Top 5 Stop Spending

Apparently the powers that be in Washington have been dreaming up new ways to extract money from people.  With all the talk about the VAT, it’s no surprise to me that we are now going to have a new “sneeze tax” on Kleenex and related products.  It seems that the hygiene companies have been “deemed” to important to fail and as such, the government is taking over bits and pieces of these companies; Kimberly-Clark being the first.

My sources tell me that an extra tax will be levied on each package of Kleenex (and like products).  The tax will be progressive so as the box increases, the tax will as well.  Opponents say that the new tax is unfair to colder, northern states as the sneezes per capita are much greater in these states than warmer, southern states.  The bill tries to address this problem by tacking a surtax on those states that have warmer climates.  Details on how these boundaries will be decided is still unknown but analysts are saying that a panel made up of representatives of each state as well as White House appointed members will be created shortly after the bill is passed.

Other opponents of this surtax, or “Nasal-Gate” as it is being called, say that increasing taxes, on top of the already increasing taxes, will result in higher prices for all consumer goods.  Some have even said that this new tax may stifle our freedom to sneeze.

I spoke with a Congressman about this, he wished to remain anonymous but said, “We fooled the American people into thinking Healthcare was going to be free.  No one thought it would pass but when it did, we all looked at each other and said ‘How are we going to pay for this’?  We also know that it is mathematically impossible to pay for Healthcare by just taxing the rich so we needed a way to innocuously tax everyone.  We already increased taxes on cigarettes, gas, alcohol, so we needed something else.  I thought, everyone sneezes, everyone buys Kleenex, why not tax that?”

Whatever the outcome for this new legislation, one thing is for sure; Obamacare certainly isn’t free and we are all going to be paying for it in one way or another for years and years and years to come.

Politics Insanity, Obama Change, Obamacare

I came across this post over at OpenCongress.org from a user named cchristian:

This is a stupid law that IS a waste of time. Capitalism is gasping it’s last breath and it’s about time the greedy gave way to the needy. You people are shameful - the damage was done long ago and to take advantage of the economic crises to write capitalism into our Constitution is dispicable. I’m saying VOTE NO ON THIS!!!!!

I wrote a response and tried posting it only finding out that they only allow 1000 characters.  Well I had a LOT more to say about this so I decided to post it here:

Wow…cchristian…either you A)do not live in this country or B) have no idea how this country was founded.  A quick history lesson:  Our founders worked hard…probably harder than any of us will ever know.  They struggled to keep food on their tables.  Meanwhile, a government 1/2 way around the world took everything from them and gave them no voice.  They said enough is enough.  They took back what they worked so hard to build.  This country became the greatest country in the world because of men and women like this.  NOT because we take from all those people because they were the wealthy.  We have a responsibility to our citizenry to help those in need…yes.  But we need to help bring them up and elevate them so they can be self sufficient, productive members of our society.  Giving everything away does not accomplish this goal…in fact, throughout history you can see it has the exact opposite effect.  Instead of freeing these people from their impoverishment, we are making them slaves to it.

 

Additionally, name me ONE country that wasn’t capitalistic that has created or innovated something that truly changed the world.  This country is one of the last true innovators in the world.  NO ONE makes drugs like we do.  NO ONE makes technology like we do.  NO ONE innovates like we do.  Free enterprise, free markets, capitalism, entrepreneurial men and women all make this possible.  Take that away and what is left?  You are the shameful one.  You are the one that wants to deny this world of all the innovation and improvements this country creates…not I.  Be careful what you wish for because some day you may just need the next best life saving drug…or even worse, your 10 year old child may.  What then when no country can invest the time or money to develop such drugs and life saving technologies?  Who will you turn to?

 

This sort of thoughtless blather drives me crazy.  Sure, capitalism creates a lot of scum bags but it also creates some of the greatest innovations the world has ever seen.  On the flip side, are your comments suggesting that socialism or communism is better (or any other form of government for that matter)?  I think we have scores of examples at just how “great” those forms of government have been and are today.  Wise up.

Politics

Ok everyone.  Listen up.  I am hearing over and over again that this new Bill is going to put a lot of people to work.  I TOTALLY agree.  The government is good at creating work but there is a HUGE difference between creating work and creating jobs.

Let me explain.  We keep hearing about all these new roads, bridges, buildings, etc that are going to be built.  That’s great if you are a construction worker.  It’s great if you land that particular contract.  But it is all WORK.  It doesn’t create a long term job for you.  It’s a tactical move not a strategic one.  What happens when all the government sponsored roads and bridges are built?  Well, those people that WERE working are no longer needed.  Is this the plan?  Really?

The only way to create long term jobs is through growth.  When companies are growing, they hire employees; plain and simple.  Building roads will create work that needs to be done.  Helping companies grow will create jobs.  That is the difference between Job Creation and Work Creation.  The government is great at creating work but not so good at creating jobs.  This stimulus package focuses on creating work, not jobs.

Just listen to all the supporters of the stimulus package.  They all talk about putting people to work.  They use very specific language.  The Republican opposition says they are not going to back anything that doesn’t create jobs.  Again, very specific language.  I think there is a need for both but this Bill is loaded with short term, tactical work creation.  We need jobs.

Politics Obama Change

Here is yet another piece of legislation that we can all get behind right?  Well, maybe not.  It’s called the Employee Free Choice Act.  Now while I agree with many of the “ideas” behind it, the execution of it is totally off base.

First, some of the marketing is very misleading.  For instance, on their site they say that “American workers want to form unions” and then goes on to say that 60 million workers want to form unions.  That’s all good and dandy, too bad there are about 140 million workers in the US.  So a minority of workers want to unionize so we NEED unions now?

Unions are “key” to turning the economy around?  Really?  Last I checked unions were a big reason why American car companies are failing.  They force the company out of competitiveness.

All of the reasons behind, the real problem that I see is that voting to unionize would no longer be based on secret ballots.  Why on God’s earth would you want this?  Well, the only reasonable explanation I have is to give the union supporters the ability to intimidate those who do not want to unionize.  Why else would you do this?  Please, someone explain this to me.

So here we go again, change for the sake of change; good or bad.  You all voted for change so enjoy it.

Politics Obama Change

So I’ve been reading how the Obama Administration wants to put oversight of the Census into the hands of Rahm Emanuel…or better yet…the White House.  This might not seem very significant but the implications could be.

The Census plays a part in determining a number of government policy.  It’s used for the Electoral College.  It’s also used to figure out allocation of federal funds.  You can see how having a partisan run the Census is a bad thing.  At a minimum the out of power party should ALWAYS have the ability to observe the process to make sure that the numbers are artificially being stacked in favor of the party in power.  Well it seems like this is going to end.

So here is another example of change.  So all of you that voted for the sake of change…here you go.  Change for the sake of change; good or bad.  I guess it doesn’t matter because it’s change.

Politics Obama, Obama Change

So I have been trying to go through the full text Stimulus Bill line by line to pull out the dollars and what they are for.  It is 778 pages long and you need a Batman decoder ring for many of the items to even figure out where and what the money is going to.  This Bill is totally out of control and anyone voting for it should be ashamed.  Anyway I got about 10 pages into this and saw that it was going to take forever to go through the entire Bill.  So here are some of the items I documented before I quit.

At the bottom are links I found to the Bill and a document that line items the money from the Bill.

This is a bad bill people.  I hope all of you that voted for these idiots are by now wondering if you did the right thing…at a minimum.  You loaded up the House, Senate, and White House with Democrats.  Everyone warned you.  Now it’s time to pay.  Not only are you going to pay but your kids, your kids kids, your kids kids kids, and so on are going to be paying.  An you thought the Republican deficit was bad…

This shouldn’t be about Democrats or Republicans.  It should be about doing the right thing for the American people.  Unfortunately the American people are a side note in this Bill.  This Bill is about paying off special interest groups and their constituents.  See for yourself.

One final note, every Senate Republican is against this and about 11 or so Senate Democrats.

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

200M - for necessary replacement, modernization, or upgrades of laboratories or other facilities to improve workplace safety and mission-area efficiencies as deemed appropriate by the Secretary:

22.5M - for oversight and audit of programs, grants, and activities funded under this title

COOPERATIVE STATE RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC SERVICE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

50M - for competitive grants

FARM SERVICE AGENCY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT INSURANCE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

400M - farm ownership loans

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE WATERSHED AND FLOOD PREVENTION OPERATIONS

275M - Watershed Rehabilitation Program

80M - Rural Development Salaries and Expenses

FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

100M - to carry out a grant program for National School Lunch Program equipment assistance

500M - of which $380,000,000 shall be placed in reserve to be allocated as the Secretary deems necessary, notwithstanding section 17(i) of such Act, to support participation should cost or participation exceed budget estimates, and of which $120,000,000 shall be for the purposes specified in section 17(h)(10)(B)(ii): Provided, That up to one percent of the funding provided for the purposes specified in section 17(h)(10)(B)(ii) may be reserved by the Secretary for Federal administrative activities in support of those purposes.

PAYMENTS TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS WHO SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN THE FAR EAST DURING WORLD WAR II.

198M - to be paid to these people

Here is the full text Bill - http://michellemalkin.cachefly.net/michellemalkin.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/amdth1.pdf

Here are the line items from the Bill - http://senateconservatives.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/nelson-collins-stimulus-final1.pdf

Politics Obama, Obama Change, Taxes

Wow.  Now this is change we can all get behind.  Has this country completely lost its mind?!?

So here are the basics; local governments have been raking in truckloads of money collected from gas taxes.  That is a problem for a number of reasons.  People are just driving less which translates to fewer fill-ups.  People are buying more fuel efficient cars which translates to fewer fill-ups.   I know that I have been just slowing down, changing my driving habits to get better mileage out of my existing car.  I have heard a number of other people doing the same.  All of this means less money in the government coffers.  So this is the perfect scheme to continue squeezing money out of us regardless of how many fill-ups we have.

So the global-warming-alarmist-green-tree hugging-freaks of the country love the idea.  It will basically get people to stop driving their cars as much…which is, of course, good for the environment.  Government loves the idea because this tax has nothing to do with the price of gas.  It is a never ending source of revenue.  Oh, and guess what?  Once those GPS devices are in your car, be prepared for the automatic ticketing program to go into effect.  While we are at it, we may as well govern cars speed limits and levy massive fines if you drive over 55 right?

Where does this end?  People, wake up.  Two things are certain in life; death and taxes and as far as the government is concerned, the more taxes the better.  Taxing people out of their cars is an idiotic idea.  Taxation does NOT, I repeat, does NOT stimulate growth, it stifles it.  What do you think is going to happen to all those goods you buy from your favorite stores?  Chances are they got there by truck (still the cheapest way to ship).  Well you guessed it.  The prices are going to sky rocket.

Politics Taxes

So ACORN may get a part of the 4 Billion dollars set aside for “neighborhood stimulus”.  Are you serious?  Boy, this is change we can really stand behind.  Call your Senators and tell them this isn’t where you want YOUR money spent.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Politics Obama Change, Taxes

I have finally settled down after the election but now I am more worried than ever.  There are so many things going on and so many subtleties with all the new executive orders and bills being signed into law that I am really confused and worried.

I am trying to pay close attention to what is happening and having a hard time following so I know the average American has NO CLUE what is going on.  We have dirty politicians, corrupt corporate leaders, and a media system that has failed to do their job.  It’s like the Obama team and anyone associated with them can do whatever they want and just say “No I didn’t” and all is forgiven.  It would be really funny if it weren’t for the fact that this stuff is really serious.

Look at Illinois’ idiot Governor.  This guy has been taped trying to sell the senate seat.  He gets on TV and says it’s not true…therefore, it must not be true and people believe it.

How about Tim Geithner.  We are putting someone in place to lead the Treasury Department that has questionable tax payment history.  Could you imagine putting someone like this in the Bush administration?  The media would go crazy.

What about Hilary and the hundreds of millions of dollars that gets funneled into the Clinton Foundation from all over the world.  Ya think there may be a conflict of interest?  Naw…who’s next.

All I am asking is that the media rip into these stories like they have been over anything Bush or his administration has been involved in over the last 8 years.  If the media was doing their job, maybe more people would put down the blinders and start digging into the Obama agenda.

Politics Mainstream Media

I see Dick Morris a lot on Fox News.  He seems pretty put together and is critical of all politicians.  This is a great post about the no-change “Change” that Obama is planning.  Let this be a lesson to all of you…again.  Politicians are politicians.  Their nature is NOT to change.  So voting for someone because of some mystical belief in “change” is foolish.  That’s why you focus on the issues.

You all were suckered into believing this con artist.  You’ve made your bed, now it’s time to sleep in it.

Politics Obama Change