There’s a great deal of anger on the part of voters about the direction Congress and this administration are taking and will be taking in the time left them before the elections of 2010 and 2012. Here are some possible ways to harness that outrage in a productive direction:
(a) consider state nullification
(b) think about a general strike
(c) organize tax refusals on large scale
(d) campaign against incumbents
(e) legislate term limits
(f) attempt recall of state representatives (in states where this process is both justified and permitted)
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Previously a lifelong Democrat, born in New York and living in New England, surrounded by liberals on all sides, I've found myself slowly but surely 
December 24th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Obama=Chavez.
Said it before, saying it again.
And we all know how much success the antiChavezistas have had with their non-violent resistance in Venezuela: ZIP. NADA. NONE.
We can expect to achieve the same.
December 24th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Tom: Obama is Chavez. But America isn’t Venezuela. Not yet. I am getting very tired of all the naysaying and pessimism, even though I understand it. We have not yet begun to fight.
December 24th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Another possible way to “harness the outrage” would be to support Cap and Trade for taxes and spending. This would eliminate the devious practice of shifting costs through unfunded mandates to state and local tax jurisdictions. As with term limits the concept would be to pick a reasonable % of private sector GDP (the only kind there really is) and limit the size of all levels of government. That would cap the public sector and let the politicians fight amongst themselves for how to best spend their limited resources. Preserve freedom, cap the growth of government.
December 24th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Nullification would be a good start. It would send a powerful message. Recall is also a good method.
The other tactics mentioned above are extremely hard to organize and don’t send a clear message.
As far as a tax strike, I would do it if I thought I could get away with it, but I don’t think I could. It would cost me a lot and would say nothing. Of course, campaigning against incumbents is always good. That’s what elections are for.
December 24th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I wonder what would happen, if all taxpayers file their own tax returns reporting all income as usual but include a new or additional form. This form would be a Schedule C showing business income or loss. However, the net would be a loss sufficently large enough to bring taxable income to ZERO! One might call his new company “Geitner Insolvency Group” Business Code 523900, He would show income of Zero but deduct as taxes all taxes he paid or had withheld for the year. Then he might deduct as a Bad Debt all Social Security taxes he had paid in since he started working as an other deduction. I as a tax professional would never suggest this tactic to amy of my clients , but I see how anyone who files their own tax return using the free e-file tax section off http://WWW.IRS.Gov might be tempted to do in that way. If one was so brave as try this they might also be smart enough to deposit those funds in a special account and have ready to access if feds storm in!>
December 24th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Great website, keep up the good work!
December 24th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Neo:
Yes, I am pessimistic. We take great comfort in being Americans, not Venezuelans, but I fear that is illusory.
Look at the options you’ve listed: about 70% of state governorships and legislatures are Democratic-controlled; so much for options (a),(d),(e), and (f).
Organize a tax revolt (option b) and the Feds will rapidly pursue the organizers with hammer-like force, possibly via RICO. A tax revolt simply cannot be tolerated by the taxers.
Leaves us with (c), a general strike; for that I have no doubt Baraq will declare a state of emergency and martial law, ordering a return to work.
I believe I’ve said before we need a Pinochet, and I repeat that now.
It is a long time to November. Never underestimate the power of our internal enemies, nor the passivity of the American people thanks to two generations of Gramscian work. We just ain’t what we once were.
December 24th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I’m keeping my chin up. The tougher the job of taking our country back the sweeter will be that victory….And I believe it will come sooner than we can dare imagine right now.
December 24th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
What has been most disconcerting about all of this is the Democrats’ utter disregard for the will of the people. The town hall meetings and tea parties may have delayed things and made them uncomfortable, but they just jammed it down our throat.
At this point I’d recommend giving money to conservative challengers who have a chance of defeating incumbent Democrats. Secondly we need some kind of investigative unit to go after the personal lives of top congressional and media liberals and organizations like ACORN. Glenn Beck has done quite well at this. What the National Enquirer did with John Edwards and Tiger Woods is instructive. The Democrats are gutter fighters. We must be equally aggressive. The RNC had better wake up.
December 24th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
How about a repeal of the 17th amendment? Remove the populism of the states’ house and bring some sanity back to the legislative process.
December 24th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Tom: But my guess is that after 2010 fewer states may be Democrat controlled, and more of those things may then become possible.
If a tax revolt is huge enough (and organized online with the leaders either hiding themselves in some way, or being willing to go to prison and take the rap) it could be effective.
I do not underestimate the strength of the opposition. But I think the American public is becoming less passive day by day. We will see.
December 24th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
alphageek: I was researching that a few days ago. I doubt very much, however, that it would catch on with enough people.
December 24th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Neo:
The longer they hold on, the stronger they become. I do not want to wait and see since we will be into 2011.
Actually, our national simile may be becoming Iran, if not Venezuela. Except that our young people are not on our side; and per the Iran model, it will take a generation for them to do so, with a good outcome in Iran still very, very much in doubt.
December 24th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
“We have not yet begun to fight.”
We have to harness the same spirit and unity that derailed Johnson’s Great Society Programs!
Oh, wait….
We’ve not yet begun to fight, nor will we ever. Hopefully, our chains of bondage will rest lightly on us.
December 24th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Can’t bear anymore politics for a while. It’s Christmas. The family and I are going out to walk “Las Posadas” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Posadas
‘cept we visit all the ‘inns’ in one evening, then hang around a bonfire and toast the season.
It’ll be the third time my three year old has gone, but probably the first time he’ll remember it. I’ve done it since I was a kid here in New Mexico. My village here has probably been doing it for 400 years….
December 24th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Oh, with a real donkey, too….
December 24th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Dear Santa,
Please get me b, c, and d and I’ll never ask you for anything ever again.
December 24th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
It is an interesting commentary on the times that this blog has long since taken on the character of an underground resistance. Considering we now effectively have a one party government that conducts business without regard for the public will led by a self-anointed elitist who, given the opportunity, favors leftist tyranny over democracy (see Honduras) the term fascist would seem to fit.
There is an Israeli saying that a paranoid may have real enemies. We can all be certain this Healthcare bill is a trial balloon for things to come if they are not stopped.
December 24th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
g) hanging from….no, can’t say it
h) forced exile
i) arrest an imprisonment
j) the stockade
k) throwing rotten tomatos at the capital every day all the time until they leave
l) putting a fence around DC and calling the whole place Quantanamo
December 24th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I know a lot of people are kind of joking around with their ideas, but I really would like to see a real discussion of real alternatives (short of tarring and feathering politicians or sticking their heads on pikes).
My support for nullification is a good idea, I believe. It would start the ball rolling toward a constitutional crisis. Other good ideas are from Mr. Frank, above at 5:00 pm.
We need some aggressive investigative units into the corruption of the Congress. This will cost a lot of money, and there should be some kind of fund that we can contribute to.
This year I didn’t give money to any of my usual charities. I usually give money to our local Jewish United Fund, but this year I sat on my check-writing hand for two reasons: (1) to punish Jews for supporting the Big Zero, and (2) to get charities used to tbe idea that their money is a product of the health of the economy. I used to contribute to various environmental funds, but they are all tainted right now.
So, if a good “Save our Republic” group–an ACLU-type organization that exists to PROTECT American liberties–I will have some extra funds to give to them.
December 25th, 2009 at 1:15 am
From a friend of mine. I happen to agree that this is a good plan. Let’s talk it up!
Congressional Reform Act of 2010
1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.
A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension:
A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately.
All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress looses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/2011.
The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators. Serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
December 25th, 2009 at 2:08 am
J.J. formerly Jimmy J.
Maybe a shorter way to specify this in your reform bill: Neither house of Congress shall exempt itself from any legislation it writes or passes.
Whatever they foist off on us citizens, Congress should share in. Taxes, health care, retirement, you-name it.
December 25th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Only the States can really reform Congress. No way it writes laws to reform itself. Besides, Congress does not follow the laws it writes as it is.
The States are as corrupt as Congress. They are now part of the Animal Farm formerly known as America.
My best recommendation is to pray the Rosary daily. The Lady at Fatima said to do it and that it would work for Russia. It took 60 years but she was right. I’m doing it and it can’t hurt and can only help – since the real rock-bottom problem is that collectively we have lost our faith, our spirits, our souls. This is why we produce the leaders we do. Our Congress and President – who are monsters – come from us. Therefore….
My last recommendation: Start being vocal in public, around friends and co-workers and in the public square about how much you oppose Obama. Half of this is that it is a “fashion”. We may be able to change the fashion by speaking directly and critically against it. people don’t want to think they are squares.
December 25th, 2009 at 9:11 am
One more thg: There is a Tea Party in Philly tomorrow and I’m going. My first time ever at any event political.
A crowd in public is always noticed. The longer and louder it hangs around the more it has a chance to be revolutionary. That is what revolutions are – crowds shouting in public until regimes change. Check out: Berlin Wall, Romania, Tiennamin, Iran, Georgia, etc.
Get out there and shout at the bastards – and make sure to let them know that that is exactly what they are – Bastards! We are wll past the time of being nice in any way at all.
December 26th, 2009 at 2:24 am
Madison, Washington, Jefferson, et al gave us a republic. Now it’s time to see if we can take it back.