A Legislative and Congressional Wish for 2008

Our State and our Nation are at a crossroads. Shall we continue down the path of government spending, earmarks, nanny-state regulations and bureaucracy? Will we embrace life and humble ourselves before God? Will we follow the principles and guidance given to us from our Founding Fathers as a guideline for future government actions and laws? Whether your Democrat or Republican is not the issue. I know Republican’s that consistently vote for spending increases, taxes, nanny-state regulations and vote to fund abortions at the drop of a hat. So let us remove the R versus D debate.

Many Kansans wish to see Federalism in our political leadership.

We want low taxes because we know that government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

We want reduced spending because no government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. They are like the tentacles of an octopus, ever reaching.

We believe in the rule of the law because we must reject the idea that every time a law is broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to rekindle that very American ideal that individuals are accountable for their actions. From illegal immigration to drug distribution to thievery, let us not forget who we are as a nation. Those who commit crimes are a repudiation of everything American.

We want reduced regulations because entrepreneurs and their enterprises are responsible for economic growth in the United States. Government and quasi-government employees are not a sign of economic prosperity and positive growth.

We don’t want a Nanny State because government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.

We want to embrace life at all levels from birth to death because we have the duty to protect the life of an unborn child and to honor the aged.

We want a new system of judicial selection because concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty. After all, absolute power is all corrupting. We must have checks in balances in order to temper the possibility of corruption.

And, we believe that freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged. Least we never forget that we are One Nation Under God.

The template was laid over 230 years ago. Kansas Legislators, Kansas Senators and Congressman, what fork-in-the-road will you take in paving the way for our future America? Will it be the straight and true road paved by American Federalism or the goat path laid by European Socialism?

Sheriff (Ret) Currie Myers, PhD, MBA is the editor and publisher of the Kansas Federalist E-Newsline and is the former sheriff of Johnson County, Kansas.