Dear Mark: What Now?

God and a bunch of union thugs are the only ones who know why we have Barack Obama for four more years. No amount of Monday morning quarterbacking can change that reality, so it's best that as conservatives we figure out a way to move forward. Ugh! Did I really just say "forward"?

In the spirit of working toward a bipartisan solution for the country's ills, and maybe even a way for President Obama to leave a positive legacy, I am offering up six steps the president and both parties in Congress can take to improve our country's situation.

1) Cut the spending — Not draconian cuts and not some sleight-of-hand slowing in the rate of growth. Let's try modest across-the-board cuts in all agencies and departments, no exceptions. Begin at 5 percent. Millions of families are sitting at kitchen tables across America tightening their belts, so why can't Washington? To paraphrase President Obama, it's time for federal agencies to pay their fair share.

2) Overhaul and simplify the tax code — Republicans and Democrats both acknowledge that the 75,000-page tax code is far too cumbersome and is fraught with loopholes, contradictions and provisions subject to the interpretations of an IRS agent who woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Not only is it complicated, but its pages easily hide political corruption and cronyism.

3) If we can't repeal Obamacare then seriously amend it — Business owners still don't know what to expect when Obamacare is fully implemented in 2014, which is only 14 months away. Health and Human Services still hasn't written all of the regulations. Friends of mine who own a few dry cleaners will be looking at $100,000 per year in Obamacare fines, since they can't afford to provide health insurance for their employees.

4) Open up drilling — Sorry, tree huggers, but alternate energy is not ready for primetime. Electric cars sound wonderful on paper, but today's versions would die a quick death in the Texas heat. Conservatives agree that we should continue to invest in alternate energy research. Notice I didn't say the government should invest in private companies, a la Solyndra. Until mass marketable sources of alternate energy are available, we should not destroy the economy by prematurely pulling the plug on fossil fuels. Besides, what will it hurt to drill in Alaska? The Mars rover Curiosity found more life on the "Red Planet" than it could ever find in ANWR.

5) Nominate Mitt Romney for secretary of business — During the latter stages of the campaign, President Obama discussed establishing a new Cabinet position called secretary of business. What better way to show a new spirit of bipartisanship than to nominate Mitt Romney, who has a proven business record and is a nice guy, to boot?

6) President Obama has to become actively involved in the process — America needs a leader who will bridge the gap between Republicans and Democrats, not widen it. He can start by meeting behind closed doors with John Boehner, Harry Reid and a few other party leaders. By the way, no cameras and no reporters until a solution is hammered out. Granted, Moses had an easier time convincing the Israelites, but that is what historic figures do.

This list does not hold all the answers, but I believe it's a healthy start — and once again, my advice is free of charge.

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