Some people talk about government being too big, we have too many regulations, government is the problem – not the solution, they say. They are willing to risk throwing out the baby with the bathwater so to speak. They see government as corrupt, evil and fundamentally flawed. While very few will offer specific examples.

Others, like myself, recognize that there are serious problems with our government, as there is with any government. But there is a proper place and role that government is necessary for a functioning society based on the rule of law and compassion for our fellow man.

Our country is divided in so many other ways; right vs left, urban vs rural, haves vs have nots, old vs young, religious vs secular, and many more less obvious and stark. But we are all Americans and we’re in this thing together. We can either rip this country apart because of our differences, or we can come together to make this country greater than ever.

We’re facing a lot of problems, unemployment, the deficit, the economy as a whole, immigration, the war against terrorism, the war on drugs, crisis in education and healthcare – it’s easy to get overwhelmed by them all. I think many people are scared, angry, confused, frustrated, they are looking for someone to blame, looking for quick and easy solutions. There are those that are capitalizing on that to benefit and enrich themselves. Others are using it to attack and destroy others.

There is a saying that “Money is the root of all evil”. When we look at our most pressing problems we can see that money is certainly a major component of them all in one way or another. So it would make sense that if money is the problem, money is also the solution.

Right now the problems are being approached independently of one another. The solutions offered are limited. Raise or lower taxes. Cut or increase government spending. Basically its fighting over a finite amount of pie. We need to change our focus, we need to bake a bigger pie.

In a previous post I asked the question: “What Kind Of Country Do We Want?“. Much of it was written based on the finite pie scenario. However, no matter how large the pie, we’re going to need to have priorities, certain values that are non-negotiable. For me, and for the purposes of this discussion that means we take care of our elderly, disabled, sick, unemployed and veterans. We value eduction, equal opportunity, self reliance, entrepreneurship, personal liberty, independence and freedom.

Each of my proposals will, save money or increase revenue and adhere to the values and priorities above.

1. Remove the cap on income subject to Social Security tax. It may be possible to lower the rate, which would lessen the impact on upper income earners, and provide some relief for lower incomer earners and the self employed who have to pay both the employer and employee portions of the tax.
2. Add a Public Option for health care that will allow anyone to buy into a health insurance plan on a sliding scale. This would virtually eliminate society cost of the uninsured using the most expensive health care, emergency rooms, for routine health care that could have been averted with preventative care, or taking care of at a less expensive medical provider, such as a doctor’s office or clinic.
3. Remove most restrictions to enter the country legally for the purpose of work. Would have to pass criminal background check. Would not be eligible for public assistance. Required to buy into public option health insurance, if not covered by employer. Would be required to pay all taxes. Persons already in the country would be eligible if they clear criminal background check.
4. Employers to be held strictly accountable to ensure all of their employees were eligible to work legally in the country. Requirement would include having picture ID issued by the State or Federal Government on file at all times. Immigrant employees must be paid the same, have same benefits, same working conditions and hours as citizen employees. Violations would result in heavy fines and jail time for employers.
5. End all corporate and farm subsidies for products or services to be sold overseas. Subsidies may still provided on in country sales to value added companies. Also end all subsidies and incentives for outsourcing jobs.
6. Remove Hemp from the list of controlled substances. Ban the export of non-value added Hemp. Then get out of the way and let American entrepreneurial spirit take hold to create new products from this natural renewable resource.
7. Transfer the federal regulation of Marijuana to the ATF to be renamed MATF. License, regulate and tax similar to existing Tobacco and Alcohol operations. States would have the same rights to license, regulate and tax in their jurisdictions.
8. Pardon and release all persons currently being held for simple marijuana possession.
9. Expand Job Corps with funds saved from not arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating marijuana users. Add training needed in the manufacturing of the 1000′s of products being made from Hemp.
10. Make child support payments tax deductible. The more non-custodial parents pay the less dependent single parents will be on State benefits.
11. End the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% income earners. Tax all income the same regardless of the source. End the Hedge Fund “carried interest” windfall loophole

So there you go. Have at it. Rip up my ideas, but come with your own. I’m prepared to defend my ideas, so be prepared to defend your criticisms and your ideas.

First of all, something everyone needs to be aware of is that SB1070 doesn’t apply to just illegal immigrants. It empowers law enforcement officers with “reasonable suspicion” to demand identification or proof of legal immigration from ANYONE. Even if they have done nothing wrong. They don’t have to place them under arrest.

This is almost identical to the arguments over the US Patriot Act with warrant-less wiretaps. Those in favor of giving the government unlimited power to spy on citizens in violation of the Fourth Amendment said “If you don’t have anything to hide then it shouldn’t matter if they are listening.” Yes it does matter. Because every time we give up one of our rights, whether it’s to protect us from terrorists, illegal immigrants or drug dealers, it just makes it that much easier for more to be taken.

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~ Benjamin Franklin

In addition to many people not knowing their rights, how to apply them and why they are important there are some that think we should not be taught or learned. Teachers Suspended for Showing Flex Your Rights Video

The guys at FlexYourRights.Org have done a great job putting together video’s not only explaining our rights but how to exercise them properly. I’ve included their “10 Rules For Dealing with Police” video below in four parts. Also, a couple of additional links from the Washington Post and Cato Institute.

Washington Post: ’10 Rules for Dealing with Police’ seeks to teach constitutional rights

Cato @ Liberty: Immigration Law — Up Close

Cato Institute: 10 Rules for Dealing with Police – A film produced by Flex Your Rights With comments from William “Billy” Murphy, Attorney and 10 Rules Narrator and Neill Franklin, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Moderated by Tim Lynch, Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute.

Part One

Click here to view the embedded video.

Part Two

Click here to view the embedded video.

Part Three

Click here to view the embedded video.

Part Four

Click here to view the embedded video.

Is it because our government is so stupid that our “…Drug Enforcement Administration has grouped all varieties of the Cannabis sativa plant together in spite of the fact that industrial hemp contains only trace amounts of psychotropic THC–a fraction of what’s present in marijuana.”

Perhaps it is because hemp was considered to be competition to captains of industry.  “In 1937, DuPont patented the processes to make plastics from oil and coal. DuPont’s Annual Report urged stockholders to invest in its new petrochemical division. Synthetics such as plastics, cellophane, celluloid, methanol, nylon, rayon, Dacron, etc., could now be made from oil.Natural hemp industrialization would have ruined over 80% of DuPont’s business.”

Or is it simply collateral damage in the war against drugs?

What other reasons could there possibly be for outlawing Hemp? For over 5,000 years, hemp has been used for textiles, paper, building materials, fuel, food and personal care products. Hemp can be grown with little or no toxic chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides. Today hemp is grown all over the world. The crop is used to make over 25,000 consumer products. From hemp apparel and accessories to housewares and hempseed oil cosmetics, hemp is an eco-shopper’s dream.

How is that we can permit importation of products made from Hemp, but it’s against the law to grow it?  Why is it that American farmers are forbidden from growing a cash crop that was grown by American founders? Including George Washington.

We are at a point in history where we are looking for alternative fuels, creating new industry and jobs, becoming more self sufficient and earth friendly.  Permitting the cultivation of industrial Hemp addresses all of those priorities.  It is irresponsible and unacceptable to continue the irrational prohibition of industrial Hemp.  Strange bedfellows indeed, but Ron Paul and Barney Frank introduced Hemp Farming Legislation – HR 1866 . “The DEA has taken the Controlled Substances Act’s antiquated definition of marijuana out of context and used it as an excuse to ban industrial hemp farming. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009 will return us to more rational times when the government regulated marijuana, but allowed farmers to continue raising industrial hemp just as they always had.”

Unfortunately, there isn’t any way to have a discussion about Hemp without including it’s cousin Marijuana. Pete Guither writes a good history of Why is Marijuana illegal?  But the question is why is it STILL illegal?

Whether the FDA or AMA agrees or not, Marijuana has been used  successfully for medicinal purposes for 5000 years.  There is an abundance of scientific evidence in support of medicinal marijuana.

So what about just plain old “recreational” use.  You know, like how people use other drugs like alcohol, nicotine and caffeine.  Well Marijuana doesn’t have any of the side affects or addictive qualities of those other drugs.  There’s never been a case of overdose or death related to Marijuana use.  I’ve never known a pot smoker to be abusive to their partners or family.  Haven’t heard of any pot smokers getting on the road speeding or driving recklessly.  Unless of course driving 20 mph on the highway is reckless.  So what other reasons could there be for the continued criminalization of marijuana?

If it’s legal, it will send the wrong message to our children that it’s ok.

They seem to get the idea that alcohol and tobacco are NOT ok for them, but ok for adults.  In fact, keeping illegal actually makes it easier for our kids to get it, because there isn’t any regulation.  It’s easier for kids to get pot than it is alcohol.

Marijuana is a gateway drug.

It’s a gateway drug because it is being sold by illegal drug dealers who happen to be selling other drugs.  Regulate it, get it off the streets and into licensed and approved businesses like we do with tobacco and alcohol and people aren’t exposed to those other drugs.

So who benefits from marijuana being illegal?  Street drug dealers and Gangs. Pharmaceutical companies. The alcohol industry.  The law enforcement and justice industries. The medical industry. Read “When Weed is Legal“.

Legalization of marijuana would increase tax revenues and eliminate the cost of investigating, prosecuting and jailing marijuana growers, dealers and users.  It would get marijuana off the streets and out of our schools.  It would lessen the violence between competing criminal entities in our neighborhoods and at our borders.  When was the last time you heard of a bootlegger selling booze on the street or in our schools?  It’s not worth doing it because they can’t compete with the legal outlets and the risk and penalties are too great.

Now is the time to allow common sense to rule the day, rather than continue a course of prohibition that only benefits the rich and powerful who profit from it being illegal.