A Literate Voting System
December 31, 2009
In 1975 the U.S. permanently banned literacy tests for voter eligibility based on the view that literacy tests are discriminatory.
In order to vote, one need not know how to read or write (much less have any common sense). One must simply have the fortitude to be an American citizen and turn eighteen.
This would not be a problem if our school systems were producing a voter majority who understand basic principles concerning government and economics.
When our forefathers established our democracy, they did not envision our fine government requiring over 60,000 pages to explain the variety of ways it is entitled to your money. The complexity of the system means voters must be much more intelligent today than the average farmer of 200 years ago. Unfortunately, our schools produce a vastly uneducated populace that continues to vote into office a political class who make promises which either cannot be met or cause other problems that are often worse.
Add in the element that in our two party system, there is only one party that benefits from the underclass that comes out of our public school systems, and we have ourselves a real mess.
We are corrupt….. We are the Senate….. We are tax collectors with no morals, And no limits.
December 28, 2009
“I don’t know if there is a Senator that doesn’t have something in this bill that was important to them…
And if they don’t have something in it important to them, then it doesn’t speak well of them.”
Sen. Harry Reid
Our State of Democracy
December 24, 2009
“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.
The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:
From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
From dependence back into bondage.”
-Alexander Titler (1747-1813)
A Naive Entitled World
December 21, 2009
“Never in our memory has so unpopular a bill been on the verge of passing Congress, never has social and economic legislation of this magnitude been forced through on a purely partisan vote, and never has a party exhibited more sheer political willfulness that is reckless even for Washington or had more warning about the consequences of its actions.
…when it passes America will be paying for it for decades to come.”
“Change Nobody Believes In” / Wall Street Journal editorial board
Ignorant Voters = Happy Politicians
December 19, 2009
“Economics and politics confront the same fundamental problem: What everyone wants adds up to more than there is.
Market economies deal with this problem by confronting individuals with the costs of producing what they want, and letting those individuals make their own trade-offs when presented with prices that convey those costs. That leads to self-rationing, in the light of each individual’s own circumstances and preferences.
Politics deals with the same problem by making promises that cannot be kept, or which can be kept only by creating other problems that cannot be acknowledged when the promises are made.”
Thomas Sowell, full article
Dropouts drain taxpayers…1 state, 1 year, $5 billion
December 16, 2009
Georgia’s 38,000 high school dropouts in the class of 2007 will cost taxpayers $4.8 billion over their lifetime due to costs associated with incarceration, Medicaid and other government programs, according to a new study released by the Friedman Foundation and the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.
Meanwhile, government salaries soar…
December 11, 2009
“The trend to six-figure salaries is occurring throughout the federal government, in agencies big and small, high-tech and low-tech.”
“When the recession started, the Transportation Department had only one person earning a salary of $170,000 or more. Eighteen months later, 1,690 employees had salaries above $170,000.”
“The growth in six-figure salaries has pushed the average federal worker’s pay to $71,206, compared with $40,331 in the private sector.”
Full Article by Dennis Cauchon, USA Today
Debt UP… Dollar DOWN.
November 18, 2009
The U.S. Dollar is at it’s lowest value EVER… falls below the “critical” 75 index mark.
Thank you American soldier.
November 11, 2009
Freedom of Speech is one of our most important and dearest rights. We know no other way. It’s how it has been since our Founding Fathers laid down the laws of our great country many generations ago.
But look around the world, and you’ll see that oppression of the freedom of speech is still very much alive.
Without our dedicated armed forces and the sacrifices they make to protect our freedoms, history teaches us those freedoms would undoubtedly be lost.
- Thank You American Soldier. Happy Veterans Day!
Politically Correct Mad Lib
November 2, 2009
Quote from Washington Times article by Joseph Curl, concerning the Atlanta, GA mayoral race…
“Black mayors have occupied City Hall since 1973, but this year, a white City Council member is leading in the polls, even though two black civic leaders urged black voters to unite against her.”
for FUN, let’s take the same quote and reverse “black” and “white”…
White mayors have occupied City Hall since 1973, but this year, a black City Council member is leading in the polls, even though two white civic leaders urged white voters to unite against her.”
Hmmmm….
Down with disease. The cure? Education.
October 30, 2009
“The House health care bill unveiled Thursday clocks in at 1,990 pages and about 400,000 words. With an estimated 10-year cost of $894 billion, that comes out to about $2.24 million per word…
…and for those who cry “read the bill,” beware. There are plenty of paragraphs like this one:
“(a) Outpatient Hospitals – (1) In General – Section 1833(t)(3)(C)(iv) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395(t)(3)(C)(iv)) is amended – (A) in the first sentence – (i) by inserting “(which is subject to the productivity adjustment described in subclause (II) of such section)” after “1886(b)(3)(B)(iii); and (ii) by inserting “(but not below 0)” after “reduced”; and (B) in the second sentence, by inserting “and which is subject, beginning with 2010 to the productivity adjustment described in section 1886(b)(3)(B)(iii)(II)”.”
Our wise leaders in the House have allowed one week, that’s seven days, to read and discuss 2000 pages of symbols, characters, and “words” that, if passed, will have an enormous impact on the people of this country for decades to come… especially taxpayers.
It’s difficult to point the finger back at yourself and your community and claim partial responsibility for this. But it’s true… Government performance is a direct reflection of the education level of the voting public.
Redistribution of earnings: Legal Theft
October 23, 2009
Nearly half of U.S. households – 47 percent, or 71 million of them – will pay no federal income taxes for 2009, according to a study by the Tax Policy Center. Even when federal taxes to fund Social Security and other programs are considered, under current law 24 percent of households either pay no federal tax or actually get money back by virtue of refundable credits like the earned income tax credit.
Source: Tax Policy Center
More Deep Thoughts…with Thomas Sowell
October 2, 2009
“There is usually only a limited amount of damage that can be done by dull or stupid people.
For creating a truly monumental disaster, you need people with high IQs.”
A Lesson In Unintended Consequences…
September 10, 2009
Van-tastic!
September 8, 2009
China lends, America spends
September 8, 2009
“The US spends tomorrow’s money today… We Chinese spend today’s money tomorrow. That’s why we have this financial crisis.”
Cheng Siwei, Chinese Govt. Energy Official
“He who goes borrowing, goes sorrowing”
Benjamin Franklin
Vast right wing conspiracy unraveled in Macon, GA
August 21, 2009
08-21-09 Peach State Wire Service
Following a tip from a city utility worker, three Macon policemen entered Freemans Warehouse at approximately 10:06PM on Thursday. What they discovered is bound to ignite a firestorm across the Nation.
“The warehouse is about half the size of a football field” according to Macon Police Sgt. Dory Ramsey. “What they got in there are several hundred 12 foot tall racks of computers.”
Upon entering the warehouse a Macon Police detective whose name is being withheld discovered a two foot tall pile of documents next to a row of shredders. “Apparently they forgot the last stack” said Ramsey.
Each of the discovered documents bears the Official Seal of the Republican Party. Many of these documents contain scripts that show dissenters exactly what to say to proponents of government run health care.
One particular document, which the Macon Police jokingly refer to as the “cookie jar letter” contains instructions for organizing hundreds of government dissenters to storm town hall meetings. There are believed to be approximately 56,000 names, along with numbers, emails, and addresses in what was found.
“After seeing first hand what the police have discovered today” said Councilman Jerry Taggert “I have no doubt in my mind that the Republican Party is using an entrenched underground network to manipulate public opinion and control the direction of our country.”
“The fact that the Official Republican Seal is imprinted onto those documents is significant” according to District Attorney Jimmie Davis. “You can’t just go out and get one of those off the street.”
Councilman Terry Spoon and Councilwoman Sheri Lamb, both Republicans, declined to comment.
“Hillary was right and Obama IS right!” reads a yard sign stuck in front of Freemans.
Drew Mercer, Staff Reporter
Growth of government equals growth of unsustainable services.
August 19, 2009
“The only reason for a government service is precisely to provide financial support for an operation that is otherwise unsustainable, or else there would be no point in the government’s involvement at all.”
Murtha Airport… A drop in a sea of waste.
August 19, 2009
"Congressman Murtha is a good man."
1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state governments. Verify
2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. Verify
3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens. Verify
4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English. Verify
5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies. Verify
6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens. Verify
7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens. Verify
8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare and Social Services by the American taxpayers. Verify
9. $200 Billion dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens. Verify
10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that’s two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens. Verify
11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Verify – Homeland Security Report
12. The National Policy Institute, estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period. Verify
13. In 2006, illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances
to their countries of origin. Verify
14. Nearly one million sex crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States. Verify
TOTAL COST = $338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
Deep thoughts… with Thomas Sowell.
August 15, 2009
“Perhaps the scariest aspect of our times is how many people think in talking points, rather than in terms of real world consequences.”
Thomas Sowell
Thomas Jefferson offers voters sound principles to follow, to ensure the survival of our Democracy.
August 13, 2009
“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.”
“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”
“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.”
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”
“Banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”
“When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.”
“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.”
“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
Ethical collapse of the Left
August 12, 2009
“But somehow liberals have drifted into a strange servility toward big government, which they revere as a godlike foster father-mother who can dispense all bounty and magically heal all ills.
The ethical collapse of the left was nowhere more evident than in the near total silence of liberal media and Web sites at the Obama administration’s outrageous solicitation to private citizens to report unacceptable “casual conversations” to the White House.
If Republicans had done this, there would have been an angry explosion by Democrats from coast to coast.”
Quoted from today’s article by Camille Paglia, outspoken feminist / Democrat / journalist who voted for Obama.
Who is President Obama?
August 10, 2009
Why is President Obama hiding his past?
1. Obama’s Occidental College records — Not released
2. Obama’s Columbia College records — Not released
3. Obama’s Columbia Thesis paper — Not available
4. Obama’s Harvard College records — Not released
5. Obama’s Selective Service Registration — Not released
6. Obama’s medical records — Not released
7. Obama’s Illinois State Senate schedule — Not available
8. Obama’s Illinois State Senate records — Not available
9. Obama’s law practice client list — Not released
10. Certified copy of Obama’s original birth certificate – Not released
11. Embossed, signed paper certification of live birth — Not released
12. Obama’s record of baptism — Not available
The fact that the American public elected this person to office while being denied this information speaks volumes about the intelligence of the American voting public as well as the integrity of the mainstream press.
Politically Correct Godlessness
July 30, 2009
When the government demands the removal of moral teachings from our schools, take a wild guess what happens to the morals of our citizens.
One Nation Under Who?
Debt explosion
July 6, 2009
“The US economy is lurching towards crisis with long-term interest rates on course to double, crippling the country’s ability to pay its debts and potentially plunging it into another recession, according to a study by the US’s own central bank.”
Philip Aldrick, Banking Editor, Telegraph.co.uk
Government as the enemy of the people…
July 5, 2009
“The Bill of Rights should serve as a constant reminder of the deep distrust that our founders had of government. They knew that some government was necessary but they rightfully saw government as the enemy of the people and they sought to limit government and provide us with protections.”
Walter Williams: Why A Bill of Rights?
Thank you American soldier.
July 3, 2009
Freedom of Speech is one of our most important and dearest rights. We know no other way. It’s how it has been since our Founding Fathers laid down the laws of our great country many generations ago.
But look around the world, and you’ll see that oppression of the freedom of speech is still very much alive.
Without our dedicated armed forces and the sacrifices they make to protect our freedoms, history teaches us those freedoms would undoubtedly be lost.
Thank You American Soldier. Happy Independence Day!
Will economic hardship transform Generation Y?
July 2, 2009
Interesting article by Jonathon Lewis at AdAge.
EXCERPT:
“Things will never be the same
Our nation’s rush to borrow its way out of debt has more than a few economists worried. And you can bet your Euros it’s our generation that will pay for this mess. The era of “Bad credit? No problem” is over, and the luxuries we’ve taken for granted are slipping away. We’re inheriting incomprehensible debt, unsustainable social programs and leaders who think the way to fix the problem is to keep doing more of the same thing. You and I have to come to terms with the knowledge that more trouble is heading our way, and hiding from it won’t make it disappear.”
Is Conservatism Relevant?
July 2, 2009
Yet another brilliant question topping the MAINSTREAM MEDIA’S LEAD-IN QUESTION TOP 40.
Answer: Conservatism is only relevant if you desire long-term economic prosperity for our country, its citizens, and future generations.
If you are deep in debt, face growing bills, and decide to go out and obsessively run up a mountain of credit card debt… Does that remove the “relevancy” that economic reality is going to eventually settle in, bankrupt you, and ruin your credit?
This visual depicts government obligations on large projects over 206 years, versus a recent TWELVE MONTH period (put together by Bailout Nation).
Obamanation: Government Run Health Care
June 23, 2009
“The unifying concept of his domestic policies – their connecting thread – is that they advance the Democrats’ dependency agenda. The party of government aims to make Americans more equal by making them equally dependent on government for more and more things.”
George Will Taking a Razor to the President’s Plan
Congressman Randy Forbes gives Obama a poignant history lesson.
The Fate of Large, Bloated Government
June 13, 2009
When our F0unding Fathers put together our Constitution and laid out the powers of government, they had in mind a group of self-supported states, which capitalized on their regional strengths to propel their economies forward. Most power was to rest with the states, and the federal government was to restrict its involvement to matters like interstate transportation and defense.
What our Founding Fathers had in mind is NOT what exists today. And more and more Americans are realizing our country has ventured way off course.
check out Paul Starobin’s article in the WSJ…
EXCERPT:
“Consider this proposition: America of the 21st century, propelled by currents of modernity that tend to favor the little over the big, may trace a long circle back to the original small-government ideas of the American experiment. The present-day American Goliath may turn out to be a freak of a waning age of politics and economics as conducted on a super-sized scale—too large to make any rational sense in an emerging age of personal empowerment that harks back to the era of the yeoman farmer of America’s early days. The society may find blessed new life, as paradoxical as this may sound, in a return to a smaller form.”
Thanks to Obama’s economic and monetary policies, what was bad is now MUCH worse…
“We can expect rapidly rising prices and much, much higher interest rates over the next four or five years”
Socialism Explained
Robert Gibbs, Obama’s new press secretary, apparently has the uncanny ability to enamor the white house press with an average of 10+ laughs from the audience per day…
“It’s possible that reporters just think Gibbs is much funnier than the Bush people… But I think this is another subliminal sign that reporters are much more comfortable with a spokesman that represents the hope and change they voted for.”
How much do taxes add to the cost of goods and services?
April 17, 2009
Americans for Tax Reform estimated taxes imposed on some everyday items as a percent of their average price. The foundation came up with this: Cigarettes, 87 percent ▪ Distilled spirits, 80 percent ▪ Car rentals, 61 percent ▪ Domestic airfare, 55 percent ▪ Landline phone, 52 percent ▪ Wireless phone, 46 percent ▪ Hotel stays, 50 percent ▪ Cable (video), 46 percent ▪ Firearms, 46 percent.
Source: www.fiscalaccountability.org
Our founding fathers must be rolling in their graves…
April 10, 2009
Just 53% Say Capitalism Better Than Socialism
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Only 53% of American adults believe capitalism is better than socialism. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 20% disagree and say socialism is better. Twenty-seven percent (27%) are not sure which is better. Adults under 30 are essentially evenly divided: 37% prefer capitalism, 33% socialism, and 30% are undecided. Thirty-somethings are a bit more supportive of the free-enterprise approach with 49% for capitalism and 26% for socialism. Adults over 40 strongly favor capitalism, and just 13% of those older Americans believe socialism is better. Investors by a 5-to-1 margin choose capitalism. As for those who do not invest, 40% say capitalism is better while 25% prefer socialism. There is a partisan gap as well. Republicans – by an 11-to-1 margin – favor capitalism. Democrats are much more closely divided: Just 39% say capitalism is better while 30% prefer socialism. As for those not affiliated with either major political party, 48% say capitalism is best, and 21% opt for socialism.
Believe it. The U.S. Dollar is in danger of collapse.
March 26, 2009
This short video was originally published 9-14-07, and is most relevant today:
Know this about your government!
How much is a “trillion”?
March 21, 2009
Discover the FairTax, a thoroughly researched alternative to our 60,000 pages of punitive and special interest tax codes.
March 21, 2009
In writing this blog, my objective is to shine the light on common sense economic principles, and how our country is directly effected… positively or negatively… by the American people’s overall understanding of these principles. The financial performance of our government provides us with a grade by which to judge our society’s level of understanding when it comes to economics. What grade would you give our society today?
There’s a big reason why the FairTax is specifically referenced here. Its legislation is extremely proactive. There’s no other piece of legislation out there that will help to correct as many economic problems in one full swoop, and really address head-on the problems that our nation faces right now.
A primary reason for our economic crisis is Americans are spending more than they earn, at a rate unseen since the Great Depression.
The FairTax will immediately help to reverse this trend. Under the FairTax, all current methods of taxation disappear. The only taxes paid are once at the retail register on the purchase of new goods only. But here’s the rub…after embedded taxes that are currently built into all goods and services are removed, competition will drive retail prices down. Additionally, the FairTax includes a pre-bate check mailed monthly to every household to cover taxes paid up to the poverty level.
Rather than prolong financial disaster with select bailouts that compound debt for future generations, our government should implement a brand new system which replaces the IRS and its 60,000 pages of tax code disaster. Instead, using a transparent system which rewards rather than penalizes hard work, productivity, and saving.
The FairTax will repatriate trillions of dollars our tax code has driven offshore; will attract business and industry from around the world; and will level the playing field by taxing illegal immigrants, the black market, and wealthy tax dodgers like everyone else.
FairTax.org has pumped millions into bi-partisan research of this legislation, and it mortifies many politicians because it renders most lobbyists and special interest groups useless, thus the sound-bytes designed to scare us. Let’s hope the American public is smarter than our elected officials depict us.
Did you know that more money has been invested in the bi-partisan research of the FairTax, than any other piece of legislation in American History? Learn more at www.FairTax.org.
Do you REALLY KNOW how the FairTax works?
March 19, 2009
For nearly a century, it has been ingrained in the American psyche that you must pay taxes on everything you earn.
FROM INFOPLEASE:
The Question:
When did the people start paying federal income tax?
The Answer:
According to the History of the Income Tax in our almanac, the federal income tax was first enacted in 1862 to support the Union’s Civil War effort. It was eliminated in 1872, revived in 1894, then declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court the following year. In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution made the income tax a permanent fixture in the U.S. tax system.
Do you agree with the following 6 concepts?
1) Personal productivity is a good thing. Our government should encourage it rather than discourage it.
2) Investing and saving is a good thing. Our government should encourage it rather than discourage it.
3) Keeping your company’s headquarters in the U.S. is a good thing. Our government should encourage it rather than discourage it.
4) Taxing illegal immigrants and criminals just like law abiding citizens is a good thing. Our government should encourage it rather than discourage it.
5) Eliminating wasteful activity is a good thing. Our government should encourage it rather than discourage it.
6) Greater transparency and awareness of government financial performance is a good thing. Our government should encourage it rather than discourage it.
If your answer is “YES!” then you believe in the basic principles behind the FairTax.
On the other hand, if you’re thoughts are “well it sounds good but it’ll never happen,” just consider the race of our current President and the state of race relations in our country over the years.
This is non-partisan legislation that deserves attention because it would convert a system that has a tremendously negative impact on our economy, into a system that has an enormously positive impact on our economy. It’s not smoke and mirrors legislation like the 60,000 pages of tax law that currently cripple our economy and ability to grow. It is simple legislation that deals with the way that taxes are collected by the government. It treats everyone equally, and does not change anyone’s government benefits.
