You gotta love union representatives. I have no problem with unions existing in the private sector but I don't like it in the public sector where these employees and departments enjoy monopoly rights for their jobs.
The federal government is attempting to lower spending and has chosen to reduce the number of employees at the border services agency. Of course these employees are represented by a union and the union has decided to fight this. That is their job but I find this type of argument insulting;
Jean-Pierre Fortin, national president of the Customs and Immigration Union, said 1,026 jobs will be eliminated within three years, and that represents a "direct attack to our national security and public safety."
Holy crap, just throw whatever comes to mind to justify your position... "A direct attack on our national security". We better all build our bomb shelters now, you have 3 years to complete it.
It is his job to fight for the employees in this union (I wont argue if those employees should have union rights in a public department) but at least fight without throwing a bunch of misguided and dangerous statements, aimed at scaring the public into demanding these jobs stay put.
A direct attack on our national security is the result of meddling in the affairs of other countries overseas. The need for border agents should be reduced because the drug trade will not be won, so quit trying to stop them at the border. Quit trying to see how many t-shirts we bought on our trip to the U.S.. Stop the provincial monopolies on liquor so that you don't have to ask us how much liquor we have brought back with us.
It's our business, not yours. Saying you need more employees at the border to monitor our purchases is just another step to a police state, and moves away from a free society.
We're at the point where we need a call to arms, both here in Washington and across the country. I'm not talking about firearms. Those of us who care need to raise both arms and face our palms out and begin waving and shouting: Stop! Enough is enough! It should include liberals, conservatives and independents. We're all getting a bum rap from politicians who are pushed by polls and controlled by special-interest money.
One thing is certain, no matter how morally justified the programs and policies seem, the ability to finance all the guns and butter being promised is limited, and those limits are becoming more apparent every day.
Spending, borrowing and printing money cannot be the road to prosperity. It hasn't worked in Japan, and it isn't working here either. As a matter of fact, it's never worked anytime throughout history. A point is always reached where government planning, spending and inflation run out of steam. Instead of these old tools reviving an economy, as they do in the early stages of economic interventionism, they eventually become the problem. Both sides of the political spectrum must one day realize that limitless government intrusion in the economy, in our personal lives and in the affairs of other nations cannot serve the best interests of America. This is not a conservative problem, nor is it a liberal problem – it's a government intrusion problem that comes from both groups, albeit for different reasons. The problems emanate from both camps who champion different programs for different reasons. The solution will come when both groups realize that it's not merely a single-party problem, or just a liberal or just a conservative problem.
Once enough of us decide we've had enough of all these so-called good things that the government is always promising – or more likely, when the country is broke and the government is unable to fulfill its promises to the people – we can start a serious discussion on the proper role for government in a free society. Unfortunately, it will be some time before Congress gets the message that the people are demanding true reform. This requires that those responsible for today's problems are exposed and their philosophy of pervasive government intrusion is rejected.
Let it not be said that no one cared, that no one objected once it's realized that our liberties and wealth are in jeopardy. A few have, and others will continue to do so, but too many – both in and out of government – close their eyes to the issue of personal liberty and ignore the fact that endless borrowing to finance endless demands cannot be sustained. True prosperity can only come from a healthy economy and sound money. That can only be achieved in a free society.
By Ron Paul - 2003
I didn't think he would get this much traction, but here we are....Ron Paul may just win the Iowa Caucus but should arrive in a very respectable 2nd. The charade is over. Pretending he doesn't exist or that he only has a few kooky followers. His ideas are becoming mainstream and more people are waking up to this fact.
