The Next President Would Do Well To Take a National Inventory

[ThomWV]

This nation could stand a good inventory and then a realistic State of the Union message. We need firm ground on which to base the changes in policies that are essential to revitalizing our country and we really don't know what our starting point is. There is no way to know what resources are really available to us and what our debts really are. We are living beyond our means and beyond any reasonable credit that might be extended to us. We need to take hold of ourselves if we intend to have a future in the world of nations. The next President needs to commission a modern day Book of the Dead and then we and our Congress need to face the facts and act accordingly. No more of this governance by pie-in-the-sky estimates and forecasts. Lets try reality based Government.

Lets start with the good news. We have coal, we have oil, we have agricultural excess, we have timber, we have good roadways, we have a well educated populace, we have rail roads, we have shipping ports. We have great excess capacity in manufacturing and a willing workforce should that resource be utilized. We have much, we just need to know how much and then we need to start living within our means.

[aquart]

1. Yes, it would be nice to find out if we have any assets left.

[LakeSamish706]

2. First two things that our next President should do is a. End this war ASAP and...

b. Restore our constitution immediately.

[ThomWV]

3. And try the criminals who have been raping this nation for the last 7 years.

[sammythecat]

4. Wouldn't that be loverly.

These past 7 years have left me so cynical that I believe they'll get away with everything. But, My God, that would be a dream come true to see them exposed and receive the justice they so much deserve.

If this was late 18th century France lots of heads would be rolling. I'm against the death penalty but I believe I could make an exception in the case of these guys. They're absolutely despicable people and they've had there way with everything. They've done an enormous amount of damage and it's going to take a long time to repair. Probably another generation at least.

[DutchLiberal]

5. It's not cynical to think they get away with it. It's realistic.

[LakeSamish706]

6. I believe the reality is Obama is the only one that we have any hope of...

doing that very thing. I also believe that the Bush Administration is scared shitless that it may come to pass. And yes I agree with you, that ranks right up there on the list as well.

[tsdraegeth]

8. Horse hockey

Obama (TM) is no more likely to restore the Constitution or bring justice to the Cheney cabal than is John McCain or Hillary Clinton. Both Obama (TM) and Hillary have already proven themselves complicit through years of inaction and waste in the Senate. If they were too dirty to impeach/prosecute then, what makes you think they will clean up next year?

[Fumesucker]

7. "A well educated populace"

Would not have allowed Bush to assume the presidency twice in a row.

Sorry, but "well educated" is something our populace is anything but.

And I speak as someone who holds only a diploma from high school.

[Ishoutandscream2]

9. Sir or madam, I work with many people with all kinds of degrees

And you are much more intelligent.

[izquierdista]

10. Hold on a sec

Railroads? Quite a bit of track has been yanked up to make bicycle paths, automobile road, subdivisions, and shopping malls. Train stations have been decommissioned and turned into restaurants, trendy boutiques, or bed & breakfasts. Most of the trains that still run are diesel locomotives, because the U.S. never thought it necessary to convert to electric locomotives, which are twice as efficient as diesel.

Manufacturing capacity? When those jobs go to China, they don't leave the factory behind. There have been cases (especially with semiconductor fabs) where a crew of Chinese come in, take notes, carefully dismantle the factory, ship it to China and reassemble it from their notes.

After such a National Inventory, there will be a big shock at how far the U.S. has allowed itself to fall, all the while saying that outsourcing labor and importing finished goods was a great idea.

[brer cat]

11. Reality based government....

...living within our means. Sounds to me that you expect our elected officials to act like, well...representatives of the people, for the people. Can we have an election where we change out 90% of Congress to go along with our new administration. A new Congress not bought by and beholden to Corporate USA?

Truly an excellent post, Thom. Recommended.

:thumbsup:

[Ichingcarpenter]

12. The Gold at Fort Knox has not been inventoried since the 50s?

Also needed review of all Gold Reserves including 'deep storage'.