Pick an Agency, Any Agency: SSA

As fiscal conservatives continue to seek avenues through which to derail the federal gravy train, it helps from time to time to take a look at the mind-numbingly long list of federal departments and agencies that are on board. Of course, this list is hardly exhaustive – just one that is publicly available – but it can certainly give us some concrete ideas on how and where to cut the spending.

Today: The Social Security Administration (SSA) 

About: “The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time, lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly benefits started in January 1940. ”
FY 2010 Budget: $695 billion in benefits + $11.6 billion in administrative costs (Source)

That's right – Social Security. The gift that keeps on giving, if you consider higher taxation, retirement ages, and future entitlements to be a gift. Social Security is the elephant in the room in American politics: everyone knows it's an issue, but no one is willing to cut. Don't you care about the poor and the elderly? We can't just kick them out into the street! Anyone who proposes the end of Social Security must be a heartless monster!

Check out the Harlan Institute for Constitutional Studies

We've all heard of the Cato Institute and the Bill of Rights Institute, but there's a new institute on the block:  The Harlan Institute for Constitutional Studies! The Harlan Institute, officially founded in 2009, focuses on educating America's citizenry, particularly youth in high school, of the foundations and the influences on the United States Constitution throughout the years. 

The Institute was founded by Josh Blackman, a law-clerk for the Honorable Kim R. Gibson of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and Yaakov Roth, a former law-clerk for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. 

The Harlan Institute also runs FantasySCOTUS.net, a fantasy game (similar to Fantasy Football, for example) that revolves around the Supreme Court. Participants are given points for correctly predicted rulings, splits, Justice-specific votes, and essentially play as "the tenth Justice."  A new version, FantasySCOTUS.org, is currently in the works.

America's Future Is in Good Hands

A recent article written by Dr. Jason Ross of the Bill of Rights Institute outlines his reasons for believing that America's future is in good hands.  Our generation should be the generation to put this nation back on track...or at least, that's what I seem to get from Dr. Ross's article. It is truly inspiring and brings some more hope back to my heart. If we can't get a whole generation of liberty-minded individuals, perhaps we can get a generation of civic-minded individuals. After all, ignorance isn't bliss.

Dr. Ross and the Institute work hard to bring a developed understanding of the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the founding to students and teachers across the nation. The institute is a strategic partner of Young Americans for Liberty.

I never knew that...

Article II of the Constitution is very simple.  It defines nature of the United States presidency.   Even though the government has obviously long overreached its constitutional limits, I think you'll notice a problem with this American History Museum display which depicts the supposed powers of the god-king president (click on the image for a larger view):

I now know why my former associate during my Leadership Institute internship called the exhibit a "political correct nightmare."