Here are my thoughts on some topics. Don’t get offended by my blunt style. (Yes, I am aware that the writing needs some editing.)
A
Afghanistan
The reason the Allies during WWII defeated the Nazi machine within years while it takes the US double the time to end the Afghan Mission, is this: during WWII, the Allies crushed, burned and annihilated anything and everything that belonged to the Third Reich regardless if their soldiers shot from a church or from a housing complex. Whereas in Afghanistan (and in Iraq), the US and its allies are busy with lunatic rules of engagements that holds back the military of doing its job once and for all. No, am not saying that troops should blow up everything in their sight, however I AM saying that the troops should be permitted to do their job (rather than being prosecuted for punching a killer of US contractors).
Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action rules encourages those in “need” of it not to work to their full potential because they rely on Affirmative Action, thus they mostly don’t get far. In the Entertainment world, I am speaking mainly about actors, I think, there are no affirmative action regulations. Look what a fabulous job gets done by those in that line. Why, you ask. Well, they work to their full potential.
Does anyone wonder why despite being persecuted for centuries, Jews – through God’s blessings – thrive more than most, if not, all other minority groups? It is simple: instead of Jewish leaders telling the masses how “disadvantaged” they are, and how “filled with hate” the surrounding streets are, leaders keep on pushing their members to get educated; build stable families, and try building businesses. Take a group of 100 20-year-old Hasidic or Strictly Orthodox Jews, and ask them about the words “Affirmative Action.” I guaranty you that more than most of them would have NO CLUE what you are talking about (and those who do know about it will mostly be against it)! No, not because Jews sometimes dont have difficulties. There are enough problems out there for them. However, the focus of Jewish leaders is to get their people -with God’s grace - off the ground and off to a good life, rather than having the masses kvetching about the surrounding problems.
African Americans
I think it is a disgrace that minorities are still mentioned as such, regardless which politically-correct name is used for it. Americans, regardless of faith or race, are Americans and case closed. It is time for America to move on from its racial divide. However, if a crime or offense is committed clearly, beyond a shred of doubt, based on race or anti-Semitism, then it is appropriate that extra punishment be placed, because this country should NOT tolerate these acts! But again: calling me or anyone, as people did, “racist” for opposing President Obama’s agenda, or calling a cop “an anti-Semite” for pulling over a speeding youngster, does not help America.
Air-Port Security
Security at airports should focus on those with suspicions activities, like those buying one-way international tickets with cash while not signing-in luggage for the ride, rather than driving nuts all of America with full-body scans that essentially sees more of you than anyone would want.
Al Qeada
The best option for The USA is to kill any and every Al Qeada member out there. Capturing them only complicates things for CIA officers trying to their job.
American Dream
The ability for a person to achieve the American Dream – i.e. life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – is still well possible in the USA regardless a person’s race, gender or background. However, in terms of one’s economic dreams, Government policy stands too much in the way.
ANWAR
I am in favor of drilling for oil in ANWAR (Arctic National Wild-life Refuge) in Alaska. America needs to have energy independents, but not by forcing us all into small cars or have Americans walk with fans off their back. Our economy is bigger – and grows much faster – than the green economy. Therefore, in a responsible, environmental-friendly way, it is perfectly alright for America to drill for oil in ANWAR and in oil reserves available off shore.
B
Business
If being pro- business means being on the side of Wall Mart’s success which employs 1.4 million people, and being Anti- unions means being against the failure of GM which was killed by unions and in turn helped drag down the economy in 2008, then by all means I am proudly a pro-business person.
Borders
America needs to have a regular wall along its North and South Borders. Otherwise ICE’s (Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s) activities should be suspended because their work is like pumping out water of a house before closing-up the busted pipe. (Read more at Immigration.)
Budget
There is no reason why the federal budget should run on deficits, certainly not deficits above a percent or two of the GDP. The best way to balance budgets is to 1) make sure that spending does not rise faster than inflation. 2) Keeping tax lower. Income to the federal government at the end of FY 2000 grew smaller from ten years earlier than did the income from 1981 through 1990, despite the fact that tax rate were higher in the nineties than it did in the 80’s. Those two decades proved clearly that lower tax rates brings more money to government coffers than do higher taxes, just as a sale in retail store brings more business to its owner.
C
Capital Punishment
The death penalty should be given to those who deserve it but only if it is fully proven that the perpetrator actually did the crime. Some oppose CP because it was later proven through DNA that innocent people were given the DP while. Well, my view is, if the evidence is not good enough that the person be given the injection, this person should not be kept in prison either. Keeping a person imprisoned while lacking evidence is not compassion; it’s injustice! Yet, if the evidence IS solidly good, then the death penalty should be given if the crime committed warrants such a punishment.
Constitution
The Constitution is not a living document, meaning a judge CANNOT interpret whatever he wants based on today’s “smart” or shall I say “progressive” world.
Cost of Living
I am still trying to figure-out why Members of Congress vote themselves each year for a cost-of-living increase in their pay, while taxpaying people don’t get a reduction on their tax bill to fund their own cost of living increases…
Crime
The US Justice System needs a major overhaul. For example, it is SICK that the mastermind of a $50 billion scam can get only 150 years in prison, while someone who non-kosherly borrowed from banks less than $50 million, can stand to get 1,200 years. In addition, it is crazy that Law-Enforcement agencies spend sometimes on investigations etc. more than what the actual crime costs. Also, putting people in prison for tax evasion is something that should maybe be changed, especially that blatantly not paying $42,000 in tax didn’t hold back someone from becoming Treasury Secretary.
D
DADT
Someone’s personal orientation should not be a roadblock to military service, however after speaking to a Vet, I understand the concerns that some may have with those people serving in the military. Note: people with different orientations have the “privilege” of doing what they want in America; they dont have an extra set of “rights.” On the same token however, it isn’t the military’s business what those people do. All in all, I would not be on the front lines to end TADT. However, if I were the deciding vote, I would likely vote to repeal it. I still need to study this issue more before my opinion on this is written in stone.
Drugs
I am not an expert on Drugs to know which types are more addictive and harmful than others. However, America – in light of the amount crimes and wars its illegal status causes each year – should consider legalizing under strong regulation the use of some Drugs. Alcohol is legal despite the fact that thousands of people die and get killed yearly from it through DWI, DUI or just destroying the own liver. The same concept should be with some drugs: It will reduce the amount muggings, burglaries, gangs, drug wars, killings, costs to fight them, etc.
E
Environment
The environment needs to be protected in a common-sense fashion, such as making sure that people don’t drive around with black-smoke bellowing out of their mufflers, and making sure that a reasonable amount of trees are in place in well-populated areas. HOWEVER, forcing Americans into small cars; holding back the USA from drilling for oil; closing down power-plants, and other radical shtick pushed by those who are obsessed with the environment, should NOT be implemented. In fact, because recently the globe is cooler, maybe we should increase oil-drilling; in order to warm the planet…
F
Firearms
We cannot have a system that makes it extremely difficult for peaceful citizens to obtain firearms, while being lenient on criminals that commit crimes with weapons. It is just not safe. In general, the government should not infringe on people’s rights to keep and bear arms. However we we cannot permit people to own operational, fully loaded military Tanks either. My point is that it needs to be a balance between not infringing on people’s rights and making sure that the streets don’t become lawless.
G
Gitmo
The Bush Administration obviously made an error to cave under pressure from the Left to release some terror suspects from Gitmo. Holding suspect and charging them through Military Tribunals, or eliminating them on the battle field, are better options.
I
Immigration
While building up walls along the borders, the US needs to expand the quotas of how many people may legally enter the country. Permitting more people to enter legally will be helpful for immigrants and for the country alike. NOTE: as long the US borders are not fenced-up, not one illegal alien should be rounded up, absent a crime beyond the violation of crossing the border unlawfully. Doing so while thousands others come in daily, is a waste of time! Second Note: If hiring legal Americans stays at its current standard, the business lobby will stand in the way of fencing up the boarders, and will continue giving jobs to those who are in the US illegal, which in itself feeds the influx. Therefore, successful Immigration Reform MUST include adjustments for businesses.
Israel, Iran, Iraq
The US needs to have policies that give strong financial, diplomatic, and military support to those who want peace, while making sure that terror-sponsoring states should not get a chance of continuing, or at all having, a nuclear weapons program. In addition, terrorists and terrorists groups should not be recognized by any government or international body. (The GWB approach on all those issues was mostly favorable and productive for world peace and should be continued rather than the current one which is essentially dangers).
L
Law
Local, state and federal lawmakers should get a life! They passed so many laws that every single person age eighteen or above can likely be imprisoned for more than hundred years. No, not because people are criminal. Instead, it is so because too many laws were passed in the last 200-plus years. Therefore, I think it is time for lawmakers to undo a lot of laws.
Life
Life should be preserved and protected, including the life of fetus regardless how small or early it is. However, preserving life should excludes mass murderers to whom giving the death penalty will… preserve the lives of others.
M
Marriage
While I strongly believe that it is NONE of government’s business how people proceed in their private life, the term Marriage should continue to be used only in the terms for which the world uses it for the longest time, not for new things. From a libertarian standpoint ,I don’t support a constitutional amendment to protect the term either; this should be reserved to the states and to the people. A judge that annuls propositions approved by the people on this (or other issues) is an activist that oversteps his/her authority. (Read more at DADT)
N
Nuclear Energy
Some on the left are working for years to shut down Nuclear-generated power plants, including the Indian Point Energy Center located in Buchanan, (Westchester County) NY. While operating these plants needs to be done with diligence, the alarms by the left are largely fear-mongering; just a way to advance the green agenda.
S
Separation of Church and State
I am not a constitutional scholar. However, the notion that Government cannot have the word God in its buildings strikes me as strange, considering that the first paragraph of The Declaration of Independence uses the word God. In addition, I think the words “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” means Government should not establish a national religion which imposes its rule on Americans, as it was the case centuries ago in Spain, and in other places, which is likely the reason why this was placed in the DOI altogether.
T
Tax Rates
The Federal Income Tax rates where they stand February, 2010 need to be simplified and… revised lower. Yes, Obama wants to let Bush Tax cuts “expire,” i.e., increase tax, but I think in order to keep economies going and income to government coffers flowing, we need to have lower tax rates. The balanced Budgets in the nineties took place despite the fact that tax rates were still half the size they were in the pre-Reagan era when the government lived on borrowing. This shows us that spending, not low tax rates, cause deficits. Besides, how can and why should a single, earning below $8,375 be at all in a bracket of above 0.00%? In general, why should any Federal tax bracket at all be at 35-39%? Paying 20-25 percent for federal income tax is more than enough, regardless how rich or poor a person is!
Term Limits
Term Limits on all levels of public office, is important to make government work again – for whatever Government is worth. This is especially relevant to members of both houses of Congress. Washington would have been now a better place, if House members served only 2-3 terms, and Senate members just a term or two. The main reason why so many laws and regulations produced out of Wahington are so messed up, is due to the fact that most Congress members have mostly forgotten what real life is all across America.
W
War on Terror
Say what you want about GWB, but he sure did a good job making sure that America does not forget its war against terror. Calling the terror problem other names; shutting down Gitmo; being busy with “feelings” and Political Correctness rather than focusing on the real terror problems, is dangers. I am not advocating racial profiling, however driving nuts all of America with full-body scans that essentially see more of you than anyone would want, is also not the correct way of fighting the war.
If there is a topic that you want me to write about, send me an e-mail to yossi@yossigestetner.com
