Sunday, June 19, 2011

Conservative Question -- Why Does the Department of Education Have a S.W.A.T. Team?

     

     KXTV, Sacramento, CA reported last week that the home of Kenneth Wright in Stockton was raided by a S.W.A.T. team from the United States Department of Education Office of the Inspector General (OIG).  KXTV Reporters followed all of the standard TV journalism procedures, such as interviewing Mr. Wright, and getting an official statement from U.S. Department of Education spokesman, Justin Hamilton.  In my mind, they missed one important question.  Why does the U.S. Department of Education have a S.W.A.T. team?  In fairness, I don't think the Department of Education calls their armed unit a "S.W.A.T." team but why have an armed unit at all?  
     The "mission statement' of the U.S. Department of Education is almost a full page long but the first statement is "Strengthen the Federal commitment to assuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual..."  In this line or any other in the mission statement is there any sentence that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the Department needs a traveling armed unit to bust down the doors of United States citizens.
     How far have we come in the last hundred years?  When the FBI was established about 100 years ago, it was questioned as to whether the Federal Government was overstepping its authority.  In 1908, people worried that the Justice Department would have too much power if it had armed officers.  Now, trained journalists don't seem concerned that the Department of Education has and armed unit.  What other government agencies have this capability?  Does the Department of Agriculture have S.W.A.T. capabilities?  If I switch my ham radio to the wrong frequency, will FCC, S.W.A.T. attack my house?  Does the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have S.W.A.T. Meteorologists?  It feels bizarre that I even have to ask these questions.  The main question still remains:


WHY DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAVE A S.W.A.T. TEAM?

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Debt Limit -- A Conscious Conservative View

     

     In reality, the limit on United States debt obligations will have to be raised.  Conservatives like myself would love to see the Visa card of the United States cut up and thrown in the trash.  However, Congress and the President of the United States agreed to spend this money when they voted on the budget.  The full faith and credit of the United States must be maintained in all dealings.  John Boehner and his colleagues in the House of Representatives can refuse to raise the Debt Limit temporarily and use this time to educate the American public, but only if they do it wisely.  If standing firm on the Debt Limit has the image of a cheap political trick,  the American public will be less informed.  Republicans will end up looking like a political version of the Usual Suspects.   
     As I write this, the Debt Limit has not been raised and Boehner is saying it won't be raised without, "budget cuts."  Unfortunately, he is not being specific, so the Liberals among us say that "budget cuts" are a euphemism for taking away Medicare and other social programs.  On the face, the "budget cuts" seem to be those outlined in the Ryan budget proposal.  Republicans have done a poor job of educating the public on this proposal.  If you only read the popular press, it sounds like a "Medicare Voucher" proposal and nothing more.
     Boehner and his colleagues could remedy this situation if he drops the Republican politics and call for sweeping and equal budget cuts.  The United States is spending more than we can afford on Medicare, Public Broadcasting and Planned Parenthood, but we also spending more than we can afford on Defense, Homeland Security and Farm Subsidies.  Boehner can seize this moment by shouting,
"No More Politics, Fair and Balanced Cuts Across the Board!!" and dare President Obama to justify another plan.  He can also pander to special interests, corporations and the military and end up being a Usual Suspect.

ARE YOU A CONSCIOUS CONSERVATIVE?

  You may be A Conscious Conservative if you believe: No person or government has a right to take or use a person's property without t...