GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Where Is Christopher Mauriello?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

http://weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward/2010/03/where_is_christopher_mauriello_1.html

Where Is Christopher Mauriello?
6:34PM | March 24, 2010
A Father’s Son is Spirited Out of the Country by his Ex-Wife and Disappears.

*** begin quote ***

Someone is missing from the Mauriello table tonight.

14 year old Christopher Mauriello is in Bosnia with his mother.

He was supposed to have returned home from Christmas vacation on January 3rd. But Christopher and his mother had other plans.

His father, Thomas Mauriello, who has physical custody of Christopher was at the end of his rope when he called Help Me Howard.

As he told Howard: “My reaction was one of shock! It was unimaginable that she could do something like this!”

Tom is the Vice President for college advancement at Manhattan College. His ex-wife Tara Bray Afanasiev works for the United Nations Development Programme, also known as UNDP.

Tom was awarded physical custody of Christopher back in 2006, but he and Tara had a legal agreement that allowed her to take Christopher overseas for holidays and summer vacations.

*** and ***

Tom immediately called his attorney, police issued an arrest warrant and Tom called Tara’s employers at the United Nations Development Fund.

According to Tom, the United Nations told him that “it was a personal matter and they didn’t get involved in these sorts of things.”

*** and ***

Howard reached out to the UNDP that employs Tara and they had this to say:

   “We are aware of this particular case involving a staff member, Ms. Tara Bray, who is currently on leave without pay. It is a personal issue between Ms. Bray and her former husband regarding the custody of their child. We very much hope this case is resolved in the best interest of the child. According to our staff rules, all UNDP staff member have an obligation to abide by their private legal obligations. UNDP has reminded Ms. Bray of that requirement. UNDP has been in touch with the US authorities to ensure that they are fully appraised of the steps we have taken in this matter.”

*** end quote ***

So much for the “Rule of Law”!

Children are so easily manipulated.

And, why do we still have the UN? It’s a corrupt useless organization that costs us a fortune.

Argh!

Perhaps, if everyone gets on their congresscritter, we can get Christopher home and out of the UN?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Homeland Security couldn’t secure its own butt!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/03/bringing_lots_o.html

Schneier on Security
A blog covering security and security technology.
March 19, 2010
Bringing Lots of Liquids on a Plane at Schiphol

*** begin quote ***

5. Department of Homeland Security Theater calls an emergency meeting with the National Security Council, after which it is decided that all bottle-shaped objects (and all Dutch reporters) should be banned from flights.

*** end quote ***

From the blog that coined the phrase “Security Theater”, here’s a funny extension. Despite the fact that the incident occurred overseas, it couldn’t happen here in the USA. Right!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Zero-Day School Weeks

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/four.day.school.2.1583104.html

Mar 23, 2010 6:27 pm US/Central
4-Day School Weeks Might Be Coming In Illinois
State House Has Passed Bill Allowing School Districts To Set Up Shorter Weeks; Mayor Daley Has Doubts
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) ―

*** begin quote ***

Add an entire school day to the chopping block. State lawmakers want to move financially struggling schools to four day weeks. They say it will save money, and it won’t affect classroom time.

*** and ***

Kids would still have to complete the same number of hours per school year, so switching to four-day school weeks would mean longer school days or shorter summer vacations.

*** end quote ***

I have an idea that will save a lot of money.

Close the youth indoctrination centers completely and forever!

It’s immoral to make people pay for things that they did not agree to pay for. Parent had ’em. Parents feed, clothe, and shelter them. They should educate them too.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: End employer-provided health care now

Monday, March 22, 2010

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/03/a_common_sense_idea_regarding.html

March 21, 2010
A common sense idea regarding health insurance
John Conlin

*** begin quote ***

End employer-provided health care now. Don’t tax it, end it. Company paid health insurance was never a planned policy. It was a response to temporary and artificial restrictions on wages during World War II. Wage controls were in place and companies discovered another method to compete for employees – company paid health insurance. This was deductible by the business as normal operating expenses, something not offered to the individual. We have lived with this monstrosity ever since.

*** end quote ***

Sounds like a good idea.

Think about it like “life insurance”.

It’s cheap, easy, and lightly regulated to prevent fraud. Even car insurance is better than what we have now. And, my favorite “pet health insurance”.

It’ll become available form credit unions, fraternal organizations, and yes even the AARP!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: “health care” slavery

Sunday, March 21, 2010

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/19/AR2010031901470.html

Is health-care reform constitutional?
By Randy E. Barnett
Sunday, March 21, 2010

*** begin quote ***

But making you buy insurance merely because you are alive is a claim of power from which many Americans instinctively shrink. Senate Republicans made this objection, and it was defeated on a party-line vote, but it will return.

*** end quote ***

This “health care” bill makes us slaves. Even more of a slave than we already are?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Health “something” takeover; just say “no”!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

FROM FACEBOOK

FJohn Reinke

>American Thinker Blog: A glimpse into our Kafkaesque future under Obamacare

“For a taste of the Kafkaesque under ObamaCare, consider the 159 new boards, panels and programs in the 2,733 page Senate Health bill, as compiled by Senate Republicans. These panels would be the face of ObamaCare for every aspect of every medical need of every American.”

WOW! And, this is better than the evil insurance companies?

# – # – #

FROM COMMENTATOR #1

Yes, infinitely better, because insurance company executives will not be getting rich on the backs of middle-class Americans while actively depriving working-class and poor Americans of access to health care for their families.

# – # – #

FJohn Reinke

Yeah, we’ll just have another slew of bureaucrats getting rich off of us. And, if you thought the insurance execs were highly paid, then wait until you see a bunch of gooferment executives and how much they get paid!

# – # – #

FROM COMMENTATOR #2

In other words, America should remain in the position that it ranks 37th among the world in providing health care and have a mortality rate higher than some 3rd world countries.

# – # – #

FJohn Reinke

AND, (with all due respect to a fellow Jasper), you think that turning over “health”, “health care”, or “health care insurance” — depending upon whatever the Socialists in DC are using to sway us today — is the way to improve that? It’s worked out REAL well for the American Indians who suffer with the “Indian Healthcare System”. It’s gooferment at it’s best where they are reported to say “Don’t get sick after June!”!!!!

Sorry, but as BAD as the current system is perceived to be, what they are going to do to us is WORSE.

And, my best argument: when you get screwed, who will you complain to? A gooferment court! Yeah right. AND, if you decide it’s a mistake, how are you going to unwind it? Answer: You can’t! It’s a one way street. Like another example of inter-generational theft, Social Security…. See More

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. TANSTAAFL: There Ain’t No Such Thing As a Free Lunch.

# # # # #

Upon reflection:

(1) It is interesting how the Socialists “shift terminology”. Are we talking about “health”, “health care”, or “health care insurance”? These are all very different things. And that leads right into the next point.

(2) The Socialists mix stuff together. DOWNSIZEDC has a “One Subject At A Time” effort. Are we trying to reach the “uninsured”? Are we trying to lower the cost of “insurance”? Are we trying to address the “portability” of insurance without regard to employment (a vestige of WW2 wage and price controls)? What are WE trying to accomplish?

(3) “Pre-existing conditions” can NOT be covered. Covering them makes it into welfare or pre-paid medical care; not insurance.

(4) The gooferment, particularly in the FDA and in Medicare, is totally immersed in the minutia of “Health Care”. To the point of “regulatory capture”. Big Pharma, Big Insurance, and Big Medicine have a strangle hold on the regulatory mechanism. They have an incestuous relationship with congress critters via campaign contributions and regulators by employment opportunities.

(5) Government should be the “referee”. If you’re screwed by an insurance company, you can appeal to the “king” via the courts and regulators. With Obama-care, if you’re screwed, to whom will you appeal?

(6) Strategically, Obama-care plan is a one way street. Once we create an entitlement, and the sheeple plan around it and come to depend upon it, it’s immoral to jerk the rug out from under them.

(7) Tactically, Obama-care plan is a one way street. If this wildly unpopular bill becomes law, and even if the Congress turns over to the R’s, Obama will still be President for two more years. He’ll veto any repeal. So, the taxes will go into effect. Who knows who will be President in 2012? Hillary, Pallin, Ron Paul?

For these reasons, I am fundamentally opposed to this monstrosity being proposed.

I’m not so much worried for myself. But Frau needs her “health care” and can’t afford any screw ups.

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Four cents?

Sunday, March 14, 2010

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/03/13/2604016/irs-suits-pay-visit-to-car-wash.html

Bob Shallit: IRS visits Sacramento carwash in pursuit of 4 cents

By Bob Shallit

The Sacramento Bee

Published: Saturday, Mar. 13, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1B

*** begin quote ***

It was every businessperson’s nightmare.

Arriving at Harv’s Metro Car Wash in midtown Wednesday afternoon were two dark-suited IRS agents demanding payment of delinquent taxes. “They were deadly serious, very aggressive, very condescending,” says Harv’s owner, Aaron Zeff.

The really odd part of this: The letter that was hand-delivered to Zeff’s on-site manager showed the amount of money owed to the feds was … 4 cents.

Inexplicably, penalties and taxes accruing on the debt – stemming from the 2006 tax year – were listed as $202.31, leaving Harv’s with an obligation of $202.35.

*** end quote ***

He was lucky they didn’t use their “customer satisfaction devices” (i.e., one or more of those assault rifles the IRS recently took delivery of)!

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: SSNs more than birth certificates

Sunday, February 28, 2010

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9E4JSD80&show_article=1

Shock over voided Puerto Rican birth certificates
Feb 27 10:46 AM US/Eastern
By SUZANNE GAMBOA Associated Press Writer

*** begin quote ***

WASHINGTON (AP) – Native Puerto Ricans living outside the island territory are reacting with surprise and confusion after learning their birth certificates will become no good this summer.

A law enacted by Puerto Rico in December mainly to combat identity theft invalidates as of July 1 all previously issued Puerto Rican birth certificates. That means more than a third of the 4.1 million people of Puerto Rican descent living in the 50 states must arrange to get new certificates.

*** end quote ***

You’d a thunk they could have come up with an ORDERLY process, communicated it widely & clearly, and done it with out mass confusion.

But it’s the gooferment!

Remember, without the deadly “social security number”, identity theft would be difficult.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: It’s not YOUR house; it’s theirs!

Monday, February 1, 2010

http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2010/01/27/20100127-avondale-condemned-no-electricity.html

Avondale condemns home: Solar, batteries insufficient
Avondale woman says city treated her unfairly
by Eddi Trevizo – Jan. 27, 2010 10:52 AM
The Arizona Republic

*** begin quote ***

An Avondale woman who spent 11 days sleeping in her car said the city treated her unfairly when her home was condemned in December for lack of electricity.

But city officials said Christine Stevens violated building codes, a health and safety concern because Avondale homes are required to have heating systems and a running refrigerator.

*** end quote ***

Where does the gang masquerading as “city officials” get off telling people how to live?

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: wh ?ASKS? justice

Saturday, January 30, 2010

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/01/28/
2010-01-28_white_house_orders_justice_department_to
_look_for_other_places_to_hold_911_terro.html

White House asks Justice Department to look for other places to hold 9/11 terror trial
BY Kenneth R. Bazinet, Adam Lisberg and Samuel Goldsmith
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Originally Published:Thursday, January 28th 2010, 8:04 PM
Updated: Thursday, January 28th 2010, 9:14 PM

*** begin quote ***

The White House ordered the Justice Department Thursday night to consider other places to try the 9/11 terror suspects after a wave of opposition to holding the trial in lower Manhattan.

*** end quote ***

Argh!

Last I checked the Justice Department WORKED FOR the White House?

I think I’d have different conversation than “asking”. A long the lines of “Bring me the head of the idiot who decide this!”

Does Holder have pictures of OBH44 with the proverbial goat?

How is he keeping his job?

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: The true cost of gooferment

Friday, January 29, 2010

http://www.lvrj.com/blogs/vin/WE_LOST_ARE_MEDICAL_COVERAGE.html

‘WE LOST ARE MEDICAL COVERAGE’
Posted by Vin Suprynowicz
Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 at 04:06 PM

*** begin quote ***

Many government educrats continued to receive “step” raises, “merit” raises, “cost of living” raises, raises “earned” by taking various “pedagogical” night courses, etc., in recent years, as always. Ask any government employee who claims to have “received no raises” for any period of years to show you his or her latest paycheck stub, and a paycheck stub from two or three years ago, to demonstrate that the base rate of pay has remained the same. In most cases, watch for the mumbling and backpedaling to then begin.

*** end quote ***

Bottom line: we can NOT afford gooferment education. Nor, all the pensions and benefit costs of all the gooferment workers.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Too many wars and things like wars

Friday, January 15, 2010

http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly/

January 15, 2010
Talking Points: 1/14

*** begin quote ***

Another $100 million of American tax money heading to Haiti

*** end quote ***

BO’R brings up a good point: American aid will be stolen by a corrupt “government”.

He argues for intervention. Sorry, but it’s not our place to “give” freedom to the people of Haiti.

We have too many “wars”: “OCO — Overseas Contingency Operation aka Terrorism”Afpak, Iraq, “Some Drugs”, Poverty, yada, yada, yada.

Sorry, we have way too many wars!

Time to condense. Like Campbell’s soup, DoD: brings ALL the boys and girls home, condense all the intelligence into DOD, and let’s cut the foolishness. Save some bucks too!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Tax code is too complex

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126262857185115221.html  

*** begin quote ***

The Internal Revenue Service said it will begin requiring paid tax-return preparers to register with the agency, take competency exams and meet continuing-education requirements. Attorneys, certified public accountants and enrolled agents won’t be subject to the new testing and education plans. The changes will take years to implement and won’t be in effect for the 2010 filing season, the IRS said.

*** end quote ***

Doesn’t anyone see this as a problem?

(1) The tax code is way too complex.

(2) Experts don’t need education or continuing education. (Guess experts are just better than actual people.)

(3) The IRS can’t get their orders out in a timely fashion.

The DOWGs (Dead Old White Guys) funded gooferment on tariffs. Should have been good enough for the limited functions that were allowed.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: You can’t make this stuff up

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/80731457.html

A bomb scare Tuesday at the Lindbergh terminal at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport brought things to a virtual halt.
By ABBY SIMONS and SUZANNE ZIEGLER, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: January 5, 2010 – 7:17 PM

*** begin quote ***

Portions of the Lindbergh terminal at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were evacuated for about 90 minutes Tuesday afternoon after a bomb-sniffing dog reacted as though there were something suspicious on a bag found in the baggage claim area.

As it turned out, the battered pink bag was airport property, the one crews put on the carousel to mark that all luggage has been unloaded.

*** end quote ***

Left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.

It leaves me speechless!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Just say “no” to any gooferment official

Saturday, January 2, 2010

201001011251.jpg

http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2009/12/31/tsa-withdraws-subpoenas-over-leaked-security-directive/

*** begin quote ***

From my own experience with having federal agents at my door, let me say this: Remember that if law enforcement shows up at your door, you are in no way obligated to speak to them, and in no way obligated to hand over anything immediately if they hand you a subpoena. You can and should challenge (move to quash) such a subpoena in court, if you receive one. You only have to surrender anything immediately if they have a search warrant, and only if the thing is named on the search warrant. Other than that, say absolutely nothing until you can consult a lawyer. Be polite, of course, when you ask them for their business card and send them on their way.

*** end quote ***

Good advice for any interaction with the gooferment at any level.

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UPDATE 2009.01.03 1600 ZULU

http://www.target.com/Come-Back-Warrant-Doormat/dp/B00020O572

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: A new tax; just say “no”

Monday, December 28, 2009

http://www.lewrockwell.com/rozeff/rozeff324.html

A 400 Percent (and Higher) Excise Tax
  by Michael S. Rozeff

*** begin quote ***

The Wall Street Journal brings more bad news. A headline reads “Lawmakers Weigh a Wall Street Tax.” The first mention of this was in October. The proposal has not died as Congress seeks new ways to finance its profligate spending. Both houses are considering legislation.

*** end quote ***

I oppose ALL taxes. New or old. It’s just giving drugs to an addict.

Cut gooferment spending now!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Economic risks

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

http://channel-surfing.blogspot.com/2009/11/yes-we-still-have-broken-markets.html

Saturday, November 28, 2009
Yes, we still have broken markets
Hank Kalet

*** begin quote ***

Two quotations from a story in The Washington Post on the financial crisis coming out of Dubai make it clear that, while the recession officially has ended, the economy remains very badly broken.

*** end quote ***

Our biggest economic danger is a two parter — imho.

First, the Chinese may stop buying our government debt. That, at the very least, will send interest rates into Carter-level numbers.

Second, (and more insidious), OPEC prices oil in other than dollars. Most likely will be gold. (imho) The implications are that gas will will be at unheard of levels. Think Argentina or Zimbabwe. Gas will be proportional to the price of gold. As the value of the dollar collapses.

Our congress critters think that they can spend like there is no day of reckoning. That’s what’s broken.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: 5B$ down the rathole

Sunday, November 8, 2009

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Freddie-Mac-posts-5-billion-rb-3083454207.html?x=0&.v=3

Freddie Mac posts $5 billion loss
* On 7:00 pm EST, Friday November 6, 2009
By Al Yoon

*** begin quote ***

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE – News; NYSE:FRE – News), the second largest provider of U.S. residential mortgage funding, on Friday posted a loss of $5 billion in the third quarter and predicted it would need more government support amid a “prolonged deterioration” in housing.

*** end quote ***

Well, isn’t that just great!

If it was a real business, we could just let it go to bankruptcy court.

Another “gooferment sponsored entity” that’s a rat hole for the taxpayer to pump more money into.

I’m sure the congress critters will certainly give them more money we don’t have.

Argh!

And, what’s the impact on the country, the taxpayers, and the people.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: The USA always betrays its “friends”

Saturday, November 7, 2009

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=114854

The American way of abandonment
Posted: November 02, 2009
Pat Buchanan

*** begin quote ***

But what does it avail us to insult these people who have cast their lot with us, many of whom will, with families and friends, pay a far more terrible price than we if we lose these wars?

And if we are going to abandon these people, as we have so many others in the past, let us at least tell them, and ourselves, the truth. We didn’t know what we were getting into. We don’t have the stomach for a long war. We’re sorry we got you into this. Your big mistake was in trusting us. You folks should have known better.

*** end quote ***

Washington was right. Trade with all; alliances with none.

That would have been more honest. I remember that we screwed the Hungarians in their 1956 revolt against the Russians. Voice of America incited them and the gooferment left them hanging out to dry.

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: schools and “knives”

Thursday, October 15, 2009

http://www.wten.com/global/story.asp?s=11283345

Eagle Scout suspended from school over pocket knife (10/08/09)
A NEWS10 EXCLUSIVE
By MARK O’BRIEN

*** begin quote ***

LANSINGBURGH — High school senior Matthew Whalen is the kind of student any parent would want.

He’s an Eagle Scout, on the honor roll, taking Advanced Placement classes, and never been in trouble with the law. He’s received commendations from the City of Troy and the Boy Scouts of America for saving a woman’s life, and this past summer, he completed Army basic training. All of it was accomplished before the age of 17.

“I’m just trying to do what I can while I can,” Matthew says.

His goal is to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a dream since he was in grade school.

“I have a first-grade yearbook that says I want to be driving tanks in the Army,” Matthew says. “I mean, this is something that I know I’ve always wanted to do.”

But the dream could be in jeopardy, thanks to a two-inch pocket knife that officials at Lansingburgh Senior High School found in Matthew’s locked car last month. The pocket knife was a gift from his grandfather, Robert Whalen, who’s the Hoosick Falls Police Chief. Matthew says he kept the knife in a side compartment and never tried showing it off or threatening anyone with it. Instead it was a part of the survival kit that was his car.

*** end quote ***

A stupid rule. (Considering guns in school. Chicago violence. And, all manner of other more important issues.) An illegal search. A kangaroo court. And, the komisars of eddykation with their leftist world views.

The article goes on to comment on a tire iron being a “weapon”. How about the car being its own weapon?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Sheeple get a “bargain”!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

*** begin quote ***

Subject: FW: Cash for Clunkers Math another Government Ponzi Scheme!!!!

Here’s what a friend had to say about “Democratic Math”. Ignore all the gas crap, and just look at how the stupid car buyer got taken to the cleaners:

If you traded in a clunker worth $3,500, you get $4,500 off for an apparent “savings” of $1,000. However, you have to pay taxes on the $4,500 come April 15 (something that no auto dealer will tell you). If you are in the 30% tax bracket, you will pay $1,350 on that $4,500.

So, rather than save $1,000, you actually pay an extra $350 to the feds. In addition, you traded in a car that was most likely paid for. Now you have 4 or 5 years of payments on a car that you did not need, that was costing you less to run than the payments that you will now be making.

But wait, it gets even better: you also got ripped off by the dealer.

For example, every dealer here in LA was selling the Ford Focus with all the goodies including A/C, auto transmission, power windows, etc for $12,500 the month before the “cash for clunkers” program started. When “cash for clunkers” came along, they stopped discounting them and instead sold them at the list price of $15,500. So, you paid $3,000 more than you would have the month before. (Honda, Toyota, and Kia played the same list price game that Ford and Chevy did).

So lets do the final tally here:

You traded in a car worth: $3,500

You got a discount of: $4,500

  

Net so far $1,000

But you have to pay: $1,350 in taxes on the $4,500

  

Net so far: -$ 350

And you paid: $3000 more than the car was selling for the month before.

Net so far: -$3,350

We could also add in the additional taxes (sales tax, state tax, etc.) on the extra $3,000 that you paid for the car, along with the 5 years of interest on the car loan but lets just stop here.

So who actually made out on the deal? The feds collected taxes on the car along with taxes on the $4,500 they “gave” you. The car dealers made an extra $3,000 or more on every car they sold along with the kickbacks from the manufacturers and the loan companies. The manufacturers got to dump lots of cars they could not give away the month before. And the poor stupid consumer got saddled with even more debt that they cannot afford.

Obama and his band of merry men convinced Joe consumer that he was getting $4,500 in “free” money from the “government” when in fact Joe was giving away his $3,500 car and paying an additional $3,350 for the privilege.

Thanks a lot guys!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: VA care is disgraceful

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_645645.html#

Veterans Affairs won’t release any more care home reports

By Walter F. Roche Jr., TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

*** begin quote ***

Facing congressional scrutiny over details revealed in a review of care given to veterans at one of its Pennsylvania facilities, the Department of Veterans Affairs slammed the door on the release of similar reports nationwide.

In a directive dated Friday, VA officials in Washington informed local agency officials that inspection reports like the one on the VA nursing home in Philadelphia are not to be released to the public.

The directive came less than a week after the Tribune-Review disclosed details of a 2008 report on the VA’s Philadelphia nursing home that concluded the VA “failed to provide a safe and sanitary environment for their residents.”

Such reports from the Long Term Care Institute — which the VA hired to inspect its facilities — are considered “protected” documents under the provisions of a federal law designed to promote improved quality, the directive states.

*** and ***

The report cited by the Trib was released by VA officials in Philadelphia under a public records request. It described how one veteran had to have his leg amputated after a serious infection had gone untreated for so long that it attracted maggots. It described blood-stained floors, a fly infestation and life-threatening treatment of veterans dependent on tube feeding.

Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Joseph Sestak — two Democrats vying for Senate in next year’s primary — visited the nursing home last week and questioned why it took a public records request to get the report made public.

Sestak called on VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki to “release any other inspection reports of this nature.”

Withholding such documentation “only adds to the perception that the VA does not take the principles of accountability seriously,” Sestak wrote in an e-mail response Tuesday to the VA action.

“If the VA is unable to provide this necessary reform at the administrative level, legislation must be introduced,” Sestak wrote in a letter to Shinseki.

Specter also disagreed with the report-release ban. “This runs contrary to the VA’s desire to be an open and accountable agency,” his statement said. “I believe these documents should be made public.”

*** end quote ***

And, you want these same bozos to run our health care, health insurance, and anything else health related like drugs?

I wouldn’t let them run a dog kennel!

Sheeple, wake up!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Terps get screwed!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/09/militarys-forgotten-terps-get-some-love/

Military’s Forgotten ‘Terps’ Get Some Love
    * By Nathan Hodge Email Author
    * September 22, 2009

*** begin quote ***

Foust and Hsia aren’t the first ones to take up the cause of the interpreters. Many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have tried to help their interpreters — many of whom face death threats — get special immigrant visas. Writing last year in the New York Post, Marine Corps vet Owen West expressed his frustration with the maddening bureaucratic process. “As a Marine, I was taught never to leave a comrade-in-arms behind on the battlefield,” he wrote. “But that’s exactly what the State Department is doing to men and women who’ve sacrificed everything to help our troops – our Iraqi interpreters.”

*** end quote ***

As usual, the gooferment figures out a way for is to screw some of our few friends.

I bet these “Terps” would be as good a citizen as any U of Maryland grad.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: More Gooferment taking over more and more

Sunday, September 27, 2009

http://tinyurl.com/lohczj

House backs bill to overhaul student loan program
USA Today

*** begin quote ***

“The House voted Thursday in favor of the biggest overhaul of college aid programs since their creation in the 1960s — a bill to oust private lenders from the student loan business and put the government in charge. The vote was 253-171 in favor of a bill that fulfills nearly all of President Obama’s campaign promises for higher education: The measure ends subsidies for private lenders, boosts Pell Grants for needy students and creates a grant program to improve community colleges, among other things.” (09/17/09)

*** end quote ***

When does the gooferment stop taking over things?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: The Kennedy seat belongs to the D’s; not the people!

Friday, September 25, 2009

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jzO_Ki9dF9tOlEmbHGiBPp0hgzzAD9AU95JG0

Mass. GOP seeks to block Kennedy interim successor
(AP) – 3 hours ago

*** begin quote ***

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Republican Party is seeking to block the interim appointment of Paul Kirk to the Senate seat that was held by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.

The GOP has filed an injunction in Suffolk Superior Court that will be heard Friday morning.

*** end quote ***

Now I realize that I have my law degree from the Judge Judy school of law,

BUT, (there is always a big butt),

(1) Shouldn’t this be unconstitutional on its face. The state legislators should just write the law that MA Senators have to be picked by the head of the Democratic Party!

(2) Shouldn’t this trigger one of those “This is so outrageous that it offends the sensibilities of the Court. Rule it unconstitutional Ex Post Facto. Et cum spiritu tuo two two oh. Or what ever Latin mumbo jumbo you want to use.

Huh?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Laws don’t apply to your betters

Friday, September 18, 2009

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/09/13/meninos_office_acknowledges_city_employees_routinely_deleted_e_mails/

Date: Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:36:43 -0400
From: Monty Solomon
Subject: Boston city employees routinely deleted e-mail

*** begin quote ***

Menino’s office acknowledges city employees routinely deleted e-mails
By Donovan Slack and Michael Levenson, *The Boston Globe*, 13 Sep 2009

Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s administration, prompted by public records requests from *The Globe*, has acknowledged that city employees were routinely deleting e-mails, a potential violation of the state public records law. This came after *The Globe* filed several requests for e-mails sent and received by Menino’s Cabinet chief of policy and planning, Michael J. Kineavy — who is one of Menino’s most powerful and trusted advisers, intimately involved in nearly everything at City Hall. However, a search of city computers found just 18 e-mails he had sent or received between 1 Oct 2008, and 31 Mar 2009. The unusually low figure prompted administration officials to question him about what happened to the rest of the e-mails he was presumably sending and receiving during that period. Kineavy told them that he deletes all his e-mails on a daily basis, in such a way that they are not saved on city backup computers.

*** end quote ***

Laws? Only for the “little people”!

Argh!

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