Abandoning Austerity a Mistake (Townhall.com) May 16, 2012

Voters in Greece and France have ousted leaders who pursued economic austerity, but why? Is it because the alternative—economic stimulus—has worked so well elsewhere? Or because they lack the patience and character to see through a program of spending cuts and debt reduction?

Ironically, two other European countries, Germany and Sweden, have pursued austerity successfully and gained stability and growth. The problem in countries like Greece and Spain—and, to some degree France—is that they started so deeply in a fiscal hole that their austerity measures were not enough.

Increasing government spending and debt has done very little for the U.S. economy short-term, and has kept a lid on long-term growth. It’s always easy to vote out leaders who administer tough medicine, but the world economy is likely to pay a high price.

To listen to the audio please click on the link:  townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/641292

Healthcare: The Constitutional Tipping Point (Townhall.com) April 10, 2012

President Obama and other liberal democrats seem shocked that the Supreme Court might actually strike down Obamacare as an unconstitutional exercise of federal power. They argue mightily, the president even publicly, that the Court would be out of line with precedent to do so.

But, in fact, the case represents what author Malcolm Gladwell would call a “tipping point.” Federal power has grown steadily until, as some justices asked, what limits would be left on Congress if this went forward?

In fact, there are two constitutional tipping points in this case: stretching the commerce clause to require individuals to buy insurance, and expanding the Congressional spending power so the federal government may control state medicare programs.

Here’s hoping the Court will pull us back from the constitutional brink, which is the role it should play.

To listen to the audio please click on the link:   http://townhall.com/talkradio/audioplayer/637526

Courts Overturn Prop. 8 (Townhall.com) February 9, 2012

The 9^th Circuit federal court has decided that California’s Proposition 8, which limited marriages to a man and a woman, is unconstitutional.  The 2-1 decision, authored by one of the Court’s most liberal judges, says there was no other purpose or effect other than lessening the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians.  The dissenting judge said there could have been a rational reason for it, based on procreation and parenting.

The case will surely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, though perhaps first to the full 9^th Circuit. No same sex marriages will be performed in the meantime.

So many questions are raised:  

• Should 2 federal judges substitute their judgment for the people’s vote?
• Should states or the federal government decide social questions?
• Will other states have to recognize California’s gay marriages?

 Only the Supreme Court can now say.

To listen to the audio please click on the link:  http://townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/634418

Federal-State Tug of War in the Supreme Court (Townhall.com) December 27, 2011

The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided it should review the 9^th Circuit Court’s decision that parts of Arizona’s immigration law are unconstitutional.  This is both right and hugely important. 

We are in the midst of a major tug of war between a growing federal government and the power of the states. And now, having decided to hear both the Constitutional challenge to Obamacare and the attack on Arizona’s immigration law, the Supreme Court is correctly weighing in on two of the biggest federal power grabs in recent years.

At issue in Arizona is whether federal immigration law preempts, in effect, any state action on the matter.  Arizona argues persuasively that its law complements federal law and is essential because the feds aren’t controlling the problem. 

Both healthcare and immigration are important politically, just months before the election. But they are more important for maintaining state powers under the 10^th amendment.

To hear the audio please click here:  http://townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/631941

Obama Turns to Class Warfare (Townhall.com) December 19, 2011

President Obama traveled to Kansas recently to tell Americans that inequality is “the defining issue of our time.”   So with a nod to “occupy” protestors, Obama played the class card, calling for tax increases on the wealthy to fund programs for the middle class. 

At one level, the President is framing the big issue of the election in his favor—that our economic problem is not government spending and deficits, but income inequality.  It may not be the defining issue of our time, but he’d like it to be for his reelection.

He’s also coming down on the wrong side of the long debate in America between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome.  As Alexis de Tocqueville observed in the 1800s, the French believe in equality and security whereas Americans believe in freedom. 

The President says the Republican economic approach is old school, but there’s nothing older or more inappropriate than Obama’s European style socialism and class warfare.

To hear the audio please click here:  http://townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/630301

Public Prayer Does Not “Establish Religion” (Townhall.com) November 28, 2011

For years, clergy have led prayers to open sessions of the U.S. Senate, the U.S.   House of Representatives and the Board of Commissioners in Forsyth County, North Carolina.  But according to a federal court, they can’t do that in Forsyth County anymore because it violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution’s First Amendment.

The winds of postmodernism and diversity are trying to blow God out of the public square.  Cases have challenged “under God” in the pledge of allegiance, “in God we trust” on our money, and now public prayer at county commissioner meetings. 

The point of the Establishment clause was to prevent the government from establishing state religions, not to remove God from the public square entirely.  Indeed, the Founders said that a free republic requires a virtuous people which, in turn, requires faith. 

The case has now been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where we should all hope they have a better sense of history and the Constitution.

To listen to the audio please click on the link:  http://townhall.com/talkradio/dailycommentary/629229