BRAC the Budget?

Let us simply agree that the 535 members of congress just cannot do their job. They cannot bring themselves to commit political suicide.

"Sorry, I had to eliminate that bridge in order to help balance the budget. The good news is your children and grand-children won't have to pay for it". Of course, that congressperson honestly believes no one will hear the second sentence in the message - they will be screaming for their head as soon as the words "...eliminate that bridge..." are spoken.

Now comes the President lacing up his best kick-the-can shoes as he aims down the road with his Deficit Reduction Commission. I'm old enough to remember the Grace Commission. Great idea but failed miserably. Obama's will too if the final decisions are left up to the Congress.

And never forget it is the Congress that controls spending.

Part of the Democrat's mantra is that Bill Clinton balanced the budget and created a surplus. This is of course pure bull. Again, the government school educated citizens who don't know their constitution will buy the bunk. Congress - The House of Representative in particular - is the SOLE SOURCE of spending and income. Newt Gingrich and the House Class of 1994 are solely responsible for the spending cuts which resulted in the balanced budgets and surplus of the late 90s.

GW Bush and the stupid spendthrift Republicans beginning in 2001 wasted that surplus. Then we suffered 9/11 and other financial difficulties. But rather than simply take care of the emergency, the Republicans continued to spend. And spend. And spend.

Liberals will never agree to any cut in their nanny-statist programs. Conservatives will never agree to cutting their favorites either. Spending our money is, after all, the job of every Representative and Senator is it not?

Quick solution - BRAC it! [hat tip to Rich Galen for reminding me].

Congress established the Base Relocation and Closing Commission in 1988 to absolve itself from the politically impossible task of specific cuts to US military bases throughout the world. Simple in design, the Commission creates a list of base closure, consolidation, and relocation. The list is presented to Congress for an up or down vote - no amendments allowed.

The system seems to work. Here in Southern California, the Commission moved the Naval Air Station at Miramar, San Diego (along with their Top Gun School) to Falon, Nevada. Good for Harry Reid's state. To soften the blow, the Marine Air Station at El Toro, California (Orange County) was moved to Miramar.

Today, the old El Toro base is a mecca of commercial and residential development and this valuable property has returned to the tax rolls. San Diego benefited as well when the Naval Training Center was closed. Rather than pour billions of tax dollars into rehabilitating this disintegrating facility, it is today in full development with residential and commercial properties generating valuable tax revenues for the area.

Sometimes, even a blind dog finds the biscuit.

So, why not do the same with the Obama Deficit Reduction Commission? Proffer a list of program cuts; departments to be closed, realigned, and consolidated; changes in programs such as Social Security and Medicare; and tax reductions. Up or down vote - no amendments. Done.

Unfortunately, the Obama Commission has only one mandate - which will never be revealed in public. This political theatre will have only one conclusion - a tax increase for everyone. Probably a VAT will be added to the multiple layers of taxation under which we now suffer.

John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan were responsible for cutting income tax rates from the 90% range to around 28%. This resulted in real revenue flowing into the federal coffers tripling - TRIPLING - during the 8 years of Reagan's presidency.

Fact is, President Obama has no interest in reducing government in any way. His goal is to grow government to as large a segment of our lives as possible. He will somehow engineer the passage of the government takeover of our health care system. He will push Cap and Tax emission controls into law.

And, he will use the Deficit Reduction Commission as an excuse to increase existing taxes and create new taxes in his pursuit of power. IMHO, Obama does not care if he wins a second term - as long as he is able to permanently change the face of America to his Progressive Statist vision.