As a result, in the historic 2010 election, 58 incumbents were defeated and many more entrenched congressmen and senators chose to retire rather than face sure defeat at the hands of an angry electorate.

New Year’s Resolution:

While the results of the November election and the promises made by the incoming House Republican leaders and some of their Senate colleagues are encouraging, don’t be lulled into political inactivity.  Clearly some lawmakers are committed to smaller, more efficient government.  However, the majority will go along only if we hold their feet to the fire.  Join a local tea-party group.  Sign up to support one or more of the watchdog organizations like the National Taxpayers Union and Citizens Against Government Waste.  Read and act on their e-mail alerts.

Bear in mind.  Some lawmakers remain openly defiant when it comes to cutting the government down to size.  They need to be defeated in their next election.  Now is the time to begin looking for worthy challengers to support.   The future of this country depends on it.

It’s that time of year.  Every child knows that Santa is watching his or her every move.  He’s making a list and checking it twice.  He’s going to find out who has been naughty or nice.

This year, there is a new kind of Santa in every city and town across America.   These Santas are not watching the children.  These Santas are watching our lawmakers in Washington.  They remember the unwanted present (Obamacare) that arrived last Christmas Eve and they are determined to do whatever it takes to return it. Read the rest of this entry »