Strength In America's Values Is At the Core As We Tackle Tough Issues In 2006

January 1, 2006

Happy New Year to all of our readers! We are at the dawn of 2006 and 52 weeks are ahead of us in the calendar year. Each week ...each day will see something new on the horizon.

We have spoken to a number of persons from across the age spectrum as to what they would identify as the hot button issues facing society in the year 2006. A number of issues were presented; in this column, we present four key topics mentioned most frequently. We would like to share these with you and a brief comment or two about each from our perspective.

The War on Terror...

So close to the heart of nearly everyone with whom we spoke is the seriousness of the war on terror. As his trial now unfolds in Baghdad, we are now beginning to realize the viciousness of the reign of terror as perpetrated by Saddam Hussein on his own people. The US-led occupation authority in Iraq has said that at least 300,000 people are buried in mass graves in Iraq. Human rights officials put the number closer to 500,000 and some local Iraqi leaders estimate more than 1 million were executed. It is estimated that 61,000 Baghdad residents alone were executed. The world is rid of one of the most vile, depraved dictators in human history. His regime no longer tortures and rapes people by the thousands, nor encourages acts of murder on his own people or people in other parts of the world. But the war on terror continues and we are a long way before the world is rid of this type of reign of vicious brutality on innocent men, women and children. As we see it, it comes down to two choices: either winning the war on terror or giving in to such terror. Recently, millions of happy Iraqis, turned out to vote. Well, not just to vote, but to elect a government in accordance with the constitution they approved two months ago. This is the first truly democratic government in the history of the Arab Middle East. And not just the Shi'ites and Kurds voted, whose suffering under the regime of Saddam Hussein was especially harsh, but also Sunnis, who dominated the old Ba'athist government participated in the democratic process of voting. This, in itself, would have been unthinkable just two short years ago and it is a monumental event in the history of the world. This, in itself, is a battle won against the war on terror.

The Economy...

No people in the history of civilization have ever had such bounty, such abundance and such well-being and yet remain so unconvinced of it. The US economy places every income group, every ethnic group, and every age group as the best off since the statistics began getting collected. Our banking institutions and economic regulators have provided unheard of stability and prosperity. The productive growth of the US economy, in light of all the world events comes up as absolutely monumental. The proof of this well-being is measured in actions not words. Right now, people seem to feel more comfortable with their personal finances. An indicator of this feeling is that people are spending more on home improvements, luxury and recreational items, they are eating out more, as well as increased investing over the long haul. The US Economy is measured by the gross national product. Despite turbulence from hurricanes and the war on terror, there was substantial growth this past year. The economy, as measured by the GNP, grew by 4.0 percent in 2005 and is projected to grow another 3.3 in 2006. The national unemployment rate, which stood at 5.5 in 2004, dropped to 5.1 in 2005 and it is projected to dip to 5 percent in 2006. Homeownership has reached an all time high. The most recent example of the U.S. economy's continuing unbridled gains comes from November's wholesale price and housing benchmark numbers. Both numbers were better than analysts expected. Investor's Business Daily adds that the construction industry remains bullish on housing going into 2006. "Despite a lot of talk about just when the housing boom will end, permits for future building rose 2.5% to an annualized 2.155 million, showing that builders are still willing to bet on future buyers for their new houses." The paper adds that housing starts are still expected to begin the new year at their highest levels in more than 30 years. Productivity is growing at the fastest rate in nearly 40 years. Over the past 28 months, America created more then 4.2 million new jobs and the unemployment rate of 5.1 percent is lower than the average of the 1970s 1980s or at anytime during the 1990s. Today, when people in other countries look for an economy to invest their savings, they often choose the United States. It seems to us that in order to maintain economic growth, there will need to be two factors on the agenda. First, to keep taxes low and secondly, there must be an effort to curb entitlements and federal, state and local spending. These two factors, we believe, are essential.

Mid-term elections...

Frequently mentioned, in the minds of most from all ages, is the fact that we are in the year of mid-term elections. There are some with a hard edge to their political feelings, and this is on both sides of the political spectrum; the minds of these individuals are largely already made up. But there is a sizable group of those who are undecided; they will be weighing, looking, listening, and participating during the days and weeks and ahead waiting to cast their choices in November, 2006. 33 US Senate seats, including New York State, are up for a vote, and 31 states, including New York State, will elect a Governor. All 435 seats in the US House are up for election. We call for all to examine closely all the issues and think ahead in the long term. We call for all eligible voters to vote and those unregistered eligible voters to get registered and participate in the electoral process. This is a noble duty in our republican form of representative democracy. For those who believe in something of substance will not follow just anything lacking substance.

The Supreme Court...

The role of the President of the United States consists of two distinct functions first, that of Head of State and secondly, that as guardian of the Constitution through judicial appointments. And that is a matter we wish to address in this column. The Supreme Court is not a creation of the Congress but is called for by the US Constitution and it is key to our system of Constitutional government. Before the Republic was a half-century old, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote, "scarcely any political question arises...that is not resolved sooner or later into a judicial question." The truth of that statement has been established. Matters of the judiciary may not loom as large in the minds to some, as the War on Terror or the economy. But the decisions of the US Supreme Court have far reaching implications to this generation and future generations of Americans. And the makeup of the Court is closely a part of the role and authority of the US President along with the advice and consent function of the United States Senate. Point of significance, the future direction of the US Supreme Court and constitutional law may very well be at stake during the term of this President and during the term of this Senate. The notion of a "living Constitution" that can effectively be amended by an unaccountable judiciary clearly contradicts the democratic concept of rule by the people. Fidelity to the text of the Constitution and 214 years in which there was not a single sustained floor filibuster of judicial nominees, is ample evidence that the plan this time to thwart judicial nominees from entering the judicial system will not be sustained and the idea of a filibuster will not, and should not meet the test of constitutionality.

The backbone to all the above is a strong and healthy values system which runs through the vital fiber of American society. Without strong principles in which one believes, there emerges an "anything goes" philosophy. If one does not believe in something based on principle, one will accept anything. But to most Americans, "just anything goes" is NOT an option and that is another reason we look forward with hope to the unfolding of 2006. That is how we see it FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE.