Monthly Archives: March 2009
Goals
Quote of the Day: “Procrastinate Apathy”
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Subject: Goals
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Thank you to scores of folks who responded to our requests for feedback on motivational growth goals. Your answers will inform our actions in the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime . . .
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We want to address those who wrote to express despair and apathy.
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We understand how you feel. But we think it’s best to procrastinate apathy. There will be plenty of time to “do nothing” once we’re dead.
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For those who wrote to assert that the only hope lies in replacing all the politicians or enacting some favored reform, we respond, “You and what army?” If you don’t have an army, how will you replace all the politicians or enact your preferred reform?
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Still others wrote to say that sending messages to Congress won’t change anything. Here’s what we’re sure of: NOT telling Congress what you want won’t change anything either. Neither will sending too few messages. Neither will voting to replace one bad politician with another.
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And NO tactic or strategy can work if it is pursued by TOO FEW PEOPLE.
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We want what YOU want. BUT WE NEED AN ARMY TO DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
:::One thing your messages to Congress do change is
Milking us dry
Quotes of the Day: “Government price-fixing once started, has alike no justice and no end. It is an economic folly from which this country has every right to be spared.” — Calvin Coolidge, 30th US President Source: veto of two bills establishing federal controls over agricultural commodities
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“If we didn’t have $21 milk last year, we wouldn’t have $9 milk this year.” – John Kaneb
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Subject: Milking us dry
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The politicians keep making big claims about how their big plans are going to achieve big results for the economy. Those tempted to believe these claims may first want to consider how well the government does with their smaller schemes. For instance . . .
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Did you know that the government sets minimum prices for milk? They claim that unregulated milk prices would fluctuate wildly, but consider these wild price fluctuations . . .
Our prediction comes true
Quote of the Day: “Everything not specifically prohibited is mandatory.” — the fundamental principle of government
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Subject: Our prediction comes true
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The Congressional war against small business continues. The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 (H.R. 875) will create a new food safety bureaucracy, and require a “traceability” program for “food production facilities and food establishments.”
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These new regulations will drive many small farms and restaurants out of business.
Do you smell a rat?
Quote of the Day: “One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation” — Thomas Bracket Reed
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Subject: Smelling a rat
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We’ve argued that the stimulus bill was a money-wasting scam. But even the Title 15 provision designed to prevent waste turns out to be . . . another scam. This provision creates two new bureaucracies, the Recovery Independent Advisory Panel (RIAP), and the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, which we call the RAT Board.
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RIAP will have five members appointed by the President, the very person the board will oversee, so can it really be “independent?”
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It gets worse. The panel can accept gifts of services and property, and the RIAP’s Executive Director and other staff will be hired outside of normal civil service regulations and salary schedules; all can be paid as much as $143,500.
We still want to know what GROWTH goals would motivate you
Quote of the Day: “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.” — attributed to Thomas Jefferson
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Subject: We still want to know what GROWTH goals would motivate you
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Yesterday we asked you to tell us what 2009 GROWTH goals would excite you? We’re starting to get responses. We’ll share what we learn soon. If you haven’t responded yet, please do. Reply to this message and tell us the following . . .
What Goals Would Motivate You?
Quote of the Day: “In the long run, men hit only what they aim at.” — Henry David Thoreau
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Subject: What goals would motivate you?
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We want to hear from you. Specifically, we want to know what growth goals would motivate you to take greater action? Please leave a comment below and tell us the following . . .
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“If Downsize DC set a goal for 2009 of recruiting X number of new Downsizers, and bombarding Congress with X number of messages, I would be willing to put in extra effort to make that happen.”
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Also tell us the kinds of things you’d be willing to do to help achieve your goals, and let us know if it’s okay to share your thoughts with others in a future Dispatch.
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In the meantime, can we march to new heights in March?
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Let’s get off to a good start by pounding Congress on the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009.
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The House has