Taxpayers shouldn’t take eyes off the money ball because of ‘mosquerade’

At the moment the national debate is centered on plans for a mosque at Ground Zero.

The mosque is referred to by government-allied media as a cultural center but to anyone who can tell the difference between fire and water, it’s a mosque. President Barack Obama started this war of words with an unnecessary statement of support during the White House celebration of Ramadan. So far, more Democrats than Republicans have been tainted by the fallout—something happening more frequently between our president and his leftwing congressional leaders. But there's more to the mosquerade than Obama's remarks.

It's likely Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will have her hands full if she decides to investigate the millions of Americans who oppose the Ground Zero mosque.Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants those of us who oppose a mosque at Ground Zero investigated. Her suggestion evokes memories of the White House ‘fishy’ email campaign that encouraged Americans to report their friends, neighbors or countrymen if they perceived disinformation about the unconstitutional Obamacare bill Democrats rammed through the back door, giving the government control over American bodies and more control over American cash because you better buy that policy or the health cops at IRS will see to it you pay.

Pelosi could resign and enjoy all that money she and her husband have acquired. She might be good for San Francisco, but she is a blight on the nation. Maybe she could do a sabbatical in Iran. I think her political views would be right at home there except she’d have to ditch her lipstick because of the cosmetics police.

Bubbling beneath the surface of these stories is a significant story for taxpayers. A coalition of tea parties is pushing for a balanced budget amendment. These Americans have ten times the common sense of those at the top of the federal ladder because they even thought of including a requirement that Congress obtain a two-thirds supermajority vote for any tax increases.

Scholars will say it's impossible to obtain that amendment. Main Street should respond it is not only possible it is imperative.

A relevant article in the Tuesday print edition of The Wall Street Journal* addressed taxpayer concern over federal spending and the US deficit. WSJ organized a focus group whose members came up with various ideas including a VAT tax. The gist of the article was that there’s little enthusiasm for the spending cuts that need to be done because that is a political hot potato.

That’s pure nonsense. The government wastes money at every turn, from elaborate White House dinners for celebrities to bottled water for Congress to foreign aid that doesn’t always aid those it should. We have a vast fiscal sinkhole dug by President Jimmy Carter—it’s formally known as the US Dept. of Education. Corporations use attrition to downsize the workforce when necessary but federales turn a blind eye to that option. I could go on and on.

Fact is, Congress cannot justify the tax increase they will passively enact when they permit the Bush tax cuts to expire. Every time Congress has raised taxes, they spend more. And those Bush tax cuts helped every traditional family in America because they eliminated the marriage penalty. Ah, well, the US government never has been friendly to the traditional family model. Just look at the feds’ attempt to take the place of the father in minority families.

If President Barack Obama wanted a real fiscal commission, he should have selected a group of mid-size corporation managers, small business owners and a few frugal moms or dads who know how to live within their means.

Obama does not talk about anything without a reason. Consider his move to draw all eyes to the GROUND ZERO MOSQUE and then consider record unemployment, irresponsible spending, the pending rise in insurance premiums for Medicare supplemental insurance, private insurance and even TRICARE and the looming 2010 elections. There’s more than one ball you need to keep your eye on.

There is much at stake as the November elections loom. We rightfully should speak vocally about our opposition to the Ground Zero mosque, but if we’re smart taxpayers, we better not take our eyes off the ball because we’re blinded by what amounts to a ‘mosquerade.’

[*Reference: 'Voters Back Tough Steps To Reduce Budget Deficit' by Jonathan Weisman; The Wall Street Journal, Tues., Aug. 17, 2010, pg. 1A (print edition).]

(Commentary by Kay B. Day/Aug. 19, 2010)