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As I prepare
to retire from Congress, I'd like to suggest a few New Year's resolutions for
my colleagues to consider. For the sake of liberty, peace, and prosperity I
certainly hope more members of Congress consider the strict libertarian
constitutional approach to government in 2013.
In just a few
days, Congress will solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of
the United States against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic. They should
reread Article 1 Section 8 and the Bill of Rights before taking such a
serious oath. Most legislation violates key provisions of the Constitution in
very basic ways, and if members can't bring themselves to say no in the face
of pressure from special interests, they have broken trust with their
constituents and violated their oaths. Congress does not exist to serve
special interests, it exists to protect the rule of
law.
I also urge
my colleagues to end unconstitutional wars overseas. Stop the drone strikes;
stop the covert activities and meddling in the internal affairs of other
nations. Strive to observe "good faith and justice towards all
Nations" as George Washington admonished. We are only making more
enemies, wasting lives, and bankrupting ourselves with the neoconservative,
interventionist mindset that endorses pre-emptive war that now dominates both
parties.
All foreign
aid should end because it is blatantly unconstitutional. While it may be a
relatively small part of our federal budget, for many countries it is a large
part of theirs--and it creates perverse incentives for both our friends and
enemies. There is no way members of Congress can know or understand the
political, economic, legal, and social realities in the many nations to which
they send taxpayer dollars.
Congress
needs to stop accumulating more debt. US debt, monetized by the Federal
Reserve, is the true threat to our national security. Revisiting the
parameters of Article 1 Section 8 would be a good start.
Congress
should resolve to respect personal liberty and free markets. Learn more about
the free market and how it regulates commerce and produces greater prosperity
better than any legislation or regulation. Understand that economic freedom
IS freedom. Resolve not to get in the way of voluntary contracts between
consenting adults. Stop bailing out failed yet politically connected
companies and industries. Stop forcing people to engage in commerce when they
don't want to, and stop prohibiting them from buying and selling when they do
want to. Stop trying to legislate your ideas of
fairness. Protect property rights. Protect the individual. That is enough.
There are
many more resolutions I would like to see my colleagues in Congress adopt,
but respect for the Constitution and the oath of office should be at the core
of everything members of Congress do in 2013.
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