Saturday, January 31, 2009

Daschle Is a Tax Deadbeat, Too!

Read this article from ABC News.

What a shame that the new Obama administration and its cohorts in the Senate see fit to seat, not one, but TWO tax cheats in the Cabinet.

Of course, Daschle is no stranger to deception. His recommendations for implementing a national health care program include "move fast" -- before public comment or public ire can arise -- and "write [the legislation] as vaguely as possible."

Why do we stand for this kind of trickery by our elected and appointed officials?

Friday, January 30, 2009

Economists Against the Stimulus Plan

See the list of economists against the Democrat stimulus plan by clicking here.

Democrat Stealth-Care

You've got to read this article from the Wall Street Journal.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Why the Democrats' Economic Stimulus Plan Will Fail

Read this enlightening article here.

Thanks.

Obama Speeches a Hit in Japan

BBC television news reported tonight that a compilation of Obama speeches is presently a great hit in Japan.

They did not report whether this hit publication is found among the fiction or nonfiction writings.

Monday, January 26, 2009

A Massive Wealth Transfer

Michelle Malkin, writing for The Patriot Post says,

"The other incontrovertible truth about this massive wealth transfer [plan to rescue the economy] is that Washington cannot stop the inevitable lard-up. The original concept of spending on 'roads and bridges' has morphed into spending on anything and everything that moves or can be moved."

Read the whole article here. Don't miss it!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Sometimes the Truth is Ugly

William P. Nel and Christopher J. Cooper tell it like it is in the January edition of Energy Policy:

Our analysis proposes that the extent of Global Warming may be acceptable and preferable compared to the socio-economic consequences of not exploiting fossil fuel reserves to their full technical potential.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

A Thread from a Linked-In Discussion

James:

2009 and a New President

Hello All,

How do you think the new year and new administration will effect either the industry you are in or your company indirect or directly?

Personally, I am in the banking industry, I am unsure what all this means for the banking industry.


Me:

DECLINES in personal liberties, national security, free enterprise, free markets, the benefits of capitalism and the value of the U.S. dollar.

INCREASES in taxes, federal regulations, socialist policies, fascist polices and risks to U.S. interests abroad.

James:

I am interested in hearing where this has all been stated. Is this a generalization or factual based statements on the new president. Also, I do see that the opposite of what your stating has not work over the past 8 years, so are you proposing what needs to happen?

Me:

Well, the previous administration inherited a recession, was afflicted by the economic outfall of 9/11/2001, and still managed to bring us 24 (or was it 26?) consecutive quarters of sustained growth with almost no inflation.

The new administration intends to takeover 15% of the U.S. economy via a federal health care program, which will INCREASE taxes; INCREASE federal regulation of the health care industry; REDUCE our individual liberty to choose our own path to health care; REDUCE the free market and free enterprise incentives to health care excellence in the U.S.; and emulate the socialist policies of other nations that have government-run health care. (That's just one example.)

Furthermore, the current economic stimulus package -- falsely so-called -- is nothing more than a virtual fire hose of money thrown at special interests and public works, and accompanied by "tax incentives" -- most of which are nothing more than the redistribution of wealth, since they are giving the so-called incentives mostly to those who DO NOT pay federal income taxes at all.

If the federal government intends to CONFISCATE THE MONIES of the wealth-producing populace through its foolish tax policies, at least DO NOT also insult our intelligence by telling us that the politicians are now going to HELP US by returning to us some small portion of what they have taken!

Yes, my statements are based on FACT -- historical facts. NOWHERE IN HISTORY has an economy been "stimulated" by confiscatory tax policies. NOWHERE IN HISTORY has socialism or fascism been demonstrated to improve the economy of any nation. Socialism, as instituted under the Soviet regime, managed to make the world's largest wheat EXPORTER (Russia) into the world's largest wheat IMPORTER (U.S.S.R.) in a matter of a few short years. (Were it NOT for the grace and supply of the U.S. government and the productivity of American agriculture, the Soviet government could not have survived for the 70 years that it did without major wars of aggression to seize new lands that it could pilfer and destroy.)

Show me any nation on earth where BIG GOVERNMENT has led to MORE personal liberty? Despite what President Obama said in his inaugural address, the SIZE OF GOVERNMENT DOES MATTER. The fact that a larger government, by its nature, results in or feeds upon more regulation is de facto evidence that BIG GOVERNMENT leads to a reduction in personal liberties.

Are we all looking forward to the day when the government's intervention in the auto industry gives us the grand selection of automobiles that was available to the typical citizen of the Soviet Union, and we, like the Soviet citizen, must "apply for" a vehicle and wait a year or two to take delivery of it?

Are we all looking forward to the day when the government's meddling in markets and confiscatory tax policies remove all incentives to excellence amongst our manufacturers? Then, perhaps, one day we will be just like the U.S.S.R. where the most common cause for house fires was -- of all things -- exploding television sets!

Are we all looking forward to the day when the government's ill-conceived "green" policies drive the price of gasoline to $5.00 a gallon or higher? Meanwhile, our food prices skyrocket because we've made our machines competitors for our food supply through government subsidized ethanol programs.

I wish -- even HOPE -- that I am wrong in my assessment. Meanwhile, I have grave concerns that I am not.


Friday, January 9, 2009

The Cowardly Work of Hamas in Gaza

There is a Web site that posts a graphical display of the supposed "Coffin Count" in the present Israel - Hamas conflict in Gaza. Click here to see it.

Since the Web site offers no place to comment nor a link by which to contact its creator, I offer here an open letter in response:

Dear Madame or Sir:

Perhaps, if you had any sense of fairness, you should note on your Website that the cowardly Islamic radicals known as the Hamas could dramatically reduce the Palestinian death rate by ceasing their practice of waging their side of the conflict from schools, hospitals, private homes (not their own) and other centers of public (non-combatant) activity. Hamas' hiding behind the skirts of women and the fair faces of children can be described in no other way than cowardice. The Hezbolah conduct their cowardly attacks on Israel in the same manner.

Another Open Letter to Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate

I just sent the following to Republican leaders in the U.S. Congress:

Honorable Madame or Sir:

I urge you to oppose legislation that would raise tobacco taxes to expand the State Children's Health Insurance program. Trying to tap more funds from a shrinking source of revenue doesn't make much sense. I'm also concerned that this bill would open the door to a bigger, riskier and more SOCIALIST federal role in health care.

Congress shouldn't be raising taxes on ANYTHING during these tough economic times, but hitting tobacco products to fatten SCHIP spending is especially silly. We would actually need to recruit millions of new smokers just to be able to meet the new spending commitments. I'm worried that other TAX HIKES that I would pay will surely follow in order to cover for the long-term costs of this SOCIALIST legislation.

I've had enough of these budget-busting games. I urge you to VOTE AGAINST any attempts to TAKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN AN EVER-INCREASING SOCIALIST DIRECTION with more programs and higher taxes.


What are YOU going to do?

Open Letter to Republican Leadership in Congress

I just sent the following to Republican leadership (if they may be properly so called) in the U.S. House and Senate:

Honorable Madame or Sir:

With regard to the onslaught of socialist economic policies and spending – including absolutely ridiculous so-called “green” initiatives that are really “red” under their subtle shrouds – that will be brought to the floor in the coming months, DO NOT SUPPORT THEM. Please do NOT lend your support nor “trade” your precious vote for by doing so you will be selling your soul and the soul of our great nation. If the Democrats intend to take the United States down the road to socialism economically and to put Marxists in the judiciary, then let them do it themselves. Let there NOT be one Republican vote in support of these ruinous measures.

What are YOU going to tell them?

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Well, we certainly can't be expected to cut the budget!

The National Commission on Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing is the second group in a year to call for increased fuel taxes. Projected shortfalls due to reduced gas consumption led the committee to recommend an "increase of as much as 40 cents a gallon in the gas tax, phased in over five years."

This gas tax increase is being called for to make up (and I really, really hesitate to call this "lost")revenue lost due to decreased driving, more fuel efficient cars on the road and shift to other fuels.

So... on one hand the government demands that American car companies produce more fuel efficient vehicles (with corresponding taxpayer bailout) and throw more tax payer dollars into dubious "fuel technologies" such as ethanol and then seek to punish us for being more efficient and driving less?

This does not even reference the highly questionable productivity of our government's own highway construction and repair service, a department that is known to spend excessive amounts on non-essential projects to ensure their budget does not shrink. Does anyone out there have a positive anecdote dealing with road construction? Show of hands?

The commission itself is aware that this tax revenue is unsustainable. Simple economics dictates that rising gas prices (this time, artificially) will cause a reduction in gas consumption.

The solution?

"According to a draft of the financing commission's recommendations, the nation needs to move to a new system that taxes motorists according to how much they use roads."

Perfect.

I live in small town in South Dakota, a state known for low wages and above average fuel prices. I make a 70-mile round trip five days a week to go to work. If my wife works that same day, we're looking at 140 miles. So I buy a lot of gas. Which will increase in price. In addition, I could be taxed based on the miles travelled. I imagine there are many Americans in this situation as I can guarantee that for most people the greatest amount of miles are put on heading to work.

And as if this whole scenario weren't as infuriatingly regressive and stupid enough, they have a response for those concerned about the government tracking individual vehicles:

"Moore said commission members were initially concerned that using technology to track driving might violate drivers' privacy, but they've been assured that such a system could be designed to prevent vehicles from being "tracked in some big brotherish way."

How refreshing. A government official assuring me that the government will not overstep its bounds and abuse its power. I'm sure a system could be designed to keep Big Brother out, but not if Big Brother is helping design it.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Yet Another Stimulus Package Being Considered

I just sent the following letter to my delegates in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives:

Dear _________________:

Please take your time putting together a stimulus package. And I would like to see the following changes made to the package:

1. Across the board corporate and personal income tax cuts to leave more money in the pockets of U.S. individuals and corporations for spending.

2. No more application of socialist means in attempts to 'save' capitalism. In other words, NO MORE BAIL-OUTS.

3. Reduce (suspend or permanently eliminate) burdensome, needless and costly restrictions on U.S. industries such as the ridiculous CAFE standards on the auto industry.

4. Open up the continental shelf and other areas for off-shore drilling immediately.

5. Open up ANWR for drilling immediately.

6. Provide some form of amnesty or a moratorium on frivolous law suits that presently inhibit or stop entirely the development of new oil refineries in the U.S.

All of these actions WOULD STIMULATE THE ECONOMY and WOULD LEAD TO JOB CREATION without reckless government spending and huge increases in public debt.

Thank you for listening.


What are you going to do?

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Islamist Radicals' Latest Target


As my son, Benjamin, says: "Remain vigilant. Especially during breakfast!"

Friday, January 2, 2009

General Motors Looks to Move SUVs

Faced with slumping SUV sales and new EPA fuel efficiency requirements, General Motors has recertified many of their SUVs with an all-new KMPG rating. A GMC spokesman said the increased efficiency shown in these new ratings will speak for itself.

"With the gaudy efficiency numbers available through our new conversion rates, the American consumer will see that they can scarcely afford to ignore our languishing SUV lines."

In addition, spokesmen also referred to a "new era of cooperation" between the Big Three and the U.S. Government. "This will help bring us one step closer to total metric conversion as put forth in 1977 by our most forward-looking of presidents, Jimmy Carter."

General Motors also wishes to point out the total savings to the consumer when comparing the US MSRP as compared to its nearest metric equivalent, the British Pound.

"As can clearly be seen by these comparisons, the difference in number of units works out to a great advantage for the American car buyer. We wish to be in full compliance with the new metric system, but we will need time to implement this fully." GMC is referring to this new compliance plan as the "slow boil."

Included below are some examples of the new efficiency ratings and MSRP comparisons:

2008 Buick Enclave
MSRP £55,247/$38,190 (savings of 17,057 units!)
City: 26 kmpg
Hwy: 35 kmpg






2008 Dodge Nitro
MSRP £42,227/$29,190 (savings of 13,037 units)
City: 24 kmpg

Hwy: 32 kmpg





2008 Cadillac Escalade
MSRP £89,533/$61,890 (savings of 27,643)
City: 19 kmpg
Hwy: 29 kmpg





GMC is working on a conversion chart to be made available to dealers and potential car buyers which will include useful information including drams-to-hogsheads conversion and bulk rates for gasoline purchased by the Nebuchadnezzar, Solomon or Primat.

GMC also announced a new line of SUVs to debut in 2012. The GMC Metrix will be a 32-foot long, 2 passenger AWD vehicle featuring a new 8200-lb. towing package and independent suspension. These features, combined with exchange rate savings and improved efficiency measurements will make this the SUV of choice for all destinations including the local vegan co-op, Earth Day parade entry, or the occasional fundraising roadtrip to our nation's capital.

A GMC spokesman said the new Metrix will be situated perfectly to reach their key demographic: "rich, childless elitists."