New Year's Resolutions

As promised, today I'm sharing with you just a sampling of the many New Year's resolutions I received. I want to be clear that while I don't necessarily agree with all of these responses -- they are your views, not mine -- they are the kind of thoughtful, American solutions that you would expect from a movement whose goal is to win the future for America. So here we go.

1. Control Our Borders

Lots of readers want Washington to control our borders in 2007. Patrick in Yorba Linda, Calif., wrote, "I would like to see our leaders' resolution be one of protecting our borders, enforcing immigration laws, and doing it in a manner with an honest and open dialogue with the public. Perhaps that plan will involve an electronic visa system outsourced to American Express or MasterCard."

Cindy, another reader, was more succinct: "Build and enforce a fence between the U.S. and Mexico (can be physical or surveillance)."

2. Become Energy Self-Sufficient

Randy in Washington State wrote that energy independence would be "one of the best solutions to fighting terrorism, increasing U.S. employment, decreasing the national debt, and decreasing the foreign balance of power."

Paul in Boothbay, Maine, was equally ambitious: "We should adopt an energy policy/project to make America independent of foreign oil once and for all. This should be on a 'Manhattan Project' size and priority."

3. Simplify the Tax Code and Return to Fiscal Conservatism

Lots of you wrote in with your hope that Congress will adopt a flat tax or the Fair Tax in 2007. Paul in Charleston, S.C., put it best: "My 2007 wish is to eliminate our incredibly complicated tax code and replace it with a simple flat tax. I was looking over the new 2006, 1040 instruction booklet and thought to myself, how could we have ever gotten to this point? Just the worksheets alone are enough to make you give up. I don't care what the rate is, just make it apply to everyone. Every citizen has equal access to government services and is equally responsible for sharing in that cost."

Craig suggested a new "Contract with America" to return the nation to fiscal conservatism. He wrote, "We must do as much as possible to eliminate discretionary spending at the federal level -- as discretionary spending is really about local/regional politics almost without exception, it is best left to state and local governments, not any kind of national entity that in effect becomes a wealth redistribution tool that favors those with the most influence and power."

And Charles in Brighton, Mich., has this hope for the President in 2007: "I will remember where I left my veto pen when spending is out of line with common sense."

4. Find a Strategy for Victory in Iraq

Many of you wrote in that you are unhappy with lack of progress in the war in Iraq but want to see America prevail there. Gary, a retired military officer, put it this way: "How about a very simple resolution? Let's win in Iraq and Afghanistan instead of trying to find a way to lose."

And Dave, another reader, offered a four-point plan for victory: "Establish a clear cut direction in Iraq to include an exit strategy -- if only known to top officials. Go on the offensive against Iran's nuclear sites. Double efforts to capture bin Laden before elections. Release weekly stories of valor and patriotism to enhance public opinion of the war and to enhance recruitment efforts."

5. Change How Congress Does Business

Many, many readers wrote in with suggestions for how Congress can better represent their views in Washington.

Gilbert in Clearwater, Fla., wrote, "My New Year's resolutions: The Congress should outlaw earmarks, senatorial holds and all the other shenanigans."

Chuck, a veteran, wrote, that congressmen should, "represent [their] constituents first and foremost instead of [themselves]. Establish a 'Contract with America' every year so we know what the agenda is and can evaluate their performance individually and collectively. If they won't set goals, a plan to achieve those goals and a timeline, they will continue to fail the country."

Kathleen in Las Vegas offered Congress this advice: "Repeal of McCain/Feingold's horrendous attack on my 1st Amendment rights. Political speech and religious practices were supposed to be protected, not censored."

And Fred in Clifton, Colo., expressed these hopes: "That issues be debated on their merits, not the merits or demerits of the debaters. That national best interest always trumps personal or party best interest."

6. An Annual, Public Reading of the Constitution?

And finally, one of my personal favorites came from Bill, a retired Marine in Fredericksburg, Va. Bill wrote, "I'd like to see select members of the Executive Branch, all of the members of the joint houses of Congress, and the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States recite, or have read to them at a mass ceremony, the Constitution of the United States before they get 'down to business' in 2007. (I would also like to see that ceremony televised by C-SPAN.)"

What better way to ensure that this year and every year gets off to a good start in Washington then with a public reading of the Constitution? Throw in the Declaration of Independence as well, and we would have a simple, strong reminder to all our leaders of what is expected of them in Washington: To represent "We the People." To "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." And to remember that we are "endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights."

Now that's an agenda Washington could use. Here's to a happy, safe and prosperous 2007.

Your friend,

Newt Gingrich