LENNY FOR PRESIDENT!!!
Posted by Lenny Palmer at 1/13/2008 9:41 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
LENNY FOR PRESIDENT!!!
Lenny Palmer
1/13/08
After listening to all the ballyhoo and pseudo-solutions to the great problems facing our country, I’ve decided to toss my hat the ring and give you the most common-sense solutions to three of our mounting national crises:
The Energy Crisis
For this, I dig back into recent American history for a quick fix on conserving gasoline-the 55mph speed limit. You of course remember that when the first oil crisis hit this country, Congress responded with a national speed limit of 55 miles per hour, set in 1974 under then-President Richard Nixon. Controversy continues over the effects of the limit, both in energy conservation and reduction in traffic fatalities, and people during that era groaned mightily over national restrictions on their right to burn gasoline and kill themselves on the highways, but for the most part, we lived with it. Remember the “Don’t Be Fuelish,” and “55 Saves Lives” national ad campaigns? I will probably receive a lot of contrarian postings on this issue, but let me ask you a simple question: does your mileage increase or decrease when you put the pedal to the metal? And please don’t dredge up all the old arguments against the 55mph speed limit, like the cost in your time as opposed to the cost of gas; that may have worked well in the 1970s and 1980s, when oil was at $10-$15 a barrel, and gas was maybe 75 cents a gallon, but at the current rate of $90-$100 a barrel, and $3.00 plus a gallon and skyrocketing . . . well, you think about that one.
Ps: I’d also encourage punching holes everywhere oil is located in the United States, and the hell with the caribou, snail darters, spotted owls and polar bears! We need to utilize as much of our oil as possible, and less of that of other nations.
Illegal Immigration
This is the one issue that has continued to consume my talk show on 1220WKRS, in Lake County, Illinois. Waukegan, the county seat, has a particularly acute problem, and native-born Americans have been fuming for years over their inability to do anything about people who have sneaked into the country and our now enjoying the benefits of living in this great land. I sympathize with these good people, and have voiced their frustrations with the system, but I have now come to the conclusion that Congress and the President (including the next President) are paralyzed over this issue, and will continue to be spineless when it comes to dealing with illegal immigrants. The only real solution is one LAST Reagan-style amnesty: six months will be afforded to those who are here illegally to register as American citizens, and if they miss they deadline, they’re gone. We enforce Ellis Island-style regulations on them: no deadly diseases, no felons, and they must prove they have a job or are willing to get one. No “fine” either; if they are stand-up people, they’ll sign on the dotted line, receive a Social Security number and become citizens of this great nation. Those who don’t line up to be counted will be exported to their land of origin. I know that many will not, because they can’t meet the guidelines, and will take years to weed them all out, but through attrition we eventually will. The first step towards implementing this solution is immediate closing of our borders so not even a mouse can squeak through without being counted, and employers who continue to hire those who are under the radar will not only have their businesses shut down, but will be fined and jailed along with their illegal workers. By the way, for those of you who think all illegal aliens should be lined up and kicked out of America, Google in “The Trail of Tears” on your computer, and then imagine that horrendous scenario multiplied by a million-fold. Not on my watch, pal.
Trade Imbalance and Looming Recession/Depression
What do you do about this one? When the Depression hit, Herbert Hoover’s solution was to sit back and allow the economy and market forces take their course and make the proper corrections. Sounded good on paper, and it still does, but in reality it was a miserable failure, opening the door for Roosevelt and his New Deal policies. Historians continue to argue the efficacies of the New Deal, and whether it had any impact on the Depression, and most agree that it was the steamrolling “Arsenal of Democracy,” and ensuing industrialization of America’s war effort that lifted us out of economic malaise. I agree with that latter interpretation of the facts, but also realize that the do-nothing attitude of Hoover is also not the way to go. So what should be done? In the carrot-and-stick world of politics, I’ve noticed that every time the subject of offshore companies or foreign trade comes up, the dominant argument is punishment for companies who locate offshore, or implementation of heavy tariffs on foreign goods; in other words, the stick approach. How about reversing the process and rewarding American companies for investing in America and American workers, maybe with substantial Federal tax breaks for new hires or new construction, and a serious reduction in Federal red tape; in other words, the carrot instead of the stick? If you want to see how this works right now, check out Delaware. Oh, and for those of you who want those high tariffs, Google in the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930. It increased tariffs on foreign goods entering the U. S., in an effort to protect U. S. industry and jobs, but what it actually accomplished was immediate retaliation from other countries, the first being our good friends the Canadians, who enacted retaliatory tariffs a month before Smoot-Hawley took effect. The trade war was on, the world-wide Depression worsened, and the planet careened toward global war. Hindsight may be 20-20, but somebody at that time should have seen this coming.
So here you have common-sense solutions to three of the most pressing issues facing the United States, but don’t look for these to come up on the radar of the major Presidential candidates; they require hard work and sacrifice on the part of most Americans, so it ain’t gonna happen.
But it’s nice to dream every once in a while, isn’t it?
Want to comment directly to Lenny? E-mail Lenny at lenny@acitizensvoice.com
Lenny Palmer can be heard on WLIP 1050AM, Mon-Fri: 8-11am
and WKRS 1220AM, Mon-Fri: 3-6pm
Did you know?
The "A Citizen's Voice" website has FREE online chat and forums, podcasts and more!
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This blog is published by and reflects the personal views of Lenny Palmer and other guest contributors. It does not represent the views of WKRS 1220AM NEXT Media, WLIP 1050AM NEXT Media, or WRLR 98.3FM RONDARADIO and is not sponsored or endorsed by these organizations, its clients or partners. The purpose of this site is to assist in dissemination and discussion of information about local, national and world issues from Lenny Palmer's perspective. The information contained in this site is provided only as general information for educational and entertainment purposes, and topics may or may not be updated subsequent to their initial posting. By using this site you understand and agree to this disclaimer.
Lenny Palmer
1/13/08
After listening to all the ballyhoo and pseudo-solutions to the great problems facing our country, I’ve decided to toss my hat the ring and give you the most common-sense solutions to three of our mounting national crises:
The Energy Crisis
For this, I dig back into recent American history for a quick fix on conserving gasoline-the 55mph speed limit. You of course remember that when the first oil crisis hit this country, Congress responded with a national speed limit of 55 miles per hour, set in 1974 under then-President Richard Nixon. Controversy continues over the effects of the limit, both in energy conservation and reduction in traffic fatalities, and people during that era groaned mightily over national restrictions on their right to burn gasoline and kill themselves on the highways, but for the most part, we lived with it. Remember the “Don’t Be Fuelish,” and “55 Saves Lives” national ad campaigns? I will probably receive a lot of contrarian postings on this issue, but let me ask you a simple question: does your mileage increase or decrease when you put the pedal to the metal? And please don’t dredge up all the old arguments against the 55mph speed limit, like the cost in your time as opposed to the cost of gas; that may have worked well in the 1970s and 1980s, when oil was at $10-$15 a barrel, and gas was maybe 75 cents a gallon, but at the current rate of $90-$100 a barrel, and $3.00 plus a gallon and skyrocketing . . . well, you think about that one.
Ps: I’d also encourage punching holes everywhere oil is located in the United States, and the hell with the caribou, snail darters, spotted owls and polar bears! We need to utilize as much of our oil as possible, and less of that of other nations.
Illegal Immigration
This is the one issue that has continued to consume my talk show on 1220WKRS, in Lake County, Illinois. Waukegan, the county seat, has a particularly acute problem, and native-born Americans have been fuming for years over their inability to do anything about people who have sneaked into the country and our now enjoying the benefits of living in this great land. I sympathize with these good people, and have voiced their frustrations with the system, but I have now come to the conclusion that Congress and the President (including the next President) are paralyzed over this issue, and will continue to be spineless when it comes to dealing with illegal immigrants. The only real solution is one LAST Reagan-style amnesty: six months will be afforded to those who are here illegally to register as American citizens, and if they miss they deadline, they’re gone. We enforce Ellis Island-style regulations on them: no deadly diseases, no felons, and they must prove they have a job or are willing to get one. No “fine” either; if they are stand-up people, they’ll sign on the dotted line, receive a Social Security number and become citizens of this great nation. Those who don’t line up to be counted will be exported to their land of origin. I know that many will not, because they can’t meet the guidelines, and will take years to weed them all out, but through attrition we eventually will. The first step towards implementing this solution is immediate closing of our borders so not even a mouse can squeak through without being counted, and employers who continue to hire those who are under the radar will not only have their businesses shut down, but will be fined and jailed along with their illegal workers. By the way, for those of you who think all illegal aliens should be lined up and kicked out of America, Google in “The Trail of Tears” on your computer, and then imagine that horrendous scenario multiplied by a million-fold. Not on my watch, pal.
Trade Imbalance and Looming Recession/Depression
What do you do about this one? When the Depression hit, Herbert Hoover’s solution was to sit back and allow the economy and market forces take their course and make the proper corrections. Sounded good on paper, and it still does, but in reality it was a miserable failure, opening the door for Roosevelt and his New Deal policies. Historians continue to argue the efficacies of the New Deal, and whether it had any impact on the Depression, and most agree that it was the steamrolling “Arsenal of Democracy,” and ensuing industrialization of America’s war effort that lifted us out of economic malaise. I agree with that latter interpretation of the facts, but also realize that the do-nothing attitude of Hoover is also not the way to go. So what should be done? In the carrot-and-stick world of politics, I’ve noticed that every time the subject of offshore companies or foreign trade comes up, the dominant argument is punishment for companies who locate offshore, or implementation of heavy tariffs on foreign goods; in other words, the stick approach. How about reversing the process and rewarding American companies for investing in America and American workers, maybe with substantial Federal tax breaks for new hires or new construction, and a serious reduction in Federal red tape; in other words, the carrot instead of the stick? If you want to see how this works right now, check out Delaware. Oh, and for those of you who want those high tariffs, Google in the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930. It increased tariffs on foreign goods entering the U. S., in an effort to protect U. S. industry and jobs, but what it actually accomplished was immediate retaliation from other countries, the first being our good friends the Canadians, who enacted retaliatory tariffs a month before Smoot-Hawley took effect. The trade war was on, the world-wide Depression worsened, and the planet careened toward global war. Hindsight may be 20-20, but somebody at that time should have seen this coming.
So here you have common-sense solutions to three of the most pressing issues facing the United States, but don’t look for these to come up on the radar of the major Presidential candidates; they require hard work and sacrifice on the part of most Americans, so it ain’t gonna happen.
But it’s nice to dream every once in a while, isn’t it?
Want to comment directly to Lenny? E-mail Lenny at lenny@acitizensvoice.com
Lenny Palmer can be heard on WLIP 1050AM, Mon-Fri: 8-11am
and WKRS 1220AM, Mon-Fri: 3-6pm
Did you know?
The "A Citizen's Voice" website has FREE online chat and forums, podcasts and more!
Advertisement
This blog is published by and reflects the personal views of Lenny Palmer and other guest contributors. It does not represent the views of WKRS 1220AM NEXT Media, WLIP 1050AM NEXT Media, or WRLR 98.3FM RONDARADIO and is not sponsored or endorsed by these organizations, its clients or partners. The purpose of this site is to assist in dissemination and discussion of information about local, national and world issues from Lenny Palmer's perspective. The information contained in this site is provided only as general information for educational and entertainment purposes, and topics may or may not be updated subsequent to their initial posting. By using this site you understand and agree to this disclaimer.
Issue #1) Okay, I'm driving a 16 year old Mercedes that gets me 34 MPG at 80 MPH with the AC on. It's a fact, not B.S. I'm throwing you here, what more do you want from me, Lenny? The new Japanese cars boast of the kind of millage I get like it's something great. Pish-tosh!
Issue #2) Okay, so you create a new batch of shiny new citizens out of the criminals they are at present. What about the next batch, and don't kid yourself, there will be a next batch, it's inevitable. Two amnesties will inevitably turn into three once the liberals start crying over the plight of the downtrodden, and you know they will. If only three million of the present criminals made muster and were allowed to stay it still puts a strain on the already moribund Social
(In)Security System. A newly minted 59 year old citizen has much to praise you for if elected, Lenny. You mention attrition. This attrition could take forty or more years as long as the illegal has enough family here to cover him/her. You've said it yourself; an illegal alien is just that. Illegal. The American justice system is now expected to turn an illegal act into a reward. Much like excusing a bank robber since he only committed the robbery to gain a better life for himself and his family? (Now where did I put that ski mask, this could be a good thing.)
Issue #3) Now you've got it! States do what you propose, as do cities. Pleasant Prairie as a good example, something you ran a daily show on not too long back. Maybe instead of a couple of hundred new regulatory restrictions on doing business in this country every year, Congress could figure out how to caress the companies into staying here. Big business isn't evil of itself the way the Hippies taught us. Big business is still what produces jobs, and income, and security for the American way of life,so long as someone prods it with a sharp stick once in a while just to make sure it's doing the proper thing.
(PS) Check over your shoulder, America, the Hippies won and are running the country. It's not the utopia they promised it would be.
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I admire your thoughts Lenny. Wicked one has good ideas also.
Energy: More mass transit, smaller vehicles, and higher taxes on gas to encourage the first two items.
Illegals: Sales tax of 20%, you receive 15% back at the end of the year if you can prove your here legally, if not, you paid your own way.
Trade imbalance: Require companies to buy 75% of their goods internally or face very high taxes. Trade should be encouraged but keep most of it local.
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Lenny, how does one prove, exactly, that these illegal immigrants are "willing to get one [a job]?" Do you take them at face value when they say, "Yes, I promees to get a job as soon as posseeble"? Call me crazy, but that doesn't exactly sound like an iron-clad guarantee to me.
You also wrote, "By the way, for those of you who think all illegal aliens should be lined up and kicked out of America, Google in “The Trail of Tears” on your computer, and then imagine that horrendous scenario multiplied by a million-fold. Not on my watch, pal."
So, Lenny, if you're not going to kick out and "through attrition...weed out" the illegal aliens, how do you plan to get the illegal aliens out of the country WITHOUT it looking somewhat similar to the "Trail of Tears?" No matter how you do it, the process will be viewed by many as a simple rounding up of an undesirable section of our current population by the majority of citizens of this great nation, and pushing them as far out of the mainstream as possible. If you were President, Lenny, I'd hate to see your approval rating while you ferret out these illegal aliens and send them packing back to their country of origin.
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Flag this messageThe Arabs SayMonday, July 14, 2008 8:38 PM
From: "Fr. James E. Fitzwater U.K.B."
So read it with a grain of salt as some of the data is questionable. It does
kind of 'hit the nail on the head'.
The best
definition of "Political Correctness":
"Political
Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a
delusional,
illogical minority, and rabidly promoted
by an
unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds
forth the
proposition that it is entirely possible
to pick up
a turd by the clean end."
2007 winning entry from an annual contest at Texas A&M
University.
______________________________________
MESSAGE:
An OPEC minister may look you in the eye and say, "We
are at war with you infidels and have been since the
embargo in the 1970's. You are so arrogant you
haven't even recognized it. You have more missiles,
bombs, and technology; so we are fighting with the best
weapon we have and extracting on a net basis about $700
billion/year out of your economy. We will destroy you!
Death to the infidels!
???
While I am here I would like to thank you for the
following:?
Not developing your 250-300 year supply of oil shale and
tar sands. we know if you did this, it would create
thousands of jobs for U.S. citizens, expand your
engineering capabilities, and keep the wealth in the U.S.
instead of sending it to us to finance our war against you
infidels.
Thanks for limiting Defense Department purchases of oil
sands from your neighbors to the north. We love it when you
confuse your allies.
Thanks for over regulating every segment of your economy
and thus delaying, by decades, the development of alternate
fuel technologies.
Thanks for limiting drilling off your coasts, in Alaska ,
and anywhere there is an insect, bird, fish, or plant that
might be inconvenienced. Better that your people suffer.
Glad to see our lobbying efforts have been so effective.
Corn based Ethanol. Praise Allah for this sham program!
Perhaps you will destroy yourself from the inside with
theses types of policies.
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