Category Archives: Government

Why Government Won’t Shrink

Posted on August 18, 2011 | 2 comments

Just put this in the file of “I’m for the bill as long as I don’t pay.”

Under Rep. Darrell Issa’s bill, the 40 percent discount that nonprofits have been getting for the postage rates on their mailings since Congress authorized it in 1951 would be reduced by 5 percent a year, and to 10 percent after six years.

…

Advocates for nonprofits say they support all the proposed changes, except for the nonprofit provision.

As far as I know, this has nothing to do with Left vs. Right.  Just big vs. small.  Me vs. they.

Gross.

2 Comments

Posted in Government, Idiots on Parade, Politics: National

Tagged

I Wasn’t Talking To You

Posted on August 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

I know what I’d say to this guy.

Leave a comment

Posted in Government, Politics: National

Tagged

Music, Sweet Music – US Postal Service To Lay Off 120,000

Posted on August 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

It would seem that people only care about monopolies when they are in the hands of anyone but the government.  But, when in those trusted hands of Uncle Sam, it’s A-OK for an organization to have a legal strangle hold on a market.

Enter the United States Postal Service.

For years this organization has been losing money by the truck load.  The truck load I tell you.  And the whole time they’re losing this money there are corporations willing and able to take the job from them.  FedEx and UPS would be chomping at the bit to be able to have a shot at the commercial mail that the USPS handles right now.

But the government won’t let ’em.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in Economics, Government

Tagged , ,

Receipts and Expenditures – Revenues and Spending – Cuts and Rises

Posted on August 10, 2011 | 5 comments

The debt ceiling, the debate, the deal, the debate and then the deal again.  The downgrade, the market down and up and then down again.

Obama’s economy.

The deficit panel.  Compromise.  Revenues and cuts.

It’s all there.  And America wants a compromise.  But before that, I wanna define two things:

Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in Debt - Deficit, Economy, Government

Tagged ,

Wisconsin: Thoughts On An Election

Posted on August 10, 2011 | 1 comment

So it turns out that the Wisconsin Democrats didn’t win as much as they wanted and, more importantly, as much as they needed..  They fell short of taking back control of the Senate.  Now, to be fair, a 17-16 majority is razor thin and in truth is probably better for government than a very large majority.  For example, who can argue about the damage the the US Senate did to the nation as a result of their super-majority in 2009-2010?  No one.

However, what is the impact?  The read?  What does this mean?

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in Government, Politics: National, States Behaving Badly

Tagged , , , ,

Bow Your Heads

Posted on August 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

It seems that there is much kerfluffle on the intertubes about a certain governor from a certain state saying some certain words.

The last word, which begins with “a” and ends with “men” seems to be the biggie.

Lemme remind you:

…it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes, and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success the functions allotted to his charge. In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good, I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own, nor those of my fellow-citizens at large less than either. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency

…

Having thus imparted to you my sentiments as they have been awakened by the occasion which brings us together, I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the benign Parent of the Human Race in humble supplication that, since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquillity, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend.

America is a club of people who formed a society.  And those people who made up this club said, “We believe in a God”.  More than that, these people who formed this club said that you don’t have to believe in the same God as we do.  Heck, you don’t even have to believe in a God if ya don’t wanna.

But we do.

And when we gather to do business, we pray to her.

You don’t have to pray; though I hope you do.  But’cha kinda have’ta let me.

Leave a comment

Posted in Government, Liberty, Politics: National

Tagged , ,

Wisconsin Election Results

Posted on August 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Wisconsin Senate is made up of 33 members.  This morning the sun shone on 19 Republicans and 14 Democrats.  A solid majority for the Republicans.

However, because Democrats are upset that properly elected Senators passed a bill that was also passed by properly elected Congressman which was then signed into law by properly elected Governors, they are forcing, and have indeed, forced, a recall election for 6 of those 19 Republican seats.

For the Democrats to emerge victorious, they must defeat 3 incumbent Republicans.  This would be a 6 seat turn around giving the cry babies, sorry, sore losers, ahem, Democrats a razor thin majority; 16-17.

Those who remember the Prosser election with sadness are destined to be sad again.  Going into the final race, the Republicans were “winning” 3-2.  But a tie goes to the losers, ahem, Democrats.  So they need to win 4 out of 6.  And the last Democrat was ahead by 2,000 votes.

However, there is no joy in Mudville as only 1 f 11 Waukesha precincts reported.  This is the Waukesha that broke for Prosser 73% to 27%.  And guess what, glory be to the gods, ‘ol Waukesha stood and delivered!  They cared for the Republican 66% to 34%.

And to think, two more Democrats will face recall elections for their actions in running away from the office they swore to serve.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Government, Politics: National, States Behaving Badly

Tagged , ,

Obama’s Speech: What He Should Say – August 8, 2011

Posted on August 8, 2011 | 3 comments

The United States of America has lost it’s AAA credit rating for the first time in the history of time.  It lost it in part because of it’s long term debt and deficits and, to be fair, because of the political nonsense displayed by the Congress and the White House.

The markets are down, at one point down nearly 400 points.

Barack Obama is going to address the nation this afternoon at 1:00.

Here’s what he should say:

  1. America DOES have a spending problem.  While you can debate whether or not the S&P should have made the downgrade move, the point has been made; we need to address our fiscal irresponsibility and that begins with the President of the United States of America.  To be sure, there have been bad decisions made along the way.  But right now, right here, I am the CEO of the country; the quarterback.  And it’s my job to bring us back.
  2. I have a plan.  I am going to address the spending problems that have brought us to where we are.  I’ll identify the areas where spending has increased faster than we thought and what we want.  I’ll find ways to end programs that don’t work and streamline those that we can.  This is going to be painful.
  3. Taxes on a fragile economy are dangerous; something we don’t wanna investigate.  However, where possible the tax code should be rewritten to avoid needless loopholes and poor incentives.  It doesn’t serve anyone to implement a 35% corporate tax rate only to have the most powerful corporations hire IRS tax attorneys to avoid paying any tax whatsoever.

Here’s what he will say:

  1. The credit rating was downgraded last week by Standard and Poor’s.  This organization, who largely missed the worthiness of sub-prime securities during the housing boom and brought about the 2007 recession used numbers that were not accurate in arriving at the downgrade decision.
  2. The political infighting we saw from Congress in the last few weeks was brought about by a minority of the minority.  A few select Congressmen felt that America had to be held hostage in order to maintain ideological positions.
  3. This downgrade is not reflective of America’s ability to pay her debts; it’s a Tea Party downgrade.

3 Comments

Posted in Diplomacy, Economy, Government, Politics: National

Tagged , , ,

Warren Buffet – Taxes – Patriotic Millionaires

Posted on August 8, 2011 | 4 comments

One of the most tired old lines that Democrats trot out when it comes to taxes and the very rich is Warren Buffet’s claim that his secretary pays more in taxes than he does. A statement, of course, that is as silly as it is insulting.

Knowing this, it should be no surprise that Mr. Buffet is a member of The Patriotic Millionaires. This is a group of people who make or are worth a million bucks AND feel that the tax rate they pay is simply too low. They love to sing that they are willing to pay more in taxes.

My response?

So pay the damn money!

If those individuals feel that they aren’t paying enough, there are forms on the IRS website that they can download that will allow them to contribute to the government that amount of money they feel they are inappropriately being allowed to keep. However, when presented this fact, they throw up their hands and make the point that “it doesn’t work unless we ALL contribute! It requires ALL of us to pay more.”

What this means, of course, is that what this group of people REALLY wants is for someone ELSE to pay more in taxes.

Leftists are Leftists whether they be poor or rich. The best thing to do is remains far away from them as possible.

4 Comments

Posted in Government, Liberty, Lobby/PAC, Politics: National

Tagged , , ,

The Tea Party Was Right

Posted on August 6, 2011 | 3 comments

The government’s credit rating was cut today.  For the first time in the history of the planet the United States of America is no longer a sure bet on it’s credit.  To be sure, AA+ isn’t nothin to sneeze at, but it’s not, ahem, Money.

The impact:

S&P cut the long-term U.S. credit rating by one notch to AA-plus on concerns about the government’s budget deficits and rising debt burden. The move is likely to raise borrowing costs eventually for the American government, companies and consumers.

And the why:

“The downgrade reflects our opinion that the fiscal consolidation plan that Congress and the Administration recently agreed to falls short of what, in our view, would be necessary to stabilize the government’s medium-term debt dynamics,” S&P said in a statement.

The deal reached by Congress and signed by the President doesn’t do anything about our fiscal woes.  Cries from the Left that we aren’t raising revenue ring hollow as the United States regularly see year over year revenue gains of over 7%; revenue is NOT the trouble.

Spending is the problem.

And the liberal Left will not listen and take action.  They continue down the path that somehow someone isn’t paying their fair share yet irresponsibly care to put pen to paper and define what that fair share really is.

What we are seeing now is the natural result of the kind of quasi socialism that exists in the world today.

The Tea Party is right.

3 Comments

Posted in Economy, Government, Politics: National

Tagged , , , ,