To Renew America: on Families & Children

Re-establish shame to enforce family values and behavior

It is shameful for radio stations to play songs that advocate mutilating and raping women. Government can't and shouldn't censor it, but decent advertisers could announce they will boycott any radio station that plays that kind of music. Within weeks these brutal, barbaric songs would be off the air.

Cultural signals are a powerful and legitimate means of enforcing proper behavior. Our culture should be sending over and over the message that young people should abstain from sexual intercourse until marriage, that work is a part of life, and that any male who does not take care of his children is a bum and deserves no respect.

Child tax credit favors family budget over federal budget

I always thought the issue was very simple. We believe that if you have children and earn money, you ought to have first claim on your money to care for your own children. Our liberal friends believe the bureaucrats deserve the money more than the parents.

The great surprise was that the income level at which the child tax credit would be cut off became a big issue. Originally, we had no limit. However, a number of members felt uncomfortable about giving the credit to the very wealthy, and we compromised at $200,000 in joint income. Frankly, setting any limit was probably an error. There is a class warfare mentality that infects the Washington press corps and sets the tone of much of the debate in Washington.