Striking at the root

"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root."

--Henry David Thoreau

Glenn Beck (who may be gone soon if the Democrats reinstate the "Fairness Doctrine" under an Obama administration) said that the Republican and Democratic parties are heading in the same direction—only one is taking us in a freight train and the other one in a leer jet. I agree. It looks like Obama and Biden are going to win this race. And because we have a Democratic Congress, Obama’s universal healthcare, universal preschool, and universal college (among other huge government programs, including welfare expansion) will pass, sending us deeper and deeper into debt. Many seem to think that Bush has caused the energy and economic crises, Obama’s “change” is going to be a breath of fresh air, and that soon, under the new Obama administration, everything will be back to normal. I’ll agree that Bush definitely contributed (new big government programs like No Child Left Behind didn't help) and that the economic and energy crises may subside for a time (although there is no guarantee of that), but our country has been headed toward a true economic disaster for a long time and eventually it will hit in full force. Even if McCain and Palin win, the national debt will continue to grow. While McCain is willing to greatly increase domestic drilling, promote alternative energy, and would certainly not increase the federal debt as much as Obama, he has his own version of universal healthcare. He also wants federally funded school vouchers. While I am a big fan of state-funded school vouchers, a federal version is the last thing I want. In fact, I believe the national department of education should be abolished. Like Obama, McCain obviously believes that government is the solution, and not the problem. He is not willing to make the cuts that will lead to the elimination of our huge national debt.

If you don't believe me, read this quote from Newsweek: "The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has found that both Obama and McCain are proposing combinations of tax and spending policies that would increase the federal deficit. It found that in 2013, Obama’s proposals would produce a net deficit increase of $286 billion, while McCain's major policies would produce a net deficit increase of between $167 billion and $259 billion. In talking to CNN, CRFB President Maya MacGuineas estimated that McCain's deficit increase would fall midway between the extremes of that range, at $211 billion."

We need true change and neither of the major parties will bring that. Which forces me to ask the question: Is it time for a third party? Historically, third parties have forced established political parties to either change or be replaced. If a party gets too comfortable, it will stop being responsive. I don't think it's good for Utah to always support the Republican Party no matter what--that basically tells us they don't have to listen to us; however, the Democratic Party candidate is usually worse. We need to remember the other parties if we want our elected leaders to be truly responsive and conservative. It will be easy for me to vote third party because I’m in Utah and I know McCain will win here by a landslide. (If it was a close race, I might vote for and even campaign for McCain.) My vote isn’t going to tip the scale toward an Obama win. I couldn’t go Libertarian because I don’t believe in legalizing drugs or prostitution. I could go Constitution Party, though. Chuck Baldwin actually makes a lot of sense, and because Senators Hatch and Bennett both voted for the bailout, when they are up for reelection, as a Republican precinct chair, I will vote against them at the Republican convention. If that doesn't work, I will also vote for the Constitution Party candidate for senator. If we want a real solution to this financial crisis; if we want to eliminate the national debt; if we want to restore our Constitutional Republic, we have to vote for true change. Now I am happy to support Republicans who are true conservatives, like Jason Chaffetz, Senator Madsen, and Representative Sumsion, but Republicans who do not support conservative policies should be replaced.

Now you might ask, if the economy, the national debt, oil independence, alternative energy, and the principles of the American Founding are so important, why is the focus of my blog on education reform? The answer: We have to ensure that future generations learn the principles that this great country was founded upon or or we are just hacking at the branches and it will not last. There is no way our children are going to learn the principles of the American Founding in public schools. How are public schools controlled by a government monopoly going to teach them that government is not the answer? The only way we are going to ensure a solid future for this country is if parents are given the power to choose which school is best for their children. And the options have to include private, religious schools. That way, parents can choose schools that will provide the best academic, behavioral, and moral environment for their children. School vouchers will give them this power. Then maybe we will start seeing well-educated, principled voters who will vote for well-educated, principled leaders. Read how teaching in the former Soviet Union helped me realize this.