Tweaked

As per the Constitution, I have frequently stated that the only purposes for federal government spending are to maintain an army to protect the citizens from foreign enemies, to assist state and local authorities in combatting crime at home, to help protect citizens from fire and the damage from natural disasters, and to build and keep in good repair the infrastructure, most notably, the roads, bridges, railroads, and sea and air ports which facilitate the necessary movement of people and goods.  Naturally, government must also encourage the production of conventional power to operate the machinery of modern society.

I have always felt that every other government function should be administrated by state and local entities or eliminated as unnecessary to a population whose predecessors founded the nation on the principles of self-reliance and personal responsibility.

Recently, however, I have been prompted to add education to my list.  Some such money should be allocated with no bureaucratic mandates in exactly equal amounts to each student, and be distributed only by local school boards.

You may notice I make no reference to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and the proliferation of health insurance, all of which were ill-conceived at inception and should be phased out.  Likewise, we should eliminate much of welfare and other programs now known as "entitlements," and any and all distribution of funds which robs citizens of the will to provide for themselves, and encourages indolence and sloth.  True compassion lies solely with the family, the church and established charitable organizations.