The blindingly obvious

Fair taxation. Seems like a nimble little topic. My fellow libertarian activists have been bantering back and forth on the topic all evening. Much of the discussion is in favor of a strong fair tax, or a VAT (value-added tax). The more important matter, brought up by one of the members, was cutting expenses. I agree. It is blindingly obvious to me that we must cut expenses. Changing the tax code in advance of reducing expenses is, I think, sheer stupidity. If we think we're beholden to sovereign governments now, then I'd hate to think what would happen if we cut revenue without cutting expenses. Where to start? That's a tough one. Where does the government truly have a role to play in girding our daily lives and the daily lives of corporate citizens (ahem)?

Here's a short list. It's not an end-all-be-all list, but it's a start. I'd love to hear from you on these cuts, which are presented in no particular order.

1. Defense. Stop nation building.
2. NASA. Space? Really? Movies good. Space station bad.
3. Corporation for Public Broadcasting and NPR. If you like it so much, then pick up a pen and a checkbook and make it happen. You can call it what you will, but fund it differently. By the way, I love NPR.
4. Tax breaks for all religious groups. Pray, worship, and proselytize all you want. Please don't do it on my nickel.
5. Home interest and home property tax deductions. Owning a home is not a God-granted right. Toil and toil some more, save up some money, and then buy.
6. Drug war. If you're going to have a drug war, then let's have an alcohol war, prostitution war, gambling war, chocolate war, salt war, gun war, and my favorite, a gay war. Let's run that tab way up. It can't be won. Period. (I love you, man, but it can't be won)
7. Federal or any funding of election campaigns.
8. Corn and all other corporate subsidies, including any and all corporate or personal bailouts.
9. Amtrak needs to survive on its own. I love train travel. It needs more than my love or my neighbor's.
10. NEA.

Those are just a few. I'm sure there are more. If we don't cut spending, we will not be able to pass on a better country to our children than the one our parents and grandparents passed down to us.

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. From the wind and the snow, I bid you all good tidings.