I believe those Founder’s who wrote the U.S. Constitution envisioned the Legislative Branch of Government as being the one that provided the ultimate checks and balance against abuse of power by either the Executive Branch or the Judicial Branch. This was the Branch that was supposed to have frequent turnover expressing the popular will of the people. Yet, over the last fifty years that Branch has been hyperactive in passing laws affecting every aspect of our daily life as average Americans. The latest Congressional act of hypocrisy was the Bailout of their rich and powerful friends at Fannie and Freddie. It also gave relief to the greedy speculators in Mortgage Banking. The spin is this will help that small percentage of homeowners who really need help with too much debt. Most Americans are aware that it really does more to help the greedy financial types who gambled away their capital to make exorbitant profits. Enough about that, it is a story that will be told over and over and in the future probably make Enron look small in comparison to the fraud those F&F folks perpetrated. Now Congress has a chance to really do something to put money in our Middle Class pockets. On September 30, 2008; let ALL restrictions on U.S. oil exploration expire, amen!

This Congress is already gaining a reputation in the national media because of their lack of legislative activity. Hooray, now they have it, limited government works if Congress quits interfering with our lives. However, this message will probably be forgotten if Madam Speaker and Senator Harry get their big majorities this fall. Since the Great Society exploded on the scene in 1965, Congress has messed with the “…Pursuit of Happiness,” in the lives of just about anyone who wasn’t part of their ruling class. Democrats have become the Socialist Democrats according to a good friend of mine, and I agree. They resemble the Social Democrats of Europe who really never lost their taste for royalty. Instead of Dukes, and Earls and Lords or Ladies; we now have the ruling elite who want to control everything. It seems a far cry from Harry Truman, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson or even FDR. Those Presidents were Democrats who seemed to show concern for the common man and woman.

Maybe Congress can do something worthwhile prior to adjournment. Help those of us struggling to pay our bills at least get some relief in food prices. They can reverse the exorbitant farm subsidies to millionaire farmers, eliminate ethanol subsidies and drop tariffs on Brazilian ethanol. This of course, is in addition to eliminating all restrictions on domestic oil drilling, something that an overwhelming majority of Americans want to happen! It boggles the mind to comprehend what the two actions, or one action and one just let bad law go away, could do. If just two of these events were to happen; gas prices and soon home heating prices, would continue their downward trend. Food prices, which are artificially higher because of Congressional tinkering with Ethanol issues, would also begin to come down. Can you imagine Congress doing something to actually help Middle Class America struggle with economic hard times they helped cause? I really don’t see this happening, but what a turn of events this would be.

Congress has always had their share of thieves, fraud artists, and other assorted felons including murderers. Dueling and fighting were common even on the floors of Congress in the early years of the Republic. I think what makes the collective United States Legislative Branch seem more criminal in their behavior these last 60 years is the increase in Tax Dollars available in the Treasury to dip into to than in the past. They also have succeeded in mortgaging not only our grandchildren’s future, but many generations to come. All this spending has been driven by selfish greed. The explosion of Government has led to the allure of raiding the Taxpayers pockets for more money and buying ever increasing power to ensure re-elections become as automatic as possible. What America still needs is something Congress will never give us. We need a Twenty-first Century Bill of Rights;

1)      Term Limits for Senators and Representatives; mandatory retirement for All Judges & Other Federal Employees.

2)      Balanced Budget Amendment and full compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles by the U.S. Government.

3)      A Flat Income Tax to prohibit favoritism in the Tax Code.