(NPR, All Things Considered) May 4, 2009 · President Obama sent a broadside Monday across the bow of those companies that now avoid taxes by keeping much of their business on the books of offshore subsidiaries. The practice is perfectly legal right now (1), but the White House wants that to change.
President Obama vowed Monday to "detect and pursue" American tax evaders(2) and go after their offshore tax shelters.
In announcing a series of steps aimed at overhauling the U.S. tax code, Obama complained that existing law makes it possible to "pay lower taxes if you create a job in Bangalore, India, than if you create one in Buffalo, N.Y."
The president said he wants to prevent U.S. companies from deferring tax payments by keeping profits in foreign countries rather than recording them at home, and called for more transparency in bank accounts that Americans hold in notorious tax havens like the Cayman Islands.
"If financial institutions won't cooperate with us, we will assume that they are sheltering money in tax havens and act accordingly," Obama said. (3)
The president, who hammered on this issue during his long campaign for the White House, said at a White House event that his plan would generate $210 billion in new taxes over 10 years and "make it easier" for companies to create jobs at home. (4) Over a decade, $210 billion would make a modest dent in a federal deficit expected to swell to $1.2 trillion in 2010.
He said the government also is hiring nearly 800 new IRS agents to enforce the U.S. tax code. (5)
Under the plan, companies would not be able to write off domestic expenses for generating profits abroad. The goal is to reduce the incentive for U.S. companies to base all or part of their operations in other countries. (6a)
"The plan will reduce the ability of U.S. companies to compete in foreign markets," said John Castellani, who heads the Business Roundtable, which represents some of the largest U.S. companies. "We believe it will not only reduce jobs, but it will also cripple economic growth here in the United States. It just couldn't have come at a worse time."
Gary Hufbauer, a senior fellow with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, says eliminating the deduction on U.S. expenses associated with foreign profits would encourage multinationals to move more of their essential functions abroad. (6b)
"Those are the good jobs at good pay that America should want," Hufbauer said. "I mean, do we want these headquarters' expenses to be incurred in Singapore or London?" (6c)
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the proposals would end "indefensible tax breaks and loopholes which allow some companies and some well-off citizens to evade the rules that the rest of America lives by." (7) Geithner called them "common-sense changes designed to restore balance to our tax code."
Once again I ask you - can you believe what you just read? I highlighted in the copy some key statements woven into this story. Here are my observations based on these key statements in the same order they appear in the story.
1. First and very important to note, while the administration may not like it, the practice they are complaining about is not illegal.
2. Even though it is not illegal, the President referred to the users of this “legal loophole” as “American tax evaders.” He also vowed to “detect and pursue” them. What does that mean? If it’s not illegal, does this mean the administration plans to bully, harass and attempt to publicly embarrass these companies? At a minimum it means that Obama’s full scale assault on capitalism and American business will continue. The administration seems to be intent on making the business community the bad guys for everything in the eyes of the public. Of course, the savior for the average citizen in “Obama World” is more government oversight and control.
3. Now for the scariest statement in the article "If financial institutions won't cooperate with us, we will assume that they are sheltering money in tax havens and act accordingly," - what does he mean by this? In America, there is a presumption of innocence until proven guilty. We don’t assume guilt and persecute. Plus let’s not forget that what these companies are doing is not illegal under the current rules. The financial institutes the President is referring to are in foreign countries so what is their incentive to cooperate with his administration? So without the cooperation of these foreign institutes the result will mostly likely be a smear campaign against these “evil corporations”.
4. The President goes on to assert that by closing these loopholes it will “make it easier" for companies to create jobs at home. What?? So paying higher taxes will stimulate job growth? What school of economics teaches this business theory? This quite possibly the dumbest thing I have heard from the administration so far.
5. We are also finally getting to see how the president is going to stimulate job growth. He is going to make government bigger by adding IRS agents to persecute real businesses. This will result in increased job loss in the private sector. Is it possible to have a prosperous economy with a giant government workforce? Who are you going to tax in that model? The last time this model was tried we referred to it as the Soviet Union and as I recall their economy collapsed.
6. (a, b,& c) In yet another stroke of business genius, the administration asserts that by eliminating certain write off and deductions it will reduce the incentive for U.S. companies to base all or part of their operations in other countries. However, conventional wisdom would indicate just the opposite is likely to occur. Rather than moving things back to the U.S., it is more likely that large multinational companies would move their headquarters offshore taking high paying executive and management positions with them.
7. Of course this brilliant strategy would not have been be complete without a comment on this “common sense” approach to fair taxes by everyone’s favorite “tax evader” Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner who is certainly an expert on “indefensible tax breaks and loopholes which allow ……some well-off citizens to evade the rules that the rest of America lives by." Apparently it is O.K. to be a “tax cheat” as long as you have a cabinet post but “make no mistake”, this won’t be tolerated in the private sector. The arrogance of this administration is at times overwhelming considering how little any of them seem to understand about how business works in the real world. Maybe they should all go get a job at a company that produces a product. Then they could learn what it takes to satisfy customers, to stay competitive, and make a profit so that the business can succeed.
So what is the solution - instead of creating more ways to tax businesses which drives jobs to other countries, let’s lower business taxes to stimulate job growth domestically. The U.S. has some of the highest business taxes in the industrialized world which is why jobs are leaving the country. The U.S. has been steadily climbing the world rankings for business taxes. We are currently ranked #1. Since 2000, Japan, Germany, France, Canada, Greece, Italy and Mexico have all lowered their business taxes to stimulate business growth, some by more than 10%. Since 1993 U.S. business tax rates have remained virtually flat. Currently, the effective federal business tax rate is 39.3% in the U.S. which is down from 39.4% in 2000. Japan is at 30% down from 40.9% in 2000. However most of Europe has rates between 25 and 35%. Of course, China arguably the world’s largest competitor is communist and they succeed in the global economy on the back of their people and the ability to play by their own rules.
This administration has capitalism and business squarely in it’s sights. America became the great nation it is by becoming the preeminent economic force in the world. Government jobs do not improve the economy or the GNP. The only way that America can remain a powerful and respected nation that can protect its’ people, its’ sovereignty and its’ way of life is to remain an economic powerhouse. The only way this happens is, we change our tax laws to make America more competitive, instead of forcing us to compete with one hand tied behind our back.
I have made the tough decisions, always with an eye toward the bottom line. Perhaps it's time America was run like a business. - Donald Trump
The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, the public debt should be reduced and the arrogance of public officials should be controlled. - Ross Perot
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything……………
This is the chorus from a country song that is so grounded in common sense that you wonder why more people don’t get it. I thought about the song as I was listening to a group of radio political pundits debate whether the Republican Party needed a makeover to re-establish its’ clout. Ironically, most of the debate was about style over substance and if the party should move more to the center or more to the right.
As I listened to their babbling I couldn’t help but think that political parties are supposed to represent an ideology that is based on a system of values. So if that is true – how much room do they really have to move before they begin to compromise their beliefs?
It seems that politics today is more about winning the election than it is about a commitment to principles and values. Ideally, candidates in a political contest would debate clearly articulated points of differentiation providing the voters a choice between approaches to problem solving and philosophies of governing.
However, the political strategists of the day seem content with and adept at blurring those lines. Combine that with a little help from the media and often you don’t know who you are really electing until the election is over and the candidate is in office. This by the way is not a shot at any single elected official but rather a comment on the sad state of our political system. Both parties are guilty!
Back to our pundits – they talked about strategies to recruit younger, better looking, more energetic candidates. They suggested a need for candidates who had a better TV presence and were more gifted speakers. One of the esteemed panel even went as far as to say that the content of the message doesn’t matter as much as how it is delivered.
I am not sure what horrifies me more; the fact that this might be true or that we have become a nation of media junkies. It seems we are no longer capable of telling the difference between a commercial and the program.
What I never heard discussed by the panel was the importance of leadership, experience, a record of performance and a well defined ideology by which the candidate would govern. Aren’t these the characteristics that you would want to understand about a candidate that you were considering voting for?
However, this is the real rub. The candidates aren’t the only ones that have to stand for something. As voters, our responsibilities are the same as the candidate’s. We need to invest enough time in the process that we have well thought out and defined positions on the issues. We also have a responsibility to understand, at least conceptually how the candidate will solve a problem or address an issue.
Unfortunately, far too many of us don’t make the time to study the issues instead we get our news in sound bites. We vote for what sounds “good” without ever knowing if it is good. In the end the only ones that can hold the candidates accountable are the voters. This accountability should start on the campaign trail not once they are in office. There should be no surprises once elected. If we understand the issues and set expectations of our elected officials we won’t have to worry about “falling for anything.”
So in the end the pundits got it all wrong! It is not about if the Republicans should move right, center or left. It is not about if they should be more moderate or more conservative. It is about both parties deciding what they stand for and sticking to it. Both parties need to use the election process to honestly sell their views and let the voters decide.
If you lose, you try again next time but you don’t sell out your principles to get in office and then rediscover them once elected. That is corrupt and corruption will destroy trust in the government. When the government loses the trust of the people the country will cease to be great.
One of the key problems today is that politics is such a disgrace; good people don't go into government. - Donald Trump
As I listened to their babbling I couldn’t help but think that political parties are supposed to represent an ideology that is based on a system of values. So if that is true – how much room do they really have to move before they begin to compromise their beliefs?
It seems that politics today is more about winning the election than it is about a commitment to principles and values. Ideally, candidates in a political contest would debate clearly articulated points of differentiation providing the voters a choice between approaches to problem solving and philosophies of governing.
However, the political strategists of the day seem content with and adept at blurring those lines. Combine that with a little help from the media and often you don’t know who you are really electing until the election is over and the candidate is in office. This by the way is not a shot at any single elected official but rather a comment on the sad state of our political system. Both parties are guilty!
Back to our pundits – they talked about strategies to recruit younger, better looking, more energetic candidates. They suggested a need for candidates who had a better TV presence and were more gifted speakers. One of the esteemed panel even went as far as to say that the content of the message doesn’t matter as much as how it is delivered.
I am not sure what horrifies me more; the fact that this might be true or that we have become a nation of media junkies. It seems we are no longer capable of telling the difference between a commercial and the program.
What I never heard discussed by the panel was the importance of leadership, experience, a record of performance and a well defined ideology by which the candidate would govern. Aren’t these the characteristics that you would want to understand about a candidate that you were considering voting for?
However, this is the real rub. The candidates aren’t the only ones that have to stand for something. As voters, our responsibilities are the same as the candidate’s. We need to invest enough time in the process that we have well thought out and defined positions on the issues. We also have a responsibility to understand, at least conceptually how the candidate will solve a problem or address an issue.
Unfortunately, far too many of us don’t make the time to study the issues instead we get our news in sound bites. We vote for what sounds “good” without ever knowing if it is good. In the end the only ones that can hold the candidates accountable are the voters. This accountability should start on the campaign trail not once they are in office. There should be no surprises once elected. If we understand the issues and set expectations of our elected officials we won’t have to worry about “falling for anything.”
So in the end the pundits got it all wrong! It is not about if the Republicans should move right, center or left. It is not about if they should be more moderate or more conservative. It is about both parties deciding what they stand for and sticking to it. Both parties need to use the election process to honestly sell their views and let the voters decide.
If you lose, you try again next time but you don’t sell out your principles to get in office and then rediscover them once elected. That is corrupt and corruption will destroy trust in the government. When the government loses the trust of the people the country will cease to be great.
One of the key problems today is that politics is such a disgrace; good people don't go into government. - Donald Trump
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Cars, part 2 - Now open for business…………..Obama Motorworks!
(The New York Times) WASHINGTON — President Obama forced Chrysler into federal bankruptcy protection on Thursday so it could pursue a lifesaving alliance with the Italian automaker Fiat, in yet another extraordinary intervention into private industry by the federal government.
Flanked by his automobile task force of cabinet secretaries and business advisers in the White House’s grand entrance way, Mr. Obama announced a plan that would allow the United Automobile Workers, through their retirement plan, to take control of Chrysler, with Fiat and the United States as junior partners. The government would lend about $8 billion more to the company, on top of the $4 billion it had already provided.
The arrangement came after an intensive round of White House-sponsored negotiations among the Treasury Department, the union and Chrysler’s executives and creditors. After working through the night, a small group of debt holders balked at Mr. Obama’s final terms, leading the president to decide that bankruptcy could not be averted.
It was a stark moment, and one unseen in modern times, as the fledgling president deepened his involvement in a struggling but iconic American company. Chrysler, which Mr. Obama called “a pillar” of the industrial economy, invented the minivan and owns the Jeep brand.
Bringing to bear his White House megaphone on Thursday, Mr. Obama laid out the terms of a deal that he said would save well over 35,000 jobs. And with a hint of anger, he railed against the holdout lenders, now effectively a hostile group of business partners, whom he called “speculators.”
“They were hoping that everybody else would make sacrifices, and they would have to make none,” Mr. Obama said of the creditors, among them several hedge funds and boutique investment funds. “I don’t stand with them.”
Stop and think about what you have just read! Let me break this down for you:
1. In the words of The New York Times “President Obama forced Chrysler into federal bankruptcy protection …… in yet another extraordinary intervention into private industry by the federal government.” The President is deciding that a private company must file for bankruptcy! This on the heels of firing the CEO of GM and retroactively taxing bonuses on Wall Street. What is wrong with this picture. This is NOT the role of the Federal government!
2. Mr. Obama announced a plan that would allow the United Automobile Workers, through their retirement plan, to take control of Chrysler. The President and his advisors have allowed the union to use their retirement fund to purchase controlling interest in Chrysler after forcing it into bankruptcy. This will allegedly save their jobs but what happens if Chrysler continues to flounder and destroys the value of the pension fund? Who gets to pay for that, the taxpayers? If the union is willing to make this investment are they willing to live with the consequences of failure? If you or I lost our jobs and decided to empty our 401k to start a business, nobody would bail us out if it was a bust.
3. After the Administration could not broker a deal with Chrysler’s creditors, the President lashed out at them for being “greedy”! Imagine the nerve of those guys expecting to get paid as much as possible for a bad debt. I mean they had the audacity to think that they actually deserved more than $0.30 or $0.40 on the dollar.
This of course, is just the beginning. Now they are making plans for GM and the path seems to be the same - forced bankruptcy and protection for the union. The airline unions must be pissed off. After all to save their jobs they had to take cuts and make concessions. That was before our new age of socialism and nationalization of businesses.
There are still more conditions of this bailout. And yes, it is still a bailout because the taxpayers are kicking in an additional $8 billion to make the “deal” work. The government as part of its' "special bailout conditions" will require Chrysler to produce “cleaner and greener” cars.
So where does this end? Or more appropriately, where will this go next? Later this week the government will release the results of their banking stress tests and tell us which banks will require “additional repairs”. Still looming on the horizon is the impending commercial real estate collapse and new legislation for regulation of credit cards.
What happened to good, old fashioned bankruptcy? You know where company officials, creditors and a judge go and work out a plan to either save or dissolve a failing business. It wasn't perfect but at least the government wasn't calling the shots and the taxpayers footing the bill.
For Americans who choose to pay attention there are red flags everywhere. We are allowing the government to take control of the economy, nationalize businesses and the banking system. If we don’t stand up and make our voices heard the result will ultimately be a shift from capitalism to socialism. Are you ready to trade the American Dream for Socialism? Think about it, time is running out.
"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." -- Patrick Henry
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Calling all Leaders, Statesmen and Patriots.................
"Come forward, then, and give us the aid of your talents and the weight of your character towards the new establishment of republicanism." --Thomas Jefferson to Robert Livingston, 1800.
Warning: Today’s blog is mostly based on my opinion, observations and perception of what I see going on in Washington, the government and the media. The things I see could cause me to lose faith and hope in our great country but I refuse to give in to those feelings. Instead, I am recommitting myself to spreading the word, partnering with others who also refuse to give in and making a passionate call to American citizens across our country to step forward. It is time to get involved and make a difference.
Webster offers a couple of variations on the definition of a “politician” but the one that seems most fitting these days is “one who seeks partisan or personal gain often by crafty or dishonest means.”
In recent years it seems we have had a difficult time attracting anyone other than “politicians” to take leadership roles in our government, real leaders want less and less to do with elected office. This is most likely due to the harsh light cast on those in public life. The level of personal scrutiny that an individual must endure to embark on the path to public service is enough to scare off most sane people.
Successful, intelligent and ethical individuals who have lived a “normal” life and made common mistakes shy away from throwing their hat in the ring. The personal sacrifices that they and their families must make are often too steep a price to pay for the privilege of serving ones’ country, state or community.
Ironically, character is often what is most lacking in today’s political leaders. Yet the very mistakes, trials and tribulations that become the subject of scrutiny are often the life changing experiences that build character and moral fiber.
And of course, there are the games, compromises and the abandonment of values that seems to be a requirement of “getting anything done.”
Today’s politicians have become largely a collection of “actors’ playing the part of leaders. They have self serving agendas that are equally split between their personal goals and repaying debts to those who supported their candidacy. Most are career politicians who have made a job out of “public service”.
How do we change this trend? How do we get real leaders and statesmen to get involved in government again? Let’s start electing real people with character, ethics, morals and flaws, who were forged in the real world under fire.
We need:
- principled men and women who are willing to represent the values of their constituents and do what’s best for their country, their state or community
- true leaders that will not mortgage our future for short term victories or sell their values to the highest bidder in exchange for support on an item they want
- leaders who have common sense, love their country and believe in the American dream
I’ll close the same way I opened with the wisdom of Thomas Jefferson:
“Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, rottenness begins in his conduct.” – Thomas Jefferson
"Public offices were not made for private convenience." -Thomas Jefferson
“I have the consolation of having added nothing to my private fortune during my public service, and of retiring with hands clean as they are empty.” – Thomas Jefferson
“We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” – Thomas Jefferson
Calling all Leaders, Statesmen and Patriots.................
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Cap and Trade or ….Bait and Switch?
What is cap and trade?
The Cap - It is a system that sets a limit or a cap on emissions generated by fossil fuel use. Companies will be given an emission limit based on either a formula or a historical profile. Over time the limit would be reduced to achieve a target that in theory would reduce the cumulative global output to 80% of 1990 actual output by 2050.
The Trade - Companies that perform below their allocated levels can bank the unused units and sell them to companies that exceed their allocated units.
Theoretically, the system would be adopted worldwide and the total global cap would be designed to reduce global warming. This sounds great right?
So are you ready for the rest of the story?
First, the implementation of this program will have a major impact on our economy and your wallet.
- The implementation of this type of program could result in an increase in electricity rates by as much as 60% in the next 10 years.
- It could add an additional $0.30 to $0.40 to the price of a gallon of gas.
Second, the various proposals all require quick implementation so there are no provisions for easing into them. Since, 85% of the energy used in the U.S. is a by product of fossil fuel moving quickly to alternative energy sources will be difficult. First the technology and required infrastructure must be built before it can be adopted. This will be an expensive change. Europe has been attempting to implement these measures since 1997 when many European nations signed the Kyoto Protocol which is an international treaty to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The time and cost to implement have exceeded original projections. The bottom line for American businesses is their costs will go up making them less competitive in the global economy.
Why would a global treaty unfairly penalize U.S. businesses? To start with, our government will hold our businesses to the standard through federal legislation. This would be fine if the rest of the world would play on the same field. However, this is not the case. Under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol developing and emerging third world nations are exempt from the guidelines. The theory is that the U.S., Europe and Japan were unencumbered by such restrictions during our early growth years so the only fair thing to do is give these developing nations a break in their formative years. As a result China and India are building new coal burning power plants at an alarming rate and by the way these plants are not utilizing clean coal technology. China is now the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide but they are completely exempt from Kyoto.
Meanwhile back at home in the U.S., the federal government has piled on the regulations and restrictions that continue to reduce America’s global competitiveness. The Congress and environmental groups have objections to almost every solution to America’s move toward energy independence which translates into a healthier economy.
Here is a list of potential solutions along with the associated objection:
Nuclear power: Cheap and surprisingly safe, despite the safety concerns the industry has had a long record of safe operations in the U.S. There are 439 nuclear power plants operating in 30 countries around the world, 104 in the U.S. This is one of the largest sources of power in Europe. It also has a smaller carbon footprint than other energy sources. Legitimately, nuclear power is the easiest to argue against due to storage, safety and potential target for terrorism.
Coal Powered Electric Generation: The largest source of power in the U.S. coal plants produce the highest level of carbon dioxide of the primary sources. While there is a lot of work on building clean coal technology debate rages over whether it is real and cost effective. Ironically, coal provides the most immediate solution to U.S. energy independence because we have some of the world’s largest reserves. However, if we are not allowed to use it here at home I am sure we will eventually sell our coal reserves off to China and India allowing them to use the cheaper fuel while we pay higher prices at home.
Oil, Off Shore Drilling: The U.S. also has large potential reserves of our shore line but environmentalists go crazy at the thought of off shore drilling. Again, modern technology has made this much safer and more cost effective. While it may not be the answer long term, increased domestic oil production could help bridge the gap short term while we ramp up alternative energy sources.
Ironically, even the green solutions raise the ire of environmentalists:
Solar Power: Solar technology has evolved to a point where base load solar power is now technically feasible. California has started exploring the possibility of constructing such plants in the Mohave Desert. While today it remains relatively expensive 4x the cost of coal powered electricity per kilowatt hour there is confidence in the engineering community that costs could be cut by as much as two thirds as the technology continues to be refined. The only known negative environmental impact is construction of the plants and the use of transmission lines to bring the power back to the population centers. The environmentalists have already started their campaigns to protect the desert and all the areas the transmission lines will be built on. Prompting a frustrated California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to say, “They say we want renewable energy but they say they don’t want us to put it anywhere. I don’t know if this is ironic or absurd. But, I mean, if we can’t put solar power plants in the Mohave Desert, I don’t know where the hell we can put them.”
Wind Power: While wind power is one of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly sources for power it still receives continuous attacks from environmental and citizens groups. The primary complaints from environmentalists focus on birds and bats with regard to migratory patterns. While citizen groups often complain about the aesthetics of the turbines themselves. Even Sen. Ted Kennedy, supposedly a supporter of all things green, complained about the Cape Wind Project near his summer home. Of course, wind turbines will also require those nasty transmission lines.
I think you are starting to get the point. Ironically, the U.S. Senate already voted 95-0 against participation in the Kyoto Treaty or any similar treaty.
Recognizing that there is not support in Congress to vote this type of legislation into law, on April 17th the Administration used its’ regulatory power through the EPA and announced that greenhouse gas emission were a threat to public health because they contribute to climate change. This sets the stage for the EPA to regulate emissions from a wide spectrum of sources including vehicles, power plants, manufacturing facilities, oil refineries and airplanes. Soon we will be chasing environmental standards that are unrealistic and hurt our ability to compete in the world. These standards will raise the cost of power, transportation and products for both citizens and most American businesses. This feeds into the larger cycle of government rules and regulations that reduce the profitability of our economy, put us at a disadvantage in the global market and slows economic recovery.
The only winners in this situation will be the multi-national businesses such as GE which spent an estimated $20 million on lobbying efforts on all things green. In addition to their huge footprint in wind and solar power, GE has announced the launch of a new subsidiary called Greenhouse Gas Services, which will facilitate the trading of carbon tax credits. GE and others are poised to cash in on this “crisis” while the rest of us are left to foot the bill.
A few more fun facts on the mythical climate change/global warming that is the driver of these efforts:
In the last 100 years the earth has warmed 0.74 degrees Celsius.
Both man and natural changes have both contributed to these changes.
Historically, weather patterns have changed in cyclical patterns.
In support of weather being cyclical here are a few blast from the past: In 1924 both the N.Y. Times and Time magazine wrote alarming articles about global cooling but by the mid 1930’s both were reporting that we were headed for a period of scary global warming. Then in the mid 70’s, during my high school years, both were back to reporting cooling trends and even a potential second ice age.
There is not conclusive evidence that all of the claims being made by the forces of Al Gore are accurate. In fact there is a large group within the scientific community that do not agree. However, media coverage of this opposing view is limited and most attempts at public debate on the issue gets no notice.
Nitrous oxide and methane which warms the planet at 296 times and 23 times the rate of carbon dioxide respectively is a natural emission of live stock so maybe we should all be vegans and eliminate the pesky livestock population all together. Wait PETA will never go for that.
Environmentally friendly (hybrid) cars seem like a good idea. However here is some perspective - it would take 3 billion Ford Expeditions driving 15,000 miles a year each to equal the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that will enter the atmosphere from China’s increased use of coal powered electricity by 2020. (side note: it would take Ford 15,000 years to sell that many Expeditions based on current sales stats)
Last but not least a few of quotes from leading environmentalist that should leave you wondering if climate change initiatives are about protecting the planet or social reengineering:
“To capture the public imagination, we have to offer up some scary scenarios, make simplified dramatic statements and little mention of any doubts one might have. Each of us has to decide the right balance between being effective and being honest.” - Stephen Schneider, 1989 Schneider was the lead author of the 2007 UN IPCC report. In 1970 he was also the author of one of the reports that lead to the global cooling scare.
From Paul Ehrlich, current president of the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University a series of predictions:
1969 - “I’ll take even money that England will not exist in the year 2000”
1970 - “In ten years all important animal life in the sea will be extinct. Large areas of coastline will have to be evacuated because of the stench of dead fish.”
1978 - “Giving society cheap, abundant energy would be the equivalent of giving an idiot child a machine gun.”
And the one that should frighten you the most……
“Climate change (provides) the greatest chance to bring about justice and equality in the world.”
“No matter if the science is all phony, there are still collateral environmental benefits” to global warming policies - Christine Stewart, former Canadian Environmental Minister
This brings us back to Cap & Trade and the Bait and Switch:
The Bait: We are in the midst of an environmental melt down and all good citizens of the world must work together to avert impending disaster. This seems logical and reasonable on the surface if the rules are fair.
The Switch: Turns out the rules are not fair. The U.S. government is not protecting America’s economy or the best interests of its’ citizens by not insisting on a level playing field.
In the end Cap & Trade will be just another undisclosed tax and financial burden on the citizens of the U.S. It is an international wealth shifting program that holds the U.S. to the highest standard while holding China arguably the other super power to none.
Write your representatives and tell them we are not interested in Cap & Trade or subsidizing the cost of switching to alternative energy systems on an artificial schedule. We will be good citizens of the world. Through American innovation we will continue to move toward cleaner energy and more thoughtful environmental policies but not at the expense of our own economic security. Scare tactics aside, we have time to both “fix” the problems and protect our economy.
(Some of the Fun Facts and Quotes courtesy of an Inconvenient Book by Glenn Beck)
The Cap - It is a system that sets a limit or a cap on emissions generated by fossil fuel use. Companies will be given an emission limit based on either a formula or a historical profile. Over time the limit would be reduced to achieve a target that in theory would reduce the cumulative global output to 80% of 1990 actual output by 2050.
The Trade - Companies that perform below their allocated levels can bank the unused units and sell them to companies that exceed their allocated units.
Theoretically, the system would be adopted worldwide and the total global cap would be designed to reduce global warming. This sounds great right?
So are you ready for the rest of the story?
First, the implementation of this program will have a major impact on our economy and your wallet.
- The implementation of this type of program could result in an increase in electricity rates by as much as 60% in the next 10 years.
- It could add an additional $0.30 to $0.40 to the price of a gallon of gas.
Second, the various proposals all require quick implementation so there are no provisions for easing into them. Since, 85% of the energy used in the U.S. is a by product of fossil fuel moving quickly to alternative energy sources will be difficult. First the technology and required infrastructure must be built before it can be adopted. This will be an expensive change. Europe has been attempting to implement these measures since 1997 when many European nations signed the Kyoto Protocol which is an international treaty to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The time and cost to implement have exceeded original projections. The bottom line for American businesses is their costs will go up making them less competitive in the global economy.
Why would a global treaty unfairly penalize U.S. businesses? To start with, our government will hold our businesses to the standard through federal legislation. This would be fine if the rest of the world would play on the same field. However, this is not the case. Under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol developing and emerging third world nations are exempt from the guidelines. The theory is that the U.S., Europe and Japan were unencumbered by such restrictions during our early growth years so the only fair thing to do is give these developing nations a break in their formative years. As a result China and India are building new coal burning power plants at an alarming rate and by the way these plants are not utilizing clean coal technology. China is now the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide but they are completely exempt from Kyoto.
Meanwhile back at home in the U.S., the federal government has piled on the regulations and restrictions that continue to reduce America’s global competitiveness. The Congress and environmental groups have objections to almost every solution to America’s move toward energy independence which translates into a healthier economy.
Here is a list of potential solutions along with the associated objection:
Nuclear power: Cheap and surprisingly safe, despite the safety concerns the industry has had a long record of safe operations in the U.S. There are 439 nuclear power plants operating in 30 countries around the world, 104 in the U.S. This is one of the largest sources of power in Europe. It also has a smaller carbon footprint than other energy sources. Legitimately, nuclear power is the easiest to argue against due to storage, safety and potential target for terrorism.
Coal Powered Electric Generation: The largest source of power in the U.S. coal plants produce the highest level of carbon dioxide of the primary sources. While there is a lot of work on building clean coal technology debate rages over whether it is real and cost effective. Ironically, coal provides the most immediate solution to U.S. energy independence because we have some of the world’s largest reserves. However, if we are not allowed to use it here at home I am sure we will eventually sell our coal reserves off to China and India allowing them to use the cheaper fuel while we pay higher prices at home.
Oil, Off Shore Drilling: The U.S. also has large potential reserves of our shore line but environmentalists go crazy at the thought of off shore drilling. Again, modern technology has made this much safer and more cost effective. While it may not be the answer long term, increased domestic oil production could help bridge the gap short term while we ramp up alternative energy sources.
Ironically, even the green solutions raise the ire of environmentalists:
Solar Power: Solar technology has evolved to a point where base load solar power is now technically feasible. California has started exploring the possibility of constructing such plants in the Mohave Desert. While today it remains relatively expensive 4x the cost of coal powered electricity per kilowatt hour there is confidence in the engineering community that costs could be cut by as much as two thirds as the technology continues to be refined. The only known negative environmental impact is construction of the plants and the use of transmission lines to bring the power back to the population centers. The environmentalists have already started their campaigns to protect the desert and all the areas the transmission lines will be built on. Prompting a frustrated California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to say, “They say we want renewable energy but they say they don’t want us to put it anywhere. I don’t know if this is ironic or absurd. But, I mean, if we can’t put solar power plants in the Mohave Desert, I don’t know where the hell we can put them.”
Wind Power: While wind power is one of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly sources for power it still receives continuous attacks from environmental and citizens groups. The primary complaints from environmentalists focus on birds and bats with regard to migratory patterns. While citizen groups often complain about the aesthetics of the turbines themselves. Even Sen. Ted Kennedy, supposedly a supporter of all things green, complained about the Cape Wind Project near his summer home. Of course, wind turbines will also require those nasty transmission lines.
I think you are starting to get the point. Ironically, the U.S. Senate already voted 95-0 against participation in the Kyoto Treaty or any similar treaty.
Recognizing that there is not support in Congress to vote this type of legislation into law, on April 17th the Administration used its’ regulatory power through the EPA and announced that greenhouse gas emission were a threat to public health because they contribute to climate change. This sets the stage for the EPA to regulate emissions from a wide spectrum of sources including vehicles, power plants, manufacturing facilities, oil refineries and airplanes. Soon we will be chasing environmental standards that are unrealistic and hurt our ability to compete in the world. These standards will raise the cost of power, transportation and products for both citizens and most American businesses. This feeds into the larger cycle of government rules and regulations that reduce the profitability of our economy, put us at a disadvantage in the global market and slows economic recovery.
The only winners in this situation will be the multi-national businesses such as GE which spent an estimated $20 million on lobbying efforts on all things green. In addition to their huge footprint in wind and solar power, GE has announced the launch of a new subsidiary called Greenhouse Gas Services, which will facilitate the trading of carbon tax credits. GE and others are poised to cash in on this “crisis” while the rest of us are left to foot the bill.
A few more fun facts on the mythical climate change/global warming that is the driver of these efforts:
In the last 100 years the earth has warmed 0.74 degrees Celsius.
Both man and natural changes have both contributed to these changes.
Historically, weather patterns have changed in cyclical patterns.
In support of weather being cyclical here are a few blast from the past: In 1924 both the N.Y. Times and Time magazine wrote alarming articles about global cooling but by the mid 1930’s both were reporting that we were headed for a period of scary global warming. Then in the mid 70’s, during my high school years, both were back to reporting cooling trends and even a potential second ice age.
There is not conclusive evidence that all of the claims being made by the forces of Al Gore are accurate. In fact there is a large group within the scientific community that do not agree. However, media coverage of this opposing view is limited and most attempts at public debate on the issue gets no notice.
Nitrous oxide and methane which warms the planet at 296 times and 23 times the rate of carbon dioxide respectively is a natural emission of live stock so maybe we should all be vegans and eliminate the pesky livestock population all together. Wait PETA will never go for that.
Environmentally friendly (hybrid) cars seem like a good idea. However here is some perspective - it would take 3 billion Ford Expeditions driving 15,000 miles a year each to equal the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that will enter the atmosphere from China’s increased use of coal powered electricity by 2020. (side note: it would take Ford 15,000 years to sell that many Expeditions based on current sales stats)
Last but not least a few of quotes from leading environmentalist that should leave you wondering if climate change initiatives are about protecting the planet or social reengineering:
“To capture the public imagination, we have to offer up some scary scenarios, make simplified dramatic statements and little mention of any doubts one might have. Each of us has to decide the right balance between being effective and being honest.” - Stephen Schneider, 1989 Schneider was the lead author of the 2007 UN IPCC report. In 1970 he was also the author of one of the reports that lead to the global cooling scare.
From Paul Ehrlich, current president of the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University a series of predictions:
1969 - “I’ll take even money that England will not exist in the year 2000”
1970 - “In ten years all important animal life in the sea will be extinct. Large areas of coastline will have to be evacuated because of the stench of dead fish.”
1978 - “Giving society cheap, abundant energy would be the equivalent of giving an idiot child a machine gun.”
And the one that should frighten you the most……
“Climate change (provides) the greatest chance to bring about justice and equality in the world.”
“No matter if the science is all phony, there are still collateral environmental benefits” to global warming policies - Christine Stewart, former Canadian Environmental Minister
This brings us back to Cap & Trade and the Bait and Switch:
The Bait: We are in the midst of an environmental melt down and all good citizens of the world must work together to avert impending disaster. This seems logical and reasonable on the surface if the rules are fair.
The Switch: Turns out the rules are not fair. The U.S. government is not protecting America’s economy or the best interests of its’ citizens by not insisting on a level playing field.
In the end Cap & Trade will be just another undisclosed tax and financial burden on the citizens of the U.S. It is an international wealth shifting program that holds the U.S. to the highest standard while holding China arguably the other super power to none.
Write your representatives and tell them we are not interested in Cap & Trade or subsidizing the cost of switching to alternative energy systems on an artificial schedule. We will be good citizens of the world. Through American innovation we will continue to move toward cleaner energy and more thoughtful environmental policies but not at the expense of our own economic security. Scare tactics aside, we have time to both “fix” the problems and protect our economy.
(Some of the Fun Facts and Quotes courtesy of an Inconvenient Book by Glenn Beck)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
After the Tea Party.............
So what's next? Now that the Tea Parties are over, will those who participated go quietly into the night after having their moment in the sun as many in the liberal media are predicting? If our little group in St. Paul, MN is any indication, I think not.
As our emcee Sue Jeffers said, "This isn't a one-time hissy fit; this is the start of something big."
Our grassroots steering team is already planning future events for July 4th (Independence Day) and Sept. 17th (Constitution Day). We are also going support the events of other groups that became part of the coalition that made our event so successful, starting with the Jason Lewis Tax cut Rally on May 2nd.
The inaccurate media coverage and the continued bashing of the Tea Parties by the liberal press has only strengthened our commitment to our message and our cause. We are not a bunch of right wing extremists trying to be disruptive; we are concerned citizens trying to make our voices heard and participate in our political process. We are not protesting people or political parties; we are protesting the direction and policies of the current Congress and the new Administration.
Our issues are:
· excessive taxes
· out of control government spending
· nationalization of private businesses
· redistribution of wealth
· the T.A.R.P. bailout plan
· loss of individual freedoms
· excessive government regulation
· socialized medicine
· loss of national sovereignty
It is time for concerned citizens everywhere to find a way to get involved. We have a unique right as Americans to participate in the process of government. If you value your freedom, you have a responsibility to exercise these rights. Our Constitution is the most original government charter every created and it gives to Americans guarantees of liberties and freedoms that exist no where else in the world. Those rights and freedoms fueled America's greatness, the American Dream and the innovation that made us the most powerful nation in the world.
As Dr. W. Cleon Skousen asserts in his book, The 5000 Year Leap, the founding fathers established 28 principles of freedom which were framed into the Constitution. Adherence to these principles in our laws and beliefs for the past 200 years has created more progress than had been made in the previous 5000 years. Why would we want to give this up?
America it is time to wake up! Let's take back our country and our destiny. We are a good and generous country. We need to return to a government that follows our Constitution and its principles. The Tea Parties represent a desire by many citizens to return to these roots. Through our peaceful rallies we attempted to promote these ideals and make our voices heard by those that we elected.
As Thomas Jefferson said,” I hold it that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms are in the physical."
So go, find your voice and join us. We are not going away, we are here to stay!
As our emcee Sue Jeffers said, "This isn't a one-time hissy fit; this is the start of something big."
Our grassroots steering team is already planning future events for July 4th (Independence Day) and Sept. 17th (Constitution Day). We are also going support the events of other groups that became part of the coalition that made our event so successful, starting with the Jason Lewis Tax cut Rally on May 2nd.
The inaccurate media coverage and the continued bashing of the Tea Parties by the liberal press has only strengthened our commitment to our message and our cause. We are not a bunch of right wing extremists trying to be disruptive; we are concerned citizens trying to make our voices heard and participate in our political process. We are not protesting people or political parties; we are protesting the direction and policies of the current Congress and the new Administration.
Our issues are:
· excessive taxes
· out of control government spending
· nationalization of private businesses
· redistribution of wealth
· the T.A.R.P. bailout plan
· loss of individual freedoms
· excessive government regulation
· socialized medicine
· loss of national sovereignty
It is time for concerned citizens everywhere to find a way to get involved. We have a unique right as Americans to participate in the process of government. If you value your freedom, you have a responsibility to exercise these rights. Our Constitution is the most original government charter every created and it gives to Americans guarantees of liberties and freedoms that exist no where else in the world. Those rights and freedoms fueled America's greatness, the American Dream and the innovation that made us the most powerful nation in the world.
As Dr. W. Cleon Skousen asserts in his book, The 5000 Year Leap, the founding fathers established 28 principles of freedom which were framed into the Constitution. Adherence to these principles in our laws and beliefs for the past 200 years has created more progress than had been made in the previous 5000 years. Why would we want to give this up?
America it is time to wake up! Let's take back our country and our destiny. We are a good and generous country. We need to return to a government that follows our Constitution and its principles. The Tea Parties represent a desire by many citizens to return to these roots. Through our peaceful rallies we attempted to promote these ideals and make our voices heard by those that we elected.
As Thomas Jefferson said,” I hold it that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms are in the physical."
So go, find your voice and join us. We are not going away, we are here to stay!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
States’ Rights Bills: a legitimate move by state governments or a plot by right wing extremists……………
Amendment X - The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or the people.
- The United States Constitution
Ever heard of the 10th Amendment? It was put in the U.S. Constitution by the founding fathers to protect us from a run away federal government. The Constitution clearly and deliberately delegates the authority that is allocated to the federal government. Everything else falls to either state or local government and allows the will of the citizens to be the deciding factor in many aspects of the law. The idea being that local and state governments would be better able to determine community needs than the federal government.
Why were the founding fathers so intent on delineating state and federal government? Probably because many of them or their families had left Europe to escape oppressive governments or monarchies that thought they knew what was best for everyone on all issues from religion to taxes. By limiting the scope of the federal government they were creating a union of sovereign states that allowed for unique differences based on the desires of each states’ population.
“The powers delegated to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the state governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, [such] as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce. The powers reserved to the several states will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people.” James Madison, The Federalist
Continuous over reaching by the federal government for the last twenty years is causing a backlash at the state level. The movement for state sovereignty has gained momentum because the balance of power has tilted too far and for too long in the direction of the federal government. These bills are not political statements of independence. They are a rejection of the increasing cost of unfunded mandates being placed upon the states by the federal government. Currently, there are at least 30 states with bills before their state legislatures. As out of control federal spending increases, so do the odds of some of these sovereignty bills passing in the next year.
Last week just in time for April 15th and the Tax Day Tea Parties that had been announced, the Department of Homeland Security released a report that detailed the department’s concerns about increased security threats from “right wing extremists”. One of the ideologies warned about in the report was … states’ rights. Contrary to rumors most supporters of states’ rights are not interested in secession or avoiding their tax obligations but rather restoring the appropriate balance (as defined by the Constitution)
between states and the federal government. Make no mistake those in power at the federal level are not in favor of reducing the size and scope of Washington’s authority. As this movement gains momentum expect increased friction and fighting over this important issue.
More things to consider as this story unfolds…..
“Right wing extremists” are not the problem - radical legislators and activist judges are a bigger threat. A threat that the founding fathers anticipated, so they provided no Constitutional power for Congress to override state laws. Also if they really intended to give Congress the authority to act in the interest of the “general welfare,” why would Article I, Section 8, have been included ? Keep in mind, it also did not give the judicial branch unlimited jurisdiction over the states.
The Tenth Amendment was written after the Constitutional was ratified. It was added to reinforce that the states remained individual and unique sovereignties and as such, were empowered in areas that the Constitution did not delegate to the federal government. Therefore, any federal attempt to legislate beyond the Constitutional limits of Congress’ authority is a usurpation of state sovereignty making it illegal.
As the Administration and the Congress make plans for massive bailouts and expanded social programs, state governments are wondering where the money will come from. If they don’t comply they can lose federal funding and if they do, many of these programs come with long strings that result in unfunded obligations for the states. Reasserting their sovereignty maybe the only way to take a stand.
"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." -- Patrick Henry
“With respect to the two words ‘general welfare,’ I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.” — James Madison
- The United States Constitution
Ever heard of the 10th Amendment? It was put in the U.S. Constitution by the founding fathers to protect us from a run away federal government. The Constitution clearly and deliberately delegates the authority that is allocated to the federal government. Everything else falls to either state or local government and allows the will of the citizens to be the deciding factor in many aspects of the law. The idea being that local and state governments would be better able to determine community needs than the federal government.
Why were the founding fathers so intent on delineating state and federal government? Probably because many of them or their families had left Europe to escape oppressive governments or monarchies that thought they knew what was best for everyone on all issues from religion to taxes. By limiting the scope of the federal government they were creating a union of sovereign states that allowed for unique differences based on the desires of each states’ population.
“The powers delegated to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the state governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, [such] as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce. The powers reserved to the several states will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people.” James Madison, The Federalist
Continuous over reaching by the federal government for the last twenty years is causing a backlash at the state level. The movement for state sovereignty has gained momentum because the balance of power has tilted too far and for too long in the direction of the federal government. These bills are not political statements of independence. They are a rejection of the increasing cost of unfunded mandates being placed upon the states by the federal government. Currently, there are at least 30 states with bills before their state legislatures. As out of control federal spending increases, so do the odds of some of these sovereignty bills passing in the next year.
Last week just in time for April 15th and the Tax Day Tea Parties that had been announced, the Department of Homeland Security released a report that detailed the department’s concerns about increased security threats from “right wing extremists”. One of the ideologies warned about in the report was … states’ rights. Contrary to rumors most supporters of states’ rights are not interested in secession or avoiding their tax obligations but rather restoring the appropriate balance (as defined by the Constitution)
between states and the federal government. Make no mistake those in power at the federal level are not in favor of reducing the size and scope of Washington’s authority. As this movement gains momentum expect increased friction and fighting over this important issue.
More things to consider as this story unfolds…..
“Right wing extremists” are not the problem - radical legislators and activist judges are a bigger threat. A threat that the founding fathers anticipated, so they provided no Constitutional power for Congress to override state laws. Also if they really intended to give Congress the authority to act in the interest of the “general welfare,” why would Article I, Section 8, have been included ? Keep in mind, it also did not give the judicial branch unlimited jurisdiction over the states.
The Tenth Amendment was written after the Constitutional was ratified. It was added to reinforce that the states remained individual and unique sovereignties and as such, were empowered in areas that the Constitution did not delegate to the federal government. Therefore, any federal attempt to legislate beyond the Constitutional limits of Congress’ authority is a usurpation of state sovereignty making it illegal.
As the Administration and the Congress make plans for massive bailouts and expanded social programs, state governments are wondering where the money will come from. If they don’t comply they can lose federal funding and if they do, many of these programs come with long strings that result in unfunded obligations for the states. Reasserting their sovereignty maybe the only way to take a stand.
"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." -- Patrick Henry
“With respect to the two words ‘general welfare,’ I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.” — James Madison
Friday, April 10, 2009
The G20 moves the world a step closer to global financial regulation…………
(Telegraph.co.uk) A single clause in Point 19 of the communiqué issued by the G20 leaders amounts to revolution in the global financial order.
"We have agreed to support a general SDR allocation which will inject $250bn (£170bn) into the world economy and increase global liquidity," it said. SDRs are Special Drawing Rights, a synthetic paper currency issued by the International Monetary Fund that has lain dormant for half a century. In effect, the G20 leaders have activated the IMF's power to create money and begin global "quantitative easing". In doing so, they are putting a de facto world currency into play. It is outside the control of any sovereign body. Conspiracy theorists will love it. It has been a good summit for the IMF. Its fighting fund for crises is to be tripled overnight to $750bn. This is real money.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director, said in February that the world was "already in Depression" and risked a slide into social disorder and military conflict unless political leaders resorted to massive stimulus.
The Russians had hoped their idea to develop SDRs as a full reserve currency to challenge the dollar would make its way on to the agenda, but at least they got a foot in the door. There is now a world currency in waiting. In time, SDRs are likely evolve into a parking place for the foreign holdings of central banks, led by the People's Bank of China. Beijing's moves this week to offer $95bn in yuan currency swaps to developing economies show how fast China aims to break dollar dependence.
Need more evidence…….
(Telegraph.co.uk) US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner shocked global markets by revealing that Washington is "quite open" to Chinese proposals for the gradual development of a global reserve currency run by the International Monetary Fund.
The dollar plunged instantly against the euro, yen, and sterling as the comments flashed across trading screens. David Bloom, currency chief at HSBC, said the apparent policy shift amounts to an earthquake in geo-finance. "The mere fact that the US Treasury Secretary is even entertaining thoughts that the dollar may cease being the anchor of the global monetary system has caused consternation," he said.
Only hours earlier, President Barack Obama had told a news conference that there was no threat to the reserve status of the dollar. Later, Geithner qualified his remarks, insisting that the dollar would remain the "world's dominant reserve currency ... for a long period of time" but the damage was already done. The markets appear confused by the conflicting statements coming from the Administration.
So what does this mean to America? It means for the first time in a 100 years the rest of the world is trying to regain control of the world economy and put the U.S. in its’ place. These moves are designed to strengthen the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. This will lay the ground work for global financial regulation and a new world currency. The creation of a Financial Stability Board looks like the first step towards a global financial regulator. This is a serious threat to the U.S. economy and the dollar.
Once again the Administration is on the wrong side of this issue. The President supported the creation of the Financial Stability Board which in the future could/will technically be able to impose global regulations that the SEC would be obliged to follow. Welcome to the New World Order, goodbye sovereignty! The U.S. government elected by its‘ citizens, our regulators and our courts should be the only bodies that are allowed to interfere with, oops I mean, regulate U.S. businesses. Friends, we are embarking on a journey down a very slippery slope. At the bottom of this slope is a place where America as we knew it is GONE.
The dangers of a world central bank are glaringly frightening. The European Central Bank has struggled with managing policy for 16 countries in a region with a common history, and EU institutions (Commission, Court of Justice, competition police, etc). The potential politics of global monetary management would be disastrous.
The heads of the Fed, the ECB, and the Bank of England, must all testify before parliaments and answer to democratic government. In the absence of a world parliament or some type of world government, who would control a super-IMF? Are you starting to see the bigger picture more clearly?
On April 15th all across America there will be Tea Parties and Tax Rallies. The themes of these events are centered on taxes, redistribution of wealth, economic policy, individual rights and Liberty. Currently there are over 500 such events planned. These are grass root organizations made up of concerned citizens who have transcended partisan politics in order to make their voices heard. Their common goal is take back our country and the ideals that made it the strongest, freest nation on earth. We may not be perfect, as the Administration, is so quick to point out but overall the world has been a better place as the result of a strong and free U.S.A.!
George Washington warned of the dangers our country would face over 200 years ago if we lost sight of guiding principles that were used to form this great Union:
“'Tis folly in one Nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that it must pay with a portion of its Independence for whatever it may accept under that character; that by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given equivalents for nominal favors and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate upon real favors from Nation to Nation. 'Tis an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.
…….. 'Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign world.
George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
If the idea of being part of some global nation engineered by politicians, dictators, kings, sheiks and communist party chiefs scares the hell out of you, then join us and make your voice part of the ground swell to Take our Country Back!
"We have agreed to support a general SDR allocation which will inject $250bn (£170bn) into the world economy and increase global liquidity," it said. SDRs are Special Drawing Rights, a synthetic paper currency issued by the International Monetary Fund that has lain dormant for half a century. In effect, the G20 leaders have activated the IMF's power to create money and begin global "quantitative easing". In doing so, they are putting a de facto world currency into play. It is outside the control of any sovereign body. Conspiracy theorists will love it. It has been a good summit for the IMF. Its fighting fund for crises is to be tripled overnight to $750bn. This is real money.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director, said in February that the world was "already in Depression" and risked a slide into social disorder and military conflict unless political leaders resorted to massive stimulus.
The Russians had hoped their idea to develop SDRs as a full reserve currency to challenge the dollar would make its way on to the agenda, but at least they got a foot in the door. There is now a world currency in waiting. In time, SDRs are likely evolve into a parking place for the foreign holdings of central banks, led by the People's Bank of China. Beijing's moves this week to offer $95bn in yuan currency swaps to developing economies show how fast China aims to break dollar dependence.
Need more evidence…….
(Telegraph.co.uk) US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner shocked global markets by revealing that Washington is "quite open" to Chinese proposals for the gradual development of a global reserve currency run by the International Monetary Fund.
The dollar plunged instantly against the euro, yen, and sterling as the comments flashed across trading screens. David Bloom, currency chief at HSBC, said the apparent policy shift amounts to an earthquake in geo-finance. "The mere fact that the US Treasury Secretary is even entertaining thoughts that the dollar may cease being the anchor of the global monetary system has caused consternation," he said.
Only hours earlier, President Barack Obama had told a news conference that there was no threat to the reserve status of the dollar. Later, Geithner qualified his remarks, insisting that the dollar would remain the "world's dominant reserve currency ... for a long period of time" but the damage was already done. The markets appear confused by the conflicting statements coming from the Administration.
So what does this mean to America? It means for the first time in a 100 years the rest of the world is trying to regain control of the world economy and put the U.S. in its’ place. These moves are designed to strengthen the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. This will lay the ground work for global financial regulation and a new world currency. The creation of a Financial Stability Board looks like the first step towards a global financial regulator. This is a serious threat to the U.S. economy and the dollar.
Once again the Administration is on the wrong side of this issue. The President supported the creation of the Financial Stability Board which in the future could/will technically be able to impose global regulations that the SEC would be obliged to follow. Welcome to the New World Order, goodbye sovereignty! The U.S. government elected by its‘ citizens, our regulators and our courts should be the only bodies that are allowed to interfere with, oops I mean, regulate U.S. businesses. Friends, we are embarking on a journey down a very slippery slope. At the bottom of this slope is a place where America as we knew it is GONE.
The dangers of a world central bank are glaringly frightening. The European Central Bank has struggled with managing policy for 16 countries in a region with a common history, and EU institutions (Commission, Court of Justice, competition police, etc). The potential politics of global monetary management would be disastrous.
The heads of the Fed, the ECB, and the Bank of England, must all testify before parliaments and answer to democratic government. In the absence of a world parliament or some type of world government, who would control a super-IMF? Are you starting to see the bigger picture more clearly?
On April 15th all across America there will be Tea Parties and Tax Rallies. The themes of these events are centered on taxes, redistribution of wealth, economic policy, individual rights and Liberty. Currently there are over 500 such events planned. These are grass root organizations made up of concerned citizens who have transcended partisan politics in order to make their voices heard. Their common goal is take back our country and the ideals that made it the strongest, freest nation on earth. We may not be perfect, as the Administration, is so quick to point out but overall the world has been a better place as the result of a strong and free U.S.A.!
George Washington warned of the dangers our country would face over 200 years ago if we lost sight of guiding principles that were used to form this great Union:
“'Tis folly in one Nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that it must pay with a portion of its Independence for whatever it may accept under that character; that by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given equivalents for nominal favors and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate upon real favors from Nation to Nation. 'Tis an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.
…….. 'Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign world.
George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796
If the idea of being part of some global nation engineered by politicians, dictators, kings, sheiks and communist party chiefs scares the hell out of you, then join us and make your voice part of the ground swell to Take our Country Back!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Does anybody want the government to be responsible for designing their cars??
I am looking forward to a few years from now when I can go down to my local car dealership and buy a new U.S. Socialist Motors Comrade family sedan that runs on peanut oil. It will kill the joy of driving and cost about $75,000 for the base model (this is based on how well the government purchase things for themselves). Everything will be extra, including keys. This will help with the mythical global warming problem, just price people out of car ownership - problem solved. Hey, and even if you can afford one if the government does not like you, they just won’t sell you one. Sarcasm aside - is anyone out there paying attention!! The government is out of control.
The announcements made today by the Obama administration are some of the most troubling things I have ever heard from our government. There seems to be a belief in Washington that they know what is best for all of us. This is not what the founding fathers ever intended.
"I am absolutely committed to working with Congress and the auto companies to meet one goal: The United States of America will lead the world in building the next generation of clean cars," Obama said in his first extended remarks on the industry since taking office nearly 10 weeks ago. And yet, he added, "our auto industry is not moving in the right direction fast enough to succeed."
So now the President is going to dictate how these businesses are run. The CEO of GM was forced to resign and most of the board also forced to leave.
(AP) Obama's announcement underscored the extent to which automakers have been added to the list of large corporations now operating under a level of government control that seemed unthinkable less than a year ago. Since last fall, the Bush and Obama administrations, often acting in concert with the Federal Reserve, have engineered the takeover of housing titans Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, seized a large stake in several banks and installed a new CEO at bailed-out insurance giant American International Group.
I am sorry folks but this is not the role of the United States government. Anyone who does not yet believe that our country is on a fast track toward socialism needs to wake up and listen to what is going on around them. But wait there is more…..
(AP) Obama took the extraordinary step of announcing the government will back new car warranties issued by both GM and Chrysler, an attempt to reassure consumers their U.S.-made purchases will be protected even if the companies don't survive.
The announcements made today by the Obama administration are some of the most troubling things I have ever heard from our government. There seems to be a belief in Washington that they know what is best for all of us. This is not what the founding fathers ever intended.
"I am absolutely committed to working with Congress and the auto companies to meet one goal: The United States of America will lead the world in building the next generation of clean cars," Obama said in his first extended remarks on the industry since taking office nearly 10 weeks ago. And yet, he added, "our auto industry is not moving in the right direction fast enough to succeed."
So now the President is going to dictate how these businesses are run. The CEO of GM was forced to resign and most of the board also forced to leave.
(AP) Obama's announcement underscored the extent to which automakers have been added to the list of large corporations now operating under a level of government control that seemed unthinkable less than a year ago. Since last fall, the Bush and Obama administrations, often acting in concert with the Federal Reserve, have engineered the takeover of housing titans Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, seized a large stake in several banks and installed a new CEO at bailed-out insurance giant American International Group.
I am sorry folks but this is not the role of the United States government. Anyone who does not yet believe that our country is on a fast track toward socialism needs to wake up and listen to what is going on around them. But wait there is more…..
(AP) Obama took the extraordinary step of announcing the government will back new car warranties issued by both GM and Chrysler, an attempt to reassure consumers their U.S.-made purchases will be protected even if the companies don't survive.
Where is this going to end? Nobody can be sure but let’s review the President’s agenda:
- Huge government stimulus packages complete with long strings of government requirements attached which will last way longer than the money - the strings are for anyone who takes this money - companies, states, financial institutions
- Talk of nationalizing the banks
- Overhauling the tax code/redistribution of wealth
- Health Care Reform
- Alternate Energy Programs which includes a cap and trade policy designed to penalize companies that produce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use.
- Education Reform
Based on what we have seen so far are you willing to sit back to wait to see what’s going to happen next? The current mob ruling Washington have thrown the Constitution out the window and are arrogantly saying that it is outdated for today’s world. Keep in mind we are only 10 weeks into this Presidency!
"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." -- Patrick Henry
"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." --Thomas Jefferson
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Geithner and the Administration want more control……..
Last week, Treasury Secretary appeared before Congress and asked that his department be granted unprecedented authority over failing U.S. companies. He compared what he wants to the authority given to the FDIC when dealing with failing banking institutions. This includes the power to seize control of institutions, take over their bad loans and other illiquid assets and sell good ones to competitors.
Geithner claims he needs these broader powers to protect the national economy from companies whose collapse could jeopardize it. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the White House wants "resolution authority to go in and be able to change contracts, be able to change the business model, unwind what doesn't work."
Geithner testified that the AIG debacle "highlights broad failures of our financial system. Our regulatory system was not equipped to prevent the build up of dangerous levels of risk . . . The U.S. government does not have the legal means today to manage the orderly restructuring of a large, complex, non-bank financial institution that poses a threat to the stability of our financial system." He acknowledged that the current climate of anger, including the rancor over the AIG retention bonuses, will complicate any effort by the Obama administration to get more bailout money from Congress. "We recognize it will be extraordinarily difficult," he said.
Here is what Geithner and most of the Congress doesn’t seem to get ---- they all live in America. We are not a socialist country, at least not yet. This country was built on a system of free market capitalism. The government should not be seizing companies and taking them over. It is not their job. Besides given their track record for running quasi government business units such as Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the United States Postal Service what would lead us to believe they could do a better job!
However, what Americans should fear the most is the fact that the government is suddenly buying into failing businesses with money they don’t even have. We are printing money, loaning it to ourselves and using it to buy failing businesses. You don’t have to have a degree in economics to figure out this is flawed thinking.
As Thomas Jefferson said, “A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned -- this is the sum of good government.”
The free markets have been working for years. Companies rise and fall. Some declare bankruptcy and find their way back (see most of the airline industry) others don‘t. Why is this time any different? The only thing that has caused this time to be different is more government involvement and intervention! Involvement with Freddie and Fannie plus pushing home ownership to those who really couldn’t afford it. Intervention over and over by the Fed manipulating interest rates to avoid allowing the bubble to burst which help fuel credit spending and create false prosperity. Most advocates of free market economics and capitalism believe that this continuous manipulation and intervention by the government deepened the downturn in our economy.
So America, it is time to ask, how much control should the government have? Where will the Obama administration and Mr. Geithner like to go next? There has been talk of everything from limiting CEO salaries and setting limits on employee bonuses, cap and trade, nationalizing banks, national healthcare and redistribution of wealth.
Today, General Motors Corp. announced Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner will step down immediately at the request of the White House, said administration officials. The news comes as President Barack Obama prepares to unveil additional restructuring efforts designed to save the domestic auto industry. Again, what happened to good old fashion bankruptcy and reorganization? Well in this case Obama supporters at the UAW would have to sacrifice as well and that doesn’t work for the President.
I don’t think this is what the founding fathers had in mind. The government bailing out and taking over businesses is not part of any of the blue prints they left us!
A few closing thoughts:
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Thomas Jefferson
“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.” Thomas Jefferson
“In my many years I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.” John Adams
“A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.” George Bernard Shaw
Geithner claims he needs these broader powers to protect the national economy from companies whose collapse could jeopardize it. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the White House wants "resolution authority to go in and be able to change contracts, be able to change the business model, unwind what doesn't work."
Geithner testified that the AIG debacle "highlights broad failures of our financial system. Our regulatory system was not equipped to prevent the build up of dangerous levels of risk . . . The U.S. government does not have the legal means today to manage the orderly restructuring of a large, complex, non-bank financial institution that poses a threat to the stability of our financial system." He acknowledged that the current climate of anger, including the rancor over the AIG retention bonuses, will complicate any effort by the Obama administration to get more bailout money from Congress. "We recognize it will be extraordinarily difficult," he said.
Here is what Geithner and most of the Congress doesn’t seem to get ---- they all live in America. We are not a socialist country, at least not yet. This country was built on a system of free market capitalism. The government should not be seizing companies and taking them over. It is not their job. Besides given their track record for running quasi government business units such as Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the United States Postal Service what would lead us to believe they could do a better job!
However, what Americans should fear the most is the fact that the government is suddenly buying into failing businesses with money they don’t even have. We are printing money, loaning it to ourselves and using it to buy failing businesses. You don’t have to have a degree in economics to figure out this is flawed thinking.
As Thomas Jefferson said, “A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned -- this is the sum of good government.”
The free markets have been working for years. Companies rise and fall. Some declare bankruptcy and find their way back (see most of the airline industry) others don‘t. Why is this time any different? The only thing that has caused this time to be different is more government involvement and intervention! Involvement with Freddie and Fannie plus pushing home ownership to those who really couldn’t afford it. Intervention over and over by the Fed manipulating interest rates to avoid allowing the bubble to burst which help fuel credit spending and create false prosperity. Most advocates of free market economics and capitalism believe that this continuous manipulation and intervention by the government deepened the downturn in our economy.
So America, it is time to ask, how much control should the government have? Where will the Obama administration and Mr. Geithner like to go next? There has been talk of everything from limiting CEO salaries and setting limits on employee bonuses, cap and trade, nationalizing banks, national healthcare and redistribution of wealth.
Today, General Motors Corp. announced Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner will step down immediately at the request of the White House, said administration officials. The news comes as President Barack Obama prepares to unveil additional restructuring efforts designed to save the domestic auto industry. Again, what happened to good old fashion bankruptcy and reorganization? Well in this case Obama supporters at the UAW would have to sacrifice as well and that doesn’t work for the President.
I don’t think this is what the founding fathers had in mind. The government bailing out and taking over businesses is not part of any of the blue prints they left us!
A few closing thoughts:
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Thomas Jefferson
“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.” Thomas Jefferson
“In my many years I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.” John Adams
“A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.” George Bernard Shaw
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Obama, Democrats, ACORN and the Census…..
In February, President Obama and his political cronies decided to take “Chicago style” politics nation wide when they added ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) as a partner in the 2010 U.S. Census. This is an incredible move considering the reputation of the organization. ACORN, is supposed to be a non-partisan grassroots community organization of low- and moderate-income people. However, in recent years they have become more and more active in voter registration activities. In 2007, ACORN came under fire when Washington State filed felony charges against several paid ACORN employees and supervisors for more than 1,700 fraudulent voter registrations. In March 2008, an ACORN worker in Pennsylvania was sentenced for making 29 phony voter registration forms. The group’s activities frequently drew fire during the 2008 presidential election.
From Fox News:
The U.S. Census is supposed to be free of politics, but one group with a history of voter fraud, ACORN, is participating in next year’s count, raising concerns about the politicization of the decennial survey.
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now signed on as a national partner with the U.S. Census Bureau in February 2009 to assist with the recruitment of the 1.4 million temporary workers needed to go door-to-door to count every person in the United States — currently believed to be more than 306 million people.
But ACORN’s partnership with the 2010 Census is worrisome to lawmakers who say past allegations of fraud should raise concerns about the organization.
“It’s a concern, especially when you look at all the different charges of voter fraud. And it’s not just the lawmakers’ concern. It should be the concern of every citizen in the country,” Rep. Lynn A. Westmoreland, R-Ga., vice ranking member of the subcommittee for the U.S. Census, told FOXNews.com. “We want an enumeration. We don’t want to have any false numbers.”
Not surprisingly former community organizer and ACORN lawyer, President Obama promised a gathering of community organizers in December 2007 that he would involve them in the policy process if elected. "Before I even get inaugurated, during the transition, we're going to be calling all of you in to help us shape the agenda. We're going to be having meetings all across the country with community organizations so that you have input into the agenda for the next presidency of the United States of America." Apparently President Obama is a man of his word. In the stimulus there is $5.2 billion for community-development block grants and “neighborhood stabilization activities,” which ACORN is eligible to apply for.
According to various websites the Community Development Block Grant Program is described as follows:
The Community Development Block Grant Program is a federal program that provides funding for housing and community development. In 1974, Congress created the program by passing the Housing and Community Development Act, Title I. The national objectives of the program are to:
From Fox News:
The U.S. Census is supposed to be free of politics, but one group with a history of voter fraud, ACORN, is participating in next year’s count, raising concerns about the politicization of the decennial survey.
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now signed on as a national partner with the U.S. Census Bureau in February 2009 to assist with the recruitment of the 1.4 million temporary workers needed to go door-to-door to count every person in the United States — currently believed to be more than 306 million people.
But ACORN’s partnership with the 2010 Census is worrisome to lawmakers who say past allegations of fraud should raise concerns about the organization.
“It’s a concern, especially when you look at all the different charges of voter fraud. And it’s not just the lawmakers’ concern. It should be the concern of every citizen in the country,” Rep. Lynn A. Westmoreland, R-Ga., vice ranking member of the subcommittee for the U.S. Census, told FOXNews.com. “We want an enumeration. We don’t want to have any false numbers.”
Not surprisingly former community organizer and ACORN lawyer, President Obama promised a gathering of community organizers in December 2007 that he would involve them in the policy process if elected. "Before I even get inaugurated, during the transition, we're going to be calling all of you in to help us shape the agenda. We're going to be having meetings all across the country with community organizations so that you have input into the agenda for the next presidency of the United States of America." Apparently President Obama is a man of his word. In the stimulus there is $5.2 billion for community-development block grants and “neighborhood stabilization activities,” which ACORN is eligible to apply for.
According to various websites the Community Development Block Grant Program is described as follows:
The Community Development Block Grant Program is a federal program that provides funding for housing and community development. In 1974, Congress created the program by passing the Housing and Community Development Act, Title I. The national objectives of the program are to:
- Benefit low- and moderate-income persons
- Prevent or eliminate slum or blight
- Address urgent community development needs
The program, administered and funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, consists of two components:
- Entitlement - provides funds directly to urban areas
- Small Cities - provides funds to the states for distribution to rural areas
ACORN was already doing pretty well in the area of federal grant money -
From the website of House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH):
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) repeatedly urged President Bush and other federal officials to withhold taxpayer funds from ACORN, including $17.2 million in federal grants awarded in December 2008 after numerous allegations of wrongdoing in connection with ACORN’s election activities were reported by the news media.
Leader Boehner also released a study of federal records in October 2008 listing tens of millions in federal grants received by ACORN. A new updated and more expansive study reveals that ACORN has actually received millions more than first thought. A review of the Federal Register and news releases issued by federal agencies showed that ACORN was awarded more than $53 million in taxpayer dollars. This amount does not reflect the millions more ACORN has received in federal block grant funds awarded to state and local agencies which passed them on to ACORN.
Remember the when Senator Judd Gregg withdrew his name from consideration for Commerce Secretary after he learned the White House was planning to put the agency under the control of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. That idea drew intense criticism so the administration backed off. However, the ACORN move could net the same result - oversight of Democrat interests in the process.
Since some of the main functions of the census data are to help draw the boundaries of legislative districts; calculate the number of U.S. representatives each state gets and determine how the federal government allocates $300 billion in local aid each year, it is understandable why concerns are so high. This program is one of the largest in the federal government. It is also one of the only ones specifically required by the Constitution.
Considering the cozy relationship between the administration and the democrats in general with ACORN shouldn’t this latest development be cause for concern by all. Think about what is at stake! We need a fraud free census without controversy to ensure that there is no question about the integrity of the results. Especially since these results will once again shift legislative balance based on the growing population and shifting demographics of our country.
The founding fathers must be rolling in their graves!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Freedom Ain't Free!
Another excellent National Tax Day Tea Party Video
Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1byTDgu7iA
Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1byTDgu7iA
The Second American Revolution
Watch this video - I'll say no more
Davegj has shared a video with you on YouTube:
The Second American Revolution
Thomas Paine, author of "Common Sense," returns to modern times to pleas for a second revolution to take back America, Now!
© 2009 YouTube, LLC
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Be careful who you make mad because they might just pass a law to get even……
The intent of the founding fathers when they wrote the Constitution was to lay a foundation for a limited federal government that supported individual freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The government was supposed to provide defense, infrastructure, currency and foreign relations. The states were to provide the next level of government and were afforded states’ rights to assure local control.
In the last century the federal branch of the United States government and the politicians elected to represent it have increasingly turned their back on the Constitution that they are sworn to uphold. While this trend has been gathering steam for years, the new Congress and the new administration has put the pedal to the metal.
Today, we witnessed one of the scariest abuses of power by the federal government in recent memory………….
(AP) WASHINGTON – Denouncing a "squandering of the people's money," lawmakers voted decisively Thursday to impose a 90 percent tax on millions of dollars in employee bonuses paid by troubled insurance giant AIG and other bailed-out companies. The House vote was 328-93. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate and President Barack Obama quickly signaled general support for the concept. "I look forward to receiving a final product that will serve as a strong signal to the executives who run these firms that such compensation will not be tolerated," the president said in a statement.
The bill would impose a 90 percent tax on bonuses given to employees with family incomes above $250,000 at American International Group and other companies that have received at least $5 billion in government bailout money. It would apply to any such bonuses issued since Dec. 31.
"We figured that the local and state governments would take care of the other 10 percent," said Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, told colleagues, "We want our money back now for the taxpayers. It isn't that complicated."
Really! I happen to think it is very complicated. I understand why people might not like the payment of these bonuses but making tax law after the fact to punish the recipients as opposed to making the appropriate stipulations prior to handing out the TARP money seems very un-American. Besides if the household income level to which the 90% tax rate applies is only $250,000, then a lot of people being punished are not the executives this punitive action was intended for. There is also the small matter of if the bonuses are part of a legally binding compensation agreement like it or not the employees are entitled to them. Is this the kind of new accountability and transparency the Obama administration promised us?
Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., blamed his fellow lawmakers for the AIG bonus controversy. "Unlike many of my colleagues, I didn't vote for the bailout that made this outrage possible," he said. "And I didn't vote for the disastrous spending bill Democrats called "stimulus" that explicitly authorized these bonuses. "Make no mistake. Today's vote is a farce," he added. "It is a paper-thin fig leaf being hastily thrown together to cover up the fact that Congress, under Democrat leadership, handed over hundreds of billions of dollars to the executive branch of government -- with no strings attached."
What is most disturbing is that we now have a Congress that is willing to make a law to punish a group that they are mad at. Political posturing and mob mentality are now on full display in the halls of Congress.
If they get away with this … what’s next?
In the last century the federal branch of the United States government and the politicians elected to represent it have increasingly turned their back on the Constitution that they are sworn to uphold. While this trend has been gathering steam for years, the new Congress and the new administration has put the pedal to the metal.
Today, we witnessed one of the scariest abuses of power by the federal government in recent memory………….
(AP) WASHINGTON – Denouncing a "squandering of the people's money," lawmakers voted decisively Thursday to impose a 90 percent tax on millions of dollars in employee bonuses paid by troubled insurance giant AIG and other bailed-out companies. The House vote was 328-93. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate and President Barack Obama quickly signaled general support for the concept. "I look forward to receiving a final product that will serve as a strong signal to the executives who run these firms that such compensation will not be tolerated," the president said in a statement.
The bill would impose a 90 percent tax on bonuses given to employees with family incomes above $250,000 at American International Group and other companies that have received at least $5 billion in government bailout money. It would apply to any such bonuses issued since Dec. 31.
"We figured that the local and state governments would take care of the other 10 percent," said Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, told colleagues, "We want our money back now for the taxpayers. It isn't that complicated."
Really! I happen to think it is very complicated. I understand why people might not like the payment of these bonuses but making tax law after the fact to punish the recipients as opposed to making the appropriate stipulations prior to handing out the TARP money seems very un-American. Besides if the household income level to which the 90% tax rate applies is only $250,000, then a lot of people being punished are not the executives this punitive action was intended for. There is also the small matter of if the bonuses are part of a legally binding compensation agreement like it or not the employees are entitled to them. Is this the kind of new accountability and transparency the Obama administration promised us?
Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., blamed his fellow lawmakers for the AIG bonus controversy. "Unlike many of my colleagues, I didn't vote for the bailout that made this outrage possible," he said. "And I didn't vote for the disastrous spending bill Democrats called "stimulus" that explicitly authorized these bonuses. "Make no mistake. Today's vote is a farce," he added. "It is a paper-thin fig leaf being hastily thrown together to cover up the fact that Congress, under Democrat leadership, handed over hundreds of billions of dollars to the executive branch of government -- with no strings attached."
What is most disturbing is that we now have a Congress that is willing to make a law to punish a group that they are mad at. Political posturing and mob mentality are now on full display in the halls of Congress.
If they get away with this … what’s next?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Bernie made off with the $$$ but is Social Security the biggest scam of all?
The popular host of CNBC’s Mad Money Jim Cramer said on his Dec. 17 show. “To everybody in the press, who’s calling Bernie Madoff’s alleged $50 billion scam the ‘largest Ponzi scheme ever,’ I say give me a break,” According to Jim, the biggest Ponzi scheme in history is being run by the federal government, it’s called Social Security.
In 1935, President Roosevelt introduced a controversial "social insurance". The idea was to relieve the devastating financial blow that the Great Depression had dealt so many older Americans leaving them in poverty. As part of his New Deal, Social Security provided benefits to retirees and the unemployed, financed by taxes on current worker's wages.
Critics of Social Security often draw parallels between it and a Ponzi scheme, because the people who make payments today will receive benefits later from payments made by others in the future. Economist, Walter Williams once said, "Social Security is unsustainable because it is not meeting the first order condition of a Ponzi scheme, namely expanding the pool of suckers." In fact one of the biggest challenges Social Security faces over the long haul is that the pool of recipients is growing faster than the pool of contributors.
According to the 2007 Social Security trustees report, Social Security is projected to bring in $827 billion in income for 2008 and payout $617 billion in costs, leaving it with $2.4 trillion in assets by the end of the year. However, costs are outpacing income and some predict the fund will be insolvent – as soon as 2016 if the amount of Social Security assets held in US Treasury bonds are discounted. Others predict that the program will be insolvent by 2042.
The Social Security Administration describes itself as providing a “pay as you go social insurance program” and defends itself against the "Ponzi scheme" comparisons with the following statement:
“There is a superficial analogy between pyramid or Ponzi schemes and pay-as-you-go insurance programs, in that, in both money from later participants goes to pay for the benefits of earlier participants. But that is where the similarity ends. A pay-as-you-go system can be visualized as a simple pipeline, with money from current contributors coming in the front end and money to current beneficiaries paid out the back end. As long as the amount of money coming in the front end of the pipe maintains a rough balance with the money paid out, the system can continue forever. There is no unsustainable progression driving the mechanism of a pay-as-you-go pension system, and so it is not a pyramid or Ponzi scheme. If the demographics of the population were stable, then a pay-as-you-go system would not have demographically-driven financing ups and downs, and no thoughtful person would be tempted to compare it to a Ponzi arrangement. However, since population demographics tend to rise and fall, the balance in pay-as-you-go systems tends to rise and fall as well. This vulnerability to demographic ups and downs is one of the problems with pay-as-you-go financing. But this problem has nothing to do with Ponzi schemes or any other fraudulent form of financing; it is simply the nature of pay-as-you-go systems.”
So if you read their statement closely they do admit that the base scheme for success requires either a perfectly balanced flow through the “theoretical pipeline” or there needs to be very careful money management to ensure that the excess funds are earning interest to offset the demographic highs and lows.
This is where the current system will fall apart. The aging of the US population combined with an increased average lifespan will provide the perfect storm for Social Security. The number of people projected to draw Social Security will increase from the current 39MM to 47MM by 2015, to 64MM by 2025 and a whopping 89MM by 2050 according to recent census data. As a percent of the population that represents a shift from 13% of the population collecting benefits to 20% receiving them.
Of course this was not supposed to be a problem. A Presidential Commission headed by Alan Greenspan recommended in 1982 that payroll taxes be increased in order to begin pre-funding the retirement of the Baby Boomers through a trust fund. Rather than saving the surpluses to prepare for the massive demographic shift as was planned. Greenspan allowed Congress to borrow the funds for other government programs and to make the federal deficit appear smaller. The surplus funds were replaced with government I.O.U’s which now represent an unfunded liability for taxpayers.
Since 1983, $647 billion has been borrowed from Social Security's trust fund to lower the size of the annual budget deficit. Money borrowed from the trust fund will have to be paid back through tax increases or benefit cuts once the Boomers start collecting their Social Security benefits.
While the Social Security system is running annual surpluses today, it will need to start tapping into the reserves around 2012 to meet its‘ benefit obligations.
While it may not be a Ponzi scheme by the purest definition, to all the taxpaying citizens who have been forced to pay into this system our entire work lives the final outcome may feel the same. Just like Madoff’s victims who thought they were building a safety net for their golden years, those of us who contributed each pay period to Social Security thought we had something we could count on when we retired. We may not have thought it would be enough but we all expected to get a fair return. Now it looks like we will be lucky to get anything and we will all have to work longer to get it.
In 1935, President Roosevelt introduced a controversial "social insurance". The idea was to relieve the devastating financial blow that the Great Depression had dealt so many older Americans leaving them in poverty. As part of his New Deal, Social Security provided benefits to retirees and the unemployed, financed by taxes on current worker's wages.
Critics of Social Security often draw parallels between it and a Ponzi scheme, because the people who make payments today will receive benefits later from payments made by others in the future. Economist, Walter Williams once said, "Social Security is unsustainable because it is not meeting the first order condition of a Ponzi scheme, namely expanding the pool of suckers." In fact one of the biggest challenges Social Security faces over the long haul is that the pool of recipients is growing faster than the pool of contributors.
According to the 2007 Social Security trustees report, Social Security is projected to bring in $827 billion in income for 2008 and payout $617 billion in costs, leaving it with $2.4 trillion in assets by the end of the year. However, costs are outpacing income and some predict the fund will be insolvent – as soon as 2016 if the amount of Social Security assets held in US Treasury bonds are discounted. Others predict that the program will be insolvent by 2042.
The Social Security Administration describes itself as providing a “pay as you go social insurance program” and defends itself against the "Ponzi scheme" comparisons with the following statement:
“There is a superficial analogy between pyramid or Ponzi schemes and pay-as-you-go insurance programs, in that, in both money from later participants goes to pay for the benefits of earlier participants. But that is where the similarity ends. A pay-as-you-go system can be visualized as a simple pipeline, with money from current contributors coming in the front end and money to current beneficiaries paid out the back end. As long as the amount of money coming in the front end of the pipe maintains a rough balance with the money paid out, the system can continue forever. There is no unsustainable progression driving the mechanism of a pay-as-you-go pension system, and so it is not a pyramid or Ponzi scheme. If the demographics of the population were stable, then a pay-as-you-go system would not have demographically-driven financing ups and downs, and no thoughtful person would be tempted to compare it to a Ponzi arrangement. However, since population demographics tend to rise and fall, the balance in pay-as-you-go systems tends to rise and fall as well. This vulnerability to demographic ups and downs is one of the problems with pay-as-you-go financing. But this problem has nothing to do with Ponzi schemes or any other fraudulent form of financing; it is simply the nature of pay-as-you-go systems.”
So if you read their statement closely they do admit that the base scheme for success requires either a perfectly balanced flow through the “theoretical pipeline” or there needs to be very careful money management to ensure that the excess funds are earning interest to offset the demographic highs and lows.
This is where the current system will fall apart. The aging of the US population combined with an increased average lifespan will provide the perfect storm for Social Security. The number of people projected to draw Social Security will increase from the current 39MM to 47MM by 2015, to 64MM by 2025 and a whopping 89MM by 2050 according to recent census data. As a percent of the population that represents a shift from 13% of the population collecting benefits to 20% receiving them.
Of course this was not supposed to be a problem. A Presidential Commission headed by Alan Greenspan recommended in 1982 that payroll taxes be increased in order to begin pre-funding the retirement of the Baby Boomers through a trust fund. Rather than saving the surpluses to prepare for the massive demographic shift as was planned. Greenspan allowed Congress to borrow the funds for other government programs and to make the federal deficit appear smaller. The surplus funds were replaced with government I.O.U’s which now represent an unfunded liability for taxpayers.
Since 1983, $647 billion has been borrowed from Social Security's trust fund to lower the size of the annual budget deficit. Money borrowed from the trust fund will have to be paid back through tax increases or benefit cuts once the Boomers start collecting their Social Security benefits.
While the Social Security system is running annual surpluses today, it will need to start tapping into the reserves around 2012 to meet its‘ benefit obligations.
While it may not be a Ponzi scheme by the purest definition, to all the taxpaying citizens who have been forced to pay into this system our entire work lives the final outcome may feel the same. Just like Madoff’s victims who thought they were building a safety net for their golden years, those of us who contributed each pay period to Social Security thought we had something we could count on when we retired. We may not have thought it would be enough but we all expected to get a fair return. Now it looks like we will be lucky to get anything and we will all have to work longer to get it.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
As I was surfing the internet I came across the following information on a group called The New American Tea Party. I thought it was interested and decided to pass it along. I think that right now we need to send messages to Washington anyway we can and this is one that is easy to participate in and if enough people join in the statement could be quite symbolic. Please read on:
There's a storm a brewin'. What happens when good, responsible people keep quiet? Washington forgets they work for us.... We don't work for them. Throwing good money after bad is NOT the answer. Are you sick of the midnight, closed door sessions to come up with a plan that you don't get to see? Are you sick of Congress raking CEO's over the coals while they, themselves, have defaulted on their taxes? Are you sick of the bailed out companies having lavish vacations and retreats on your dollar? Are you sick of being told it is YOUR responsibility to rescue people that, knowingly, bought more house than they could afford? Are you sick of being made to feel it is your patriotic duty to pay MORE taxes?
I, like all of you, am a responsible citizen. I pay my taxes. I live on a budget and I don't ask someone else to carry the burden for poor decisions I may make. I have emailed my congressmen and senators asking them to NOT vote for the stimulus package as it was written without reading it first. No one listened. They voted for it, pork and all.
O.K. folks, here it is. You may think you are just one voice and what you think won't make a difference. Well, yes it will and YES, WE CAN!! If you are disgusted and angry with the way Washington is handling our taxes. Are you are fearful of the fallout from the reckless spending of BILLIONS to bailout and "stimulate" without accountability and responsibility. If so, we need to become ONE, LOUD VOICE THAT CAN BE HEARD FROM EVERY CITY, TOWN, SUBURB AND HOME IN AMERICA. We need to feed the growing protest to demand that Congress, the President and his cabinet LISTEN to us, the American Citizens. What is being done in Washington is NOT the way to handle the economic free fall.
So, here's the plan. On April 1, 2009, all Americans are asked to send a TEABAG to Washington, D.C. You do not have to enclose a note or any other information unless you desire to. Just a TEABAG! Many cities are organizing protests. If you simply search, "New American Tea Party", several sites will come up. If you aren't the 'protester' type, simply make your one voice heard with a TEABAG. Your one voice will become a roar when joined with millions of others that feel the same way.. Yes, something needs to be done but the lack of confidence shown by the steady decline in the stock market speaks volumes about how much confidence the current plan is working.
This was not my idea. I visited the sites of the New American Tea Party and an online survey showed over 90% of respondents said they would send the teabag on April 1st. Why, April 1st?? We want them to reach Washington by April 15. Will you do it? I will.
If you want to participate Send your teabag to:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington , D.C. 20500 .
For more informationVisit the New American Tea Party website. Please encourage all your friends to go ahead and get the envelope ready to mail to drop in the mail on April 1st.
What is the benefit for your effort? First it will stimulate tea sales and help the Postal Service which is sinking fast due to lost volume ($700MM loss in Jan). Plus maybe several million teabags will get the attention of our elected officials. The message: start listening to the people. Take out the Pork. Tell us how our money is being spent. We want TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. Remember, the money hasn’t been spent yet so it is not too late to make a statement.
Send a Tea Bag and send a message!
There's a storm a brewin'. What happens when good, responsible people keep quiet? Washington forgets they work for us.... We don't work for them. Throwing good money after bad is NOT the answer. Are you sick of the midnight, closed door sessions to come up with a plan that you don't get to see? Are you sick of Congress raking CEO's over the coals while they, themselves, have defaulted on their taxes? Are you sick of the bailed out companies having lavish vacations and retreats on your dollar? Are you sick of being told it is YOUR responsibility to rescue people that, knowingly, bought more house than they could afford? Are you sick of being made to feel it is your patriotic duty to pay MORE taxes?
I, like all of you, am a responsible citizen. I pay my taxes. I live on a budget and I don't ask someone else to carry the burden for poor decisions I may make. I have emailed my congressmen and senators asking them to NOT vote for the stimulus package as it was written without reading it first. No one listened. They voted for it, pork and all.
O.K. folks, here it is. You may think you are just one voice and what you think won't make a difference. Well, yes it will and YES, WE CAN!! If you are disgusted and angry with the way Washington is handling our taxes. Are you are fearful of the fallout from the reckless spending of BILLIONS to bailout and "stimulate" without accountability and responsibility. If so, we need to become ONE, LOUD VOICE THAT CAN BE HEARD FROM EVERY CITY, TOWN, SUBURB AND HOME IN AMERICA. We need to feed the growing protest to demand that Congress, the President and his cabinet LISTEN to us, the American Citizens. What is being done in Washington is NOT the way to handle the economic free fall.
So, here's the plan. On April 1, 2009, all Americans are asked to send a TEABAG to Washington, D.C. You do not have to enclose a note or any other information unless you desire to. Just a TEABAG! Many cities are organizing protests. If you simply search, "New American Tea Party", several sites will come up. If you aren't the 'protester' type, simply make your one voice heard with a TEABAG. Your one voice will become a roar when joined with millions of others that feel the same way.. Yes, something needs to be done but the lack of confidence shown by the steady decline in the stock market speaks volumes about how much confidence the current plan is working.
This was not my idea. I visited the sites of the New American Tea Party and an online survey showed over 90% of respondents said they would send the teabag on April 1st. Why, April 1st?? We want them to reach Washington by April 15. Will you do it? I will.
If you want to participate Send your teabag to:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington , D.C. 20500 .
For more informationVisit the New American Tea Party website. Please encourage all your friends to go ahead and get the envelope ready to mail to drop in the mail on April 1st.
What is the benefit for your effort? First it will stimulate tea sales and help the Postal Service which is sinking fast due to lost volume ($700MM loss in Jan). Plus maybe several million teabags will get the attention of our elected officials. The message: start listening to the people. Take out the Pork. Tell us how our money is being spent. We want TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. Remember, the money hasn’t been spent yet so it is not too late to make a statement.
Send a Tea Bag and send a message!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Obama insults the U.K. ... draws praise from Chavez
Over the past couple of weeks President Obama has made some interesting choices regarding continuing our "special relationship" with our strongest ally the U.K. First there was the botched return of a bust of Winston Churchill loaned to the U.S. by the queen shortly after the 9/11 attacks as show of solidarity with America in our time of crisis.
see:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4623148/Barack-Obama-sends-bust-of-Winston-Churchill-on-its-way-back-to-Britain.html
Then for good measure he embarrased himself and our country with a poorly chosen gift for U.K. Prime Minister Brown during the customary gift exchange at the first meeting between the two leaders.
see:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1159627/To-special-friend-Gordon-25-DVDs-Obama-gives-Brown-set-classic-movies-Lets-hope-likes-Wizard-Oz.html
Meanwhile:
Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday called upon US President Barack Obama to follow the path to socialism, which he termed as the "only" way out of the global recession. "Come with us, align yourself, come with us on the road to socialism. This is the only path. Imagine a socialist revolution in the United States," Chavez told a group of workers in the southern Venezuelan state of Bolivar. For more see:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123310466514522309.html
How will Obama and the democrats further their Socialist agenda? As White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emmanuel put it... "You never want a serious crisis go to waste. This crisis provides the opportunity for us to do things that you could not do before." The things that Obama and his colleagues want to do - nationalized healthcare, a cap and trade tax on energy and a federalized education system are not going to fix the current economic situation. However, these policies will continue the national march toward socialism which the President and the Congress are orchestrating.
see:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4623148/Barack-Obama-sends-bust-of-Winston-Churchill-on-its-way-back-to-Britain.html
Then for good measure he embarrased himself and our country with a poorly chosen gift for U.K. Prime Minister Brown during the customary gift exchange at the first meeting between the two leaders.
see:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1159627/To-special-friend-Gordon-25-DVDs-Obama-gives-Brown-set-classic-movies-Lets-hope-likes-Wizard-Oz.html
Meanwhile:
Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday called upon US President Barack Obama to follow the path to socialism, which he termed as the "only" way out of the global recession. "Come with us, align yourself, come with us on the road to socialism. This is the only path. Imagine a socialist revolution in the United States," Chavez told a group of workers in the southern Venezuelan state of Bolivar. For more see:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123310466514522309.html
How will Obama and the democrats further their Socialist agenda? As White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emmanuel put it... "You never want a serious crisis go to waste. This crisis provides the opportunity for us to do things that you could not do before." The things that Obama and his colleagues want to do - nationalized healthcare, a cap and trade tax on energy and a federalized education system are not going to fix the current economic situation. However, these policies will continue the national march toward socialism which the President and the Congress are orchestrating.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Are we at the dawn of a Socialist America?
Food for thought:
In 1948 Norman Thomas of the Socialist Party of America said "The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of 'liberalism' they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened."
Think about it! ........ Enter the current congress and our new president.
America was built through capitalism which rewards leadership, hard work, innovation and risk taking. The government is incapable of fostering this type of environment. Politicians are more interested in votes than results. One need look no further than the "businesses" they currently run and you get a good idea of their abilities. Forget the disasterous first rescue bill and the fact that nobody can tell us where the money went. How about the purchasing of military equipment, the US Postal Service (which lost $700MM in January) - now they want to control the banks and your healthcare.
Reject Socialism Now!!!...... We need to wake up the country before it's too late. The Congress and the President have an agenda and they are moving fast. We need to move faster before the damage is permanent,
In 1948 Norman Thomas of the Socialist Party of America said "The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of 'liberalism' they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened."
Think about it! ........ Enter the current congress and our new president.
America was built through capitalism which rewards leadership, hard work, innovation and risk taking. The government is incapable of fostering this type of environment. Politicians are more interested in votes than results. One need look no further than the "businesses" they currently run and you get a good idea of their abilities. Forget the disasterous first rescue bill and the fact that nobody can tell us where the money went. How about the purchasing of military equipment, the US Postal Service (which lost $700MM in January) - now they want to control the banks and your healthcare.
Reject Socialism Now!!!...... We need to wake up the country before it's too late. The Congress and the President have an agenda and they are moving fast. We need to move faster before the damage is permanent,
National Tax Day Tea Party
I am trying to put together a National Tax Day Tea Party at St. Paul Capitol Building on April 15th. This will be part of a national effort to call attention to the direction our country seems to be headed. That direction will punish hard working Americans with out of control debt that will ultimately result in taxes that will strangle what is left of the economy.
If you are interested in more information email me at davegj.13@gmail.com. You can also go to www.taxdayteaparty.com or www.fairtax.com
Food for thought -
Will Rogers - “The more you observe politics, the more you've got to admit that each party is worse than the other.”
If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom. Dwight D. Eisenhower
We must organize and speak in a clear voice that President Obama and the Congress can hear and understand. This is America and redistribution of our paychecks is not acceptable.
If you are interested in more information email me at davegj.13@gmail.com. You can also go to www.taxdayteaparty.com or www.fairtax.com
Food for thought -
Will Rogers - “The more you observe politics, the more you've got to admit that each party is worse than the other.”
If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom. Dwight D. Eisenhower
We must organize and speak in a clear voice that President Obama and the Congress can hear and understand. This is America and redistribution of our paychecks is not acceptable.
It's time to ACT!
Now is the time for real change - it is time to take back the country from the politicians and return control to regular people with common sense:
Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the dangers of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of "crackpot" than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost. - Thomas J. Watson
We need to get involved and send a message to our elected representatives that they work for us. If they won't do the right things for our country they can and will be fired.
Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the dangers of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of "crackpot" than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost. - Thomas J. Watson
We need to get involved and send a message to our elected representatives that they work for us. If they won't do the right things for our country they can and will be fired.
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