Can We Have A Redo?

Liars, Liars, Tongues on Fire

2009-04-29T16:40:00.000-04:00

People ask me whether I have had thoughts of throwing my hat into the arena of politics. I'd be lying if I said I had not, but after events unfolded over the weekend and this week, I know that I would never do well. Politics has become a career. Something that our Founding Fathers never intended. A political office was a position of honor, one which was to be respected. Being elected by your peers was the ultimate service one could perform, similar to serving in the military. It has become an abused authority that demands respect, regardless of who holds the office. Our American Idol electorate has denigrated the honor associated with being a public servant. It is no longer about honor and integrity, it is all about money, manipulation, and pork. I like to speak the truth, tell it like it is, and hold people accountable (including myself.) Why is it that our elected leaders can't do the same?

Nancy Pelosi claims that she does not recall being briefed on the techniques used to gain information from terrorist detainees (terrorist should read man-made disaster carry-outer.) Does she also not recall serving as a ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee? The same four-person committee that the CIA met with shortly after 9/11 to give a virtual tour of detention facilities and interrogation techniques, including waterboarding. The same meeting where at least two of the committee members asked if that was enough. The same time that some of her Democrat colleagues were worried that legal bullshit could corrupt counterterrorism efforts. Somebody is lying. Congress--note to self--don't let a San Franciscan, elitist moonbat exemplifying everything that is wrong with the Legislative Branch and should be held accountable for the deplorable approval numbers be in charge.

While on the subject of terrorism and 9/11, a 747 buzzed Manhattan the other day. I'm sure you have heard about it. One of the two planes used as Air Force One was on a 'glory tour' looking for a photo opportunity in front of the Statue of Liberty. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of New York citizens were shitting their pants and running for cover as the jet and F-16 escorts skirted the skyscrapers. Mayor Bloomberg was fuming and NY Senator Chuck Schumer said it bordered on being cruel and very stupid. In response, Robert Gibbs, the White House Press Secretary, hims and haws, finally saying to the reporters to contact the White House. YOU ARE THE WHITE HOUSE, DUMBASS! President Obama said that he found out about the stunt at the same time as the media outlets. First, let me say that I am not in the Secret Service and I do not proclaim to know their daily movements and activities, but are you going to tell me that one person is to blame for this? Louis Caldera, Director of the White House Military Office, is taking the fall for 'that one'. I am sure that it was Lou, acting on his own cognizance, that set the wheels in motion for the flyby. Somebody is lying. White House guys--note to self--Photoshop.

Five-term, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter officially declared himself a Democrat yesterday. Not that this news is all that surprising. His reasons for leaving included being at odds with the Republican Party, but principle was at the top of his list. I'm sorry sir, but you have no idea what principle means. Could the reason you are switching be related to the anger from your Republican base back in PA for helping pass the porkulous package? Did it have anything to do with the possibility of losing in your primary with Pat Toomey? Somebody is lying. Democrat Party--note to self--don't be surprised when you are as frustrated with him as the Republicans. Oh and could you please lure Snowe and Collins out of the closet as well?

Just kidding Senator.

Go Back to ESPN Keith

2009-04-24T11:15:00.001-04:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Just in case you have been totally avoiding the lame-stream media or living under a rock for the past week, the video above should illicit one of three reactions; jaw-dropping shock, blinding rage, or an overwhelming feeling to repent from your extreme right-wing beliefs.

It is not simply a misunderstanding as to what the tea parties of last week represented. It is the sheer magnitude of Garofalo's stupidity and the unbelievable fact that this moonbat is still relevant and allowed to spew her hate on television. This is a new low for MSNBC and for that matter General Electric, a point that was made clear during a shareholder's meeting for GE where microphones were shut off when irate stock holders voiced their frustrations about the left-leaning subsidiary.

Today, there is a poll out from the AP regarding PBHO's first 100 days. It states that more Americans believe that our country is heading in the right direction: 48% say we are on the right track, while 44% claim that we are on the wrong track. That looks like a major disparity to me and I would be interested to see the polling pool. How can the AP make the blanket statement that Americans are high on Obama and the direction of the United States? And what about the 8% that "aren't sure"? Are you kidding me? How can someone not be sure?

If one watches PMSNBC or DNCNN, they most assuredly love PBHO and what he is doing. Everything they report is rainbows and unicorns when it comes to Obama. On the other hand, one who watches FoxNews is more likely to see behind the curtain and understand that this imperial takeover by our federal government is profoundly un-American and will only lead to more citizens looking for hand-outs and increasing the Democrat voting base.

I am simply amazed at the disconnect between American citizens and our government. I am even more amazed at the lack of professional journalism. It is their duty to inform the public, yet they feel that it is more important to report on Bo, Michelle's fashion, or Barry's man-boobs.

At what point will Americans wake up and stop this march to socialism? I suppose that this is the cumulative effect of government-reliance instead of self-reliance, generations of coddling our youth instead of teaching that there are winners and losers, and the constant need to be entertained instead of self-reflection. So I say that the next time you are challenged by an uninformed American about why you are against this massive government takeover and out-of-control spending, fess up and tell them that it's because you hate black people.

Tea Parties are Anti-American?

2009-04-17T11:05:00.000-04:00

It seems that the lame-stream media is even further in the tank for the progressive movement than previously thought. After the tea-party protests on April 15th, the coverage from national media outlets was anything but neutral. From CNN Susan Roesgen's personal rant to MSNBC David Shuster's sexual references, the networks not going by the name of Fox News are so far entrenched in their liberal psychosis that they have no idea what Wednesday's protests were truly about. H/T to Neal Boortz and Sister Toldja.

What one were to witness had it honestly been reported on, was a peaceful gathering of average Americans. People that are unhappy with the heavy hand of government coming down the pike. The demographics were widely spread: White, Black, Brown, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and Independent. These events were not a protest against PBHO. They represented the collective interests of the majority of American's that have had enough with the spending, interference, and wishy-washiness of our federal government.

Now that I am being targeted as a right-wing extremist by the Thought Police, along with every other American that holds the views against expanding government, I won't hold back. Papa always said to stick to your guns. For the most part, our Congress is despicable. Not only have they elevated their postions to lifetime, fulltime status, something never intended by our Founders, they will also not admit any culpability in the mess we face. Their solution is to mortgage our futures and children's future in what John McCain termed generational theft. They feel that it is perfectly responsible to spend money we do not have, yet they won't address the significant issues of illegal immigrants, our unconstitutional tax code, social security, or domestic energy independence. They, along with our Administration, kow-tow to Socialist and Communist leaders, rename the War on Terror the Overseas Contingency Operation, give what is essentially welfare to close to 50% of Americans, give in to the global warming hysteria, take over private industries, implement spending for single-payer health care that we don't even have, and rename radical Islamic fascist terrorism "man-caused" disasters.

I believe what we witnessed this week was just the beginning. Additional protests are being set up for the 4th of July and the movement is getting noticed. Eventually, the media will have to provide coverage. Sooner or later they will not be able to cherry pick their interviewees. They are going to run up against someone that is articulate enough to get the true point of these protests across to the viewers (PICK ME! PICK ME!). It is amazing that these outlets can not pull their blinders off and wrap their pea brains around the issues, but they'll give moonbats like Cindy Sheehan tons of publicity and air time to bellow her grievances about the war in Iraq.

Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi continues to blame Bush and thinks the protests are being funded by the high end (class warfare) and calls it astroturf, rather than grass roots. She, along with other congressional Democrats have condemned the protests as anti-American or racist. Unfortunately, these people were elected into office by the dumbmasses in our country. What they don't understand is that we are demanding all elected officials to do the job that they solemnly swore to do, which was to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.

The Democrat's Shell Game

2009-03-18T12:15:00.001-04:00

Is it just me or has our entire nation gone bonkers? Our federal government has set up a bait and tackle shop, the lame-stream media is marketing the hell out of it, and citizens are biting hook, line, and sinker. This administration and congress are expanding governments hand in every aspect of our lives and playing us all like the sheep that we are. How mad are you that AIG paid bonuses to their executives? If you answered yes, why are you mad? Is it because you don't feel that any person should receive such a windfall? Are you angry that some of that money may be yours, in the form of taxpayer money? When you put your anger aside and wrap your brain around the situation, you may reconsider your position. You should redirect your anger at the very people responsible for this situation, and I'll give you a hint, it's not AIG.

It is true that AIG received approximately $180 billion (with a B) in TARP money and over the weekend they paid out $165 million (with a M) in bonuses to executives. That's less than one tenth of one percent paid out from what they received from taxpayer money and yet that's all the media and the administration can focus on. Both have chastised AIG and have worked every American into a tizzy regarding this matter. Is this really news? Is this the real story? Or are they hiding something; playing a shell game on all of us? Not to mention that AIG was obligated to pay these bonuses for contracts that they entered into prior to receiving any government money. If the bonuses weren't paid by March 15th, the people entitled to their money could have sued for twice the amount, plus attorney fees, based on the State of Connecticut's 'wage act'. H/T to Neal Boortz.

If you have read any of my previous posts or check in on any of the sites listed to the right, then you know that everyone should be skeptical about the motives of government officials. The politicians are currently distracting us with wealth-envy so that they can push their anti-capitalistic agenda and it is unfortunate that in order to get the real story, we have to search through multiple websites and blogs. The integrity of official journalism has been compromised, but that is a topic for a later time. What is not being reported in the lame-stream media is the mortgage-backed securities boondoggle, pork-laden omnibus bill, or the phony cap-and-trade policy. Instead, the administration is delighted that pitchforks and torches are being mounted against the private sector. A couple of weeks ago, I created a post that basically outlined the reasons that I believe caused the meltdown. To this point, government has not admitted any culpability in this mess.

Given that the Democrats control congress and the administration, don't hold your breath waiting for an apology or reform. So since the Dems do not want to lose face by confronting the real reasons behind the mess, they focus every one's attention on those greedy, heartless, capitalistic entities. Doing this, allows them to champion their cause of growing government control and increasing their constituency. They can parade countless capitalist executives through Congress, publicly humiliate them, and falsely show the American people that they are doing everything in their power to 'level' the playing field. I would love to be one of those executives on Capitol Hill. I would give the inquisitors a hearty F-you. It's none of our business what private companies spend on salaries, bonuses, private jets, or marketing events. The free-market system is self-correcting, as long as government doesn't prop up businesses meant to fail (emphasis added). But the reason guys like the Big 3 auto CEO's or AIG executives don't stand up to the incompetent panel of judges is that they have a vested interest in the legislation that is being passed. Do some digging and find out how much money these companies you see in the news everyday give to politicians. Take a closer look at the special interest groups and lobbyists that really pull the strings of Congress.

You see, the vast majority of America has been dumbed down. They could care less about the inner workings of Washington. They care more about octomom, Dancing with the Stars, and American Idol than worrying about the bureaucrats that are leading us down a path to prolonged recession, inflation, and useless spending. When we collectively ignore the ineptitude of the people we elect to office we can only blame ourselves when the inmates run the asylum.

An Open Letter to Congress

2009-03-12T11:30:00.001-04:00

I had the opportunity this week to view the video being circulated depicting an individual confronting Congressman Rangel of New York. Hat tip to HotAir.com. The video is embedded everywhere on conservative websites and has been reported on Fox News Channel. I am not sure if any of the lame-stream media has shown it. (I wonder why?) At any rate, the interviewer, Jason Mattera, approaches Rangel in the Capitol and begins asking questions. At first, Rangel puts on his plastic smile, shakes his hand, and politely engages Mattera. Mattera then asks Rangel about his issues on paying taxes, getting sweetheart deals on rental property he owns, and the Cadillac he drives paid for by taxpayers. Rangel's response: "Why don't you mind your goddamned business."

I have waffled on this over the past several weeks. I go between letting someone else deal with this, to organizing civil disobedience. What I have come up with is somewhere in between. The biggest thing you can take away from the video and what we are seeing in D.C. is the fact that these people work for us and they are not taking our best interests to heart. You should be outraged that these people are not being held accountable. Their actions are our goddamned business for as long as they hold office. They are playing with other people's money with no care or stewardship. We need to remind them that we pay their salary, we provide their livelihood, and that they need to reflect our voices. With that, I have prepared a template for anyone to print out and send to their Representatives and Senators.

(Representative/Senator),

I understand that times in Washington D.C. are very stressful for you and that the current state of affairs within this nation are troubling. I am witnessing the bickering, the behind-closed-door deals, and special interest input that you are experiencing and I felt the need to remind you of a few things.

The vast majority of citizens in this area that voted you into office do not pay income taxes. I therefore believe that since those individuals do not subsidize your livelihood, they have a lesser say in what legislation you back. People that do not pay Federal income taxes do not kick in any money to the salary that you receive to pay your mortgage, bills, or other spending. When you side with other politicians in passing legislation that further shifts the tax burden to the upper 55% of Americans, you are not listening to your employers. When you back constituents that do not pay Federal income taxes, it is akin to subverting a direct order from the executive team. It is the executives who sign the checks and until you realize this, you will continue to bite the hand that feeds you.

This is your opportunity to do what is right by your paying constituency. You need to stand up against any legislation that has any chance of increasing taxes on individuals and business, both in the present and in the future. We have had enough. You need to work with your counterparts in finding ways to decrease taxes on all Americans. Whether it involves making huge cuts in the bureaucracy, shifting our country to a consumption tax, or both, you need to promise us that you will do everything in your power to persuade others that government is not the answer to our problems.

We do not live in a Democracy. The United States is a Constitutional Republic. Our Founding Fathers created a document that outlined the role of government and the responsibilities and rights of the people. It is time that you and every other member of Congress refer back to our Constitution and make the necessary changes to put the power of this great nation into our hands once again.

Respectfully submitted,

(John Q. Public)

Please feel free to use the above letter. Copy and paste it into whatever format you wish. Make as many additions or omissions as you deem necessary to make the point that these individuals work for you and that you are fed up with the status quo. Nobody likes to pay taxes, but when the burden shifts beyond 50% of the population, we will see a massive decrease in production. When those that fall into the upper 50% realize that they are being punished for their hard work, they will figure that it is easier to lighten up. They will see that earning a certain amount will allow them to keep more of their money, through government rebates, and prevent them from achieving the higher threshold. This mentality is the backwards tract to Socialism and we need to do whatever we can to stifle this movement.

Who's down with OPP?

2009-03-06T12:00:00.001-05:00

I'm kicking it old school. My boy Treach and his posse Naughty by Nature had me bumping and grinding it out on the dance floor of high school dances in the early nineties. What was not to love about that song? It gave this cracker the authority to mess with girls, in a relationship or not, while the other boys played it cool by the punch bowl. For the hip-hop-challenged, that's Other People's Property. You know, even though it doesn't belong to you, go after it. In this case, it was the homies going after the ladies, but it doesn't matter the object of the pilfering. It is the act of taking something that belongs to someone else that poses a moral dilemma. And so it goes with our current administration.

When given the opportunity to spend another's money, why not go on an all out spree? If you are a frugal American, you are very aware of your own expenses. But if you were given a blank check to spend it on whatever you want and some of what you buy would benefit you personally, why not go hog wild? You don't care exactly where the money is coming from, you simply know that you were given a task...spend money. The POTUS BHO has become the nation's personal shopper, spending money we don't have on things we don't necessarily need. He is cramming legislation through that is a combination of spending and welfare. Americans should be furious.

This is our money, no matter how you look at it. Either through taxation or printing soon-to-be-worthless paper: THIS IS OUR MONEY. And to celebrate his victory in signing the stimulus, Obama held a bipartisan dinner where he served Wagyu steaks. For those that do not know what this is, it's the most expensive cut of beef in the world. The animals are tediously cared for and raised in immaculate conditions. You can do your own research on the history of Wagyu and Kobe beef, but the bottom line is that the steaks produced by the cows run around $150 per pound.

Obama's down with OPP. He and his liberal cohorts will chastise CEO's flying around in private jets, Republicans for not grabbing their ankles, and the rich for not wanting to pay higher taxes, but they can avoid their own taxes, accept sweetheart deals, and jet across the country or to Italy, all on our nickel. I am not sure whether citizens don't know or don't care. Either way, if someone or some group does not have the cojones to step up and put a stop to this, we are in danger of continuing the slide down into depression.

I heard the other day that if all income taxes were suspended for twelve months, it would equate to approximately one trillion dollars that the government wouldn't receive. Think about that. The dollar figure associated with performing this action approximately equates to the spending bill that was just passed. Who do you think would be better caretakers our money: The federal government or American citizens? Regardless of your answer, this is your money they are playing with. Wouldn't you want to make the decision as to what businesses survive and which ones fail? We decide where to spend our own money. If government continues to prop up failing businesses and pigeon-hole where dollars are spent, our money is wasted. Of course, the Democrats will never consider this option because their voting base, the bottom 30-40% of income earners already do not pay any sort of income tax.

Now when it comes to spending his own money, PBHO is a little more stingy. Whether or not you were aware, Prime Minister Gordon Brown made his first trip to the U.S. of A. since Obama's inauguration. As is traditionally done, the heads of each state present the other with a gift. The gifts symbolize the special meeting where the item typically represents their respective countries. Items have included artwork and antiques that are almost always put on display in the Capitol, the White House, or Presidential Libraries. The importance of the first meeting requires that a great deal of thought be put into the gifts and the significance of this gesture is profoundly historical.

PM Brown gave our POTUS a pen holder made from the timbers of the HMS Gannet (commissioned as an anti-slave ship), a framed portrait of the HMS Resolute, and a first edition seven-volume set of the Winston Churchill biography ("the greatest argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter"). On top of that, Brown brought gifts of clothes and children's books for the Obama girls. To reciprocate, our POTUS gave Brown a DVD collection of 25 classic American films (not even Blu-Ray) and die-cast models of Air Force One and Marine One for the Brown children. This equates to receiving a box of Allen Brothers Wagyu ribeyes and in return giving the Hickory Farms country sampler basket (MMMMMM..........Summer Sausage...........nom, nom, nom, nom).

So there you have it. Our President is definitely down with OPP, but when it comes to reaching into his own pocket, not so much. In my humble opinion that's wiggida, wiggida wack. You be the judge.

The Church of Environmentalism

2009-03-04T16:05:00.001-05:00

Doom and gloom. Every day and in every way we are bombarded with special reports and 'this just ins'. The news and information that we receive is filtered and spun on a daily basis to reflect the point of view that the people behind the curtain want to convey. The agenda is to incite panic or steer us in a certain direction that benefits their cause. They rely on the masses of uninformed subjects to puke out their targeted propaganda and indoctrinate additional sheep. The sad thing is, we take it. We drink the Victory Gin they keep feeding us until we froth at the mouth from spewing the misinformation they cram into our minds. Having researched and philosophically pondered this daunting revelation, I have come to the conclusion that fundamentalism, specifically religious fundamentalism, is the root cause of the majority of things wrong in this world.

You tend to think that people in high positions, especially politicians, are in charge. That thought couldn't be further from the truth. Think about how those people got into that position. From the top position in our federal government to your town councilman or school board member, someone or some group has put them there. The person in the position is more or less a figurehead. They possess a certain characteristic that appeals to the masses. Whether its comeliness, charisma, intelligence, or a golden tongue, that characteristic is recognized by the agenda-pushers and exploited to there benefit. They are pawns, being used to push ideals.

Thinking in these terms, you can quickly realize that this can be applied to all aspects of our daily life, not just politics. Fundamentalism surrounds us and religion is at its core. Of course, everyone is aware of the obvious religious zealots that push their agendas, but what about the less obvious? Would you consider environmentalism to be a religion? If you do not, how can you explain the impact it has had on political policy? I would argue that Environmentalism may now be the world's largest religion, with more clout than any god-based religion out there.

The problem with Environmentalism as a religion is that it has lost its foundation in science. Just as Christian fundamentalists preach against sin and warn of fire and brimstone and Islamic fundamentalists preach for peace yet seek to eliminate infidels, Environmental fundamentalists chastise the average person for their practices and announce the end of the world because of those actions. Environmentalism can no longer be separated from religion. The congregation is growing ever larger as more and more people are succumbing to the beliefs. And the scary part of all this is that the beliefs are becoming unshakable.

Take population overgrowth as an example. In the mid-sixties, it was purported that the population of the world would become so great by 2050 that the Earth would not be able to sustain the life. Mass starvation and global pandemics ruled the headlines. When it was later realized that, in fact, fertility rates were dropping, they had to change their tune. Based on the decline in fertility, worries had to shift. What will happen to us when the population can't sustain the world economy? Or who's going to be around to care for the aged population? It is beliefs like this, that are founded in false-science that damage our country. Just like the doomsdayers predict the end of the world on a certain date, only to change that date when the previous one passes without incident (I believe the new date is 12/21/2012).

Prior to Environmentalism, the anti-capitalists went by their more familiar labels; communists or socialists. The problem with those labels are the negative connotations that they imply. They bring up bad times in our history, nevertheless, we should call it what it is. These groups were unable to overcome the fierce and staunch capitalistic, free-market-enterprise that is the U. S. of A., so they have had to morph into something less fearful, although the motive is the same. Under this guise of saving our planet, the congregation has grown and they are launching an all out attack on free-enterprise. Dollar after dollar, money is being thrown at correcting problems that do not exist. Do some research on prior causes of fear perpetuated by Environmentalism: The ice age of the seventies, the ozone layer, DDT, West Nile, and killer bees to name a few. All of these hysterics were backed by false science in attempt to undermine capitalism. So it is in the chapel of global warming with the high priest and Internet inventor Owl Gore presiding.

I can't explain just how this fallacy has been perpetuated. I suppose that it made sense at the time. Temperatures were rising. Winters seemed more mild than previous ones. And for those that watch the nightly news, read the local rag, join environmental groups, or simply go to public school, you can't get away from the reports. It has been branded into our everyday thought. Even though thorough scientific research is debunking the myth and the tides are beginning to shift away from the man-made global warming hoax, the indoctrination has been frenzied and it is about to hit all of us where it hurts most; our wallets.

The costs to limit the amount of carbon emissions into our atmosphere are going to be great. This current administration is about to commit American citizen's money to wiping out American industry, based on false science. At what point will everyone realize that global warming, climate change, or whatever other whack-job cause is being promoted at the time will not produce the cataclysmic events that they predict. How presumptuous of these zealots to believe that our planet is doomed based on our actions. For however many billions of years, the Earth has been at the mercy of cosmic debris, gamma rays, solar flares, meteors, and magnetic interference. It has withstood ice ages, earthquakes, volcanic eruption, flooding, and fire, yet these nutjobs preach that humans, who have only been industrialized for the past two hundred years are going to cause it to implode? Give me a break. Conservation is admirable, but Environmentalism (notice the capital E) has become too big for its own good. These hysterics come and go. They attempt to tug at your heartstrings so that you commit yourself to their cause.

I say all of this as a warning: Take all of the information you hear from talking heads with a grain of salt. As a matter of fact, you will be better off believing only half of what you see and nothing that you hear. You need to prevent other people or groups from thinking for you. Do all of the thinking for yourself. If you are presented with a topic of concern, research it from all angles, discuss it with friends and family. Don't let fundamentalists rule your life. Their agendas typically want you suffering or worse...dead.

You're being paid how much? For what?

2009-02-27T11:25:00.000-05:00

On the front page of my newspaper this morning was the headline "Hottest job in county: $27 an hour to clean LCCC fire damages." Although this is not entirely outrageous in and of itself, it should serve every taxpayer as a warning of things to come.

As unemployment rates rise in this country, it is great that short-term opportunities come along that will pay an unusually high wage. With the rates in Lorain County, Ohio approaching 10%, this specific opportunity created a massive buzz and clamoring for the relatively few positions available. Being that the cleaning project will be for a limited time, hundreds showed up at a temp agency in Elyria to fill the positions for 12 hour shifts for $27 an hour. There was no rioting or trampling involved, that's not the story here. The story is the wasteful spending and the perpetuation of it by President Obama.

The fire that damaged a large portion of Lorain County Community College was started by a mentally disturbed arson. No one was injured, but the campus sustained well over a million dollars in damages. The restoration company hired by the insurance company did not have enough manpower of their own, so they had to enlist the services of a temp agency. And being that the college is county controlled, any work done at the facility has to comply with the Davis-Bacon Act and pay all workers at the prevailing wage.

It just so happens that the prevailing wage for laborers in Lorain County is $27.24 per hour. Now don't get confused here. Most laborers in unions do not actually take home $27.24 per hour. They have to pay union dues and health insurance, making the take home rate probably somewhere around $19 per hour. But because the restoration contractor does not have enough of its own employees, the temps will be paid the full wage in order to comply with prevailing wage requirements. And I am positive that union bosses and business agents will be lurking around the campus attempting to extort money from these suddenly rich individuals.

The Davis-Bacon Act requires that any federally funded project or tax funded entities pay contractors prevailing wage. Given that the work done at the college involves fire damage restoration, do you think that the work warrants $27 per hour pay? General cleaning, like pushing brooms, sucking up water, pulling down drywall, scrubbing concrete block. Twenty-seven dollars an hour. Really? If times were really that tough and unemployment was really that high, don't you think that you could find the same amount of temp help for say...$10 per hour?

Now take this event and multiply it hundreds, if not thousands, of time over. Not the fire, but the prevailing wage and institution. The government spending bills signed into law over the past few weeks are going to perpetuate this type of activity. Our tax dollars have been committed for the next four or eight years to grossly overpay for services that could be more efficiently performed by the private sector.

One of the temp hopefuls, waiting to see if she could get in on the $27/hour assignment, commented that "(u)ntil the president does what he's supposed to do, this is what we have to look forward to." Isn't that just great? It's the President's job to make sure that everyone has a high paying job and that those evil rich people quit taking money away from us poor folks. Instead of beating the pavement and taking some responsibility for yourself, just wait for PBHO to get you your health insurance, put gas in your car, and get you a house. Let me know how that works out for you.

Thank you Governor Jindal. I'll take it from here.

2009-02-25T12:15:00.002-05:00

I would like to thank Governor Jindal for his enlightening comments.

(Shake hands with the Governor. Push him out of camera range.)

(Approach podium. Rest elbows on edge. Look directly into America's soul.)

Listen folks, I have no doubts about the brilliance of the American people. This country has proven time and time again that when we come together, great things happen. The key to this greatness is the free will of its citizens. When we are faced with a significant problem, we rise up and tackle the situation.

President Obama just gave an excellent speech on what his visions are for our country and I whole heartedly agree. What I do not agree with is the means to that glorious goal. President Obama is a great orator, but his speech lacked substance. Based on his first month in office, I can only assume that his vision includes providing tax credits (welfare), building infrastructure (non-sustaining jobs), focusing on green energy (inefficient and costly), making healthcare a right (bureaucracy and red-tape), holding executives accountable (more red-tape), drawing down troops (risk destabilizing the Middle East), reducing foreclosures (some folks should be renters), and many more. The bottom line to any 'CHANGE' that is proposed by his administration involves the growth of government and additional debt.

There are many items that the President addressed and I could go on and on for an hour just as he did, but let's focus on the big three that he outlined; energy, health care, and education. Our country has undergone a massive transformation over the previous century. The industrialization of the world, led by the United States, has created amazing innovation in the fields of technology and manufacturing. Private industry has always been the backbone of our economy, but in the wake of global competition, the private sector has had to make changes that our government has not. Rises in energy prices, labor costs, taxes, and the like have forced companies to outsource employees to other countries or, more drastically, move out of America. The insistence of our government to keep corporate tax rates as the second highest in the world and not allowing domestic exploration for fossil fuels has prevented job creation in America and exported cash to other countries, boosting their GDP's. I am not saying that we should not protect our nation's environment, but there are plenty of common sense things that every American can do without turning environmentalism into a religion. We need to responsibly utilize our own resources, until viable alternatives can be produced. Solar and wind are admirable alternatives, but they lack efficiency and have not completely harnessed the power that is required to fuel growth. There are numerous scientists in the private and public sector currently working on ways to make alternative energy efficient, and I am confident that an innovation is imminent. But until that time, we need to tap the resources under our feet and break the strangle hold that foreign resources have on us.

The United States is filled with the greatest centers for health care and specialty surgery in the world. Foreigners make there way to our shores just so they can pay for and have access to the best doctors, nurses, and other care-givers. Why in the world would we want to risk damaging that credibility by letting government control it? Socialized medicine does not work. We see this in countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and even Canada to our north. The issue our President was attempting to address is access to care. The rising costs in health care are twofold. Innovation has extended the lives of the average citizen, making the expense involved with care greater. We have also seen a massive increase in population, legally and illegally, making the demand for care greater. With changes in the business sector proposed earlier, health insurance will be more affordable for owners to provide to their employees. Couple this with limiting government interference, and the insurance industry will once again become a competitive marketplace, making it possible for everyone to receive affordable health care.

All of the reform I have been discussing with energy policy, bringing business and money back to our shores, and health care will not mean anything if we do not have a well-educated population to drive it. It is no secret that the education of our youth has steadily declined when compared with other industrialized nations. We need to be certain that all American children have the tools necessary to compete globally. The commitment to educate our young citizens begins at home. Our teachers and administrators are saddled enough with a lack of technology, large class sizes, poor school funding and rigorous standardized testing to notice if one individual falls through the cracks. Parents need to take responsibility for their children's education and the best way to get that ball rolling again is through incentives. On top of the child tax credits, we will offer additional credits for that child's performance and attendance in school, with an additional credit for high school graduation. It may sound unfortunate, but money seems to talk in this day and age, and if that's what it takes for parents to once again become vested in education, then we will make that investment and it will ultimately benefit this country.

I, like President Obama, have a great vision for the United States. But unlike him, the role of government in that vision is a small one. Individual accountability and personal responsibility are what our Founding Fathers dreamed for America. We can not let that dream lapse by creating an intrusive and overbearing bureaucracy. Let us go forward in these tough times and create opportunities for every citizen. Let's stop the bleeding of talent, money, and jobs from this country.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!

(Exit stage right.)

(Imagine whomever you wish to fill this role. I personally envisioned Mitt Romney.)

Thank You Freddie

2009-02-20T17:25:00.002-05:00

Aside from the oppressive and monstrous porkulus package signed this week, President Obama introduced his plan to deal with home foreclosures. He said that“in the end, all of us are paying a price for this home mortgage crisis, and all of us will pay an even steeper price if we allow this crisis to deepen.” Once again, PBHO uses fear-mongering to promote his liberal cause to further the growth of government to unprecedented levels. He will also not let a crisis go to waste. Unfortunately, there are only a few media outlets out there that are willing to report the truth behind why we are in this crisis to begin with.

There are two types of people in this world, when it comes to shelter: Homeowners and renters. In the past, a young couple would shack up with mom and dad or rent a small apartment while socking away some cash in the hopes of someday having enough to put down on a starter house. When the perfect house was found, the couple would walk into their neighborhood bank or mortgage company, plop down their 20%, and sign loan documents. From there, the couple would graduate into one, two, and three or more homes as their family grew. All the while having gained equity in their former home to have well over 20% for the next one. Then came pressure from our government and minority groups.

Banks were being challenged by our government through pressure from groups like the ACLU, NAACP, and the Rainbow Coalition to prove that they were not lending discriminantly. The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 basically transferred the role of mortgage lender to the government. Its tenet was that politicians knew better than the mortgage lenders who to make loans to. This act, signed under Jimmy Carter, didn't have much teeth. The purpose was to keep banking localized and enforce community lending. The real beginning to the meltdown came with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), under Bill Clinton.

The intent of the push was to increase the number of homeowners in America. Although this seems a noble cause, the results have been anything but. HUD began to harass banks, with the help of community organization groups like ACORN, to prove that their lending practices were fair to lower-income families. They pressured lenders to create and devise alternative methods to make loans to these type of people. In the name of 'fairness', essentially quotas were put into place to ensure that there was no racial bias.

This ridiculous notion that every American has a right to a home was perpetuated into Dubya's presidency as well. In his 2004 State of the Union address, he said that home ownership was at the highest levels ever. That, thanks in part to the loose lending standards forced down the throats of lending institutions and the backing from Fannie and Freddie (pseudo-government programs). Creative financing became the norm in the late-nineties into the millennium with terms like sub-prime, adjustable-rate, no-money-down, and flipping.

So yes, the mortgage meltdown we are now in comes as a direct result from mortgage-backed security trading, but government has yet to admit any culpability. Guys like Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, who had some control in both Fannie and Freddie want to go after the banks and limit there pay structure and bonuses rather than point the finger at themselves. And now, PBHO wants to let foreclosed homeowners off the hook.

As mentioned before, there are homeowners and then there are renters, and speaking from experience, even the renters can be horrible. But there is no way that I am going to let anyone benefit from doing something stupid. Why in the hell should the money extorted from me in the name of taxes go to help some dumbass stay in a house that they were never able to afford in the first place. And how on God's Green Earth can a bankruptcy judge reduce the principal value of the house next door to me, further reducing my house's value, in the name of fairness.

Earlier this week, CNBC's Rick Santelli let loose in a rant against PBHO's plan, rarely seen on the lame-stream media. I think that there will be much more of this type of revolt in the coming months. More and more people are feeling disenfranchised with the direction our country is heading and it's only a matter of time before enough is enough. I just hope that it's not too late.

Do NOT Lift the Fig Newton-John Leaf

2009-02-16T17:20:00.001-05:00

Does it annoy you when you see an old wrinkly man with a much younger, buxom beauty? The sugar-daddy portrait that you can't help but stare at and wonder "what in the hell is it to their relationship besides dollar signs". After reading a news headline from over the weekend, I will no longer give a passing glance.

At the beginning of this year, I began exercising on a regular basis again. As I am not one to participate in the annual 'promises meant to be broken' campaign, aka. New Year's Resolutions, it was more of a date of convenience, so it is more likely to stick. The point is that the exercising is performed on my terms and at my discretion. Most individuals are familiar with the stereotypical trainer. The one's that push their subjects to the brink of exhaustion and adhere to the cheesy slogans like "no pain, no gain" or "feel the burn". Although there is some truth to those idioms, taking them literally can only lead to major injury or worse...death. Just ask Mr. Mason. Oh wait, you can't...he's dead.

The case of 73 year old James Mason's death is a combination of personal trainer meets creepy buxom, as his wife, 41 year old Christine Newton-John allegedly killed him while working out in their Northeast Ohio pool. The creepy part is twofold: Christine not only changed her name to honor her idol Olivia Newton-John, she also changed her sex as she was formerly known as John Vallandingham.

Now if you can't get the image of a he/she dragging an elderly man, thirty years his/her senior, around a pool out of your head, you are lucky. I am stuck with an obvious transvestite, complete with leg warmers, head-band, and disco music, ala Xanadu sporting a crinkled grandpa in a papoose like below, branded in mine.

Oh yeah, BTW, the porkulus bill passed over the weekend due in part to our beloved Senator, Sherrod Brown's decisive 60th vote. My condolences go out to him and his family, but it is absolutely the wrong approach. We should be so proud.

A Brush with Immortality

2009-02-10T16:30:00.001-05:00

I was all set to publish a post yesterday about the stimulus package. Alas, it is now in the cyber recycling bin. It was super-tastic, and by far the greatest piece of inspiration to have ever graced OwlGore's internet. The post categorically outlined in great detail and depth the exact ways and means to solve the economic crisis. It beautifully conveyed the basic principles of free-market capitalism and the importance of keeping government small and unintrusive. It was so simple to understand, my eight year old could have immediately incorporated and sold a zillion widgets, so I know that dumbasses like Barney Marble-Mouth, Scary Reid, and Nancy Perpetually Surpriselosi could get it. But then I got word that the Senate voted in favor of the package, making all of my research, citations, and prose void.

Final voting takes place in the next two days in hopes that the bill will be on PBHO's desk by Monday, President's Day. You know that Congress will do whatever it takes to get this done by tomorrow, because there is no way they will give up their vacation next week. So now we can look forward to all of the wonderful things that this package will bring: Items like honeybee insurance, ending welfare reform, weatherizing low-income homes, digital TV coupons, and funding to groups like ACORN. You know, all of the things that anyone automatically thinks of when it comes to preventing a depression.

So thank you Senators Specter, Snowe, and Collins, for jumping ship, burying your hands into my pocket for the rest of my life, and ruining my opportunity to save the nation. Being in my mid-thirties, I know that I won't see a dime from Social Security, so why not go ahead and steal another 15% of my income so that I can't save anything and possibly become dependent on government later in life. Then take somewhere around 50% of my kids' income when they reach my age to pay for the debt we are about to incur. I expect this type of behavior from the wealth-envious, class warring, agenda-pushing Left. They stand proud with that giant 'D' next to their name. These three Senators (and I'm sure there are more) need to be exposed for the sniveling, kowtowing, out-of-touch RINO's that they are.

Don't pay attention to the man behind the curtain.

2009-02-06T14:25:00.001-05:00

In an op-ed column in yesterday's Washington Post, President Obama pleaded the readers for immediate action. He said that "(t)his plan is more than a prescription for short-term spending--it's a strategy for America's long-term growth". Apparently, without it's passage, we are doomed. Which begs the question; what is actually in this bill so important that we must swallow it whole?

As mentioned in a previous post, the bulk of the package is dedicated to government spending: Some short-term, shovel-ready pork, coupled with a slew of new long-term government programs. Another small percentage outlines tax cuts, mostly for the individuals that already pay no taxes (see: Welfare). A column in the Wall Street Journal says that less than 10% of the package can actually be considered stimulus. The rest is wasteful spending that will not provide long-term jobs and impart permanent spending that will grow government.

Taking advantage of a crisis, it is time for the Democrats to repay all of the organizations and lobbyists that helped to get them elected. What better way to reward these people than an all-encompassing bill, forged out of fear, and signed off on before anyone could properly digest the content. Fortunately, red flags were raised last week in the House and more and more citizens are paying attention (most likely due to his recent Cabinet appointments). Unfortunately for PBHO, citizens will not be so quick to rush into undebated passage of a bill as we did in October when we were frightened into the TARP package by W., along with his failed tax rebate stimulus from last spring.

This past fall, we were led to believe that things were so dire that any inaction would prove devastating. Now that a little time has passed, banks are still holding onto money, freezing the credit markets, making it more difficult to get a loan for business, housing, or automobiles. What part of this new package will change any of that?

Government spending will not lead us out of the economic troubles we are in. The job prospects included in it are anything but long term. The true way to stimulate the economy is to let the American people decide who survives and who fails. When government decides for us, they favor certain businesses based on how much they contribute to their Party or campaign. What if government actually put the recovery back into the hands of the people that control it: American citizens? Think of what it would be like to keep all of the money that you earn.

Most Americans are oblivious to what they actually earn because it has been ingrained into our heads that the government gets their money first. What if every working American were able to keep all that they earn? Not just the federal withholding and social security, but the employers portion as well. See, most Americans do not realize that their bosses also have to contribute to the government on their behalf. Aside from the 20-25% of income that comes from the average individual, business owners are required to pay the government matching contributions in the form of FICA, unemployment, and worker's compensation to the tune of 25-30% of that employees gross wage. What about the corporate tax rate? American corporations currently pay the second highest tax rate in the world. And people wonder why businesses are making the move overseas, taking the jobs with them. If the President and his Democrat-controlled Congress wanted to truly stimulate our economy, he would enact a tax holiday for everyone and every entity. Of course, they would not agree to that. It takes away their power. Another drawback to a tax holiday would be the number of people upset around April next year for not getting any money from the government in the form of a tax refund. They don't realize that the check they get from the U.S. Treasury every spring was their money to begin with.

I am fearful for the days to come, as Congress banters back and forth over the bill's content. This bloated bill should at least be split up to separate short-term spending and long-term so that we do not commit our futures and our children's futures to wasteful and unneeded government-run programs. Why is PBHO so intent on rushing everything through all at once? Why can't it be debated line by line? Why can't some government programs be put on the chopping block, as he promised during the campaign, to make up for some of the money? Inflation, fear-mongering, fascism, intrusive-government, and the creation of debt for generations to come, all for the sake of 'Change we can believe in'.

Put a cap on your @$$

2009-02-04T16:10:00.000-05:00

So President Obama has issued an edict from upon high. He has placed a cap on salaries for the most distressed financial institutions. That might sound great to the average wealth envy citizen, although I'm sure that they would think the $500k salary is still too excessive.

Let this soak in for a moment. Ordinarily, chief executives for this sector make $1 million on the low end of the spectrum. Couple that with bonuses and other incentives and the actual salary is closer to the tens of millions. They don't make that kind of money just because they look good in Armani. They are essentially responsible for hundreds of billions, if not trillions of dollars worth of transactions. Being able to manage this complex system of financing and uphold the institutions obligations can be worth the relatively low amount of compensation.

Tangent: People drive me nuts. Why has there always been an uproar about what people make? David Novak, CEO of Yum Brands, made close to $55 million last year. A big, fat who cares. Good for him. He oversees the huge conglomerate of KFC's, Pizza Hut's, Taco Bell's, and Long John Silver's worldwide. Think his job is easy? I think that the people who make a stink about income should focus their attention on professional athletes. Especially NBA players.

What kind of incentive is their for an institution that is distressed to lure an intelligent, capable, and qualified individual to turn things around? Being that we all own a stake in these banks now, because of the disgusting TARP fund, I would rather they spend some money on the front end in order to get everything moving in the right direction to profitability. What type of individual would accept that kind of compensation and subject themselves to the scrutiny of the Federal Government and the wealth-envy crowd? As if the government hasn't already caused enough of the problems to begin with. Fannie, Freddie, the Community Reinvestment Act, and Credit Default Swaps have one common characteristic; government intrusion.

Own up America. There are citizens out there that have no business stepping into a bank and applying for a mortgage. There is no such thing as the right to home ownership. The Declaration of Independence did not say that we have the unalienable right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, a tidy little two-story colonial, and healthcare (just wanted to throw that last one in there for a future topic). Everyone has the potential to own that colonial, but rather than scrimp and save, some just choose to lavish themselves with the true necessities of life. Items such as cell phones, bling, flashy cars, legal/illegal drugs, or Snuggies for the whole neighborhood.

Not that there is anything wrong with pursuing those dreams of flashing that new grill with the word 'PIMP' encrusted with diamonds on the front. Just don't blame anyone else for your lack of initiative, misguided priorities, or lack of discipline. Newsflash: Everything comes at a price and money does not grow on trees. In order to get money, you need to earn the money. Suckling at the teet of government will not provide a quality life. In his inaugural address, Ronald Reagan said that "(i)n this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. The less meddling they do over the next four years, the better off we will be. The problem is convincing everyone else.

One piece of good news--Tom Daschle withdrew his appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services yesterday. My last post must of shamed him into pulling the plug. So I guess this means that Tim Geithner will quit on Friday.

Free passes on the Left

2009-02-02T17:25:00.000-05:00

The Boss of all people is the latest 'progressive' to claim he made a mistake in haste and all is forgiven. The pro-worker icon signed an exclusive deal with Wal-Mart to promote his latest anthology, but now says that it was a mistake and that 'we' dropped the ball and did not properly vet the deal. What's the big deal? He went for the money, abandoned his working man principles, makes a public apology, and that's that. If he and the fellow E-streeters really wanted to, they could back out of the deal, give back the money, and go on with their lives. Don't hold your breath.

This seems to be a trend recently. Make an egregious mistake, apologize, and forgiveness ensues. Just ask Tom Daschle. It seems that the former Democrat leader of the Senate didn't realize that his limo service with driver and some consulting was considered income. That's okay though, because President Obama says that he feels Daschle will "absolutely" be confirmed in the upcoming weeks. There's also this little issue with receiving money for consulting with a health care group which has a vested interest in Daschle's universal healthcare plan. The former Senator received over $200 thousand in speaking fees from groups that would be involved in structuring a universal plan, once confirmed. It is a good thing that Daschle is only being appointed to the head the Department of Health and Human Services. Think of how ugly it would be if he was slated to head the IRS. Oh wait...the legislature already confirmed Timothy Geithner.

It makes perfect sense for our legislature to confirm a man that made a simple mistake on his taxes to be the head of the IRS. His error should make it easier for every American to suddenly become retarded when it comes time to report income. Just be sure that when asked, you only own up to what they have discovered. "Yeah, golly jeepers, I am so very sorry for forgetting that $20,000 I made in cash plowing snow for the last two years". Don't say anything about the $70,000 you made trading fur pelts for the three years prior to that. They'll never find out. Now owning up to the $20 grand may cause some uncomfortable moments, so to avoid this, run for any political position as a Democrat.

So why is it that when Republicans make 'mistakes', they are lambasted, if not outright banned from office, but Democrats get a free pass? I do not want to go into specifics regarding previous appointments, but it seems that the skeletons in the closets of this administration are of no consequence to the American people. I suppose that it is the blind faith in 'Hope' and 'Change' that turns the eye of the media and the public. Or maybe it was American Idol in Jacksonville. That new judge Kara is hot.

Pot calling the kettle...Oops, I'm not supposed to say that.

2009-01-30T10:20:00.000-05:00

So President Obama met with corporate big wigs yesterday and came out of the meeting saying how shameful and irresponsible their actions have been. He was specifically referring to the $18 billion in bonuses that were paid out over the last year. Two things: First off, it is no ones business what another individual receives as a bonus. Secondly, if the company was one of the bailoutees, who is to say that the person receiving the bonus was able to reduce the overall losses of the corporation. If I was to be asked to run a company facing stiff losses and was able to reduce those losses by a significant margin or even bring that company from the brink, why wouldn't I be able to receive an agreed upon bonus?

On a side note, the decrease in bonuses paid out by Wall St. is having a significant effect on New York's budget deficit. Who would have thought that the ultra-rich actually do contribute something worthwhile. Those evil rich people.

If our President wants to point fingers about shameless actions and irresponsibility, maybe he should begin within his own Party. This pork-ulus package that is being pushed is the ultimate in irresponsibility. How does contraception create stimulus? Wait, don't answer that. How does giving tax credits to illegal aliens create stimulus? When will infrastructure work such as bridge repair, wastewater treatment improvement, or power grid upgrades kick start our economy? The Democrats just don't get it.

As Rahm Emanuel said, "(y)ou never want a serious crisis to go to waste". The left is exploiting this situation to pull a fast one on the American public. They are attempting to stealth this pork-laden package through before anyone can really take notice. The hidden agenda of the Bill is to grow government and create new dependency and entitlements.

Some good news; groups such as The Heritage Foundation and Congressman like John Boehner have dissected and exposed the pork in the package and are spreading the word. The vote in the House that took place the other day was encouraging. No Republican voted for the package, and 11 Democrats crossed the aisle against it. This is not encouraging to our President. He was eager for bipartisan support. Now, if the package somehow makes it through, it will be Democrats that are on the hook for the outcome.

Stimulate how?

2009-01-28T14:50:00.000-05:00

As mentioned in the previous post, the stimulus package being proposed is the largest in American history. It will be attributed to over $1 trillion in deficit spending. House minority leader, John Boehner of Ohio, has released a list of 20 fast facts associated with the package to show the American people and our elected representatives in Congress that refuse to read the monolithic document, what the package involves. In case you do not want to read the twenty pull-out items that the Senator addresses, they include;

Potentially billions of dollars to a group accused of registering Mickey Mouse, all of the Dallas Cowboys, dead people, and non-existent people in order to get their candidate BHO into office. That would be ACORN.
$21 billion to resod the National Mall in D.C.
2.7% of the package is dedicated to small business tax relief.
$600 million for new government vehicles.
Funding for contraceptives.
$650 million for digital TV coupons.

I hope this is not just me, but I really don't see how spending our money in these areas will save our economy. It is just one more example of how special interests, lobbyists, and other corrupt groups have taken the control of Government out of our hands.

Stimulus or an increase in constituancy?

2009-01-28T12:10:00.000-05:00

A very important discussion is taking place today in D.C. The outcome of which will determine the amount of burden that we will be stricken with for generations to come. It is amazing to me that Americans do not fully understand the graveness of the situation. I suppose that the complacency stems from the 'me now' lifestyle that has enveloped the attitudes of the American people over the past decade or so. It seems that the public is more concerned with the current addiction of some Hollywood starlet or who's going to be exposed tonight on ET, than the monumental growth of Government that will take place with the stroke of a pen. Not since FDR have we succumbed to the pressures of everyday life.

The New Deal grew Government to the point that it increased their role to almost 30% of GDP. Prior to this commitment of entitlements, Governments role was less than 5% of GDP. The current administration is proposing to grow Government even more. Various sources state that this list of entitlements, under the guise of stimulus, will increase the ratio to over 50% of GDP.

The bottom line in all of this, is that they've got it all wrong and we are just going to roll over and let it happen. The projects that are being called for are government subsidized. The money for this spending needs to come from somewhere. Does anyone no where? Two things will need to take place in order for the spending to begin. They will need to create the money by printing it, and they will need to increase taxes.

Printing money causes inflation, which means that the money we have in our pockets and in savings and investments will be worth even less than it does right now. It dilutes the supply in the market, making everything more expensive. The taxes that will need to be levied to pay for these pork barrel projects will also have an adverse reaction to our economy. Our chief executive has said that he will cut taxes on 95% of all Americans. Do you think that he will stick by this? He is already wafering. Besides that, less than 30% of the American people currently pay taxes at all. For sure, that number will increase to at least 50% when everything is said and done. This will surely add to the Democrat base.

So, when the number of taxpayers in this country becomes less than 50%, that piece of the pie is responsible for more of the tax burden. The people in this portion include middle income, high income, exceptionally high income earners, and business owners. Two things will potentially take place: The exceptionally high earners (Hollywood elite, athletes, executives, and so on) will be able to bypass some of the taxes due to their team of accountants. The business owners will freeze hiring, steer income away from net profit, or worse, move out of the country. This leaves the majority of the tax burden to shift to middle income and high income earners. How long will that last? If things go forward the way that our President and the Democrat-controlled Congress wishes, I fear that we will be stuck in this rut for a long time.

Freezing non-defense Government spending and cutting taxes will resolve all of the issues that we are facing. The Democrats will not allow that because their constituency may awaken and realize that they do not need the Government as much as once thought. They will also not allow it because it is a conventional thought of responsible Republicans. Passing this package is a win-win for Democrats. They have included some meaningless tax cuts in the bill, so if the spending does not work, they can blame it on the Republicans for their input. Time will tell, but if history is any indication, what happens today will be haunting us for the next fifty years or more. Similar to social security, medicare, medicaid, unemployment, and more.

Where to begin?

2009-01-27T17:22:00.002-05:00

Being that this is my first post, it would be presumptuous to believe that anyone will take notice. I do however feel that it is necessary to recognize what has been an awakening; similar to Neo's realization of the Matrix. The significance of this is of no great importance to the general public: I do not have the ability to save the nation or do that really cool slow-motion fighting thing. It represents an 'aha' moment that everyone should have at least once in their life. It does not matter what the subject of the moment was, only that the individual recognizes the significance of the discovery. Just to be clear, my most recent lightbulb above the head moment involved politics and will be discussed in further detail in a later post.

I realize that there are plenty of other political outlets on the web that hold views near my own, and I will continue to read their columns, blogs, and opinions. It is the information they present that churns the mind, leading to questions that spur additional creative thought. The bottom line is that all of the information that we are bombarded with from all sources needs to be properly vetted. It is the ill-informed and gossip-hounds that turn otherwise hapless news into hysteria.

You may ask, where is this leading? When acting on the compulsion to put my thoughts into writing, I was not sure what to put down. I began thinking of how I got to this point. The point where I became passionate enough to share my interpretations. It's not like I don't have anything else to do. I have a family, pets, career, and various other commitments. Why spend time writing about how I interpret different things or what I find humorous? I suppose that it has more to do with the vast ignorance that I witness on a daily basis. I want to make sure that I am getting it right and if anyone else can benefit from the information, it is all the better. Why not document the path that I am travelling on this journey to realization?

Not to sound too philosophical or existential, I do not want to give the wrong impression. The purpose of this site will be to convey my interpretation of different newsworthy events and expose the absurd. One's journey to realization involves defending personal beliefs with substantiated fact. Everyone is challenged at some point in their life. The response to that challenge defines your character. When debating the finer points of life I tend to prefer the written word, as I have a tendency to delve deeper into specific issues than is ordinarily necessary. I also stutter. Not the Porky Pig stutter, the my mind is cranking faster than my mouth can keep up stutter. At any rate, this endeavor will be a challenge.