The Fall Election Cycle

A common thread is developing in this year’s election cycle between the Republicans and the Democrats.
• The Republican position is the economy is struggling and government must live within its means without raising taxes just like everyone else is doing.
• The Democrat position is that more money needs to be taken from the private sector of the economy to protect government programs.

The Republican position appeals to those that pay taxes (farmers, workers, small businessman, manufacturers, loggers, miners, etc.) while the Democrat position appeals to those that live off of tax revenues (public employees, teachers, social workers, welfare recipients, etc.)

You need to ask yourself this question: “Will the economy and everyone’s standard of living improve if taxes go up and government grows or will the economy improve for everyone if taxes are reduced and government growth is reduced?” This question is the basic issue of the campaign. Let me give you a couple of facts to clarify the issue.
• Government now spends 48 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)). This means that government consumes 48 percent of all wealth in the United States.
• In 1900, local, state, and federal governments combined only consumed 8 percent of all wealth.

It is my position that high taxation is a form of slavery. Freedom is only possible when taxes are low and the laborer is able to keep the fruits of his labor. Redistribution of the wealth and high taxes favored by Democrats violates this basic principle of freedom and prosperity. For these reasons, I cannot vote for any Democrat.

The top of the Democrat ticket (Allred/Olsen/Minnick) has an almost identical view of government and taxes – taxes need to be increased to protect government programs. They are concerned about the health of government.

The top of the Republican ticket (Otter/Luna/ Labrador) also has a similar view – government must live within the tax revenues now being generated. Government must learn to do more with less. They are concerned about the wellbeing of the taxpayer.

The choice is clear. Will you vote to protect the private sector and vote Republican or will you vote to protect the government and vote Democrat?

Are Republicans the Answer?

By Rep. Steven Thayn

I was listening to the radio this morning and the host said that the Republicans were poised to win in November and that all voters had to do was kick out all the Democrats. His inference was that all our problems would be fixed if we just had conservative Republicans in office.

Wait just a minute, not so fast. What makes you think that conservative Republicans are going to fix our nation’s problems? Where is the proof? Republicans have been in charge in the past and our problems got worse not better. I will grant that President Obama could possibly be the worst president in American history and that we need to replace President Obama and his liberal Democratic friends; but, the question remains with whom and what policies need to be replaced? I have three suggestions. Until I hear these three issues being discussed, I have no expectation that improvements will occur at the national level.

1. The federal government is too large with 63 percent of the federal budget goes to human services. Most, if not all, human service responsibilities need to be transferred to the state level where costs can be reduced and services improved.
2. The economy is in shambles. The key to stimulating the economy is increasing “the big five:” Logging, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and energy production. “The big five” cannot be stimulated until environmental regulations are reduced and made business friendly.
3. The character of the American people is changing from a sense of personal independence to dependence upon government programs. The philosophy of human service programs needs to change from a focus on the short-term material needs of individuals to, a much more healthy approach, where long-term needs are addressed to encourage people to become independent and self-sufficient. Success of a social program should be measured on the number of people that no longer need help rather than the number of people on the program.

The problem in the past with the Republican Party and conservatives in general is that they have had virtually NO IDEAS on how to deal with real social problems. Until Republicans engage in solving real human problems using limited government principles, I do not believe our problems will improve.

Rep. Steven Thayn, R-Emmett, represents District 11 in the Idaho House of Representatives.