POLITICAL: Palin, Tea Party, and how to put the pig on a diet

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

http://firedoglake.com/2010/02/08/palin-drives-libertarians-out-of-tea-party/

Palin Drives Libertarians out of Tea Party
By: Jane Hamsher
Monday February 8, 2010 8:00 am

*** begin quote ***

There was a lot of pushback because of the price of the Palin tickets, and many of the rank-and-file tea party activists see her as a symbol of the establishment GOP’s attempt to co-opt their nascent movement.

Palin evidently thought she could endorse Rand Paul and they’d all throw flowers at her feet. Instead they’re having a melt down over her speech, trying to figure out how to keep the neocons out of future conventions.

Rather than navigating the gulf between the tea party activists and the GOP, Palin drove a wedge between them.

Well, at least she had the good sense not to mention her Bridge to Nowhere. But you have to wonder why they invited her there in the first place.

*** end quote ***

I correctly called Palin as McCain’s VP 3 months before the decision.

I liked Palin when she made “her” speech/

I thought that she was improperly prepared for the Katie’s ambush.

I do know that the neocons are not libertarians.

I KNOW that the Tea Party people are the “new kids” on the block.

BUT, if they succumb to EITHER party then they will just put BHO44 back in the White House. They need to pick and chose who to endorse base of track records. They need to align with some of the folks that have been fighting these battles for years! They need to back those initiatives that will cut the problems down to size (i.e., Read The Bills Act; One Subject At Time; Audit the FED; Free Competition in Currency Act)/

You have to start cutting this “pig” down to size; not putting lipstick on it.

How about a law DECREASING the debt ceiling a 100M$ every year until it’s ZERO?

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POLITICAL: Who’s “manning the walls” in the Obama administration?

Sunday, February 7, 2010

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/specialengagements/moviespeechafewgoodmencodered.html

American Rhetoric: Movie Speech
“A Few Good Men” (1992)
written by Aaron Sorkin

Colonel Nathan R. Jessep Addresses the Court on “Code Red”

*** begin quote ***

You can’t handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives…You don’t want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty…we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use ’em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I’d rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you’re entitled to!

*** end quote ***

This rings true more today that ever.

Who’s “manning the walls” in the Obama administration?

Sorry, but the Department of Defense and the National Guard should be deployed here at home. Like the Coast Guard should NOT be off gallivanting.

We have bases in reportedly 170 countries. Time for a base closing commission of taxpayers.

Did you know that the Constitution only authorizes a permanent Navy. The Army is only allowed for two years. Guess the Dead Old White guys understood about the dangers of a permanent army. What do you think they’d have thought about the alphabet agencies: FBI, DEA, BATF, CIA, NSA, yada, yada, and yada?

Argh!

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MONEY: The debt will ensure that any freeze is a joke

Thursday, February 4, 2010

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=123352

Obama: The era of big government is … eternal
Posted: January 28, 2010
Larry Elder is a syndicated radio talk-show host

*** begin quote ***

What about the national debt – what we owe? According to the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation: “The public national debt – $5.8 trillion as of 2008 – is projected to double by 2012 and nearly triple by 2019. Thus, America would accumulate more government debt under President Obama than under every president in American history from George Washington to George W. Bush combined.”

The Big Entitlements – Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – remain the incredible spending faucets set on automatic growth. Neither Obama and his party nor most “fiscally conservative” Republicans offer anything resembling a way out. Meanwhile, the band plays on.

*** end quote ***

The Socialists aka Secular Progressives, will bankrupt us sooner or later.

How does the country survive?

Tax revolt by the payers.

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RANT: Media Bias – Cost the FDIC?

Sunday, January 31, 2010

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Regulators-shut-banks-in-apf-1868747589.html?x=0&.v=2

Regulators shut down banks in 5 states
Regulators shutter banks in Calif., Fla., Ga., Minn., Wash., totaling 15 bank failures in 2010
By Marcy Gordon, AP Business Writer , On Friday January 29, 2010, 10:48 pm EST

*** begin quote ***

WASHINGTON (AP) — Regulators shut down a big bank in California on Friday, along with two banks in Georgia and one each in Florida, Minnesota and Washington. That brought to 15 the number of bank failures so far in 2010 atop the 140 shuttered last year in the punishing economic climate.

The failure of Los Angeles-based First Regional Bank, with nearly $2.2 billion in assets and $1.9 billion in deposits, is expected to cost the federal deposit insurance fund $825.5 million.

*** end quote ***

And, where, pray tell, does the FDIC get “its” money?

Yes, the taxpayer.

Either directly or indirectly.

Neither the gooferment, nor any corporation, have ANY money that doesn’t originate from a real person.

Some of the FDIC money is extracted from the banks that it “insures”, but that is extracted by the surviving banks from its customers which are, presumably, taxpayers.

Now, with the supposed “insurance” fund broke, it gets “its” money from the Treasury which means we borrow it from China!

Argh!

Hopefully, the AP writer will learn that 825.5 comes from the poor taxpayer.

And, we wonder why we are in a depression?

Economic illiteracy!

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NEWJERSEY: Why Not Vouchers? It’s not moral!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2010/01/24/opinions/doc4b5899611e622323956261.txt#blogcomments

DISPATCHES: Keep public schools public
Thursday, January 21, 2010 1:41 PM EST
By Hank Kalet, Managing Editor

*** begin quote ***

   Bret Schundler may be the state’s leading proponent of school vouchers.

   The former Jersey City mayor, who twice ran unsuccessfully for governor, has been an outspoken advocate for using public money to help pay private-school tuition. And if newly sworn-in Gov. Chris Christie has his way, Mr. Schundler will be the state’s new education commissioner.

   With this appointment, it seems pretty clear the governor is not just firing a warning shot at the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s teachers union. He is making it clear he plans to push one of the conservative establishment’s pet causes during his four-year term in office.

   ”We agree on the type of significant reform that needs to happen in our educational system here in New Jersey,” he said in announcing his education choice last week (The New York Times). “I want a strong, reasonable, bold leader who’s going to help me implement those policies.”

   Advocates for school vouchers say they create competition among schools and improve education for all students. The theory is, by giving low-income parents a portion of the money that otherwise would go to their public school, they will be able to pay tuition so their children can attend better private or parochial schools. The threat of losing students — and money — then would spur the public schools to improve, improving quality for all students.

*** end quote ***

Only an ideologue could fail to agree that the “schools” are a failure. Despite what the teacher’s union tells us on TV. They have failed in educating. AND, in failing, they have done it at a price we can’t afford.

So why not try “vouchers”?

(1) It reinforces the idea that the cost of educating a child is NOT that of the parents. (I didn’t have them so why to I have to educate them. I don’t feed them, clothe them, or make any choice about them.

(2) There is no Number 2.

Since I can’t get out from under the burden of paying to ecuate Other People’s Children, then let’s have vouchers which might EVENTUALLY result in my escape from this unfair levy!

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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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MONEY: Plan for your OWN retirement; gooferment workers are retiring better than you can!

Friday, January 1, 2010

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/22/extending-federal-benefits-sex-couples-cost-m-cbo-says/?test=latestnews

Updated December 26, 2009
Extending Federal Benefits to Same-Sex Couples Will Cost $898M, CBO Says
  FOXNews.com

*** begin quote ***

Extending federal benefits to same-sex couples will cost taxpayers $898 million over the next nine years, according to an analysis of “domestic partnership” legislation released last by the Congressional Budget Office.

The CBO said in its Dec. 17 report that the House version of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act — H.R. 2517 — would cost $596 million in direct spending and $302 million in discretionary spending through 2019.

The independent nonpartisan agency found that “providing additional health insurance benefits through the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program” — for active and retired gay federal workers with spouses — “causes the largest increase in both mandatory and discretionary spending — $590 million and $266 million, respectively.”

*** end quote ***

Sounds like we have to examine the cost of ALL gooferment benefits.

We need to ELIMINATE the concept of benefits and pensions from employment.

Pay folks what they are worth and allow them to buy the benefits that they wish.

Life insurance is something folks buy on their own. Why not everything else as well. Let people save for their own retirement and balance current needs versus future ones.

Big brother gooferment is taking “Social Security” taxes and spending everything. If an insurance company did it, the execs would be in jail. It’s a Ponzi scheme.

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GOLDBUG: Why gold?

Monday, November 9, 2009

http://www.321gold.com/editorials/casey/casey110509.html

Why Gold Has a LONG Way to Go
Jeff Clark
Casey’s Gold & Resource Report
Nov 5, 2009

*** begin quote ***

Now ask yourself the same thing: how many of your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers are buying gold and silver coins? Are any of them giving you hot stock tips about a fantastic gold producer, or telling you about the latest gold discovery made by a company in China? Have any fellow investors told you they’re dumping their brokers because they can select gold stocks better on their own? Anyone telling you they’re going to night school to learn the gold mining business?

*** end quote ***

Gold is the money of a thousand years. With the Gooferment spending us into oblivion, how else does one preserve wealth? And, after the “inflation tax” and “inheritance tax”, what’s left?

Argh!

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RECOMMENDED: Donate to the crazies trying to roll back the MA sales tax; tax revolt now!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

http://tinyurl.com/yav92p2

Carla Howell and Michael Cloud
Alliance to Roll Back Taxes
Small Government News
Wednesday, October 7, 2009

*** begin quote ***

Just Do the Signature Drive With Volunteers?”

Virtually every statewide political campaign in Massachusetts hires petitioners to collect signatures.

Senator Kennedy, Senator Kerry, Governor Deval Patrick, former Governor Romney, former Governor Cellucci, and the rest paid for signatures. For at least the last 40 years.

Why?

Because the petitioning requirements have been made so hard, the time for petitioning so short, the ability of opponents to block petitioning, and the ease of removing valid voters signatures from the ballot.

But it gets worse. Massachusetts requires 6-1/2 times as many signatures for Ballot Initiatives as they do for U.S. Senate and Governor candidates – and they give us 1/3 less time to collect them.

We have to collect over 96,000 signatures in 49 days. In the fall, when rainstorms or snowstorms can and do prevent petitioning for 1 day or 3 or 7 days — or more. Cutting petition time by 10% or 20%.

We have to print 351 DIFFERENT petitions for our initiative — one for each town and city in Massachusetts.

Our petitioners have to carry dozens of DIFFERENT petitions at each petitioning location – a mall, a store, etc – to make sure that we have the right petition for that voter.

If a voter mistakenly signs the Natick petition, while living in Framingham, his signature is disqualified.

If a signer or petitioner accidentally makes a “stray mark on a petition”, every one of the valid 12 or 15 voter signatures on that petition are disqualified.

Then we need to sort and separate the petitions into the 351 towns and cities, pre-validate 10% to 20% of the signatures, deliver them to 351 different town clerks all across Massachusetts – many town clerks offices are only open part time; if you can’t show up them…too bad for you. The town clerks physically check each petition signature against the each voter’s signature. Many are conscientious. Some are sloppy and disqualify valid signatures.

Next, we have a 7-day window to collect 351 petitions from the 351 towns — when clerks’ offices are open.

Then, if the town clerks have validated enough signatures to move us toward the ballot, we have to deliver the signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office — where the signatures are tallied.

While this is going on, the Teachers Unions and Government Employees Unions can challenge any or all of the validated signatures for any of a dozen different legal reasons.

This is why virtually all statewide political campaigns and ballot initiatives hire paid petitioners. So they can get on the ballot.

*** end quote ***

In the Pepuls Republik of Taxachusetts, there is a band of crazies that are trying to repeal the tax law.

(Regardless of where you live, if they succeed, it will help everyone. You may want to consider sending them a few bucks. Would you have sent money for munitions to the Militiamen at Lexington or Concord? Repealing the sales tax in MA would be modern day equivalent of “the shot heard round the world”! https://www.fbs.net/csg/RBTdonate.html)

It interesting to see how the political elite have insulated them selves from the peons. Why bother have petitions at all? You can’t practically impact the politicians.

Argh!

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RANT: Building stadiums at taxpayer expense!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/09/30/bomberphobia

Sports Arena
Bomberphobia
By Lisa Fabrizio on 9.30.09 @ 6:06AM

*** begin quote ***

Yet, many of you secretly applaud baseball’s version of socialism, euphemistically called the Competitive Balance Tax, which has resulted in the Yanks paying out over $150 million in the last six years to their direct competitors. Meanwhile, Robert Nutting, the dastardly owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates who pocketed $40 million in revenue-sharing alone last year, saw fit to reduce his 2009 payroll to $20 million by selling off the few good players he had. Such doings make those who cooked up the Oil for Food program look like pikers.

*** end quote ***

MP4B = “Millionaires Playing For Billionaires”

Argh!

Before I would hold up ANY sports team as an exemplar of “conservative” values, I’d think about the stadiums they play in.

Taxpayer funded.

We don’t build McD’s. We don’t build WalMarts. We don’t build lots of things for businesses!

Why are we building stadiums for billionaires where they can exercise their millionaire “talent”?

Argh!

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RANT: Sorry it’s a duck!

Monday, September 21, 2009

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204488304574425294029138738.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

* REVIEW & OUTLOOK
* SEPTEMBER 21, 2009
Obama’s Nontax Tax
On a Sunday show, the President offers a revealing definition.

*** begin quote ***

“Mr. Obama: “My critics say everything is a tax increase. My critics say that I’m taking over every sector of the economy. You know that. Look, we can have a legitimate debate about whether or not we’re going to have an individual mandate or not, but . . .””

*** end quote ***

If I can’t avoid it, then it’s a tax. Call it a “mandate”. Call it a “penalty”. Call it the “tooth fairy”. The IRS will ensure you pay it. If that’s not a “tax”, I don’t know what is!

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POLITICS: The philosophy of taxes

Thursday, September 3, 2009

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2009/08/31/the-truth-about-taxes/&cp=1/#comment-195287

The Truth About Taxes
Monday, 31st August 2009 (by J.D.)

*** begin quote ***

Note: Although I try to keep GRS a politics-free zone, today’s topic is inherently political. I’ve stayed as neutral as possible in the article, but I know that there’ll be some political discussion in the comments. Please keep conversation civil, as always.

Because I was frustrated with my own ignorance about the U.S. federal budget and our tax system, I recently spent twelve hours researching a variety of tax topics. From my research came two articles: last week’s short guide to the federal budget and today’s post, which answers some of my personal questions about taxes.

*** end quote ***

Welcome to the “tax wars”, by the time we’re finished with you, you too will be a raving loon!

Tactically, you can’t figure out how much “tax” you pay. We need to recognize that ONLY real people pay tax. So, the taxes that companies pay is really a hidden tax on the people who buy their products. BUT you can’t see it. Further, if there are capital goods used by a company, the taxes on that capital good are buried in the product’s price. Also, recognize that “costs”, “user fees”, or any unavoidable expense imposed by or as a result of the gooferment’s actions, laws, regulations, or diktats is a TAX! Try and figure out all of those. Good luck. One quick example, drugs. The FDA has rules, pharmacies have regulations, doctors have laws. Argh! It’s IMPOSSIBLE to figure out exactly what you pay in tax. And, then we can talk about monetary inflation as a gooferment tax. When you sum it all up, it might be greater than your annual income!

Strategically, taxes are NOT “the cost of living in civilized society”; they are THEFT. How does what dead old white guys did 233 years ago obligate me? It’s a principle of contract law that there has to be offer and acceptance to have a contract. Where is the offer? Where is my acceptance? What obligates me to pay? The definition of citizen states there is an exchange for the state’s “protection”, yet the courts have repeatedly held that there is no specific enforceable duty of the government to protect me. So why again do I have to pay for “services” that I don’t want, can’t use, and are horribly overpriced? In the case of Federal Abortion funding, it’s also morally offensive to me; yet, I still must pay.

Welcome to the tax wars. This is theft by deception. IMHO!

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POLITICAL: Pay the big gang off first

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

http://www.parojo.com/news/content/DR_DOOLITTLE_CLOSED_08-09-09_ITFAOKI_v45.39864d3.html

Pet store shut over sales-tax nonpayment
01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, August 9, 2009
By Alex Kuffner
Journal Staff Writer

*** begin quote ***

He went to the Division of Taxation in Providence on July 30 to deliver a check for $4,500 — all the money he had on hand. He asked if he could keep the pet shop on Newport Avenue open long enough to liquidate by selling off the animals. The tax representative said no.

The next day, he returned to file tax forms that were overdue. A representative told him that if he paid another $10,000, he would be allowed to reopen. He said he didn’t have the money. He asked what would happen if he defied the order and was told he could be fined and imprisoned. He left the office in tears, escorted out by a supervisor.

*** end quote ***

Make no mistake about it, the gooferment is a criminal gang. Heartless and money hungry. And, dont stand in their way.

In a perverse sort of a way, they are doing the fellow a favor forcing him out of business. A money losing business.

But, force leads to force.

In this case, it’s wasy to see the guns of government.

Aren’t you ashamed at what is done in your name?

I am.

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SOCIALISM: “Cash for Clunkers”; bad strategy, bad tactically

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090801/D99Q3N5G1.html

Popularity, Web snafus nearly broke ‘clunkers’
Aug 1, 8:56 AM (ET)
By DAN STRUMPF

*** begin quote ***

Far more drivers signed up for the “cash for clunkers” program than anyone thought, overwhelming showrooms, blowing through the initial $1 billion set aside by Congress and leaving dealers panicked over when or if the government would make good on the hefty rebates.

*** end quote ***

Sure steal from the taxpayer to give money to car dealers?

No wonder the program is a success.

Like a bank robber giving out free samples.

And, there folks want to run health care?

It’s like everyone had gone nuts. Financial restraint, fiscal discipline, out the window. It’s like a Frat Party on the taxpayer’s dime.

One website pointed out that (1) these are future sales brought forward. (2) the “clunkers” are the cars that poor people would have bought used.

So like Basat said, (paraphrasing) we can’t see the hidden costs.

Politicians and bureaucrats are stupid. And, I ain’t buying them a beer. And, for sure, I’m not drinking with them!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: The USA is broke; deal with reality!

Friday, July 3, 2009

http://www.vtcommons.org/blog/2009/06/22/truth-power-james-howard-kunstler-snake-eating-its-own-tail

TRUTH TO POWER: JAMES HOWARD KUNSTLER–A SNAKE EATING ITS OWN TAIL
Submitted by Carolyn Baker on Mon, 06/22/2009 – 5:54pm.

*** begin quote ***

The current mass delusion that will go down in history as the “green shoots fugue” can’t possibly bring the credit freak show back because the credit — i.e. money borrowed from the American future — was swindled away. Something like $14 trillion worth of nominal dollars is being sucked into a cosmic vortex never to be seen again. It was last seen in the spectral forms of so many collateralized debt obligations, credit default swaps, so-called structured investment vehicles and other now-obvious frauds. That giant sucking sound we hear means the process is still underway, and the “money” disappearing into yawning oblivion will out-pace any effort orchestrated by the Federal Reserve and the US Treasury to replace it with new “money” (or credit). Therefore there is no chance between heaven and hell that the pre-2008 suburban homesteading and shopping fiesta can ever come back. The American polity is tapped out in all sectors, personal, corporate, and public.

Notice the two words largely absent from whatever public discussion exists around these matters — “swindle” and “fraud.” The reason they’re missing is because if they happened to enter the conversation, something would have to be done about them, namely investigations and prosecutions. The president is the person in the best position to set the terms of this public discussion, and by avoiding these two words he’s blowing the chance to begin the process of correcting the tragic course we’re on.

These swindles and frauds range from malfeasance at the highest levels to indecency in the lowliest cubicles — i.e. the collusion of a revolving cast of cabinet-level officials with Wall Street executives to loot the US Treasury, the probable criminal dereliction at the mid-level of agencies like the Federal Reserve’s oversight office and the SEC, to certain and outright street grifting in the traffic of securities known to be worthless at their creation. The current fiction that the public seems to be swallowing (for the moment) is along the lines of the old “mistakes were made” locution, which is an easy way to avoid holding individuals responsible for misdeeds.

*** end quote ***

At least this fellow has the honesty to call it for what it is … fraud!

A fraud on the Sheeple and the future generations.

How do we avoid this fiscal disaster?

Hard choices. Very hard choices.

On a national level, we have to begin to reestablish our moral compass.

Pay as we go. Not this “barbara streisand” that they use in Congress. But real pay as we go.

First thing that has to happen is we have to have honest money. No more FED funny fiat paper. We’re all adults. We know the situation is bad; we just have no idea how bad.

Audit the FED; strip the monopoly of its power. Redefine and dollar as some amount of gold.

(If I had to guess, FDR paid 20$ per ounce and immediately redefined it as $32. That was in the Thirties. We know that from 1970 to 2000, the dollar lost 97% of its purchasing power. Let’s guess the dollar was inflated let’s peg the dollar to gold. Let’s say the Treasure will exchange 1500 dollars for an ounce of gold and an ounce of gold will buy 500 dollars. No one will be lining up at that window to transact. But we will have fixed the number of dollars.)

(An easier idea is to repeal the legal tender laws and see what happens.)

Second, we need to “Save Social Security”. Hire that guy form Cato who did it in Chile and do something similar here. (Yup, some rich old folks may well get screwed. Sorry about that. It was a wlefare program anyway.)

Third, we need to FIX medicare, medicaid, and all the socialized medical programs (e.g., VA).

Forth, we need to prune government. (Bye bye Amtrak, post office, Education Department, and the countless bureaucrats.)

It will be painful, But what choice do we have?

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MONEY: A dollar is worth a dollar, except when the dollar is a gold coin

Friday, July 3, 2009

http://federalism.typepad.com/crime_federalism/2009/06/are-gold-american-eagles-worth-what-congress-has-said-they-are-worth.html

June 16, 2009
Are Gold American Eagles Worth What Congress Has Said They Are Worth? Or: The IRS v. Robert Kahre

*** begin quote ***

[Editor’s note: I am not a tax protester. Until researching the issue that is subject to this blog post, I thought all of the arguments raised by the tax protester crowd were frivolous. On this issue, I am not so confident.]

Take a look at this gold coin. It’s a Gold American Eagle. Look at the image on the right. Do you see what the coin says on the bottom half, underneath the nesting baby eagle?Gold American Eagle 50 Dollars

It says $50, right?

Indeed, it is (as I will explain below) $50. It’s worth as much as an Ulysses S. Grant. Well, if you believe it’s really only worth $50, send all of your Gold Eagles to me. I will sell them on eBay for about $1,000 each.

And now you can see the problem of Robert Kahre. Mr. Kahre is facing federal prison because he claimed that Gold Eagles are worth what Congress has said that Gold Eagles are worth.

Is Mr. Kahre’s position frivolous? I don’t think so. Please indulge me.

*** end quote ***

I blogged about this one.

*** begin quote ***

https://reinkefaceslife.com/2008/02/26/goldbug-why-buy-and-hold-gold/

(4) There are some interesting nuances in holding American Gold Eagle, which are produced by the gooferment (i.e., the Treasury Department’s Mint), and are asserted to be dominated in dollars. The one ounce gold American Eagle is stamped 50 “dollars”. AND, it is really worth ~940 “dollars” in Federal Reserve Notes. (There’s a recent tax case where the employer declared his employees earnings in “dollars” as represented on the Eagles he gave them. Everyone paid less taxes.)

*** end quote ***

This is an interesting quirk that can be exploited.

Of course, at your own risk.

Sigh, what is a dollar anyway!

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NEWJERSEY: Take advice aimed at California. Now!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/california-bailout-reckless-or-inevitable/

June 21, 2009, 9:13 pm
California Bailout, Impossible or Inevitable?
By The Editors

*** begin quote ***

The Obama administration has told California not to expect a federal bailout. So how should the state deal with its $24.3 billion shortfall? Can it save itself? Or is it likely that the taxpayers of Iowa and Utah will end up picking up the tab of the state that represents an eighth of the nation’s economy? We asked Ron Paul and others for their views on what has to happen next.

*** end quote ***

Don’t Reward Exorbitance
Ron Paul, a United States representative from Texas and a medical doctor, is the founder of Campaign for Liberty. He ran for president in 2008 and is the author of “The Revolution: A Manifesto” and “End the Fed.”

*** begin quote ***

Californians know they are overtaxed

*** and ***

Instead of seeking federal aid, California should cut spending, rethink some of its unsustainable public pension programs, tame down the expensive and failed drug war, and repeal regulations that discourage economic growth. According to a 2008 piece by The Independent Institute’s William Shughart, the state owns more than 20,000 buildings and 6.7 million acres of land, a portion of which is “surplus” property that could be sold to private owners.

*** end quote ***

Sounds like advice that New Jersey could use as well!

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POLITICS: Obama’s inflation will break the country

Saturday, June 13, 2009

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=329091224620125

Obama’s Plan For A Debt-Ridden Future
By ERNEST S. CHRISTIAN AND GARY A. ROBBINS | Posted Friday, June 05, 2009 4:20 PM PT

*** begin quote ***

In effect, American families would over time lose an amount greater than an entire year of GDP — a blow far more severe than the damage being done to them by the current recession.

*** end quote ***

Between debt and unfunded liabilities, we are falling further and further behind. Sad to say, we can’t even guess how much we pay in taxes. The politicians have succeeded in hiding and burying taxes in every conceivable manner.

When Obama’s inflation starts, it’ll be too late to react.

Gold! The ancient store of value.

There’s a reason that Jefferson and Jackson were against “central banks” like the Federal Reserve Bank and paper money. Those allow politicians and bureaucrats to hide the true cost of their evil deals.

Imagine how they’d be on the hook, if they could NOT silent tax every dollar in the world with inflation?

Like withholding and corporate taxes, everything gets hidden from view.

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MONEY: Inflation is a hidden tax

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

http://tslrf.blogspot.com/2009/05/inflation.html

Friday, May 8, 2009

Inflation

*** begin quote ***

This is a backdoor tax because a tax was not passed. You did not have money stolen out of your paycheck and didn’t write them a check but they in effect reached into your wallet and bank accounts and via a loss purchasing power you were essentially taxed.

*** end quote ***

Insidious backdoor taxation. Coming to you very soon!

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RANT: Pelosi seeks to divert attention!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aE68O.jaWO4E&refer=home

Pelosi Wall Street Probe Follows Pecora After Crash (Update1)
By Mark Pittman and Laura Litvan

*** begin quote ***

April 21 (Bloomberg) — Wall Street may be heading for the deepest investigation of its practices since a congressional panel’s probe of abuses following the 1929 stock market crash.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to push for a comprehensive inquiry, saying that three-quarters of Americans want to know what led to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the collapse of Bear Stearns Cos. and Merrill Lynch & Co. She favors one patterned after Senate Banking Committee hearings led by Ferdinand Pecora starting in 1933, according to her spokesman, Nadeam Elshami.

*** end quote ***

And who investigates Congress?

Because, imho, “their fingerprints” are all over this mess — Dodd, Franks, Pelosi, and Reid!

Bush doesn’t escape clean, but they did block him.

The SEC, FTC, FDIC, and the Justice Department could have “blown the whistle”.

There’s enough blame to go around, but Pelosi is seeking to once again divert attention from her own troubles and that of her fellow congress critters.

Throw them all out!

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RANT: One follow up from the tea parties!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=95086

After the tea party
Jane Chastain

*** begin quote ***

Do not re-elect anyone who has less than an “A” grade. Give someone new a chance.

*** end quote ***

GRIP

Get Rid of Incumbent Politicians

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MONEY: Deficit spending?

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

200904171047.jpg

Speechless!

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RANT: “Plastic pitchforks”? DOn’t think so.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

http://channel-surfing.blogspot.com/2009/04/astroturf-part-2.html

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Astroturf, Part 2
Hank Kalet

*** begin quote ***

Thomas Frank knows about Republicans and populism.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123975925509119297.html

*** end quote ***

MY RESPONSE:

“Plastic pitchforks”?

I don’t think so. Admittedly I don’t know. It too could be another gigantic conspiracy.

But, I think not. For the first time in American history, the current generation in power is seeing — a lower standard of living for the next one, a dumbing down of “graduates”, and a net loss in their savings and earning power.

It makes me mad. It makes them mad. And, it scares the dickens out of everyone.

The political class, instead of providing leadership, has run around like chicken little spending money we don’t have to feather their own nests, reward their friends, and punish their enemies. Once again, the rich and powerful had their losses made good from the public treasury. Little people lost their 401ks and became the butt of late night comedian jokes about 201ks. At least, they noticed.

And don’t forget employment. We’ve gone from the 50’s America where it was possible for a high school student to earn a living wage on one salary to now, where to wage earners is barely enough to pay the taxes and stay solvent. Never mind live comfortably.

Astroturf?

I don’t think so.

And, it flows back into huge gooferments that suck up money like a vacuum cleaner. With bureaucrats that whine about 5 and 10% annual raises, lifetime health care, and artificially fattened pensions for their “lifetime” of “service”.

I think the “tea parties” are the undercurrent of political unrest that will make VietNam look like a walk in the park.

imho, but then I’m just one of those extremist vet that Nepaolitano and our version of the SS — Homeland Security — is watching out for. Got news for them, they could see a problem until it bites US in the A double Q!

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INTERESTING: Carla Howell delivered this speech on April 15, 2009 at the TEA Party Event in Boston

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Forgotten Truth About the Original Boston Tea Party –
and Why We Desperately Need It Today
Written by Carla Howell and Michael Cloud

Carla Howell delivered this speech on April 15, 2009 at the TEA Party Event in Boston:

*** begin quote ***   

“I did NOT come here to Protest.

“I did NOT come here to try to change the minds of Democratic or Republican officeholders in Washington – or on Beacon Hill.

“I came here to change politics in America – just like the American Patriots who gave us the first Boston Tea Party.

“The Original Boston Tea Party was NOT a Protest.

“Let me say that again: the Original Boston Tea Party was NOT a Protest.

“The Patriots did NOT just hold up signs, give speeches, and complain.

“The Patriots stopped British ships from unloading Monopoly British Tea – their version of AIG.

“The American Patriots blocked the collection of taxes.

“That is why the Boston Tea Party mattered – and why we remember it today.

“Because it was direct political action, not just protest.

“And it was action that made government smaller.

“Those great American Patriots realized that what they said and what they wrote – changed nothing.

“But action changes everything.

“Not just any action. Action that shrinks Big Government.

“They were right!

“Deeds, NOT just words.

“Direct political action, NOT just protest.

“Action that moves us forward, that moves us closer to small government – NOT the no-win strategy of holding the line, or just opposing more Big Government.

“This is the lesson of the first Boston Tea Party.

“Now it is our turn to live the lesson.

“Let me ask you a few questions.

“Do you believe that the Wall Street bailout is insane?

“Do you believe that the massive federal government borrowing is hurting your business and your family?

“Do you believe that government is too big?

“Do you believe government debt is too high?

“Do you believe government spending is too high?

“Do you believe taxes are too high?

“Now let me ask you the questions inspired by the Original Boston Tea Party:

“Are YOU willing to take political action?

“Are YOU willing to END the Big Government Insanity – and start voting to make government smaller than it is today?

“Are YOU willing to vote against every Big Government candidate – in every election?

“Now here’s the really hard question: Are you willing to vote against them even when you hate the other Big Government candidate more?

“Are you willing to vote FOR small government candidates and FOR small government ballot initiatives?

“Most political candidates who tell you they’re against Big Government, who tell you they are for ‘smaller government’ talk your way — and vote the opposite. They vote for tax increases, debt increases, spending increases, and more Big Government programs. They vote for each year’s higher government spending. Their votes raise your taxes.

“The only way we can protect ourselves against these phonies and fakers is to ASSUME THAT EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN AMERICA IS GUILTY OF VOTING BIG GOVERNMENT – UNTIL OR UNLESS HE PROVES HIMSELF INNOCENT by showing you his voting record. By proving to you that he voted small government while in office.

“Are you willing to vote against every officeholder who refuses to show you their voting record?

“To reclaim the American Dream, we must vote out every Big Government officeholder in our federal, state, and local governments. Every one. Democrat AND Republican.

“But we must NOT stop there.

“We must vote FOR candidates who campaign for, promise, and vote to reduce and remove today’s Big Government social and economic programs – and GIVE BACK EVERY DOLLAR SAVED TO THE TAXPAYERS.

“We must vote for candidates who campaign for, promise, and vote to reduce and END government borrowing, reduce and remove government overspending and waste. Starting now. Small government candidates who will give back every dollar saved to the taxpayers.

“We must vote for small government candidates.

“We must vote FOR ballot initiatives that shrink Big Government.

“Candidates and ballot initiatives that cut orend taxes.

“Candidates and ballot initiatives that drive down today’s Big Government spending.

“Just protesting Big Government will nevergive us what we want. Voting against Big Government will. Voting FOR Small Government will.

“Every Election. Every time. No exceptions. No excuses.

“This is the ONLY way we can fulfill the promise of the Original Boston Tea Party.

“I’m Carla Howell. I head the Center For Small Government. We’re on your side. Please join us.

“Because ‘small government is possible’.”

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I’m proud to be of some modest assistance to a modern america freedom fighter. And, I’ve taken the Small Government Pledge.

http://www.centerforsmallgovernment.com/sgpledge.htm

Have you?

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RANT: Too many drones; not enough workers

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/04/representation_without_taxatio.html

April 10, 2009
Representation without Taxation
By Alan Aronoff

*** begin quote ***

When beneficiaries of government policy do not sufficiently overlap the payers of those benefits, we have a governing system of representation without taxation. This type of system is not sustainable long term, but history suggests it may persist for some time under the pretext of ‘economic justice’ unless soundly rejected by the American people.

*** end quote ***

That’s the result of “progressive” taxation aka “soak the rich”.

The only fair tax is to make it voluntary. If the gooferment provides a service, then it should “tin cup” for donations.

At the very least, if EVERYONE had to pay a 1% tariff on imported goods. That would be “fair”.

As I proposed in page 616 of my book “CHURCH 10●19●62” (http://www.itstartedinchurch.com), a simple modest tariff collection mechanism would require little enforcement:

“Because the Government didn’t want to have a lot of checkers, the value is declared at the border. The tariff is two MILs per 10 ounces of value. The importer declares the value and pays the tariff. To ensure honesty, under estimation triggers a 100% penalty. So because the rate is so low and the penalty so high, importers typically add a zero to the end of the value number. For example, a truck valued of one thousand ounces would be assessed a tax of two ounces. So an importer, to be sure of compliance, would call it ten thousand ounces and pay a tax of twenty ounces. Not very fair, but very easy to administrate.”

We have reached the point where the “takers” outnumber the “producers”. We’ll we now see the diminished incentives lead to decreased productivity. Eventually it winds up that we look like a Communist country where the underground economy and “just getting by” becomes the national ethic.

Where are the pitchfork and torches?

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RANT: Begala says paying taxes is patriotic

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/15/begala.taxes/index.html

Commentary: April 15 is patriots’ day

   * Paul Begala: April 15 is one day most Americans sacrifice for government

   * Begala says paying taxes to support worthy government services is patriotic

   * “Tea parties” are being pushed by GOP supporters who lost election, Begala says

   * He says President Obama and Congress have cut taxes for most

By Paul Begala

CNN Contributor

*** begin quote ***

(CNN) — Happy Patriots’ Day. April 15 is the one day a year when our country asks something of us — or at least the vast majority of us.

*** and ***

This country has showered me with the blessings of liberty. So what do I owe my country in return? Paying my fair share of taxes, it seems, is the least I can do. Thanks to President Obama and the Democratic Congress, 95 percent of Americans will get a tax cut this year. No one — not even the wealthiest 1 percent — will have to pay higher income taxes until 2011.

*** end quote ***

Please don’t make me laugh. Or, insult my intelligence!

As a vet, a voter, and a taxpayer, why don’t I feel “represented”. My congress critters and bureaucrats no more represent my thinking than the pirates in Somalia. Congress is bought and paid for by the special interests.

I am oppressed more than any serf in the middle ages. At least the feudal lord left them half.

It’s impossible to day to figure out how much of a serf I am. It feels close to 100%!

And, perhaps, Komrade Begala can explain to me how this obligation was created.

The State has no specific duty to protect me; yet, I have an obligation to pay taxes for protection I don’t receive. So, how does what some dead old white guys agreed to in a room more than 200 years ago bind me? Sorry, but I didn’t, don’t, and won’t agree with tyranny.

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