FreedomTalks

The Republican Study Committee (RSC) is a group of over 100 Congressmen chaired by Mike Pence (R-IN) which is in favor of limited government. This group made headlines earlier this year when it defied leadership in the wake of Hurricane Katrina which said, “My answer to those that want to offset the [Katrina relief] spending [...]

The headline that appeared in today’s Daily Telegraph was shocking “NHS may not treat smokers, drinkers or obese.” The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, ironically known as “NICE”, which advises the National Health Service (NHS) released a report yesterday titled, “Social Value Judgment - Principles for the development of NICE guidance.” The report [...]

Party leadership is beginning to realize that voters’ desire elected officials who enact policy which aligns with the principles for which they were elected; this is the basis of a representative democracy. Dick Armey pointed out the current problem in his Wall Street Journal Op-ed, “Today, with Republicans controlling both the legislative and executive [...]

Arizona’s Supreme Court made an important ruling yesterday in rejecting Tempe’s special action in Tempe v. Valentine. The city of Tempe wished to condemn private land in order to build a shopping mall under the rouse of “public use.” There have been numerous cases across the country since the Kelo v New London ruling which stated “public use” equated to greater economic development. This dangerous ruling was commented on in dissent by Justice O’Connor when she said, “The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the State from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory.”

Dr. Wayne Brough, FreedomWorks’ Vice President of Research and Chief Economist, appeared on CNBC’s On the Money yesterday, November 29th, 2005. Debating the need for telecom reform, Dr. Brough advocated for opening the industry up to competition, and the advantages this lends to consumers. With the boon of services now becoming available, cable television [...]

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights or TABOR is a pretty straight-forward proposal being pushed through the State Legislature. It will ensure the government grows at a reasonable level by allowing growth at the rate of a population increase plus inflation. Currently state governments are spending exurbanite amounts, and kowtowing to special interests (or those groups [...]

Hello, Hello, Hello….
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?

These are the opening lines to Pink Floyd’s 1979 rock classic “Comfortably Numb”, but can be referred to as the new theme song for Congress. During a term when spending has spiraled out of control and we are wasting $24 billion in highway pork this year, and where there was arm twisting and a 2 am House session to slow the growth of government from 7.6% to 7.3%. It is easy for us to ask our representatives, “Is there anybody in there?” Congressman have chosen to restrict themselves from standing up for their principles, and declined into a state of being “comfortably numb” That is the only explanation I can ascertain from the body’s inability to transfer funds from 2 superfluous Alaskan Bridges to help offset the reconstruction costs in the Gulf highway structure. This state of mind allows them the ability to be impervious to reason, and disillusioned from (hopefully) their true reason of going to Capital Hill, to serve their constituents.

GM announced yesterday it will lay off 30,000 workers. Before pressing the panic button, we should first examine the entire US auto industry. In a Wall Street Journal Editorial titled A Tale of Two Industries it contrasts the flight of Detroit’s Big Three, to the emergence of the foreign Big Three ( Honda, Nissan, [...]

In a recent Washington Times piece Richard Rahn makes a convincing argument for the disbandment of the Federal Reserve. Initially this sounds outlandish because of its “great results.” But upon further review your opinion may change. The Fed’s responsibility is setting the Fed funds rate in order to maintain value of the currency. But from [...]

Seeing as the Social Security entitlement program’s impending shortfall has egregious ramifications both economically and socially, it would make sense to hold a constructive debate about the issue before it’s too late. But from what I’ve seen in Washington politics it doesn’t really matter what makes sense, as long as you can maintain your elected position to serve your constituents (by not addressing pressing issues).