Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Welcome to Nottingham

Anyone notice how much more active our local law enforcement agencies seem to be these days?  Oh I don't mean with real police work.  I mean with menial things like traffic tickets.  It seems one can't drive down the road with a burnt taillight, without being pulled over and sited for something.  I know, I know, you shouldn't drive with a burnt taillight.  But it happens.  It seems to me that if our friendly neighborhood police officers took their vow to "protect and serve" seriously, they would simply pull us over, inform us that we have a light out, tell us to have a nice day, and drive on to catch some real bad guys.  After all, our taxes are paying their wages... RIGHT?  To tell you the truth, I can remember when that was exactly what they would do.

I mean no disrespect to law enforcement personnel.  I don't believe for a moment that any of you chose police work because you wanted to harrass motorists.  I have the uttmost appreciation for the sacrifice you make.  I know you are only doing what you've been told by those in authority over you.  I have it on good authority, at least in one town near me, that your very JOBS are on the line, if you don't produce enough revenue to cover your paychecks.  And, after all, catching real bad guys doesn't produce revenue.

It's a sad but true story, in far too many communities.  Due to budgetary shortfalls, municipalities are finding new ways to confiscate the cash of their residents.  From traffic and parking tickets, to late fees for not renewing your dogs license on time.  As if your dog or the folks in your neighborhood are somehow in jeapardy because of your negligence.  Speaking of stories, this reminds me of a fairly popular one.

We're all familiar with the story of Robin Hood.  The guy who took from the rich to give to the poor.  WRONG!!!  He was the guy who took from the government and gave back to the overtaxed people.  If I remember the story right, the people were poor because the Sheriff was taking their money.  Sound familiar.  Well sheriff, I have a question...

When the people come to the conclusion that the only way they will be allowed to keep their money is to make sure they drive 2 miles per hour under the speed limit, in a car with all the lights working, and their seat belts buckled like good little boys and girls...  What will you do then?  You'll still need their cash.  Will you start making stuff up?  Lower the speed limit to an intolerable 25mph so you can catch us doing 26?  What WILL you do?

I've said all that to say this...

Our government is working from the wrong end.  We give the bulk of our resources to the Federal government, who then doles it back to the States and Municipalities in the form of loans, and grants based on certain criteria.  The States and Municipalities then must tax us even more to pay back loans, (loans that were given by taking money from us), and meet other real obligations.  Because incomes are down for the people, they are down for the government at every level.  Just like us,  the fact that income is down doesn't deminish the need for cash.  Unfortunately, WE THE PEOPLE don't have the luxury of being able to pull over each passing automobile and demanding that the driver give us a part of their dwindling paycheck.

If WE THE PEOPLE bring our Federal government back to a place where it is performing only the functions assigned to it under the Constitution,  it would be comparatively inexpensive to operate.  If we bring our State back to it's Constitutional roots, the same could be said of it.  If THOSE were only recieving what they need to operate, the municipalities would have abundant resources available, from willing communities, for any number of programs.  Even programs that would be considered welfare programs.  The citizens of this great Union have no problem being generous.  Especially when the need is close to home.  Keeping the chain of custody for our cash short has the added benefit of making fraud and abuse very difficult to get away with, while making the cost of beaurocracy exceedingly cheap.

If this seems to you like an idea with merit, I'd appreciate it if you would PASS IT ON!!!

I'll get back to ya...

Scott A. Rupert
independent candidate for Ohio's U.S. Senate, 2012

No comments:

Post a Comment