Taxes

I usually think that voting based on one issue is narrow minded and dangerous because it allows so many other possibilities for mischief by those not in the spotlight. But I believe that in the upcoming election, it's necessary to take one large, power-limiting issue and use it to take Washington by the collar and shake it until the Jefferson Memorial rumbles.

Let me explain.America has been saddled with the two-party system almost since its inception, but the two parties put their differences aside in order to effectively exclude other parties. Nowhere is that more evident than right here in Georgia with their lock on ballot access.Today, we're slowly marching from freedom to socialism, with the Republicans leading the way.

The Democrats are marginalized by its kook fringe and obvious prevarications. With no significant agenda of its own (they'd admit to), the only ace is finger pointing via their moles in the mainstream media, which is why the vertebrate challenged Republicans obeisantly do the dirty work of dragging us all down the hill.The Republican Congress, and now the Bush administration, instead of working to fulfill the Contract with America which brought Republicans back into power in 1994, or even attempting something less substantial, have instead expanded the federal government to an extent that makes Clinton look like a Libertarian.

Speaking of Libertarians, their lackluster performance and Democrat-like policy of appeasement has not stood them well as America's largest third party. The Green Party is nothing more than repotted Marxism. So what's a voter to do, vote against whoever's the incumbent or not vote at all? Those are hit and miss at best, and whatever demonstration the voters attempt, it will have more effect the greater the numbers.So here's the pitch. It's a slow ball your grandmother could hit out of the park. What is one of government's greatest tools for manipulation of the people and for growing its dominion? Taxes, especially the income tax. If that were eliminated, not only would government intrusion into individual lives be greatly reduced, but it would make government taxing and spending that much more transparent and paying taxes much less traumatic.

There is a vibrant, energetic, trans-party movement out there which has a bill before Congress to eliminate the income tax and establish a consumption tax that's been honed and sharpened for many years. That bill, that plan, I'm sure you know by now, is the FairTax. Instead of voting against an incumbent, blindly voting a party ticket, or just sitting on your hands, put your blinders on and vote for the candidate who's for the FairTax and not for the ones who are against it or have remained uncommitted for years. Then, hold them to it, and make sure they don't get enchanted by that D.C. poppy field.Go to the fairtax.org Web site, then to the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section (if you still have any), and to the "Scorecards" section to view the endorsements as well as the stances of the people in Congress, pro, con or cop out.

This is the single largest step we can take to force our government into releasing its death grip on the power lever by removing its fulcrum.Just as there's "a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance," there's also a time to whisper, and a time to shout. Now is the time for shouting.Shout what, you ask? Take the lead from Howard Beale, fictional news anchor in the satire, "Network" who declared: "Things have got to change. But first, you've gotta get mad! So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it and stick your head out, and yell, 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!'"Shout it again by pulling that power lever of your own in the voting booth this November.

Mahlon Marr lives in Byron and can be reached at thepainefultruth@wmconnect.com