by Daniel Gardner

For decades we've heard politicians on both sides talk about changing Washington, reforming government, or reducing the size of government. So, why has the federal bureaucracy continued to grow? Has that growth benefitted America?

The only thing I appreciate about progressive-liberals is their honesty regarding solutions to problems facing America. They say government needs to fix our problems.

One of today's biggest problems is the need for more jobs.

Conservatives have always known businesses drive employment. When businesses flourish, they hire employees and pump more money into the economy.

Progressive-liberals depict successful business people as a kind of Silas Marner who huddled around his kitchen table late at night counting a hoard of gold coins he'd allegedly swindled from his patrons. Progressive-liberals decry profits as somehow being money taken away from the working poor.

Candidate Barack Obama told Joe the plumber he just wanted to spread the wealth around. You know Joe, you make a profit and the government wants to take a fair share of your profit to give to those who need money. You shouldn't be allowed to keep your profit just so you can grow your company and become filthy rich earning way too much money.

America has been the land of opportunity. For generations immigrants have streamed to this nation to have the opportunity to keep the money they made, and to make as much money and to become as successful as they could without authorities restricting them or robbing them.

Second and third generation families have built on successes and prospered.

On the other hand, too many second and third generations have become mired in living off government entitlements, believing the government owes them housing, food stamps, stimulus checks, welfare, healthcare, etc. They have become de facto dependent on government at all levels for their livelihoods.

This may sound too simple for some, but America needs more jobs today. Those who have become dependent on the government need jobs to provide for their families, to restore a sense of accomplishment, and to contribute to their communities.

Conservatives believe businesses can and will provide more jobs if Washington will stop sending mixed signals, stop oppressing businesses with paperwork, regulations, and higher taxes, and get out of the banking business. Let free enterprise restore the American economy.

John F. Kennedy famously said, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." We need to revive JFK's call today.

For decades we've watched government at local, state, and federal levels grow and encroach into our daily lives with impunity. Government cannot legislate or administrate a job recovery. Only businesses can do that.

We need a little less talk and a lot more action in weaning ourselves off our dependence on government. Government growth has stifled business, repressed our economy, and artificially increased unemployment.

After all these decades of political rhetoric promising to reform or change Washington, we need representatives who really will take big government out of our small businesses.

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