Some professions require continuing education to keep one’s license to practice. You wouldn’t want your medical provider, or the people who teach your children, to be stuck using methods that were common in the 1880s. Still, there’s much about the old ways that has value as we go forward. I believe that, as citizens of a (mostly) free country, we’d better keep learning if we value our freedom. Exam time is coming up, so your assignment is a research paper. You won’t be graded on it but what you learn in the process, and how you respond, may have a lasting effect on us all.
Our President proposes that the U.S. government should own, and supposedly “conserve”, 30 percent of the nation’s land by 2030. This would be in addition to land already owned by the government. The Feds already own more land than that of the Roman Empire; all of this by decree and executive orders rather than by citizen’s votes, or legislation by our representatives. More than 98 % of Alaska is federally owned; 87% of Nevada; 72% of Utah; 70% of Idaho; 60% of Oregon… do you see a pattern here? Furthermore, the President has expressed the goal of 50% by 2050, and 70/% by 2070. All but one of Nebraska’s counties have passed a resolution opposing 30×30. There is limited power in a resolution, but that may slow the spread.
We have at our disposal, via the internet, interesting tools for research. Look up Agenda 21. It concerns global plans to do away with private property. Not a new notion, but one that few people have paid attention to. Already, many of our National Monuments and parks are owned by the United Nations. If this seems too much to comprehend, just remember that the landlord decides where you get to drive a nail to hang your family pictures.
Closer to home, we are being asked to consider the Epic Consumption Tax which would do away with many of the taxes we complain about: among others, Nebraska’s property and inheritance taxes. Instead, we’d have one sales tax on all new goods, and most services. Cities would be allowed to reinstate a local sales tax. All taxes collected would go to the state, with funds to be parceled out as deemed necessary by the powers in Lincoln. Your local county and city officials would submit budgets to the state but it will be up to the state to choose what they wish to provide. What services will they choose to cover? It’s probable that many entities would be defunded. Researchers think that, for the proposal to be tax neutral, a rate of about 20% would be required. If used goods are exempted, are you going to buy a new tractor, car, or even clothing? What happens when the supply of used equipment is gone? If you live close to a state line, will you drive somewhere else to purchase these items? How would that affect your local economy? There’s a lot to consider here—get busy with research before making up your mind. Pay no attention to the ads, your neighbor’s opinion, campaign speeches, or what the media is saying. Weigh all the facts you can gather, on either side of an issue, before deciding. That goes for all of it, including school choice, climate change, crime, border security…
My friend told a funny story on her partner. We all laughed, including the person who had been embarrassed, who then admonished the storyteller with this. “You didn’t have to tell it all!” Be aware that your research sites will probably not tell it all, so examine your concerns from opposing viewpoints and decide what makes sense to you.
OpenSkyPolicy.org and epicoption.org. are a couple of resources. Take notes. There will be a test.