America’s Elite Ruling Class

As I sat recently in the forum held by Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL), listening to our challenges and his answers, I sensed that the problems we face are well beyond those argued.

Then it came to me: We in America have an elite ruling class.

In the beginning days of our country George Washington set the tone for presidents and for all elected federal officers. His admirers felt that he, the military savior of this brave new country and its first executive officer, should have a title that was befitting a hero. Some wished for him to be addressed as “Your Excellency”, while others proposed similar titles. He put them all down quickly, and let it be known that he would be addressed simply as “Mr. President”.

George Washington understood that this country, with its diverse interests, should not have an elite ruling class. Merchants in the North, planters in the South and a great frontier to the West that was soon to be settled by immigrants, should only be governed by representatives that were answerable to the common man.

But that is what we have today. It is the Congress of the United States.

Those of us that read and understand the Constitution know that the the federal government is made up of three branches, with the intent that one would balance against the other two. But now the Congress has an excess of power, the power of the appropriated dollar, a power that was never imagined when our Constitution was signed.

The blame for overspending our tax dollars is placed on the President, but it should be on the Congress. If the House does not originate a spending bill and the Senate does not agree, then no act goes to the President for signing, and there are no dollars for him to spend.

These “representatives of the people” now have the privileges that our founders feared. They can pass laws that pertain to everyone except themselves and are safe from removal from office except in rare cases.

The members, with a consenting majority, will pass a health care plan that will exclude themselves, yet they can check into any federal hospital, even if that facility by right and by name is reserved for military personnel, and receive free treatment.

The members are vested in the nation’s best retirement plan after serving a few short years. Social Security taxes are not withheld from their pay, so they have no concern for the success or failure of that system.

After only one term an astute congressman can be assured of a job that will last as long as he wishes. He does this by demanding and receiving free publicity from the media, simply by sending out “news” releases.

He votes on legislation that he often does not read or understand. He passes bills that levy more taxes on already overburdened businesses and individuals. He relies on powerful lobbyists for “facts” and for advice.

He inserts earmarks into seemingly innocuous bills, bypassing the tried and true committee system, and then claims that he “did not know”. Bridges to nowhere, weapons systems that the Armed Forces do not want or need, money thrown at problems that were caused by federal money being misspent, all are there by the hundreds.

Wouldn’t it be great if our next congressman, and the one after that, would pledge himself never to vote on a bill that he has not read, and to never insert any earmark?

Wouldn’t it be great if our next congressman, and the one after that, would not be allowed to refer to “Federal funds” but would be required to say “Taxpayers’ money”? The government does not earn money, it spends it. We earn the money.

Wouldn’t it be great if our next congressman, and the one after that, was term limited? It is only conceit of the highest order that makes an elected official feel that he is the only one suited to hold a particular office.

Wouldn’t it be great if our next congressman, and the one after that, would seriously work for the passage of the Fair Tax? Could you imagine not having to fill out another 1040 form ever and that each of us could enjoy April 15 simply because it is a lovely spring day?

And wouldn’t it be great if each citizen’s message to his congressman would be answered with something besides a form letter?

Yes, it would be great!