I was recently invited to a Facebook group that had a document by Michael Savage entitled "The Savage Manifesto". I'll be the first to admit that Michael Savage is over the top and some of the wording / items in his manifesto are, I'm sure, meant to draw reactions. Still, I prepared my thoughts on it for the group and thought that at least some of the points might generate some interesting discussion here on Mod-Blog. I'll post my replies in the comments so as to keep the article length short.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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Note, these responses were to a group that "promotes the retaking of the United States by Christian Conservatives."
Domestic
A. Cut Federal Income Taxes by 2 percent per year over four years, for a minimum total of 8 percent over four years.
Great idea. There was a recent study done that said that the amount of tax received by the federal government is always a percentage of the GDP regardless of what the tax rate is. The way to get GDP up is to decrease taxes. So, by decreasing the tax rate, the government will actually get more tax money because people will make more. http://mod-blog.blogspot.com/2008/05/taxing-rich-has-no-effect-on-revenues.html
B. Reduce Federal Government Departments in size by 4 percent each year, for a total reduction of size by 16 percent over four years.
This could be a great plan, though there may be some departments that are not overstaffed so I don't know that I could agree to a reduction in all departments. Plus, with the economy what it is, this may cause further problems due to unemployment which will mean more taxes.
C. Eliminate all public assistance for able-bodied recipients. Cut off all public assistance for immigrants for five years. Repatriate those who are not working, after two years.
My concern with this is first, what is "public assistance" and second, immigrants that come as full time students. If "public assistance" is wellfare, etc. then yes, we should eliminate it for able-bodied recipients and new immigrants should be denied it to prevent people from coming into this country just to take from the system. If "public assistance" means things like in-state tuition, then able-bodied recipients should definitely receive that. I'm even fine with a tax-paying legal immigrant who has been here for a few years getting in-state tuition. As for repatriating those who are not working after two years, so long as the rule is such that if you haven't worked and/or attended school full time, I'd be okay with it. I wouldn't want to send full time students or people who had a job but happen to be out of work at the two year mark back to the country they came from. The other exemption would be those of refuge / persecution status. It would be cruel to send them back to a place where they could/would be tortured or killed.
D. Immediately impose tariffs on cars and trucks owned by foreign entities, even if they’re manufactured in America.
I don't know that we want to go there. By imposing tariffs on the cars and trucks owned by foreign entities, but manufactured in America we're decreasing the reason for foreign companies to have a factory here in the U.S. That means a loss of jobs which is something we definitely don't need in this economy.
E. Cause illegal aliens to build a wall between the United States and Mexico, and then, repatriate them. Pay them a one-time worker fee.
This sounds like a Savage comment. I just don't think this is a good idea. The biggest thing is this makes me think of when British citizens were opressed into the navy. Deport them, yes, but don't force them into a job and then deport them. Secondly, if they're illegal, there's probably a decent chance they'll try to come back. Now, if you knew that after finishing the wall you would be deported, would you have any incentive to (1) finish the job or (2) do a quality job? No, instead, you'd be looking for a way to make it so there was an exploit that would let you back in.
F. Increase pay for active duty combat troops by 10 percent. Number Two. Fire any unmarried military person becoming pregnant while on active duty.”
Number one would be good. Number two... that's just asking for trouble. I understand and agree that sex outside of marriage is wrong. Also, if I remember correctly, I've heard that some women have gotten pregnant to get out of jobs. Still, it's descrimination (or if it's not, very close to being descrimination) and unfair. It takes two people to become pregnant. Why should a woman be fired, but not the man? Secondly, in our current culture, I just don't see this flying. Sex outside of marriage is a big part of our current culture. Is it wrong? Absolutely. Can we legislate against it, I just don't think we can at this time. Even if we could, as conservatives, do we want the government telling us what we can and can't do in our personal lives? Isn't this more an area for God's law than man's law?
G. Make abortions illegal, except when the physical survival of the mother is threatened, to be determined by three medical doctors. Require Norplant for all women on welfare of childbearing age.
Illegal abortions... I would love to see this happen. I don't think we're ready for this step as a society yet. I think the best thing we could do right now is repeal Roe vs. Wade and bring the decision back to the states. Some states such as NY and CA will keep abortion legal, but other states will ban it. Thus, we'll at least cut down on the number of abortions and banning it in some states could be a catalyst for changing hearts and banning it in other states.
As for requiring Norplant, this is just wrong. Yes, women abuse the wellfare system by having kids that they don't care about just to get more money. The solution is not to have the government tell us some people can't have kids. Why stop there? An area of the country having an overpopulation problem? Let's just have the government say that everyone is only allowed one kid like they do in China. On top of that, it is discriminating against the lower class. Finally, Norplant is putting chemicals into your body and is birth control. Some people have a religious objection to birth control (such as Catholics). Some people just don't like chemicals in their body. The government has no right requiring birth control (especially one that last for five years) in its citizens or anyone else.
H. Close all houses of sex and massage.
Close all houses of sex, yes. Closing sleazy massage parlors, yes. Closing professional massage places? Absolutely not. I have gone and had a massage exactly once in my life. There is nothing sexual about it. Personally, I can't justify spending the money to go with any regularity, but I felt very refreshed after the massage. For some, it is more than refreshment... they need massage to deal with chronic pain.
I. Expand the DEA, while decriminalizing most drugs.
Well, this goes against section B, but I can see the logic here. Under prohibition of alcohol, alcohol was still available and still drunk, it just went underground and became part of organized crime. If you decriminalize most drugs, you (a) reduce government cost because you no longer have to defend against it, (b) drastically drop the price because it is now legal which means that it is no longer with it for organized crime to be involved, and (c) reduce the costs involved with prosecuting and jailing someone whose only illegal activity was possesion and/or use of a substance. That being said, drugs have a disasterous effect on the body and can also have a negative effect on those around the person using them. I do see there being a disconnect between outlawing lesser drugs, but allowing tobacco and alcohol. I don't know what the solution is, but I'm hesitant to legalize drugs.
J. Regarding the media; one, eliminate all foreign ownership of any American media entity. Two, break up overly large conglomerates, like News Corporation.
I don't know if this is really a good idea. Yes, the media has a liberal slant. In the past, having foreign ownership of our media would have been trouble because they could plant thoughts into the minds of the people. Now, there are so many alternative news sources that I don't see it as a big issue. And by allowing foreign ownership, we bring foreign investment dollars into our country.
K. Encourage child bearing among tax paying citizens. Create a marriage incentive, through lower taxes for married heterosexual couples. And a government subsidy for each child conceived and carried to birth. Increase the subsidies for each year the couple remains married.
If we can handle it tax-wise, this would be a great idea. Happily married couples would be more productive, creating greater wealth for the country which in turn generates more tax revenue. This could work.
L. Repatriate all illegal immigrants now incarcerated. Encourage all other illegals to self-repatriate through double taxation on wages and fines on employers.”
International
I thought we already did repatriate illegal immigrants that were incarcerated. Maybe it's just for felonies and this would cover misdemeanors. I think this is a good idea. You shouldn't be here illegally anyway. If you are, better be a productive member of society. I agree with fines on employers if they knew they were hiring/employing illegals or they did not do enough to check if the person they were hiring was illegal. A faked drivers license should not result in a fine for the employer. As for double taxation on wages, my hesitation to be okay with this is we're basically saying, "we're fine if you stay here, so long as you pay us extra money." It's a slap to the people who have waited or are waiting their turn to immigrate legally.
International
A. Iraq. Send in Iraqi troops to mop up pockets of resistance. Make Iraq pay with their oil for the cost of the war. Cordon off Sadr City, force all residents to leave, then go in and mop up all resistance fighters. Divide Iraq into three to four sectors; Sunni, Shiite, Kurd, and International. Next, remove all U.S. troops after above achieved.
Making Iraq pay for the cost of the war is a REALLY BAD idea. A few examples: (1) The North had the South repay after the civil war. It bred resentment. (2) After WWI, France and England made Germany pay. It led to bad economic conditions which primed the pump for Hitler and WWII. For more on this, see http://mod-blog.blogspot.com/2008/03/should-iraq-pay-for-its-own.html
Cordoning off Sadr City and having residents only leave? Why wouldn't one of the following two things happen: (1) Resistance fighters kill our troops while we're getting the residents out or (2) Resistance fighters leave with the residents and we still don't know who is who.
As for dividing Iraq, I believe this would leave some regions without the oil rich resouces of the country, leaving them worse off. If all three major ethnic/religious groups wanted to split, I'd be for it, but I don't think we should split it just because it makes our mission easier.
B. Iran. One, sanctions embargoes and mine their harbors. Nothing goes in, nothing comes out.
Not a bad idea, though there is still land routes. I don't know at what point we get rid of the mines though. When do we trust that Ahmadinejad won't go back on his word?
C. North Korea. Destroy their launching platforms, impose a Naval blockade on all goods coming in or out, except food.
Not sure how much a Naval blockade will help since they've got China to the north and China's a big ally of theirs. With the start of the destruction of their nuclear weapons program, I'm not sure we want to go in and bomb their launching platforms, angering them into possibly moving offensively against South Korea. That being said, I'm skeptical that the destruction of one tower is them really abandoning their nuclear weapons program.
D. Israel Arab Entities. Give Israel four years to become self-sufficient. Cut off all foreign aid to all nations.
Cutting off all foreign aid to all nations seems like it'd be a good idea if we want to cause a world-wide economic crisis. I'd rather not cause that. I'm also not a huge fan of selling out Israel, who has been a good ally in the past.
E. China. 20 percent tariffs on all China made goods immediately; rising by 5 percent each year for each year China refuses to revalue their currency.
I'm not finding anything recent about China and reavluing its currency. It looks like they did a few years ago. Does anyone have more information on this? As for tariffs, we're in a tight spot here. We've grown used to cheap goods that are made in China. By adding a 20 percent tariff we're looking at at least a 20% increase in the price we pay as consumers. Walmart is a huge importer of Chinese good. From walmartwatch.com (obviously a biased site): "Experts believe Wal-Mart is China’s eighth largest trading partner, importing more goods than entire countries like England and Russia." http://walmartwatch.com/press/releases/wal_mart_china_cozy_multi_billion_dollar_bedfellows/ A 20 percent tariff could cause economic problems for them and/or their suppliers triggering a greater economic crunch. On the flip side, we've got a massive debt with China and have a weird "you're our enemy, but we're going to give you special trade status" relationship with China. If China ever calls in our debt, we're in big trouble.
F. United Nations. Withdraw immediately. Remove all Diplomats and staff. Convert the United Nations building into housing for the working poor.
I don't think the UN is very effective, but I also think there is a positive to having a council that nations can come together to talk things over. I think the U.S. should take a smaller role so that we're not in a major position when funding and smaller position when it comes to decisions. If the UN could be replaced by something that was less binding, but still had a forum for discussion, I could probably get behind that.
G. Mexico. Force Mexico to pay one barrel of oil for every illegal alien in the United States of America per month.
Yes, Mexico turns a blind eye to illegal immigration into the U.S. Yes, we need their help. Fining them one barrel of oil for every illegal alien in the United States of America per month is a ridiculous solution (and a very Savage-like comment). It is not Mexico's job to keep its citizens in its own country. We typically look down on governments that don't allow their citizens to leave. It is the job of a country to protect its citizens. One of the ways it does this is by preventing people from entering illegally. And, while we're on the subject of illegal immigration, let's not forget about the illegal immigration over the border we share with Canada. I've heard that big problem with the illegal immigration over the Mexican border is the gang violence. The big problem with the illegal immigration over the Canadian border are terrorist sleeper cells.
Lots I disagree with, but I'll highlight one particular passage...
Iraq. Send in Iraqi troops to mop up pockets of resistance. Make Iraq pay with their oil for the cost of the war. Cordon off Sadr City, force all residents to leave, then go in and mop up all resistance fighters...
Have we learned nothing from World War 1? Invading a country - even to save it from itself - and then making it pay for the cost of the war is inherently self-defeating because (1) it is kicking a people when they are down, leading to more resentment and less chance of being allies long-term, and (2) it encourages greedy politicians to wage MORE wars in order to get more "payments".
We fought WW2 largely because of the War Reparations imposed on Germany for WW1.
This is a bit tangential but, it's funny that I read this post right after reading this. I'm a conservative but I am increasingly turned off by the lack of simple human kindness that I see in so many who call themselves conservatives. Their hard ass attitude is not at all tempered by the milk of human kindness. This is particularly irritating, and disheartening, for me when it comes from conservatives who claim to be Christians.
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