“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more…” Henry V by William Shakespeare
Euphoria and Hope
There is no denying that the 2024 election results have brought expectations of profound change within the federal government. Protection of first and second amendment rights, elimination of law fare, controlled borders and re-establishment of a firm foreign policy are some of the anticipated focal points. Americans seem to be welcoming the return of that most American of emotions…Hope.
Reality and Overcoming Inertia
While hope may spring eternal, it must be
accompanied by planning and persistence. The resistance of the government behemoth towards any intrusions on its power and bloat will be fierce. The defensive machinations available to federal institutions are rooted in 1930s era New Deal legislation. The fact that these 100-year-old protections still exist is testament to Ronald Reagan’s observation: The closest thing to eternal life on earth is a Government Program
Two of the most egregious mechanisms are departmental budgeting rules (spend every last dime of the current year budget to justify next year’s increase) and civil service red tape (protect poor performers’ employment while affording them higher salaries than their private sector counterparts).
Despite best intentions, the new administration’s Dept. of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) will find reforming civil service rules to be a slow and frustrating exercise. DOGE may find that changes to budgeting rules will be more fruitful and within the president’s authority. Starving the departments of funding may achieve the desired payroll reductions (but with a substantial amount of hue and cry!).
The euphoria of hope must be tempered by the realization that this IS A FIGHT. There is no other way to view the current impasse. On one side are “We the People” and our duly elected representatives who have been given clear orders to reform federal bloat and overreach. The other side is composed of sponsors and beneficiaries of a corrupted system. The battle will be epic.
Bypass and Isolate
In military parlance “bypass and isolate” refers to maintaining the momentum of an offensive operation, without expending time and treasure, to defeat a well defended position. The German invasion of France and the American Island Hopping campaigns of World War 2 are famous examples of Bypass and Isolate. Since the goal is to maintain momentum without sacrificing capital, the concept has political appeal.
As noted earlier, DOGE has been proposed as a tool for finding and eliminating government inefficiencies. Starving executive agencies of funding affords the incoming administration the luxury of denying agency wish lists (Isolate) while avoiding lengthy spending battles with congress (Bypass).
Ideally agency budget requests will have to pass muster with the president. The executive office (or DOGE) can eliminate non-essential budget spending prior to submission to congress. The legislative bodies are then held to up or down votes on the submitted agency request.
To be sure, this IS NOT a permanent solution. Governments change and proposed restraints can be removed in a single election without systemic revision. This is a necessary delay tactic buying “We the People” time to mobilize and effect true, permanent solutions. It is an opportunity that must not be squandered. The ticking clock has just begun.
COS: Effecting Lasting Change to American Governance
Regaining permanent control over the federal behemoth will only be accomplished through an Article V convention of states. To paraphrase Ronald Reagan: Responsible governance is just one election away from extinction. But it does not have to be this way.
What if there was a way to prevent a permanent government class? What if we could forcibly restrain federal spending to a level below annual receipts? What if the government was prohibited from regulating or owning anything without permission from state legislatures?
Fortunately, Convention of States Action is engaged in implementing constitutional amendments to permanently curb federal excess. Through the enactment of term limits, fiscal restraints and states’ oversight of federal overreach, Convention of States Action is poised to accomplish permanent fixes to an unaccountable central government.
The time to return control of the United States of America to “We the People” is short. The election is over but the REAL fight remains. Will you step “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more?”
Please consider signing the COS petition and, if inclined, joining the COS cause through the links below. Your nation needs you and the window of opportunity may not be long!
