1. Protect the Constitution
Require each bill to identify the specific provision of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to do what the bill does. (82.03%)
Did it get my vote? No. I don't think this requirement would put any meaningful limits on congressional power.
I agree it probably won't be meaningful. But that doesn't necessarily mean I'd vote against it. I'd have to think about this vote, if I was actually voting and if my vote was at all meaningful.
2. Reject Cap & Trade
Agreed. I would also vote for this restriction (or in other words against Cap & Trade).
3. Demand a Balanced Budget
Begin the Constitutional amendment process to require a balanced budget with a two-thirds majority needed for any tax hike. (69.69%)
Did it get my vote? No. Unrealistic.
I'm moving more and more towards supporting something like this. Still any requirement for a balanced budget would probably only be reasonable if it had exceptions, and those exceptions could mean that we give politicians the inch that lets them take the mile.
4. Enact Fundamental Tax Reform
Adopt a simple and fair single-rate tax system by scrapping the internal revenue code and replacing it with one that is no longer than 4,543 words—the length of the original Constitution. (64.90%)
Did it get my vote? No. I favor incremental approaches to tax reform.
It would get my vote, as would inteligent incremental approaches to change. Just move away from the monstrosity of a tax code that we have now (and not by making it bigger or worse).
5. Restore Fiscal Responsibility & Constitutionally Limited Government in Washington
Create a Blue Ribbon taskforce that engages in a complete audit of federal agencies and programs, assessing their Constitutionality, and identifying duplication, waste, ineffectiveness, and agencies and programs better left for the states or local authorities, or ripe for wholesale reform or elimination due to our efforts to restore limited government consistent with the US Constitution’s meaning. (63.37%)
Did it get my vote? No. Unnecessary. We know which agencies are wasteful and ineffective.
I sort of agree with Spuriell here. Such panels are often a way to be seen as doing something, without actually doing anything.
7. Defund, Repeal, & Replace Government-run Health Care
Agreed. This would get my vote as well.
8. Pass an ‘All-of-the-Above” Energy Policy
This wouldn't get my vote. My idea of energy policy is leaving it to the free market.
9. Stop the Pork
I'd vote for this. The only reasonable counterargument I can think of is that politicians will pass porkish stuff anyway, and it costs less to let them have some targeted special interest payout, than to require them to pass large new programs that just spread government money far and wide, and don't involve earmarks. That argument is interesting, and possibly true, but not quite convincing enough at this time.
10. Stop the Tax Hikes
Permanently repeal all tax hikes, including those to the income, capital gains, and death taxes, currently scheduled to begin in 2011. (53.38%)
I agree. Don't increase taxes. |
