A Question That Was Asked in Passing....

While chatting with one of my friends about the political lens of the US, and talking more in depth about my previous piece on the current problems in modern day US politics.  They asked me a simple yet complex question:  If you had the power to write an amendment (or alter one of the current amendments) what would it be?

I really had to think about this one; to imagine I had the power to write an amendment and have it pass instantly, or change one of the current amendments to the Constitution is pretty heavy.  After a round of brain debate I couldn't make up my mind between the two options I arrived at.  I explained both to my friend, and they agreed with me.  Lets see if you the reader agree as well.

I would instantly add freedom of information to the first amendment.  This one word INFORMATION means the world to you and I,  instantly we would gain a vast amount of power over all three branches of government and anything/anyone involved with the government.  Not only would we be ENTITLED to information it would be required by law that we have a freedom to it.  This one addition would guarantee that items like Ron Paul's HR1207 would be passed without hesitation, as auditing the Fed would provide you and I information on where our hard earned tax dollars are going and provide REAL TRANSPARENCY to the US Government.  This does not only apply to government, as all information would be a freedom, there would be a surge of learning and mental growth among the population.

The second would be an amendment would be to finally write into law a free market economic system, think Austrian School economics.  With this addition we would instantly gain economic freedom and not be forced to submit our hard earned money to the government.  Which in turn allows the government to fund programs, wars, and policies that are unnecessary, foolish and at times unconstitutional.  Why should we the people submit our money to fund a disorganized, highly polarized, and extremely volatile corporation like the US government.  By passing this into law we instantly curb Corporatism and Statism.  Since we would go back to the gold standard and in turn rid this horrid, nightmare fiat system that we currently have in place.  There would be no excuse for bailouts, corporate lobbying, and most importantly high taxes and fees that only go to failed programs and policies.  This alone would End the Fed, and the Fed is a different story for a different day...

There are several more options I mulled over, but ultimately one of choices would be the one I would go with.  Both are equally important to me so I found myself in a conundrum trying to chose just one of them.  I wish the question allowed me two chances to make/change amendments.  I would love to hear your feedback.   If YOU had one opportunity to add an amendment or alter a current amendment, what would you do?

The Problem with Modern Day US Politics

Let me start off by saying that the current political situation in the US is horrid.  These career politicians are way out of touch with the public, times and most certainly the very law that allows them to hold seat in office.  The fact that there is a 90+ year old senator is a big red flag indeed, and that most of the current house/senate has been in office for 5+ terms makes me a bit worried.  The fact that times have changed so drastically, with the burst of technology, and with that the speed at which information is sent, received and available for public view is so fast it is hard to measure.  Yet there are people in office, who make laws, and who are voted to represent you and I stated that they DO NOT have a personal e-mail address and who condemn technology as some sort of evil force that is threatening our very freedom.  This is laughable, and very much a "give me a break" situation.  I am not saying that the Internet is 100% good, it does have its bad side.  I love the fact that more and more of these younger senators/representatives have profiles on social networks and their own websites.  Yet a lot of the senior gang on capitol hill either have a Twitter/Facebook that is a list of links or small pointless updates.  I think that just as the President has term limits, so should congress.  By placing term limits on congress we the people are allowed to vote in new faces, who might be/are in touch with the modern world.  The argument against this would be; "well I like Senator X and Representative Y so why should I replace them?"  The answer is as follows,  even though it is reported by the media that they are doing a good job, the current picture of the US board as a whole proves that congress is not doing so well.

The second order of business is the first and LAST time I will ever talk about these next points.  I like to call these points: Emotion Issues.  These are the issues that DO NOT BELONG IN POLITICAL DEBATE, DISCUSSION OR CAMPAIGN.  Such issues are abortion, drugs, religion, etc.  These are all based on emotion, and EMOTION CAN NEVER BE POLITICAL.  The government's sole job (originally) was to provide for the common defence and make sure that all contracts are abided by.  IT IS NOT governments job to tell you how to live.  It is my belief that if you want to smoke cigarettes, and studies prove that they do harm, and YOU STILL smoke; it is not my job as the government to stop you.  The government is not a nanny, parent, guardian.  AND IT NEVER SHOULD BE!  It is your choice what you do with your property (your body) and your life,  IT IS NOT YOUR CHOICE TO FORCE YOUR DECISIONS AND BELIEFS ON OTHERS!  That simple statement is the definition of liberty.  It was a main point in the creation of this country that church and state shall NEVER mix,  yet when I see Jesus being forced into the health care debate, it makes me worried.  No where in the constitution does it say Jesus shall always be a center piece in the government, nor have I seen anything about health care being a right in the constitution either.  All these issues that are the focal points of the American political lens are emotion based and should be ousted from the halls of capitol hill, the white house and the supreme court.  These are PERSONAL matters that you have a right to have YOUR OWN opinions on.  There is no law that condemns you from hating marijuana or from being pro-choice for abortion, however these issues should not be a part of the governments agenda.  As stated above: The government is not your nanny, parent, or guardian.  Nor should we give it the power to take on these roles.  Everyone is entitled to life, liberty and happiness.  And in no time what so ever should we submit these basic rights to anyone.  And in no time should any individual or group impede/trample these basic rights.

So in closing, I would implore you to get emotion out of politics/government, and to get out there and make a change because we need one about now.  Remember it is the basic rights talked about above that have made us "a land of the free, and home of the brave."  There are many potential senators/representatives that believe in protecting these rights.  All you have to do is support these people, regardless of Republican/Democrat.  The problem is that the government has gotten to big and its time to put it on a rather large diet.  Get rid of these career politicians, allow us economic freedom, and most importantly reinstate the constitution!

Ludwig von Mises On Money and Inflation

The New Speaker: The Right Honuorable John Bercow