Burlington High School
Burlington, Kansas
Teacher: Devra Parker
Some Suns Need To Set
By Lance Jones
12th Grade
Napoleon Bonaparte is famous for saying, "There are two levers for moving men — interest and fear." There are many aspects of life that a man can have interest in or have fear for. Although, while thinking of the American dream, two things come to mind — power and money. The best way to keep these desires in check is to put Sunset Legislation, first proposed by Thomas Jefferson, into practice for America.
First, people are engrossed by both authority and financial security, yet they are very scared to lose them as well. Corruptness comes from those desires when there is no motivation to gain them through ethical nature. To rid our government of fraudulent systems that are stealing taxpayers’ money, we must set in place rules that will force persons to keep their power and money through fair practices. When I think of fair practices in the United States’ government, impartial representation comes to mind. Government officials stay in power by keeping the taxpayers happy and representing their true identities. However, there is not much desire for federal agencies to keep civilians content. For example, if the Federal Bureau of Investigation screws up, then there is fallout with the people and the president of America, considering the president is in charge of all federal agencies. Therefore, agency officials are only kept in check by one person. What if all of America’s population threatened executive persons’ jobs?
Sunset Legislation would compel federal agencies, programs, and departments to actually work for the people. Following the bill being signed into law, after a certain amount of years (Jefferson proposed 19) an organization would go under review. The current bill being supported by Texas House of Representatives member Kevin Brady explains that after the expiration date of a program, a 12-member committee consisting of eight Congresspersons and four private citizens would review the program and explain to Congress whether it needs to be abolished, consolidated, or reauthorized with suggestions to improve. This would be a very motivational factor considering people’s jobs and money would be on the line.
On the other hand, this isn’t a perfect idea. Different times call for different measures. Federal programs are created during a time when it is needed. As years go on, the programs become obsolete. However, there might be an instance when their validity is revamped by a particular event. For instance, if a President creates an agency in order to deal specifically with alternative fuels, it would help the United States with their current crisis. Although, 30 years from now all of the alternative fuels might be in place and there will be no need for the agency anymore. Accordingly, the agency would be abolished due to Sunset Legislation. Then, more problems could arise with the alternative fuels 20 years later that we never could have seen before. Now, the Executive branch will have to totally re-create that program.
Furthermore, this might affect government officials’ decisions in making a department or program. Considering Sunset Legislation is active, a President might initiate a program even if he or she isn’t sure if the program should be in place. He or she might think, Well, in ten years from now, the program can be abolished if it doesn’t work. As anyone can see, Sunset might just promote a lack of integrity in officials’ decisions. Government jobs, powers, and duties need to be taken seriously.
After reviewing this information for myself, I believe the pros override the cons in this situation. I think Sunset Legislation will be very effective as long as we keep bright people in our government. If there is any suspicion that a government program might be needed ten years from its expiration date, the program should stay in place. Also, in today’s corrupt society, it is time to start voting for the virtuous candidate. If we have honorable executives then I don’t think we will have a problem with making poor decisions. Sure, some might not agree with a President’s take on things, but if he is fixed on an idea, like creating a program, based on his own beliefs of how it will help American, instead of his judgment being clouded by Sunset, then we can’t blame him.
Moreover, this should be a celebrated thing by the people since it is giving more power to them. The checks and balances system is one of the reasons why the U.S. government is so stable. This is just another check between the authority and the voter. As taxpayers we have much power. We can ensure management is representing us through fear and interest. Without these two levers, corruptness will leak into America and power and money will take over. Let the people rule the government! We must let sharp ideas like Sunset Legislation help make this nation prosper for years to come.
Answers To Questions Prompted By The Required Reading
Q1- What was the average life span in Jefferson’s age according to his letter?
- He explains that the average lifespan is 34 years plus the age of maturity for a man (21), which happens to be 55 years old.
Q2- Do some research and find out the size of the national debt you are about to inherit as taxpayers. Don’t forget the benefits promised in your name to the older generations under the guise of Social Security and Medicare.
- As of October 19, 2006 at 10:33 AM Central time the national debt is $8,547,343,588,591.83. My generation is not only left with that tremendous amount of money from older generations, but I am also paying the older generations money through taxes for their Social Security and Medicare. Furthermore, there will be no Social Security money for me when I reach the age of retirement. As one might say, I am getting the short-handed.
Q3-What do you think of Jefferson’s assertion that “…no generation can contract debts greater than may be paid during the course of it's own existence.”
- I think that it would be great if generations could accomplish that so that the generations to come would not have to live with the financial burden that would be given to them. However, when one lives in a power-seeking, materialistic country, like the United States, it is virtually impossible unless the government gives more financial trust in the people, for example, privatization of social security.
Is
it
feasible
to
undue
the
social
contracts
in
your
children
or
grandchildren’s
life
times?
Would
you
want
to
even
if
you
could?
Why
or
why
not.
-
It
is
very
feasible
to
undue
social
contracts
in
my
kids
or
grandkids.
As
Social
Security
is
right
now,
I
would
not
receive
any
money
from
that
program
due
to
government
spending
on
other
programs
and
the
fact
that
the
Baby
Boomer
generation
is
beginning
to
reach
retirement
age.
Therefore,
if
I’m
not
going
to
receive
benefits,
how
are
future
generations
going
to?
I
want
to
undue
the
social
contracts
to
myself
and
to
everyone
after
me
as
long
as
we
come
up
with
an
alternative
program.
If
the
government
gave
the
people
the
power
to
regulate
their
own
money
there
would
always
be
financial
benefits
for
individuals
once
they
reached
retirement
age;
unless,
the
individual
acted
irresponsibly
with
their
investment.
Q4- Do you agree, as Jefferson maintained, that “[debt] between society and society, or generation and generation, there is no municipal obligation, no umpire but the law of nature. We seem not to have perceived that, by the law of nature, one generation is to another as one independent nation to another.”
- I agree with his point of view. Even though there is no law concerning debts of one generation being paid by another, we still practice it, because we have not realized that one generation should not have to pay another’s debts. However, I think that is virtuous to pay off other’s debts so that we maintain our place in society for generations to come.
Q5-
In
view
of
Jefferson’s
words
that
follow,
why
do
you
think
a
sunset
provision
on
generational
debt
wasn’t
included
in
the
U.S.
Constitution?
“But with respect to future debts, would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare, in the constitution they are forming, that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself, can validly contract more debt than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19. years? And that all future contracts will be deemed void as to what shall remain unpaid at the end of 19. years from their date? This would put the lenders, and the borrowers also, on their guard.”
- I think that the Framers were more concerned with other issues of our future government. There were practically no government programs during that time compared to many today. They could not realize that benefits of a sunset provision because they had no reason to have it during that time.
Q6- What do you say to Jefferson’s assertion that “a law of limited duration is much more manageable than one which needs a repeal.” ?
- The statement is vastly accurate. To change or abolish something is much easier to do when the alteration is already penciled into the schedule at a specific time. Even if a program is useless, individuals might be benefiting from the program while the country is not. Therefore, the individuals that receive profit will fight for its cause even if it is not worth fighting for and is hurting the nation. The advantageous persons can most likely win against a legislative act to destroy a program just on principle that the change was not scheduled to happen.
Q7- “We have already given in example one effectual check to the Dog of war by transferring the power of letting him loose from the Executive to the Legislative body, from those who are to spend to those who are to pay.”
- I concur with Jefferson’s support that the Legislature should and does have the power to declare war instead of the Executive branch. War is very costly so it is logical to have Congress, the branch that decides how much money the government takes from citizens through taxes, decide whether or not the United States should go to war.
Q8- In light of the excerpt from his letter above, what do you think Thomas Jefferson would make of our nation’s recent history of fighting undeclared wars?
- Considering Jefferson’s administration launched acts of war during the Barbary Wars, I do not think he would disagree with the United States executing bombing campaigns or other acts of war on terrorist supporting nations. However, something as rigorous as an occupation would be too over the top for him.
Q9- Name ten of the twenty-six states that have enacted sunset legislation.
- Some of the states that currently have Sunset legislation include Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, and Texas.
Q10- What state abolished all state government? What do you think the voters got for their trouble?
- West Virginia tried to abolish all of its state government. However, the Governor quickly vetoed the bill and stopped it in its tracks.
Q11- What good do attempts at enacting Sunset legislation achieve even when the laws are not enacted?
- More people each day are becoming informed on the issue. As the number of informed people on Sunset legislation increases so will the number of supporters. If citizens and Congresspersons stick to this idea, it will eventually be put into law.