What I'd like to see from our government in the year 2009...

I think it is high time that our federal government aspires to be better than the rest of us, just like too many other people think it is. If you don't understand what I mean, read my previous post on the subject. Right now, it's no better than the rest of us. The government wants to spend more money than it is taking in via taxes. Their answer to this is the same as a lot of people. They whip out the plastic. That's part of the reason our economy is in its current state. Too many people are carrying too much debt. The only difference between us and the government is that we don't have a big tote board displaying our total debt.

Here's a list of things our government can do to save money. This is not an exhaustive list. It's just a start.

START THE SALARY CUTS AT THE TOP

The president makes too much money. He's already getting free room and board and all the free transportation he can consume. Anyone else who has a bunch of freebies should endure the same cuts.

NO MORE FREE HEALTHCARE

Representatives and Senators should buy their own health care. Lots of people who make less money than them buy their own. The health care they buy for themselves isn't always great but perhaps it will be a motivator for the health care reform so many are crying for and are not going to get as long as those who represent us have health care that the rest of us can only dream of having.

SAY GOOD-BYE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF WHAT THE HELL DO THEY DO ANYWAY?

Eliminate the Department of Commerce. Its function is currently being carried out in something the politicians in Washington will never let go of, pork barrel spending. Since we've never been able to be rid of it (not like we ever really tried) and the Congress-type-people are already there, might just as well save some money and just get rid of the whole department. Sorry, Bill but you're doing a fine job in your current position.

SAY GOOD-BYE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PLENTY OF CHILDREN STILL LEFT BEHIND

Eliminate the Department of Education. If you don't like No Child Left Behind, and plenty don't and with good reason, then kill it by cutting off its head. According to the Department of Education website, their mission is sevenfold:

a) Strengthen the Federal commitment to assuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual;

b) Supplement and complement the efforts of states, the local school systems and other instrumentalities of the states, the private sector, public and private nonprofit educational research institutions, community-based organizations, parents, and students to improve the quality of education;

c) Encourage the increased involvement of the public, parents, and students in Federal education programs;

d) Promote improvements in the quality and usefulness of education through Federally supported research, evaluation, and sharing of information;

e) Improve the coordination of Federal education programs;

f) Improve the management of Federal education activities; and

g) Increase the accountability of Federal education programs to the President, the Congress, and the public.

I will translate these for you:

a) Making sure the Federal government is committed to saying they'll do what they've already said they're doing so we can look busy and have a job.

b) Making us look busy so we can have a job. And someone dare to tell me that 'b' isn't a bunch of mission statement non-speak.

c) Making people interested in keeping us around so we can have a job.

d) Publish a bunch of statistics so we look busy and can have a job.

e) Talk to a bunch of people so we can look busy and have a job.

f) See letter 'e'.

g) Increasing our level of responsibilities so that we can look busy and have a job.

JOHN STEWART PUT ME ON TO THIS ONE

Ditch the Department of Transportation. I think John Stewart put it best in his book, America. I am paraphrasing because I only have the audiobook and don't have a print version to reference.

The Department of Transportation is one of the cabinet posts that allow you to make your cabinet look like America.

Seen a car?

Seen a plane?

Hispanic?

Want a job in my cabinet?

SPEND MONEY LIKE IRRESPONSIBLE CHILDREN? BE TREATED LIKE IRRESPONSIBLE CHILDREN.

Every line item in the Federal budget must include a layman's explanation of just what the hell the money is being spent on anyway.

I could go on but I've spent enough time on things that will never happen.

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