Johnstown, Pa. — Thank God there are still a few common-sense public servants in the U.S. government. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates is one of them.

Citing mission redundancy, Gates recently announced plans to shutter the U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., and eliminate two large Department of Defense staff elements.

Congress was quick to cry foul, especially Virginia lawmakers who stand to lose more than 3,000 jobs in their state.

Unfortunately, Gates plans to retire in 2011. It’s too bad he won’t be around to teach some of his Cabinet colleagues a lesson or two about the new reality of government finance.

The days of unbridled spending are over. Gates gets it!

Federal budgets must be slashed and he wants to make the cuts on his terms.

Politicians feeding at the taxpayer-funded pork trough get it, too. They just haven’t admitted it yet.

Congress is like a compulsive spender with a stack of credit cards. Even though members know they’re going to file for bankruptcy in the morning, they still go out on the town for one last wild night in plastic paradise. Congress will ride the “Pork Barrel Express” to the end of the line.

Congressional fearmongers on both sides of the aisle tell American taxpayers the other party is out to get them: They’re going to raise taxes; they’re after your Social Security; they’re going to federalize your 401(k) plans; death panels are going to ration your medical care; they’re destroying the republic — and similar Chicken Little rants.

Thomas Jefferson said, “When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”

If Jefferson was correct, then we are living in one of the most tyrannical periods of U.S. history.

Fear is the preferred weapon of feckless politicians, desperately clinging to power. It’s used effectively by those on both sides of the aisle.

Isn’t it about time Congress started fearing voters for a change?

Lawmakers don’t care about you and me. If they did, they wouldn’t pass legislation the majority of the public opposes; they wouldn’t pass bills they know can’t be paid; they would read bills before signing them; they wouldn’t fund wars they claim to oppose; and they wouldn’t allow the Treasury Department to recklessly print U.S. currency with nothing to back it.

Unfortunately, too many Americans buy into the fear.

Like the scared politicians trying to cling to power, these citizens cling to an illusion the politicians have meticulously managed over the past 30 years. The illusion says you can have it all and never have to pay for it. Those who subscribe to it believe they have an inalienable right to high-paying jobs, free health care, free medications, free education, home ownership, cheap energy and cheap food on the table.

The list goes on ad nauseam.

As the late comedian George Carlin described this illusion, “It’s called the American dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.”

The illusion has finally reached a new crescendo in recent months. If things turn bad, the government will bail you out — bailouts for banks, mortgages, teachers’ unions and, in the near future, probably credit cards.

Free government rides create a life without work or risks — what a delightful prospect.

Pure illusion!

Here’s some breaking news: Medicare is broke. Medicaid is broke. The Social Security Trust Fund is in the red because Congress has been spending from the so-called “lock box.” The United States is broke. It is so bad that if the Department of Defense budget were reduced to $1 per year, our nation would still be bankrupt.

We the taxpayers will foot the bills to make things right.

Our elected officials on Capitol Hill must learn to manage budgets just as responsible citizens do. Every piece of legislation should have a price tag attached and a description of how it will be paid for.

A handful of Republicans in Congress have advocated this concept.

We also need to put a price tag on government policies for border control, import tariffs, education and many others.

“How much is it going cost?” should be the voters’ battle cry.



ZACHARY HUBBARD writes for The Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown, Pa. CNHI News Service distributes his column.