The Distraction of Priorities

Posted: Jun 13, 2017 12:01 AM
The Distraction of Priorities

Last week we were inundated with the preview, testimony, and aftermath commentary of the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing with former FBI Director, James Comey. There is no need to recap what happened in the hearing as the astute writers of Townhall.com have done a fantastic job of analysis. The time has now come to move on, and end this distraction.

It is always interesting to hear what the American people outside of the DC beltway and media centers such as New York City deem a priority, as opposed to those inside these bubbles. The everyday American citizen is witnessing a reality TV show, a sick sort of soap opera that undermines their confidence in those elected officials to govern our Constitutional Republic, according to our rule of law. The public firing of Comey and the ensuing hearings are not unlike The Apprentice where the punchline is “You’re fired.”This insidious “Kabuki dance” that Washington DC has become provides a grave cause for concern but will it continue, or ever subside?Will there be a return to the priorities affecting the lives of our citizens?

If there is any lesson to be learned from the testimony of Jim Comey, it is that a different standard exists for the political elite in America.This strategy of obstruction and deception by the Democratic Party has to stop … along with the flurry of tweets by President Trump.

Last week the Trump administration touted a priority on infrastructure. Funny, I thought the Obama administration had that focus. The previous administration told the American people that a massive taxpayer-funded stimulus plan was required for “shovel ready” jobs. Then laughingly so, Barack Obama expressed that “shovel ready” was not exactly the truth. It seems he and his administration had a very serious issue with that word, truth. If President Trump is focused on infrastructure, then where is the legislative priority to accompany his policy vision? We need to put forward a plan that seeks a one-time lower tax rate repatriation of the trillions of dollars in American private sector capital that is outside of our borders. How hard would it have been for Congress, controlled by the Republicans, to introduce legislation back in January that offered an 8-10% repatriation rate effective for FY 2016 ending end of calendar year 2017? This is what the American people see as a priority: rebuilding our economy and getting Americans back to work. This is an example of what the investment markets are expecting, and why we have seen such a rise in the markets since November 2016 election.

There are less than 30 days of legislative session for our Congress before their August recess. Consider the major legislative issues and priorities requiring attention. Even more alarming is the fact that there are less than 50 days of legislative session before the end of FY 2017. The distraction of priorities has to end so that we have less focus on “dog chasing the tail” committee hearings, and more emphasis on solving our most pressing economic issues.

I have a proposal. Perhaps we should have these Members of Congress use their own personal funds when they hold hearings not related to the priorities of the American people. Yes, if the media wants to sensationalize, then let them, and let the respective committee members pay for the production of these daytime dramas … not hardworking American taxpayers.

In the case of healthcare reform, which is needed, it’s completely unconscionable that the GOP did not have a consensus legislative plan to present first thing in January. And no, I do not want the progressive socialists of the Democrat party to ever be in power in Washington DC. Wealth redistribution, collectivism, and expansion of the welfare state and dependency society are failed concepts. Just look at the current state of Venezuela. However, the GOP has found themselves enabling the distraction of priorities as they appease the purposeful obstructionism of the Democrat Party. No more hearings about “Russian collusion.” If anything we need to take action against those who have lied, deceived, and taken part of a corrupt political scheme in Washington DC. That does not require hearings.It requires courage.

The American people want the courage of conviction from their elected officials to reform a broken tax code that promotes economic growth and expansion. Our small businesses are looking for the tax structure and regulatory reform that allows them to achieve their dreams, goals, and aspirations – the same goals, dreams, and aspirations that fuels free enterprise and entrepreneurship in this Nation. The envy of the world. The American people do not know who or what the CBO does. To them, it’s just another inside-the-beltway gang that is out of touch with the indomitable entrepreneurial spirit of our citizens. Americans do not care about inside-the-beltway language such as “revenue neutral” and “ “. They see it as double speak – and it’s easy to see why Washington wastefully and irresponsibly spends and spends the taxpayers’ money and racks up obnoxious deficits and dangerous debt. What if a family did that? Something that the American people cannot do in their own homes.

The American people are beyond tired of the distraction of priorities. They want their Nation secured in this day of Islamic jihadism. They want a secured border. They want a refocus on what should be the main priority of the federal government: providing for the common defense.

I just have to ask, why do we not see the media sensationalism when the top military leaders testify before the House and Senate Armed Services Committees on the deplorable state of our military capability and capacity? I suppose if it does not make the ratings blossom it is not deemed important.

 However, the real culprit to this is ourselves, we have succumbed to the distraction of priorities because we, as an American society, lack a focused attention span. Just as Roman Emperor Commodus resurrected the gladiator games to distract the citizens of Rome, so it is happening today. We cannot survive as a society with a soundbite mentality seeking only to be entertained, not intellectually engaged. Just as we have politicians who promise everything for free, a massive deception. We have a system that perpetuates itself by never solving the vital issues, but instead distracting us, and doing the bare minimum. How many of you understand how dumb a border adjustment tax is, and why is it being proposed by those who say they are about lower taxation and individual economic success and growth?
Yes, we are indeed busy with our lives, well, except for the paid leftist protesters. But do not allow the distraction of priorities to further undermine the future of our beloved America.