Omnibus Part 3
POST-ELECTION ISSUE COVERAGE — CONCLUSION
by
Ken Eliasberg
Concluding my pre-election summary coverage of critical issues - in-depth consideration of which I shall, in all likelihood, suspend until after the 2008 election - I’ll round out this baker’s dozen with these four:
9. Election Reform
10. The U.N. — What to Do With It or About It
11. Capital Punishment — Accept It, Improve It, Streamline It,
and Enforce It
12. Religion: It’s Importance and It’s Appropriate Role in Our
Democracy
9. ELECTION REFORM — CUT DOWN ON THE INCIDENCE OF FRAUD — PROBABLY 90% OF WHICH IS COMMITTED BY DEMS
Election fraud should be something that we can easily get under control. However, Democrats are not interested in co-operating in this effort. Why not? Because then they cannot cheat. I could go down the list of their transgressions, but that would not be productive. Some clear indications of their refusal to take this area seriously is their support of motor voter laws and their current efforts to prevent use of a photo I.D. in the voting process. Think about that for a second. I have to present my photo I.D. at various department stores, car washes, and other such harmless places - why then, when I exercise my most basic right, should I not be required to identify myself? There is no reason, other than to hold open the possibility to cheat in the process. Dem arguments that this is a return to the poll-tax days are not just sophistry and smokescreen, they are absurd.
What to do? Put in place clear and appropriate election laws, provide adequate means to enforce these laws, and ENFORCE THEM. This should not be a partisan issue, but the Dems have made it one. At this very moment (or recently, depending on when this column is published) Harry Reid is holding up the appointment of the remaining 4 slots on the Federal Election Commission (FEC). It’s about time Republicans took a page out of the Dems playbook, and reciprocated in kind.
10. THE UNITED NATIONS: REFORM IT OR LEAVE IT!!!
I think that, by now, most of you know my thinking about the U.N. — as I have frequently observed: It is a feckless, corrupt, incompetent, anti-American organization that we have indulged for much too long. We put up more than 20% of the funds to operate the organization; we provide them with a location in New York City; and we tolerate the parking tickets, carousing and other nonsense of many of those who have been sent there to do their country’s bidding. In return, the U.N. votes against America approximately 80% of the time. Of course, many on the left would say that this is only right — we deserve it. B.S.!! Part of the reason is that many of these countries are dictatorships and well over 50 are part of the Islamic block (but I repeat myself).
WHAT TO DO? SIMPLE! CLEAN THE PLACE UP. DEMAND REFORM — IN THE FORM OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY — OR WITHDRAW FROM THE ORGANIZATION. THE ALTERNATIVE: EITHER SET UP A PARALLEL ORGANIZATION FOR DEMOCRACIES ONLY (A SUGGESTION OF MY FRIEND BRUCE HERSCHENSON) OR, AS MARK STEYN SUGGESTS, CONFINE OUR INTERNATIONALARRANGEMENTS TO REGIONAL ALLIANCES. FRANKLY, I PREFER THE STEYN APPROACH. WHY? BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO TRANSFER OR ASSIGN ANY ASPECT OF OUR SOVEREIGNTY TO ANY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
11. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT — AS LONG AS THE PUBLIC WANTS IT — AND THEY DO — THEN ENFORCE IT, AND DO IT IN A TIMELY FASHION.
It should be observed at the outset that no state, court, or individual approaches this subject frivolously, but many feel that there are crimes so serious and heinous that death is the appropriate punishment The public has continuously indicated their approval of and support for capital punishment. The left has consistently —via bleeding heart left-wing judges — done whatever they can to abort the process. And, in effect, they have succeeded in that many states will not enforce the law, and those who will delay the process so long that the original crime is all but forgotten. Executing the criminal 20 years after his crime completely undermines the entire purpose of this punishment, i.e. justice delayed is justice denied. And by the way, it has been established that capital punishment does operate as a deterrent with respect to future capital crimes. I believe that, but, believe it or not, one thing is certain — it is certainly a deterrent for the guy who is executed; he’s not going to kill any one else EVER.
WHAT TO DO? EITHER CHANGE THE LAW OR ENFORCE IT!!
AND DO IT IN A TIMELY FASHION. SEE THAT THE CRIMINAL IS ACCORDED ALL THAT HE NEEDS FOR AN APPROPRIATE DEFENSE (INCLUDING ACCESS TO FORENSICS), PROVIDE FOR A TIMELY APPEAL, AND WRAP UP THE PROCESS IN 2 TO 3
YEARS, MAX
12. MINIMUM WAGE — A FEEL GOOD NON ISSUE THAT IS
COMPLETELY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE
I would give 5 to 1 odds that the overwhelming percentage of economists would tell you that minimum wage increases result in the loss of start up jobs (and thus actually hurt the group they are intended to help), do nothing to improve anyone’s economic circumstances, and, in the final analysis, are little more than a propaganda tool and a feel-good mechanism for bleeding hearts. I’ll have a lot more to say about this by way of substantiation.
13. IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION AND ITS APPROPRIATE ROLE IN
OUR DEMOCRACY.
This topic is too important to handle in a summary fashion. Suffice it to say that this is and has been a Christian country, and, in my opinion, we are all better off because of it. I also believe that, for almost 20 years, there has been an ongoing assault on Christianity and the entire concept of God. Please do not misunderstand, I have no objection to those who choose not to believe, but I would strongly resist our becoming a country of nonbelievers. I also believe that the concept of Separation of Church and State has been both misconstrued and abused. As a consequence, the Church has been seriously weakened. We need to return to our roots, to revere our traditions, and to recognize how fundamental a role God played in the creation of our great nation and how important he is to our nation’s continued viability. Again, this is a topic that requires much more than a headnote.