I've traveled all over this great country, I've stood at Plymouth Rock and the site where the first American Flag was raised in Alaska. I've been to the beaches of Hawaii and the swamps of Florida. I've been to the plains of Texas and the mountains of Colorado. This may seem a little ethnocentric, but I believe that the United States of America is not only the most beautiful place in the world but also the greatest place in the world to live. The United States of America is the last bastion of freedom and liberty in the world. If we lose it here, there is no other place on earth. I wish I could take credit for that, but that's from President Reagan, and he was right.
The United States of America was an experiment, created 234 years ago by a small group of independent colonies. Representatives from the 13 colonies gathered together to form a brand new government system unlike any the world has ever seen. The colonists, since crossing the pond, had enjoyed a life of limited government (partially because of the distance), freedom and liberty. When the colonies revolted against the crown, they were trying to conserve their way of life. The Founding Fathers were the original conservatives, unlike those who would want you to believe they were radicals or revolutionaries.
America is not only beautiful because of the diverse scenery you can see as you travel across, but because of the freedom and liberty she provides for her citizens. The Founding Fathers were wise beyond their time. They carefully crafted the Constitution. The colonies saw the need for a limited federal government to control a few interstate issues, the federal government was limited in what it could do. The Founders knew that the federal government would never reign in their power, they left most of the power to the state governments. A system of checks and balances was installed to keep one branch from overstepping it's power. The states created the federal government and wanted to make sure it didn't infringe on their liberties. In the federal system, not only did the executive, judicial and legislative branches have checks and balances over each other, but the legislative branch had a peoples representation and state representation (until the progressives got their way with the 17th Amendment).
For the most part, the system worked liked it was supposed to with each branch keeping the other from overstepping its enumerated powers for nearly 100 years. That has changed though, executives overstepping, legislators using positivism laws and the judiciary legislating and interpreting from the bench. Slowly, they are chipping away at our liberties. Taxes, welfare programs, zoning laws, eminent domain, mandating the purchase of products, censorship, illegal search and seizures, illegal detainment, gov't breaking laws to enforce laws, bribery, crony capitalism, regulating diets, regulating private enterprise, regulating the environment, unregulated central bank, federal bureaucracies, political correctness, etc., etc. "The admin" is now working to suspend free speech with the "fairness doctrine" and "net neutrality". Before you say, 'that won't happen in America, the 1st Amendment guarantees free speech' look at the Patriot Act. Bush II enacted the Patriot Act after the tragic events of 9-11, while it may have good intentions, it had terrible effects on our liberty. The Patriot Act violates the Constitution in several areas, it allows federal agents to write their own search warrants, no need to prove to a judge the need for a warrant. One of the biggest infringements is the Patriot Act makes it illegal to speak out if the fed's are investigating you using the Patriot Act. You can't tell your spouse, your attorney, the press, anyone or you are guilty of a felony.
While America is still the most beautiful country in the world, it is slowly turning into the drab brown and grays of socialism. The Founders would not recognize the America we live in today. With everyday, with every election, the career politicians are stealing our liberty and giving it to someone else. The Founders envisioned a country ruled by it's citizens. It was an honor to serve the government, but you served your term and went home, back to the people you represented. The power of the federal government continues to grow unchecked. They have hijacked the Constitution and subverted it to serve themselves and their ideology. It's time for the people to stand up and take our government back! "When people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people there is liberty." "A government that governs least, governs best." "Government doesn't solve problems, government is the problem."
Monday, August 23, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Who am I?
I've been holding this for a little while, I had to do my research and make sure what I was posting was accurate. We all know that everything on the internet must be true or else it wouldn't be on the internet (sarcastic tone implied). This is a little quiz, don't cheat and scroll to the bottom for the answer, read all the way down first.
I was born in one country, raised in another.
My father was born in another country.
I was not his only child.
He fathered several children with numerous women.
I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no interest in me.
My mother died at an early age from cancer.
Later in life, questions arose over my real name.
My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.
I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult, disguising myself as someone who really cared about them.
That was before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and I embarked on a new career.
I wrote a book about my struggles growing up.
It was clear to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.
I became active in local politics in my 30's then with help behind the scenes, I literally burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office in my 40s.
They said I had a golden tongue and could talk anyone into anything.
I had a virtually non-existent resume, little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization.
Yet I was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me as though I were a magnet and they were small roofing tacks.
I drew incredibly large crowds during my public
appearances.
This bolstered my ego.
At first, my political campaign focused on my country's foreign policy......
I was very critical of my country in the last war and seized every opportunity to bash my
country..
But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on the country's economy.
I pretended to have a really good plan on how we could do better and every poor person would be fed & housed for free.
I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess.
It was the free market, banks & corporations.
I decided to start making citizens hate them and if they were envious of others who did well, the plan was clinched tight.
I called mine "A People's Campaign" and that
sounded good to all people.
I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics & was able to gain widespread popular support.
I knew that, if I merely offered the people "hope", together we could change our country and the world.
So, I started to make my speeches sound like they were on behalf of the downtrodden, poor, ignorant to include "persecuted minorities".
My true views were not widely known & I kept them unknown, until after I became my nation's leader.
I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have easily found out what I really believed, if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with.
I'm glad they didn't.
Then I became the most powerful man in the world.
And then the world learned the truth.
*Who am I?
Adolf Hitler.
I was born in one country, raised in another.
My father was born in another country.
I was not his only child.
He fathered several children with numerous women.
I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no interest in me.
My mother died at an early age from cancer.
Later in life, questions arose over my real name.
My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.
I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult, disguising myself as someone who really cared about them.
That was before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and I embarked on a new career.
I wrote a book about my struggles growing up.
It was clear to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.
I became active in local politics in my 30's then with help behind the scenes, I literally burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office in my 40s.
They said I had a golden tongue and could talk anyone into anything.
I had a virtually non-existent resume, little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization.
Yet I was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me as though I were a magnet and they were small roofing tacks.
I drew incredibly large crowds during my public
appearances.
This bolstered my ego.
At first, my political campaign focused on my country's foreign policy......
I was very critical of my country in the last war and seized every opportunity to bash my
country..
But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on the country's economy.
I pretended to have a really good plan on how we could do better and every poor person would be fed & housed for free.
I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess.
It was the free market, banks & corporations.
I decided to start making citizens hate them and if they were envious of others who did well, the plan was clinched tight.
I called mine "A People's Campaign" and that
sounded good to all people.
I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics & was able to gain widespread popular support.
I knew that, if I merely offered the people "hope", together we could change our country and the world.
So, I started to make my speeches sound like they were on behalf of the downtrodden, poor, ignorant to include "persecuted minorities".
My true views were not widely known & I kept them unknown, until after I became my nation's leader.
I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have easily found out what I really believed, if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with.
I'm glad they didn't.
Then I became the most powerful man in the world.
And then the world learned the truth.
*Who am I?
Adolf Hitler.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tax increases
"The admin" has repeatedly stated that he would not raise taxes on people making less than $200,000 a year. He has broken that promise a few times but his biggest may be hidden in the death care law. Your Congressmen probably missed it hidden away in the 2000 page beast of a bill, especially since most didn't even bother to read it. They make jokes about what's the point if they don't have a team of lawyers, nice joke since you don't have to abide by it. Remember, the death care law doesn't come into effect until 2013 but that doesn't stop the taxes from starting in January 2011. Here are some of the "hidden" taxes that will effect everyone, rich and poor, middle class and elitist alike.
Three great waves coming...
http://www.atr.org/six-months-untilbr-largest-tax-hikes-a5171
MAKE SURE ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY UNDERSTAND JUST WHAT THE OBAMA "CHANGE" IS GOING TO DO!!!
In just six months, on January 1, 2011, the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect.
They will hit families and small businesses in three great waves.
On January 1, 2011, here’s what happens... (read it to the end, so you see all three waves)...
First Wave:
Expiration of 2001 and 2003 Tax Relief
In 2001 and 2003, the GOP Congress enacted several tax cuts for investors, small business owners, and families.
These will all expire on January 1, 2011.
Personal income tax rates will rise.
The top income tax rate will rise from 35 to 39.6 percent (this is also the rate at which two-thirds of small business profits are taxed).
The lowest rate will rise from 10 to 15 percent.
All the rates in between will also rise.
Itemized deductions and personal exemptions will again phase out, which has the same mathematical effect as higher marginal tax rates.
The full list of marginal rate hikes is below:
The 10% bracket rises to an expanded 15%
The 25% bracket rises to 28%
The 28% bracket rises to 31%
The 33% bracket rises to 36%
The 35% bracket rises to 39.6%
Higher taxes on marriage and family.
The "marriage penalty" (narrower tax brackets for married couples) will return from the first dollar of income.
The child tax credit will be cut in half from $1000 to $500 per child.
The standard deduction will no longer be doubled for married couples relative to the single level.
The dependent care and adoption tax credits will be cut.
The return of the Death Tax.
This year only, there is no death tax. (It’s a quirk!) For those dying on or after January 1, 2011, there is a 55 percent
top death tax rate on estates over $1 million. A person leaving behind two homes, a business, a retirement account, could easily pass along a death tax bill to their loved ones. Think of the farmers who don’t make much money, but their land, which they purchased years ago with after-tax dollars, is now worth a lot of money. Their children will have to sell the farm, which may be their livelihood, just to pay the estate tax if they don’t have the cash sitting around to pay the tax. Think about your own family’s assets. Maybe your family owns real estate, or a business that doesn’t make much money, but the building and equipment are worth $1 million. Upon their death, you can inherit the $1 million business tax free, but if they own a home, stock, cash worth $500K on top of the $1 million business, then you will owe the government $275,000 cash! That’s 55% of the value of the assets over $1 million! Do you have that kind of cash sitting around waiting to pay the estate tax?
Higher tax rates on savers and investors.
The capital gains tax will rise from 15 percent this year to 20 percent in 2011.
The dividends tax will rise from 15 percent this year to 39.6 percent in 2011.
These rates will rise another 3.8 percent in 2013.
Second Wave:
Obamacare
There are over twenty new or higher taxes in Obamacare. Several will first go into effect on January 1, 2011. They include:
The "Medicine Cabinet Tax"
Thanks to Obamacare, Americans will no longer be able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin).
The "Special Needs Kids Tax"
This provision of Obamacare imposes a cap on flexible spending accounts (FSAs) of $2500 (Currently, there is no federal government limit). There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children.
There are thousands of families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education.
Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington , D.C. ( National Child Research Center ) can easily exceed $14,000 per year.
Under tax rules, FSA dollars can not be used to pay for this type of special needs education.
The HSA (Health Savings Account) Withdrawal Tax Hike.
This provision of Obamacare increases the additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.
Third Wave:
The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and Employer Tax Hikes
When Americans prepare to file their tax returns in January of 2011, they'll be in for a nasty surprise-the AMT won't be held harmless, and many tax relief provisions will have expired.
The major items include:
The AMT will ensnare over 28 million families, up from 4 million last year.
According to the left-leaning Tax Policy Center, Congress' failure to index the AMT will lead to an explosion of AMT taxpaying families-rising from 4 million last year to 28.5 million. These families will have to calculate their tax burdens twice, and pay taxes at the higher level. The AMT was created in 1969 to ensnare a handful of taxpayers.
Small business expensing will be slashed and 50% expensing will disappear.
Small businesses can normally expense (rather than slowly-deduct, or "depreciate") equipment purchases up to $250,000.
This will be cut all the way down to $25,000. Larger businesses can currently expense half of their purchases of equipment.
In January of 2011, all of it will have to be "depreciated."
Taxes will be raised on all types of businesses.
There are literally scores of tax hikes on business that will take place. The biggest is the loss of the "research and experimentation tax credit," but there are many, many others. Combining high marginal tax rates with the loss of this tax relief will cost jobs.
Tax Benefits for Education and Teaching Reduced.
The deduction for tuition and fees will not be available.
Tax credits for education will be limited.
Teachers will no longer be able to deduct classroom expenses.
Coverdell Education Savings Accounts will be cut.
Employer-provided educational assistance is curtailed.
The student loan interest deduction will be disallowed for hundreds of thousands of families.
Charitable Contributions from IRAs no longer allowed.
Under current law, a retired person with an IRA can contribute up to $100,000 per year directly to a charity from their IRA.
This contribution also counts toward an annual "required minimum distribution." This ability will no longer be there.
And worse yet?
Now, your insurance will be INCOME on your W2's!
One of the surprises we'll find come next year, is what follows - - a little "surprise" that 99% of us had no idea was included in the "new and improved" healthcare legislation . . . the dupes, er, dopes, who backed this administration will be astonished!
Starting in 2011, (next year folks), your W-2 tax form sent by your employer will be increased to show the value of whatever health insurance you are given by the company. It does not matter if that's a private concern or governmental body of some sort.
If you're retired? So what... your gross will go up by the amount of insurance you get.
You will be required to pay taxes on a large sum of money that you have never seen. Take your tax form you just finished and see what $15,000 or $20,000 additional gross does to your tax debt. That's what you'll pay next year.
For many, it also puts you into a new higher bracket so it's even worse.
This is how the government is going to buy insurance for the15% that don't have insurance and it's only part of the tax increases.
Not believing this??? Here is a research of the summaries.....
On page 25 of 29: TITLE IX REVENUE PROVISIONS- SUBTITLE A: REVENUE OFFSET PROVISIONS-(sec. 9001,
as modified by sec. 10901) Sec.9002 "requires employers to include in the W-2 form of each employee the aggregate cost of applicable employer sponsored group health coverage that is excludable from the employees gross income."
- Joan Pryde is the senior tax editor for the Kiplinger letters.
- Go to Kiplingers and read about 13 tax changes that could affect you. Number 3 is what is above.
Why am I sharing this? People have the right to know the truth because an election is coming in November!
Three great waves coming...
http://www.atr.org/six-months-untilbr-largest-tax-hikes-a5171
MAKE SURE ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY UNDERSTAND JUST WHAT THE OBAMA "CHANGE" IS GOING TO DO!!!
In just six months, on January 1, 2011, the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect.
They will hit families and small businesses in three great waves.
On January 1, 2011, here’s what happens... (read it to the end, so you see all three waves)...
First Wave:
Expiration of 2001 and 2003 Tax Relief
In 2001 and 2003, the GOP Congress enacted several tax cuts for investors, small business owners, and families.
These will all expire on January 1, 2011.
Personal income tax rates will rise.
The top income tax rate will rise from 35 to 39.6 percent (this is also the rate at which two-thirds of small business profits are taxed).
The lowest rate will rise from 10 to 15 percent.
All the rates in between will also rise.
Itemized deductions and personal exemptions will again phase out, which has the same mathematical effect as higher marginal tax rates.
The full list of marginal rate hikes is below:
The 10% bracket rises to an expanded 15%
The 25% bracket rises to 28%
The 28% bracket rises to 31%
The 33% bracket rises to 36%
The 35% bracket rises to 39.6%
Higher taxes on marriage and family.
The "marriage penalty" (narrower tax brackets for married couples) will return from the first dollar of income.
The child tax credit will be cut in half from $1000 to $500 per child.
The standard deduction will no longer be doubled for married couples relative to the single level.
The dependent care and adoption tax credits will be cut.
The return of the Death Tax.
This year only, there is no death tax. (It’s a quirk!) For those dying on or after January 1, 2011, there is a 55 percent
top death tax rate on estates over $1 million. A person leaving behind two homes, a business, a retirement account, could easily pass along a death tax bill to their loved ones. Think of the farmers who don’t make much money, but their land, which they purchased years ago with after-tax dollars, is now worth a lot of money. Their children will have to sell the farm, which may be their livelihood, just to pay the estate tax if they don’t have the cash sitting around to pay the tax. Think about your own family’s assets. Maybe your family owns real estate, or a business that doesn’t make much money, but the building and equipment are worth $1 million. Upon their death, you can inherit the $1 million business tax free, but if they own a home, stock, cash worth $500K on top of the $1 million business, then you will owe the government $275,000 cash! That’s 55% of the value of the assets over $1 million! Do you have that kind of cash sitting around waiting to pay the estate tax?
Higher tax rates on savers and investors.
The capital gains tax will rise from 15 percent this year to 20 percent in 2011.
The dividends tax will rise from 15 percent this year to 39.6 percent in 2011.
These rates will rise another 3.8 percent in 2013.
Second Wave:
Obamacare
There are over twenty new or higher taxes in Obamacare. Several will first go into effect on January 1, 2011. They include:
The "Medicine Cabinet Tax"
Thanks to Obamacare, Americans will no longer be able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin).
The "Special Needs Kids Tax"
This provision of Obamacare imposes a cap on flexible spending accounts (FSAs) of $2500 (Currently, there is no federal government limit). There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children.
There are thousands of families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education.
Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington , D.C. ( National Child Research Center ) can easily exceed $14,000 per year.
Under tax rules, FSA dollars can not be used to pay for this type of special needs education.
The HSA (Health Savings Account) Withdrawal Tax Hike.
This provision of Obamacare increases the additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.
Third Wave:
The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and Employer Tax Hikes
When Americans prepare to file their tax returns in January of 2011, they'll be in for a nasty surprise-the AMT won't be held harmless, and many tax relief provisions will have expired.
The major items include:
The AMT will ensnare over 28 million families, up from 4 million last year.
According to the left-leaning Tax Policy Center, Congress' failure to index the AMT will lead to an explosion of AMT taxpaying families-rising from 4 million last year to 28.5 million. These families will have to calculate their tax burdens twice, and pay taxes at the higher level. The AMT was created in 1969 to ensnare a handful of taxpayers.
Small business expensing will be slashed and 50% expensing will disappear.
Small businesses can normally expense (rather than slowly-deduct, or "depreciate") equipment purchases up to $250,000.
This will be cut all the way down to $25,000. Larger businesses can currently expense half of their purchases of equipment.
In January of 2011, all of it will have to be "depreciated."
Taxes will be raised on all types of businesses.
There are literally scores of tax hikes on business that will take place. The biggest is the loss of the "research and experimentation tax credit," but there are many, many others. Combining high marginal tax rates with the loss of this tax relief will cost jobs.
Tax Benefits for Education and Teaching Reduced.
The deduction for tuition and fees will not be available.
Tax credits for education will be limited.
Teachers will no longer be able to deduct classroom expenses.
Coverdell Education Savings Accounts will be cut.
Employer-provided educational assistance is curtailed.
The student loan interest deduction will be disallowed for hundreds of thousands of families.
Charitable Contributions from IRAs no longer allowed.
Under current law, a retired person with an IRA can contribute up to $100,000 per year directly to a charity from their IRA.
This contribution also counts toward an annual "required minimum distribution." This ability will no longer be there.
And worse yet?
Now, your insurance will be INCOME on your W2's!
One of the surprises we'll find come next year, is what follows - - a little "surprise" that 99% of us had no idea was included in the "new and improved" healthcare legislation . . . the dupes, er, dopes, who backed this administration will be astonished!
Starting in 2011, (next year folks), your W-2 tax form sent by your employer will be increased to show the value of whatever health insurance you are given by the company. It does not matter if that's a private concern or governmental body of some sort.
If you're retired? So what... your gross will go up by the amount of insurance you get.
You will be required to pay taxes on a large sum of money that you have never seen. Take your tax form you just finished and see what $15,000 or $20,000 additional gross does to your tax debt. That's what you'll pay next year.
For many, it also puts you into a new higher bracket so it's even worse.
This is how the government is going to buy insurance for the15% that don't have insurance and it's only part of the tax increases.
Not believing this??? Here is a research of the summaries.....
On page 25 of 29: TITLE IX REVENUE PROVISIONS- SUBTITLE A: REVENUE OFFSET PROVISIONS-(sec. 9001,
as modified by sec. 10901) Sec.9002 "requires employers to include in the W-2 form of each employee the aggregate cost of applicable employer sponsored group health coverage that is excludable from the employees gross income."
- Joan Pryde is the senior tax editor for the Kiplinger letters.
- Go to Kiplingers and read about 13 tax changes that could affect you. Number 3 is what is above.
Why am I sharing this? People have the right to know the truth because an election is coming in November!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Even More Reform
I should jot down notes when I start ranting, I always seem to forget something. I forgot to mention all of the Congressional reforms that I thought need to happen.
A big one, that ties into limiting the Congressional "session", is there should be no lame duck session on Congress. Who's interest is really being looked out for at that time. They don't listen to us when in office and up for reelection, why would they when they get voted out? The only reasonable excuse for a lame duck session would be to cram an unpopular agenda further down the peoples throat. I think we have a real possibility to see that happen this year, after November. Hopefully, the American people will send the libtard, progressive's to the retirement home. The mood of the country (long time incumbents losing in primaries, the number who said they weren't seeking reelection) appears to be anti establishment. That could potentially make most of Congress lame ducks and they would not hesitate to cram more of the progressive agenda through before they leave their "Congressional Service" for retirement. They shouldn't spend as much time as they do in Washington DC, let alone after the people have spoken (voted).
Along with repealing the 17th Amendment, we need to repeal the 16th Amendment as well. The 16th Amendment allows Congress direct taxation upon the people, there is no apportionment or census enumeration, just tax income from whatever source. The 16th and 17th Amendment were states' rights killers. Those two Amendments took virtually any "voice" the state had in the federal government. The states created the federal government, not the other way around. The states should fund the federal government, not the other way around. The federal government should have to receive money from the states to carry out it's limited, enumerated powers. The Founders believed that the states were sovereign, with the exception of the limited power they gave the federal gov't. The federal gov't controlling the purse strings is kinda like the employees controlling them, or a kid in a candy store. The federal government takes money from the states and the residents of those states and decides which states will receive the money and how much. The federal government can make the states cave in to their will. If you don't comply with what we tell you to do, we will withhold federal funds. Where did the fed get that money in the first place? A government that governs locally governs best. Keep the politicians close, they are more accountable. We could eliminate several wasteful federal departments, the Dept of Education, the Dept of Agriculture, The Dept of the Interior, HUD, HHS, Labor, Homeland Security, EPA and OSHA. All of these functions could easily be done at the state level for a cheaper cost. If you don't like the laws in one state, you can very easily move to another state but when all laws become federal, there is no where to escape to.
There are two ways to Amend the United States Constitution, it is found in Article V. The first way is 2/3 of both houses of Congress vote to propose an amendment; the other, which has never been used, is 2/3 of the state legislatures call a national convention to propose amendments. Congress obviously won't propose a balanced budget amendment so we need to rally the states to call one. The mounting debt is slowly killing our country and a balanced budget amendment would be one way to work towards our economic futures. States already have balanced budgets, why shouldn't the federal government have to live within a budget (that goes back to FDR taking us off the gold standard). An amendment convention would be great, we could propose to repeal the 16th & 17th amendments and propose a balanced budget amendment, term limits and even an amendment to make Congress have to live and abide by the laws they pass. We could reform their pay, pensions, health care. Remind them who's in charge and that serving in Congress is a service, not a career.
Campaign finance reform needs lots of work, first they need to stop using taxpayer money to fund political campaigns. Organizations that receive federal money to redistribute for social programs should not be allowed to spend that money on elections. There should be a cap on the amount spent, no matter the source (unless as above), that is strictly accounted for. This would allow more normal people to run for public office. But this topic could fill an entire blog or two.
Remember November, recycle Congress and push your state legislatures to call for an Article V convention!
A big one, that ties into limiting the Congressional "session", is there should be no lame duck session on Congress. Who's interest is really being looked out for at that time. They don't listen to us when in office and up for reelection, why would they when they get voted out? The only reasonable excuse for a lame duck session would be to cram an unpopular agenda further down the peoples throat. I think we have a real possibility to see that happen this year, after November. Hopefully, the American people will send the libtard, progressive's to the retirement home. The mood of the country (long time incumbents losing in primaries, the number who said they weren't seeking reelection) appears to be anti establishment. That could potentially make most of Congress lame ducks and they would not hesitate to cram more of the progressive agenda through before they leave their "Congressional Service" for retirement. They shouldn't spend as much time as they do in Washington DC, let alone after the people have spoken (voted).
Along with repealing the 17th Amendment, we need to repeal the 16th Amendment as well. The 16th Amendment allows Congress direct taxation upon the people, there is no apportionment or census enumeration, just tax income from whatever source. The 16th and 17th Amendment were states' rights killers. Those two Amendments took virtually any "voice" the state had in the federal government. The states created the federal government, not the other way around. The states should fund the federal government, not the other way around. The federal government should have to receive money from the states to carry out it's limited, enumerated powers. The Founders believed that the states were sovereign, with the exception of the limited power they gave the federal gov't. The federal gov't controlling the purse strings is kinda like the employees controlling them, or a kid in a candy store. The federal government takes money from the states and the residents of those states and decides which states will receive the money and how much. The federal government can make the states cave in to their will. If you don't comply with what we tell you to do, we will withhold federal funds. Where did the fed get that money in the first place? A government that governs locally governs best. Keep the politicians close, they are more accountable. We could eliminate several wasteful federal departments, the Dept of Education, the Dept of Agriculture, The Dept of the Interior, HUD, HHS, Labor, Homeland Security, EPA and OSHA. All of these functions could easily be done at the state level for a cheaper cost. If you don't like the laws in one state, you can very easily move to another state but when all laws become federal, there is no where to escape to.
There are two ways to Amend the United States Constitution, it is found in Article V. The first way is 2/3 of both houses of Congress vote to propose an amendment; the other, which has never been used, is 2/3 of the state legislatures call a national convention to propose amendments. Congress obviously won't propose a balanced budget amendment so we need to rally the states to call one. The mounting debt is slowly killing our country and a balanced budget amendment would be one way to work towards our economic futures. States already have balanced budgets, why shouldn't the federal government have to live within a budget (that goes back to FDR taking us off the gold standard). An amendment convention would be great, we could propose to repeal the 16th & 17th amendments and propose a balanced budget amendment, term limits and even an amendment to make Congress have to live and abide by the laws they pass. We could reform their pay, pensions, health care. Remind them who's in charge and that serving in Congress is a service, not a career.
Campaign finance reform needs lots of work, first they need to stop using taxpayer money to fund political campaigns. Organizations that receive federal money to redistribute for social programs should not be allowed to spend that money on elections. There should be a cap on the amount spent, no matter the source (unless as above), that is strictly accounted for. This would allow more normal people to run for public office. But this topic could fill an entire blog or two.
Remember November, recycle Congress and push your state legislatures to call for an Article V convention!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Congressional Reform
I have been hollering about the need to recycle Congress. Congress has stopped listening to the people that put them there. It's time for We the People to take control of the government that works for us! I'm not just ranting about how bad they are doing in DC, I have some ideas that would correct the problem. It's not going to be easy, it's going to be really tough but not impossible. The first thing We the People need to do is to become involved, much like the Tea Party has these past couple of years. We also need to educate ourselves, in our history and the workings of the government and the Constitution. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and all three branches of our government have slowly been subverting it, applying liberal interpretations of a document that's clearly written in plain English. We need to research these people that want to serve us and our country, find out what they are really about. We need a politically educated voting body, that's active and outspoken. Some of the most vicious political debates happened before the United States even became a country; now all you can hear are the insults and negative campaigning, not what the candidates believe in or their plans to fix anything. Make sure you are registered to vote and let your politically educated voice be heard. With all this technology it is very easy to contact your state and federally elected officials and let them know where you stand and where they need to stand to keep your support.
One of the first and most important, we must install term limits. Find candidates that support term limits and elect them and hold them accountable. The Founders envisioned a citizenry legislature, where serving was a service, not a career. There might be a few good arguments on why there should not be term limits, but those don't hold a candle to the multiple arguments supporting term limits. The longer they stay, the more out of touch they become with their home districts. They become to entrenched with the lobbyists, PAC's and fundraisers. They are corrupted. Lord Acton famously said that Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and we see that in Congress. Not only do they make Washington DC their new home but more times than not, it seems that they forget where they came from and who put them there. They make alliances with other members, not their constituents.
Another area that I feel is of the utmost importance, with regards to Congressional reform would be the election of Senators. We need to repeal the 17th Amendment to the Constitution. Our system of government is a representative republic, the Founders carefully instituted a government that was set up so each branch could check and balance the other. Additionally, our system is a confederation of many states and the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution clearly show that the several states created the federal government. The Founders, in their infinite wisdom, even provided for a state voice in the federal system through the bicameral Congress. They set up the House of Representatives, based on population elected by the people and the Senate based on equal state representation elected by the state legislatures. This was designed to give the states a voice in federal matters, since the states created the federal government. Each state was allowed 2 Senators, regardless of size, representing that each state was equal in the Union. Those that support the direct election of US Senators are directly against States' rights. There is no more state voice in the federal government, who's looking out for the interest of the state as a whole?
Another area in need of reform is the length of sessions. Does anyone know who long a session of Congress is? 10 months? 9 months? Congress is limited in it's powers to a very specific list of items (check previous blog for the powers) so why do they need so much time in session. We need to keep our elected officials closer to home, so they know what's important to us, the people they are representing. Take Nevada for example, our legislature meets only for about 4 months a year, the Texas legislature meets once every two years. The states have much greater responsibilities than the federal government, but they require so much more time together? Sounds corrupt to me. A government governs best when it's closer to the people. It's a shame that you can only visit your federally elected officials one or two days a year, when they decide to make themselves available to the public.
We need to take away the elitist status that Congress has bequeathed upon itself. Congress is paid an enormous amount of money per year, they have expense accounts, staff allowances, posh retirements and aren't held to the same standard as normal citizens. Members of Congress avoid paying taxes, use their status to gain favors and grant favors, they hold themselves above the laws that they create and force them upon the citizens. We need to serious cut back on the cost of Congressmen, they should be paid a stipend only when Congress is in session (and not the drawn out, bloated 10 month session) very limited expenses and staffing and that's it. They should get no pension or tenure or life time payments. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career; serve your time and go home. These elitist have their own medical insurance, separate from "the common folk" and they don't even contribute to social security. No wonder they never want to leave, who would? You have Congressmen serving into their 90's, well over the social security retirement age of 65. Congressmen are supposed to be citizens, let them act and participate like every other citizen, no special benefits, no voting themselves pay raises and other special perks.
Congressmen stand before us, asking for our vote and they are responsible for most of the problems that we face. They force banks to lower their lending standards, which in turn helps lead to the housing crisis; they force health care down our throats, against a majority opinion of the public. They stand before us claiming they want a balanced budget, or to lower taxes, create jobs, cut the deficit and it's all up to them. They play politics instead of following the Constitution, why should they worry about "the common folk" they have their cushy retirement and never have to come back and see the people they "serve".
We need to hold these elected officials accountable. Contact them, it's never been easier with a site called congress.org. Enter your zip code on the home page and it will tell you your federal and state officials. It comes complete with web forms for very easy composing and sending. I have used it several times and have always received a response. It's time for We, the People, to take back our government. It was created to protect our rights and liberties, not take from one to give to another.
One of the first and most important, we must install term limits. Find candidates that support term limits and elect them and hold them accountable. The Founders envisioned a citizenry legislature, where serving was a service, not a career. There might be a few good arguments on why there should not be term limits, but those don't hold a candle to the multiple arguments supporting term limits. The longer they stay, the more out of touch they become with their home districts. They become to entrenched with the lobbyists, PAC's and fundraisers. They are corrupted. Lord Acton famously said that Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and we see that in Congress. Not only do they make Washington DC their new home but more times than not, it seems that they forget where they came from and who put them there. They make alliances with other members, not their constituents.
Another area that I feel is of the utmost importance, with regards to Congressional reform would be the election of Senators. We need to repeal the 17th Amendment to the Constitution. Our system of government is a representative republic, the Founders carefully instituted a government that was set up so each branch could check and balance the other. Additionally, our system is a confederation of many states and the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution clearly show that the several states created the federal government. The Founders, in their infinite wisdom, even provided for a state voice in the federal system through the bicameral Congress. They set up the House of Representatives, based on population elected by the people and the Senate based on equal state representation elected by the state legislatures. This was designed to give the states a voice in federal matters, since the states created the federal government. Each state was allowed 2 Senators, regardless of size, representing that each state was equal in the Union. Those that support the direct election of US Senators are directly against States' rights. There is no more state voice in the federal government, who's looking out for the interest of the state as a whole?
Another area in need of reform is the length of sessions. Does anyone know who long a session of Congress is? 10 months? 9 months? Congress is limited in it's powers to a very specific list of items (check previous blog for the powers) so why do they need so much time in session. We need to keep our elected officials closer to home, so they know what's important to us, the people they are representing. Take Nevada for example, our legislature meets only for about 4 months a year, the Texas legislature meets once every two years. The states have much greater responsibilities than the federal government, but they require so much more time together? Sounds corrupt to me. A government governs best when it's closer to the people. It's a shame that you can only visit your federally elected officials one or two days a year, when they decide to make themselves available to the public.
We need to take away the elitist status that Congress has bequeathed upon itself. Congress is paid an enormous amount of money per year, they have expense accounts, staff allowances, posh retirements and aren't held to the same standard as normal citizens. Members of Congress avoid paying taxes, use their status to gain favors and grant favors, they hold themselves above the laws that they create and force them upon the citizens. We need to serious cut back on the cost of Congressmen, they should be paid a stipend only when Congress is in session (and not the drawn out, bloated 10 month session) very limited expenses and staffing and that's it. They should get no pension or tenure or life time payments. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career; serve your time and go home. These elitist have their own medical insurance, separate from "the common folk" and they don't even contribute to social security. No wonder they never want to leave, who would? You have Congressmen serving into their 90's, well over the social security retirement age of 65. Congressmen are supposed to be citizens, let them act and participate like every other citizen, no special benefits, no voting themselves pay raises and other special perks.
Congressmen stand before us, asking for our vote and they are responsible for most of the problems that we face. They force banks to lower their lending standards, which in turn helps lead to the housing crisis; they force health care down our throats, against a majority opinion of the public. They stand before us claiming they want a balanced budget, or to lower taxes, create jobs, cut the deficit and it's all up to them. They play politics instead of following the Constitution, why should they worry about "the common folk" they have their cushy retirement and never have to come back and see the people they "serve".
We need to hold these elected officials accountable. Contact them, it's never been easier with a site called congress.org. Enter your zip code on the home page and it will tell you your federal and state officials. It comes complete with web forms for very easy composing and sending. I have used it several times and have always received a response. It's time for We, the People, to take back our government. It was created to protect our rights and liberties, not take from one to give to another.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
FDR, the overrated.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt is often heralded as one of the best Presidents in the history of the United States. The progressive media and propaganda peddled to school children have perpetuated that myth. The progressive want you to believe that the New Deal and the Great Society programs helped the country but that is not entirely accurate, just popular. Over the course of 6 years FDR created 34 new government agencies, bureaucracies and acts. All of that spending to create jobs resulted in an average unemployment of 18% over those 6 years. "Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle." FDR's quote sounds very similar to "the admin's" quote about paying taxes as being American. The Bill of Rights were rights bestowed on us by our Creator, so when FDR came up with the 2nd Bill of Rights did he think he was our Creator? FDR issued executive order #6102 in 1933 which ordered every American to turn in their gold, in any form within 3 days or face $10,000 fine and/or 10 years in jail. How very American of the great FDR. Biographers have even claimed that FDR was the dumbest (economically speaking) Presidents of all time. He had no economic experience and his policies showed that. All of the New Deal spending did nothing to decrease unemployment or bring the country out of the depression. In fact, Henry Morgenthau (FDR's Treasury Secretary), acknowledged that FDR's spending didn't create any new jobs. Testifying in front of the House Ways and Means committee in 1939 he said, "We have tried spending money. We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work. And I have just one interest, and now if I am wrong...somebody else can have my job. I want to see this country prosperous. I want to see people get a job. I want to see people get enough to eat. We have never made good on our promises...I say after eight years of this administration, we have just as much unemployment as when we started...and enormous debt to boot." Trying to help farmers raise prices, FDR had to cut supply and the stockpile of existing crops; so in the middle of a depression with people starving, he ordered the slaughter of 6 million pigs and 10 million acres of cotton and the public sector jobs created by New Deal displaced private sector jobs. The National Industrial Recovery Act was designed to keep wages high but actually created legally sanctioned cartels that established wages, hours and minimum prices. FDR's New Deal hurt business which in turn delays recovery, mounting taxes on labor costs contributed to high unemployment. Business was afraid to invest because of the uncertainty on what the government would do next. Another "boost" from FDR was the National Labor Relations Act, or the Wagner Act which excludes people to inflate wages, distortion of the labor market, work rules that discourage efficiency and innovation. New Deal supporters say that the massive spending projects provided jobs and economic stimulus, but the taxes to pay for those projects were taken from the private sector and that inhibits private sector job creation. These projects were also extremely wasteful, since there was no profit loss incentive. Another area where you can how useless the distribution of "stimulus" money. The South, who were the poorest in the country, received the least assistance from New Deal projects. Western states received large amounts of WPA money. Researchers have determined that political factors could account for 80% of New Deal spending. Western states where FDR's margin of victory was slim received the lion's share of money while the democratic south that gave FDR a 67% of the vote received little money, even though they could use it the most. WPA workers were intimidated through the threat of job loss to change political parties and donate to reelection campaigns. The FDR regime closed down radio stations that spoke out against him, launched FBI investigations into conservative organizations and smeared members of the America First Committee as Nazis and traitors.
The Supreme Court became an opponent of FDR, rightfully so, they struck down the National Industrial Recovery Act and the Agricultural Adjustment Act. So FDR made designs to pack the court with new activist judges that saw things his way.
Don't agree with what you are reading above, then check it out for yourself.
Gary Dean Best - Pride, Prejudice and Politics: Roosevelt vs Recovery.
Richard Epstein - A Common Law for Labor Relations: A Critique of the New Deal Labor Legislation.
Lewis S Feuer - American Travlers to the Soviet Union 1917-32: The Formation of a Component of New Deal Ideology.
John T Flynn - The Roosevelt Myth.
Robert Higgs - Regime Uncertainty: Why the Great Depression Lasted So Long and Why Prosperity Resumed after the War.
Jim Powell - FDR's Folly.
Robert Shogun - Hard Bargain: How FDR Twisted Churchill's Arm, Evaded the Law and Changed the Role of the American Presidency.
I know there are some out there, that won't even read this, won't check the sources or any of the information, just attack me or change the topic. Most likely, they won't even respond because they can't deny the facts presented above and that would kill the "great" image FDR has. The progressive/liberal media has watered down history to show only what promotes their agenda and are killing the American Spirit in our coming generations.
The Supreme Court became an opponent of FDR, rightfully so, they struck down the National Industrial Recovery Act and the Agricultural Adjustment Act. So FDR made designs to pack the court with new activist judges that saw things his way.
Don't agree with what you are reading above, then check it out for yourself.
Gary Dean Best - Pride, Prejudice and Politics: Roosevelt vs Recovery.
Richard Epstein - A Common Law for Labor Relations: A Critique of the New Deal Labor Legislation.
Lewis S Feuer - American Travlers to the Soviet Union 1917-32: The Formation of a Component of New Deal Ideology.
John T Flynn - The Roosevelt Myth.
Robert Higgs - Regime Uncertainty: Why the Great Depression Lasted So Long and Why Prosperity Resumed after the War.
Jim Powell - FDR's Folly.
Robert Shogun - Hard Bargain: How FDR Twisted Churchill's Arm, Evaded the Law and Changed the Role of the American Presidency.
I know there are some out there, that won't even read this, won't check the sources or any of the information, just attack me or change the topic. Most likely, they won't even respond because they can't deny the facts presented above and that would kill the "great" image FDR has. The progressive/liberal media has watered down history to show only what promotes their agenda and are killing the American Spirit in our coming generations.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
545 vs 300,000,000
Most people with email have probably already seen this, it's not mine but regardless of political ideology you must agree with it. Ask yourself, if this is accurate who are those clowns in DC doing this for? Recycle Congress!
545 PEOPLE--By Charley Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them..
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits..... The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red ..
If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ, it's because they want them in IRAQ
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power..
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charley Reese has retired but was a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel for nearly 3 decades and penned this in 1985 and has been updated a few times, most recently in 2008.
545 PEOPLE--By Charley Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them..
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits..... The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red ..
If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ, it's because they want them in IRAQ
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power..
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charley Reese has retired but was a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel for nearly 3 decades and penned this in 1985 and has been updated a few times, most recently in 2008.
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