Department of Peace a waste

In my last column, I commented on the precarious nature of a growing government. One of the most asinine legislative proposals this year was House Resolution 2459, which calls for the creation of a new cabinet office -- the Department of Peace. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, introduced the bill July 11, 2001 -- exactly two months before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. \nThe bill has 43 cosponsors in the House, but the last time any hearing was held on it was Sept. 28, 2001. The new agency would, "hold peace as an organizing principle" and "promote justice and democratic principles to expand human rights." If created, the Peace Department would "develop policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, nonviolent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflict and structured mediation of conflict."\nThe proposal includes a "Peace Academy" in which students would enroll in a four-year plan to study "nonviolent conflict resolution." After the Peace Academy, students would serve in public service for five years. Instead of police officers safeguarding our towns and cities we may soon have "peace officers." I wonder if they'll have peace signs for badges and lead citizens in choruses of "Kum-ba-ya"? \nAll kidding aside, is this type of government program really necessary? Some of you are wondering, "Vince, why are you so mean, it seems like a harmless proposal." Too often, government has good intentions but horrible results. This proposal for a Department of Peace is no joke.\nThe proposal includes positions for a secretary of peace; an under secretary of peace; the assistant secretary for domestic peace activities; the assistant secretary for arms control and disarmament; the assistant secretary for international peace activities; the assistant secretary for technology for peace; the assistant secretary for peaceful coexistence and nonviolent conflict resolution; the assistant secretary for peace education and training; the assistant secretary for human and economic rights; and a general counsel.\nA program of these proportions will translate into millions of dollars each year being sucked out of the pockets of working Americans. Yet another important question is, "What will the Department of Peace accomplish that others area of government (including the Departments of Education and Defense) cannot?" The reality is that H.R. 2459 is void of any substantive role in government; it cross-lists the responsibilities of other governmental bodies. For example, promoting "justice" is the role of law enforcement and the judicial system, not a Department of Peace.\n Kucinich has the audacity to say, "Our founding fathers recognized that peace was one of the highest duties of the newly organized free and independent states." Our founding fathers would have never legislated peace because the defense and protection of our country is the only legitimate thing government can to do to maintain or attain peace. \n Kucinich is most likely using the "General Welfare" clause in Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution to justify the usefulness of his bill. But as Thomas Jefferson warned, "Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated." It is exactly the type of worthless legislation coming from leaders like Kucinich that has lead to an ever-growing government. I don't know about you, but I'd rather keep a few more bucks of my paycheck and say "no" to a Department of Peace.