Conservatives talk Policy Priorities for 2010 Congressional Races

Recently I asked Facebook friends and Price of Business Show Fans what their policy priorities would be if they were running for Congress in 2010. There is no question about it, people are ready for meaningful change and many of their opinions are quite perceptive, in my opinion.

Steve Yeager of Arkansas said, "Quit spending money on anything except for national defense and economic recovery, period. No more pork barrel spending, I am sorry if your district does not get your small municipal airports re-paved, but the buck has got to stop here and now!" In my view, do not spend another penny on economic recovery, but instead create a tax and regulatory environment in which businesses can thrive. I certainly think that Steve has us heading in the right direction.

One popular "love to hate" theme among conservative activists is health care. Brandon Dupont of Louisiana said that we should "repeal health care, go after fraud In Medicare and Medicaid...drug test for welfare and food stamp recipients." I believe the "drug test" theme might become a populist theme among Americans who are disgusted by the lack of accountability when it comes to government spending. Of course, welfare should be left entirely to the states and the citizens thereof. That, too, will be a popular mantra in 2010.

Another big concern is the amount of money the government is taking from its citizens and the type of things being taxed. There is an old saying, "the more you tax something, the less you get of it." With that, why would one want to tax wealth and job creation? The US is about to have the highest tax rate of any industrialized country in the world and our job growth numbers continues to show weakness. In fact, the continuously stagnant economy of England has lower unemployment than the US. With that, Dee Dobson of Oklahoma calls for a "FAIR TAX! They take our freedoms through taxes!" Taxes also take our wealth and productivity. A Fair Tax would stop taxing wealth creation and instead tax consumption. This type of policy would go far in restoring our economic greatness.

One issue I often beat the drum on is corporate welfare. This form of fascism is destroying America's economic fabric and is waging a war on entrepreneurship. Dave Smith of Texas noted that "Corporate welfare: end it. No subsidies, no special treatment, no tax credits for specific behaviors -- just a simple, fair, efficient flat tax that is easily understandable and doesn't favor or restrict businesses." Those who do not favor a Fair tax, tend to support a flat tax of around 10 percent. Either one would have every person contributing to government spending and holding that government accountable in a manner we have not seen in generations.

One of the most important issues facing America is the restoration of constitutional government. Larry Sherman of Minnesota says we should "return to a republic." Today, democracy and republican government are largely treated as synonyms, but the Founding Fathers clearly understood that true freedom is preserved in rule by law that protected the minority and even the individual, rather than through any form of dictatorship, be it popular or by a few.

Finally, Herschel Evans of Georgia may have put it best when he said, "Freedom! Freedom to succeed, freedom to fail. It should be all about Freedom!"

2010 should be about restoring limited constitutional government and restoring the rights of individual. It is time to replace the fast track to mob role (which invariably leads to oligarchy) with one of rule by law.

Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is also host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN radio). Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.