Well, it's finally over...50+ years of great players on good teams, a few great teams, who just couldn't get over that last little hump. The San Francisco Giants are finally...the very best team in baseball. Bar none. A cast of incredible characters; good solid defensemen, some timely bats (NO Lazyboy recliners in the clubhouse), and a baby-face anchor behind the dish leading one of the very best top-to-bottom pitching staffs in the last 40 years (ALL under contract for at least another four years!) left no doubt. These boys are the real deal and will be around for many years to come...The Championship Parade begins at Washington and Montgomery at 11AM tomorrow, heads south to Market, then turns up towards City Hall, where Mayor Gavin Newsome will present the team with a key to the City. I'll be leaving for the festivities from the Pleasanton BART station around 9ish, so if you want to join me, meet me there...
Whiners beware...I have a few friends who simply refuse to give any teams other than their own the credit they deserve. At the end of the baseball season, one in particular provided constant FB posts were all about how the Braves were going to crush the Giants. Then after they manhandled the Braves and headed for Philly, it was "now you're going to face a real team", forgetting to acknowledge that his Cincinnati Reds were now couch-bound, having been swept three straight in the first round. During the entire NLCS, everytime a Philly passed gass, he was posting..."Yeah, now watch the Giants fold" and other such nonsense. Even last night, when a mutual friend posted "Now we've got a ring!", he posted "Yeah...1", as if to say, ONLY one, but look how many my team has. You just have to feel sorry for people who can't acknowledge accomplishment. Well, right now, and for the next year, MY San Francisco Giants ARE the best team going. Period...
From The 'Oh Yeah" Dept: In case it got lost among all the Championship hubub, today is Election Day. And those of you who visit the Lounge would probably call the paramedics if I didn't address this fact, so here are a few thoughts...
Ears Are Important Too...like many, I am so very tired of the staunch bickering, nay-saying, "I'm absolutely right / you're absolutely wrong" arguing. Debate is fine, disagreement is expected, even a little snarkiness every so often can be understood. But I believe the one biggest problem all of us, from the elected elites in D.C. to the milk men and accountants and everyday folk have is that we, almost by habit, refuse to listen to anyone who has a differing viewpoint. This continues, and we're all doomed...
Nostradamus Redux: It looks like Brown, Boxer, and McNerney will win. Porbably Pelosi too, although I'm holding out hope she gets rightfully bounced. I long ago accepted that most politicians are out for themselves, but she doesn't even hide it well and she wouldn't know well constructed law if it sucked all the Botox out of her forehead. Fortunately, if she does lose, she'll probably resign all-together, as her predecessors Hastert and Gingrich did, so that's an extra added bonus for voting against her. The Reid/Angle contest in Nevada is truly the hardest to call; not because it's close but because both candidates are so pitifully unqualified for the job, which is saying something since Hotel Harry has been the Senate Majority Leader for several years now. But while Reid is a straight partisan guy, which is exactly what every congressional district needs to get rid of, his opponent, Tea Party jack-wagon Sharron Angle is so woefully incompetent and unknowledgeable about anything past her soundbite talking points, she makes Sarah Palin look like a Stanfoo professor. God help us, every one...
The Final Countdown...there aer a couple of old, dear friends I have ben politically sparring with for the better part of six months, mostly through that nemesis of time management, Facebook. They are good Americans, who love their country and truly believe that their "just right of Atilla the Hun", Tea Party, anti-Government, hell-bent-for-leather political posturing is exactly what this country needs. And while I fully and vehemently support their rights to hold and express these opinions and would be the first person to stand beside them should anyone try to keep them from excercising these rights, the fact of the matter is that, people from either side of the political spectrum who, as they do, refuse to accept anything other than the complete annihilation of opposing viewpoints and policies, render themselves irrelevent and so, after long, arduous debate, I have decided to leave them to their dillusions.
That said, I would like to offer them a final note of reality, in the hope that it makes the inevitable a little easier to swallow...
The political game, be it in Sacratomato or Washington D.C., is past the point of no return. The job of the elected official in our country has de-evolved from one purpose (representing their constituents) to two (Getting elected and getting re-elected). The rest is all just window dressing. I do not offer this sad mea culpa as anything other than a precursor to what you will someday realize yourselves: Regardless of which party holds office, no matter what percentage of "professional politicians" get bounced to the curb today, even if the Dems were to lose control of both houses of Congress (not likely), nothing significant will change. For today's politicans are no longer made up with the intestinal fortitude of Washington, the "country before party" determination of Lincoln, or the "ask what you can do for your country" enthusiasm of Kennedy. Today, they are almost all born of the cloth of P.T. Barnum, believing there is a sucker born every minute.
And to follow blindly behind the rhetoric and chutzpah of the Karl Rovians of the Tea Party, just as those on the left drank every drop of the Obama kool-aid two years ago and let the solutions to the massive problems left us by the previous administration go unchecked, it will only further prove Mr. Barnum's point, and drive our nation further and further from where it began, all those many years ago.
Now...what's on YOUR mind?
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
That's Just The Way It Is...
OK...yesterday saw the passage by the House of the HealthCare Reform Act, helping to provide affordable insurance to 32 mil who were without. And with that came the expected whining session from rapid, anti-Obama conservatives, from the airwaves to the blogosphere. The Lounge's final word on this topic is, this was not a perfect bill, but the access and retention to quality healthcare is now better for the poor, the working middle class, and small biz owners than it has ever been. Besides, the bill still has to pass the Senate, and you can be sure there are a lot of insurance-fed Repugs in the upper house who will do anything they can to obstruct passage. The Lounge has two final thoughts on this...First, we don't care one way or the toher how this turns out, can we just get it done, one way or the other and move on? And lastly, What ever happened to the mantra during the Bush admin of "Elections have consequences"?...
MORE MADNESS: What happened to the NCAA? When I woke Saturday, I had 22 wins in the 32 games played thus far, my son was getting married, the weather was gorgeous and all was right with the world. I return home from a spectacular day and my bracket looks like a prop left over from the last Chuckie movie! But then, that's what makes the Tournament the unique sporting gem it is. The worse you do in your bracket, the better Tournament you have. This year, there are eight teams seeded 5 or higher advancing to the Sweet 16, including three who began play as a double-digit seed. Last year, there was 1. Let the Madness continue...
BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Last week brought with it a sad goodbye to a wonderful woman whom I admired and will always be grateful to, whom I will forever only think of as "Mrs. Smith". She was the mother of a dear friend from my Stockton days, and back during the three weeks or so during junior high, while suffering from a severe case of "the crushes" on her daughter, Mrs. Smith was kind and thoughtfull to this terrified and timid puppy when she answered the phone. My most sincere and heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Carl, her husband of 61 wonderful years, her daughters Darla and Connie, and her three treasured grandsons, Matt, Vaughn and Alex, as they mourn the loss of this warm and tender soul. Fare thee well, Alma. The streets of Heaven are a little more crowded with Angels tonight...
A POT OF POURRI: Patti and Pam, two friends from AVHS a "few" years ago are headed to HP Pavillion this week to check out the John Mayer show. Two of the best natured and good hearted women I know, but given the history of this sweet-talker with the ladies, I am giving second thoughts to trying to score them backstage passes for a Meet-n-Greet. You know how them "musicians" can be. Have fun, girls...Congrats to Josh Miller of Pleasanton for being invited to try out for the Under-15 NorCal Lacrosse Team that will represent at the National Tournament in Orlando, FLA later this summer. Note to proud dad/sports journalist/editor Dennis: When he gets to Johns Hopkins or Duke in a few years, I'll be expecting tix to the collegiate chmapionships...
WELL IT'S ABOUT TIME: The Golden State warriors announced yesterday that owner Chris Cohan has officially placed the team on the selling block. It is all but assured that Oracle owner and CEO Larry Ellison, whose company already has their name on the arena where the Warriors play their home games, will replace Cohan, who was only a slight improvement over previous, long-time owner Franklin Meulli. This, Lounge Lizards, is a very good thing...
THE I'VE SEEN IT ALL DEPT: It was announced today that 80 year old Buzz Aldrin, the second man to step foot on the moon 41 years ago this July, will be a contestant on the upcoming "Dancing With The Stars". Next Up: Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former President Bill Clinton, and number 1 PGA Professional golfer Tiger woods will be co-chairing a National Town Hall Meeting on Marital Fidelity.
AND FINALLY: The Lounge would like to ask everyone to "pass the word" to all your friends. Whether you post a "Share" on your FB or MySpace or email a link to those in your address book, we'd really like you to invite everyone to our daily little get-togethers. And hey, while we're at it....in that little box at the bottom....
What's on YOUR mind?
MORE MADNESS: What happened to the NCAA? When I woke Saturday, I had 22 wins in the 32 games played thus far, my son was getting married, the weather was gorgeous and all was right with the world. I return home from a spectacular day and my bracket looks like a prop left over from the last Chuckie movie! But then, that's what makes the Tournament the unique sporting gem it is. The worse you do in your bracket, the better Tournament you have. This year, there are eight teams seeded 5 or higher advancing to the Sweet 16, including three who began play as a double-digit seed. Last year, there was 1. Let the Madness continue...
BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Last week brought with it a sad goodbye to a wonderful woman whom I admired and will always be grateful to, whom I will forever only think of as "Mrs. Smith". She was the mother of a dear friend from my Stockton days, and back during the three weeks or so during junior high, while suffering from a severe case of "the crushes" on her daughter, Mrs. Smith was kind and thoughtfull to this terrified and timid puppy when she answered the phone. My most sincere and heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to Carl, her husband of 61 wonderful years, her daughters Darla and Connie, and her three treasured grandsons, Matt, Vaughn and Alex, as they mourn the loss of this warm and tender soul. Fare thee well, Alma. The streets of Heaven are a little more crowded with Angels tonight...
A POT OF POURRI: Patti and Pam, two friends from AVHS a "few" years ago are headed to HP Pavillion this week to check out the John Mayer show. Two of the best natured and good hearted women I know, but given the history of this sweet-talker with the ladies, I am giving second thoughts to trying to score them backstage passes for a Meet-n-Greet. You know how them "musicians" can be. Have fun, girls...Congrats to Josh Miller of Pleasanton for being invited to try out for the Under-15 NorCal Lacrosse Team that will represent at the National Tournament in Orlando, FLA later this summer. Note to proud dad/sports journalist/editor Dennis: When he gets to Johns Hopkins or Duke in a few years, I'll be expecting tix to the collegiate chmapionships...
WELL IT'S ABOUT TIME: The Golden State warriors announced yesterday that owner Chris Cohan has officially placed the team on the selling block. It is all but assured that Oracle owner and CEO Larry Ellison, whose company already has their name on the arena where the Warriors play their home games, will replace Cohan, who was only a slight improvement over previous, long-time owner Franklin Meulli. This, Lounge Lizards, is a very good thing...
THE I'VE SEEN IT ALL DEPT: It was announced today that 80 year old Buzz Aldrin, the second man to step foot on the moon 41 years ago this July, will be a contestant on the upcoming "Dancing With The Stars". Next Up: Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former President Bill Clinton, and number 1 PGA Professional golfer Tiger woods will be co-chairing a National Town Hall Meeting on Marital Fidelity.
AND FINALLY: The Lounge would like to ask everyone to "pass the word" to all your friends. Whether you post a "Share" on your FB or MySpace or email a link to those in your address book, we'd really like you to invite everyone to our daily little get-togethers. And hey, while we're at it....in that little box at the bottom....
What's on YOUR mind?
Monday, March 15, 2010
Monday Morning Quarterback
LET'S START THE DAY by wishing the happiest of birthday celebrations to three of the most interesting people I know: Lori Anderson Schmucker, Stacy Beintema and Dharma Barsotti. Lori, a long time "secret pal" from my high school days at Pleasanton's Amador Valley High who is involved in everything from School Security and Muni Services to Mary Kay Cosmetics (in addition to being a full-time wife and mother); Stacy, a close friend and the former warden at Stockton, CA's Willow Glen, who now is a key supporter of other people's birthdays through her work with the American Cancer Society; and Dharma, a once scrawny kid running around backstage at concerts during my BGP days, who has now, among his other artistic endeavors, has built for himself a reputation as the master of creative environments and decorative splendor. The world is constantly changing and not always for the better, but of these two facts I will always be certain - the world as we know it is certainly a richer and more colorfull place because of these three individuals, and I will always be grateful that each of them crossed my path. Happy Birthday, gang...
MORNING BEVERAGE: Finally someone has come up with an answer to the supersillious waste of time the national political arena has become. In response largely to the well intentioned but calamitously mismanaged Tea Party circus, a group of folks from around the US have joined together to form The Coffee Party. No joke, this. In an attempt to keep the focus of radical, often incoherent mouthpiece organizations like Tea Party and MoveOn.org on topic, The Coffee Party asserts to keep the national debate on the issues instead of ten word answers and catchy slogans; the thought being to engage a conversation with the sensible 80% of citizens in the middle of the political spectrum and leave the 10% on either end to themselves, wasting time on talk radio and cable tv. And it looks like this puppy's got some legs. After just a few weeks, The Coffee Party boasts more than 160,000 members on FaceBook and has had premiere coverage in both Newsweek and The Nation, while with almost a year in existence, The Tea Party boasts just over 110,000, and the majority of the press has passed them by; not because there is a bias but because their Convention flopped and now even the untre-Conservative wing of the 'Pubs are using them for fodder at cocktailparties (no pun intended). For the first time in almost two years, since the passing of former Meet the Press host Tim Russert, it feels that someone has the backs of common sense Americans and not just the yahoo wackos on the far right and left. I am sure Timmy is smiling...
SPREADING THE WORD: My thanks to friend Colleen Costello-Kreidler, another dish from the "Don" days, who quite unintentionally, I'm sure, hooked me up with the NING Network, an "immersion-based" social network of passions, interests and vocations. Take a look at NING.com, what I believe to be the future of the Internet. There will certainly be more on this in the days to come. Colleen, a fine writer at SDSU and now in Davis, CA., who is still putting pen to paper (I hope!), is married to award winning scribe (Six Good Innings* was selected as Top 10 Sports Books of the Year by Booklist) / morning talk show host (The Rise Guys Show, Sports 1140 AM KHTK) Mark Kreidler. I am wondering if young Patrick and Ryan have their futures mapped out, as ink does seem to be in the genes. Though the word is Ryan swims like a fish and Patrick swings from the right side of the plate in a way NoCal hasn't seen since Matty Williams was guarding the hotbox for the Gnats two decades ago. Where does the time fly?...
SPREADING PT. II: Many thanks for those of you who leave comments about The Lounge on my FB page, but I'd really love it if you'd leave them here at The3Dot and maybe we can build a group of regulars and get a discussion going. More heads are always better than one. And yeah, in the historic words of Alan Whatshisname...Tell a Friend!...
MORNING BEVERAGE: Finally someone has come up with an answer to the supersillious waste of time the national political arena has become. In response largely to the well intentioned but calamitously mismanaged Tea Party circus, a group of folks from around the US have joined together to form The Coffee Party. No joke, this. In an attempt to keep the focus of radical, often incoherent mouthpiece organizations like Tea Party and MoveOn.org on topic, The Coffee Party asserts to keep the national debate on the issues instead of ten word answers and catchy slogans; the thought being to engage a conversation with the sensible 80% of citizens in the middle of the political spectrum and leave the 10% on either end to themselves, wasting time on talk radio and cable tv. And it looks like this puppy's got some legs. After just a few weeks, The Coffee Party boasts more than 160,000 members on FaceBook and has had premiere coverage in both Newsweek and The Nation, while with almost a year in existence, The Tea Party boasts just over 110,000, and the majority of the press has passed them by; not because there is a bias but because their Convention flopped and now even the untre-Conservative wing of the 'Pubs are using them for fodder at cocktailparties (no pun intended). For the first time in almost two years, since the passing of former Meet the Press host Tim Russert, it feels that someone has the backs of common sense Americans and not just the yahoo wackos on the far right and left. I am sure Timmy is smiling...
SPREADING THE WORD: My thanks to friend Colleen Costello-Kreidler, another dish from the "Don" days, who quite unintentionally, I'm sure, hooked me up with the NING Network, an "immersion-based" social network of passions, interests and vocations. Take a look at NING.com, what I believe to be the future of the Internet. There will certainly be more on this in the days to come. Colleen, a fine writer at SDSU and now in Davis, CA., who is still putting pen to paper (I hope!), is married to award winning scribe (Six Good Innings* was selected as Top 10 Sports Books of the Year by Booklist) / morning talk show host (The Rise Guys Show, Sports 1140 AM KHTK) Mark Kreidler. I am wondering if young Patrick and Ryan have their futures mapped out, as ink does seem to be in the genes. Though the word is Ryan swims like a fish and Patrick swings from the right side of the plate in a way NoCal hasn't seen since Matty Williams was guarding the hotbox for the Gnats two decades ago. Where does the time fly?...
SPREADING PT. II: Many thanks for those of you who leave comments about The Lounge on my FB page, but I'd really love it if you'd leave them here at The3Dot and maybe we can build a group of regulars and get a discussion going. More heads are always better than one. And yeah, in the historic words of Alan Whatshisname...Tell a Friend!...
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Solution Stew: The Federal Government
HUMP DAY: Middle of the week. The Center.
I have long believed the main reason the nabobs in WADC can't get anything accomplished is because the nut jobs (the 10% at either end of the spectrum) are yelling so loudly, no one can hear the semi-sensible 80% in the middle, including themselves. So, beginning today, the menu for Hump Day at The Lounge will be Solution Stew. We'll take a single topic for which there is a current disagreement, and we'll solve it. Your comments at the bottom of every column are, of course, more than welcome.
Today's topic: The Federal Government
"WOW!", you say to yourself as you read this. "Either this guy is an absolute genius for being able to correct the inefficiency and incompetence of the Federal Government, or a blithering idiot for believing he can".
While I am quite certain you'll find more people who believe the latter rather than the former, if we look at the actual cause of the problems in Washington, the answer is really quite simple. I took the "Backwards Approach", defining the problem, and then taking the logical steps backwards to where I wanted to end up.
The problems stem from the quite understandable desire of those interested in serving in elected office to be re-elected. This desire, combined with the high level of competitiveness for these relatively few positions, leads to an increase in the effort and thereby the resources (read: money) that are necessary to attain victory on election day.
Being that money does not grow on trees, persons wishing to win said election need to raise necessary financial resources, and therefore look at what they have that would be of value to those who can provide it. The answer: Should these candidates be victorious and attain a seat in either house of Congress or the Oval Office, they would then be in a position to vote for or support legislation that would be looked upon favorably by those heavy ticket contributors.
This has completely changed the dynamic of our political sysytem as it was meant to be. The individual is no longer a "representative", but a "politician", and the priority for the politician is no longer about representing the constituents of their district, state or nation, but rather about getting elected (or re-elected). The decisions they make, the votes they cast, and the laws they sign or veto are now at the behest of those individuals, organizations and large corporate interests who can help insure their continued stay in washington, instead of the electorate, and now you have the mess that currently exists.
So, how do we fix it?
Well, if the problem is created by the financial influence of the special interests, then that is what needs to be eliminated.
So the question now becomes: "How can the electoral process be financed so that these special interests have no influence?"
The answer is to make the electorate the only special interest. In other words, if "the people" fund the elections, then that is who the repesentatives will be beholden to.
So the question now becomes: "How can the people (the government) afford to finance the elections?"
To find that answer we need to ask one other: "Where do the government's funds that would be used for such a purpose come from?"
The answer of course is, from the individual and corporate taxes we pay.
"Oh!", but you say, "we're already paying too much in taxes, we can't aford any more and we certainly can't afford to put our nation deeper in debt. How do we do it?"
This is the easy part. And you'll be amazed to find the answer is to actually lower the tax rates on virtually all Americans and corporate interests. Now I can hear those of oyu on th efar left already screaming about "Trickle Down" and taking food from the plates of the poor. Relax, nothing could be further fromthe truth. And here's why...
In 2007, presidential candidate Ron Paul's campaign did a massive study on what the effects of a flat tax system. The study found that the current Federal Tax Code was made up of nearly 80% of exemptions, set-asides, deferments, and deductions for a very small number of qualifying citizens or corporate entities. The results of this study, that the federal government would be much more financially solvent were they to elinimate these special interest deductions and simply lower everyone's taxes to a set, flat rate, were corroborated a year later when Mobil/Exxon posted 92 BILLION dollars in PROFITS for fiscal year 2008 however, because of the more than 3,400 pages devoted specifically to corporatins of which they were the only one fully qualified to take advantage of them, paid less than 112 million dollars if federal income tax in that same fiscal year.
Paul's idea in theory was brilliant, however being that he was running for office, the proposal was skewed just enough to hopefully attract voters, but also to make it wholly ineffective. Now, using Paul's research, I have devised the following Flat Tax Program:
1. Eliminate ALL individual and corporate tax incentives, deductions, set-asides, deferments and exemptions and reduce the Federal Income Tax Rate to 15%. This will now include ALL business done, world wide, by any business or corporation based in the United States. If those businesses choose to relocate outside the US, there will be a 22% tarriff on all goods and service transactions here in the US.
Small businesses (those with less than 100 employees and or a profit of less than $1 million), will have a FITR of $12%.
Individuals earning between $14,000 and $19,500 will have an FTR of 10%, with those earning between $9,500 and $13,999 will have an FTR of 5%.
Those earning less than $9,500 will be exempt from Federal Income Tax. Social Security, pensions, and 401k will also be exempt from taxation.
With regards to inheritance taxation, liquid assets (cash, stocks, bonds, real property, and saleable goods will be taxed at a rate of 10%, with non-durable goods (transportations, machinery, etc.) will only be taxed at the time of any future sale of the asset by the assignee.
Capital Gains tax will also be reduced to a flat 15%.
By making the stated tax burden for everyone the actual tax burden for everyone, and by eliminating the tax advantages for the privelaged few, conservatives will be getting what they have been clamoring for, for as long as anyone can remember...a fair and equal taxation system. Progressives will in turn, be getting what they have been shouting about for just as long, profitable corporations to pay their fair share.
What the American people will receive from this is the following:
1. Funding to rebuild or update EVERY public elementary, middle and high school as well as to provide states with subsidies to start ALL public school teachers at 100K per year, with raises (and job security) to be based on performance. Tenure no longer exists.
2. Funding for research into alternative fuels and 100mgp hybrid engines.
3. Permanent solvency for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid as well as a government funded universal healthcare coverage for those who can not afford coverage themselves. The universal "public option" will create a "real" competition in the insurance market, causing ALL insurance rates to drop and with the drop in lower and middle class FITR's, evryone should be able to afford their own coverage, thereby reducing the financial burden to the government.
4. Funding for transportation and utility infrastructure, those jobs helping to thereby decrease the unemployment rolls and welfare entitlements AND increase governmental revenue.
5. Increase funding for local, state and federal law enforcement as well as to our military and border patrol efforts.
6. And most important, full funding for all congressional, senatorial and presidential elections, thereby returning the jobs of our elected officials to be as they were always intended, to repersent the electorate.
The only real downside to this is the temporary increase by 65,000 to the unemployment rolls, as the lobbyists onK Street will now be out of work.
Now for the bad news.
This will never happen, because it does not benefit one very small group of American citizens.
The American Politician.
Were this to come to fruition, there would be no more tax payer funded flights for officials and their families to exciting, overseas locales, where they have no business in teh first place; no "junkets" to the golf courses and resorts on the islands while they research the rising tides and their effect on the economy of Jakarta; no more African safaris to help determine the need for protection of the three-toes sloth.
If the blowhards in the Tea Party want to make a difference, do this. If the American people want to get their government back and see the American dream truly be a reality accessible to ALL its citizens, here's your answer.
Continuing to vote for the next politician who tells you what you want to hear and expecting his or her fairy tales to come true...that will just make YOU the punchline at the next Georgetown cocktail party.
Note: We are grateful for the many, MANY e-mails we have received on this new blog. However, we would greatly appreciate if you would add your comments or questions to the "Comments" section at the bottom of each day's postings and if you would encourage others, through your FB or MySpace or your personal e-mail list, to join, visit, and participate. The more the merrier...
and the next round is on us.
I have long believed the main reason the nabobs in WADC can't get anything accomplished is because the nut jobs (the 10% at either end of the spectrum) are yelling so loudly, no one can hear the semi-sensible 80% in the middle, including themselves. So, beginning today, the menu for Hump Day at The Lounge will be Solution Stew. We'll take a single topic for which there is a current disagreement, and we'll solve it. Your comments at the bottom of every column are, of course, more than welcome.
Today's topic: The Federal Government
"WOW!", you say to yourself as you read this. "Either this guy is an absolute genius for being able to correct the inefficiency and incompetence of the Federal Government, or a blithering idiot for believing he can".
While I am quite certain you'll find more people who believe the latter rather than the former, if we look at the actual cause of the problems in Washington, the answer is really quite simple. I took the "Backwards Approach", defining the problem, and then taking the logical steps backwards to where I wanted to end up.
The problems stem from the quite understandable desire of those interested in serving in elected office to be re-elected. This desire, combined with the high level of competitiveness for these relatively few positions, leads to an increase in the effort and thereby the resources (read: money) that are necessary to attain victory on election day.
Being that money does not grow on trees, persons wishing to win said election need to raise necessary financial resources, and therefore look at what they have that would be of value to those who can provide it. The answer: Should these candidates be victorious and attain a seat in either house of Congress or the Oval Office, they would then be in a position to vote for or support legislation that would be looked upon favorably by those heavy ticket contributors.
This has completely changed the dynamic of our political sysytem as it was meant to be. The individual is no longer a "representative", but a "politician", and the priority for the politician is no longer about representing the constituents of their district, state or nation, but rather about getting elected (or re-elected). The decisions they make, the votes they cast, and the laws they sign or veto are now at the behest of those individuals, organizations and large corporate interests who can help insure their continued stay in washington, instead of the electorate, and now you have the mess that currently exists.
So, how do we fix it?
Well, if the problem is created by the financial influence of the special interests, then that is what needs to be eliminated.
So the question now becomes: "How can the electoral process be financed so that these special interests have no influence?"
The answer is to make the electorate the only special interest. In other words, if "the people" fund the elections, then that is who the repesentatives will be beholden to.
So the question now becomes: "How can the people (the government) afford to finance the elections?"
To find that answer we need to ask one other: "Where do the government's funds that would be used for such a purpose come from?"
The answer of course is, from the individual and corporate taxes we pay.
"Oh!", but you say, "we're already paying too much in taxes, we can't aford any more and we certainly can't afford to put our nation deeper in debt. How do we do it?"
This is the easy part. And you'll be amazed to find the answer is to actually lower the tax rates on virtually all Americans and corporate interests. Now I can hear those of oyu on th efar left already screaming about "Trickle Down" and taking food from the plates of the poor. Relax, nothing could be further fromthe truth. And here's why...
In 2007, presidential candidate Ron Paul's campaign did a massive study on what the effects of a flat tax system. The study found that the current Federal Tax Code was made up of nearly 80% of exemptions, set-asides, deferments, and deductions for a very small number of qualifying citizens or corporate entities. The results of this study, that the federal government would be much more financially solvent were they to elinimate these special interest deductions and simply lower everyone's taxes to a set, flat rate, were corroborated a year later when Mobil/Exxon posted 92 BILLION dollars in PROFITS for fiscal year 2008 however, because of the more than 3,400 pages devoted specifically to corporatins of which they were the only one fully qualified to take advantage of them, paid less than 112 million dollars if federal income tax in that same fiscal year.
Paul's idea in theory was brilliant, however being that he was running for office, the proposal was skewed just enough to hopefully attract voters, but also to make it wholly ineffective. Now, using Paul's research, I have devised the following Flat Tax Program:
1. Eliminate ALL individual and corporate tax incentives, deductions, set-asides, deferments and exemptions and reduce the Federal Income Tax Rate to 15%. This will now include ALL business done, world wide, by any business or corporation based in the United States. If those businesses choose to relocate outside the US, there will be a 22% tarriff on all goods and service transactions here in the US.
Small businesses (those with less than 100 employees and or a profit of less than $1 million), will have a FITR of $12%.
Individuals earning between $14,000 and $19,500 will have an FTR of 10%, with those earning between $9,500 and $13,999 will have an FTR of 5%.
Those earning less than $9,500 will be exempt from Federal Income Tax. Social Security, pensions, and 401k will also be exempt from taxation.
With regards to inheritance taxation, liquid assets (cash, stocks, bonds, real property, and saleable goods will be taxed at a rate of 10%, with non-durable goods (transportations, machinery, etc.) will only be taxed at the time of any future sale of the asset by the assignee.
Capital Gains tax will also be reduced to a flat 15%.
By making the stated tax burden for everyone the actual tax burden for everyone, and by eliminating the tax advantages for the privelaged few, conservatives will be getting what they have been clamoring for, for as long as anyone can remember...a fair and equal taxation system. Progressives will in turn, be getting what they have been shouting about for just as long, profitable corporations to pay their fair share.
What the American people will receive from this is the following:
1. Funding to rebuild or update EVERY public elementary, middle and high school as well as to provide states with subsidies to start ALL public school teachers at 100K per year, with raises (and job security) to be based on performance. Tenure no longer exists.
2. Funding for research into alternative fuels and 100mgp hybrid engines.
3. Permanent solvency for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid as well as a government funded universal healthcare coverage for those who can not afford coverage themselves. The universal "public option" will create a "real" competition in the insurance market, causing ALL insurance rates to drop and with the drop in lower and middle class FITR's, evryone should be able to afford their own coverage, thereby reducing the financial burden to the government.
4. Funding for transportation and utility infrastructure, those jobs helping to thereby decrease the unemployment rolls and welfare entitlements AND increase governmental revenue.
5. Increase funding for local, state and federal law enforcement as well as to our military and border patrol efforts.
6. And most important, full funding for all congressional, senatorial and presidential elections, thereby returning the jobs of our elected officials to be as they were always intended, to repersent the electorate.
The only real downside to this is the temporary increase by 65,000 to the unemployment rolls, as the lobbyists onK Street will now be out of work.
Now for the bad news.
This will never happen, because it does not benefit one very small group of American citizens.
The American Politician.
Were this to come to fruition, there would be no more tax payer funded flights for officials and their families to exciting, overseas locales, where they have no business in teh first place; no "junkets" to the golf courses and resorts on the islands while they research the rising tides and their effect on the economy of Jakarta; no more African safaris to help determine the need for protection of the three-toes sloth.
If the blowhards in the Tea Party want to make a difference, do this. If the American people want to get their government back and see the American dream truly be a reality accessible to ALL its citizens, here's your answer.
Continuing to vote for the next politician who tells you what you want to hear and expecting his or her fairy tales to come true...that will just make YOU the punchline at the next Georgetown cocktail party.
Note: We are grateful for the many, MANY e-mails we have received on this new blog. However, we would greatly appreciate if you would add your comments or questions to the "Comments" section at the bottom of each day's postings and if you would encourage others, through your FB or MySpace or your personal e-mail list, to join, visit, and participate. The more the merrier...
and the next round is on us.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Spring Cleaning
MORE IS LESS: Is it just me or has the constant need for bigger, better, larger, louder, more flashy and too trashy brought us to a point where we have a lot less really good entertainment and a lot more...CRAP? The music of Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffett has been replaced by the incessant noise of Marilyn Manson and Lady Gaga. Instead of movies like The Godfather and On Golden Pond , cineplexes now offer us The Wrestler and Hannah Montana: The Movie. Where we once had M*A*S*H* and The West Wing, the networks give us The Bachelor and American Idol. Classic tales in novels like Exodus and To Kill a Mockingbird have been replaced by Going Rogue and yet another tome of soft porn by Danielle Steele. Perhaps another blog may be in order...yeah...Quality.com...reviewing retreads which even 20 or 30 or 40 years later are far superior to the dung heep we're presented with today...
STICK A FORK IN HER: Until she does something else incredibly stupid (read: about a week or two), comedy is really the only value Sarah Palin has left to offer. Following last week's 'Snatch and Dash' in the pre-Oscar party Swag Suites, Ms. Foot-In-Her-Mouth spoke before a partisan crowd in Indiana where she defended using crib notes on her hand so that when asked, she could remember what her priorities were, by comparing herself to God. Then the next day, before a group of conservative Canadian legislators, Granny Sarah changed the facts of a story she told during her infamous "Wink and Strut" speech at the 'Pub Nat. Convention. Did she think no one was going to remember that convention speech or notice the changes? Persoanlly, I am thinking Lettermen has her on his payroll. She's just giving him too much material to be doing it for free. Ands since you're on the way out Sarah, could you please take Nancy and Harry with ya?...
IF MEMORY SERVES...just following the first year of the Reagan presidency, Ronnie was bottoming out in the polls and needed something to get himself back on track and more importantly, get the American people with him. He wallopped the Air Traffic Controllers Union and then stood up before the tv cams and said, "THIS is how it's going to be, end of story". Right or wrong, the people loved him for having a plan, sticking to it, and not letting congress push him around. It's time Pres. Obama followed suit. Lay out the "original" ideas you had for healthcare reform, tell Pelosi and Reid they either get in line and play nice with the other side of the aisle or you're going to take a couple of visits out west this summer...on behalf of their opponents...and kick those two to the curb. And yes, I know that's two items in a row where I suggest the political demise of the Dumbnamic Duo, but this is that important and they are that bad...
THEY DID WHAT?: My sports-fix guru Dennis Miller, editor of ACES: Northern California's Premiere Golf Lifestyle Magazine ( www.acesgolfmagazine.com due to hit news stands with the debut issue this summer!) tells me that San Francisco 49ers team owners Denise and John York have gone and signed yet another FORMER #1 NFL draft pick, this time Houston Texans' reject David Carr, at the QB spot. Two thoughts here: 1. These people must have inherited their wealth, because no one can be successful and still be this stupid, and 2. Football intelligence is NOT hereditary. Denise, do the world a favor and on his next brithday (or better yet, for St. Patty's Day!), give your brother Eddie back his team. Trust me, after what you and your hubby have done to this onc storied franchise, the NFL will not only welcome EddieD (owner of the epic Niner teams of the 80's and 90's) back to the fold, but if you play it smart (meaning have someone else lead the negotiations), you can probably get the league to pony up for the new stadium...
WALKING THE DOG this morning, I was thinking about the 72 cardboard boxes that remain, untouched, in my garage, where they have resided since we bought the Brandon Drive house more than two years ago. Lisa and a friend are going on a three-state Temple-hopping tour in late June and I was thinking this may be the perfect time to move the stuff we'll never use from the garage out to the storage unit. But then I figured, this WILL be the summer we'll decide to pull out the peuce and fuscia fondue pot...
TOMORROW THE LOUNGE will offer up it's Hump Day pot of Solution Stew. But for today, here's a quick and easy fix to stop the spitefull bickering and useless arguing between the people who are supposed to be representing us and doing our work in the nation's capitol: FIRE 'EM ALL! The ULTIMATE Spring Cleaning Job. If every voter commits to select the challenger, and all the incumbants from BOTH parties in BOTH houses of Congress are shown the door, then the new kids in town can start over, doing what we want them to do, instead of appeasing the lobbyists and their election donations. Stop and think for just a second...how totally cool, and American, that would be.
STICK A FORK IN HER: Until she does something else incredibly stupid (read: about a week or two), comedy is really the only value Sarah Palin has left to offer. Following last week's 'Snatch and Dash' in the pre-Oscar party Swag Suites, Ms. Foot-In-Her-Mouth spoke before a partisan crowd in Indiana where she defended using crib notes on her hand so that when asked, she could remember what her priorities were, by comparing herself to God. Then the next day, before a group of conservative Canadian legislators, Granny Sarah changed the facts of a story she told during her infamous "Wink and Strut" speech at the 'Pub Nat. Convention. Did she think no one was going to remember that convention speech or notice the changes? Persoanlly, I am thinking Lettermen has her on his payroll. She's just giving him too much material to be doing it for free. Ands since you're on the way out Sarah, could you please take Nancy and Harry with ya?...
IF MEMORY SERVES...just following the first year of the Reagan presidency, Ronnie was bottoming out in the polls and needed something to get himself back on track and more importantly, get the American people with him. He wallopped the Air Traffic Controllers Union and then stood up before the tv cams and said, "THIS is how it's going to be, end of story". Right or wrong, the people loved him for having a plan, sticking to it, and not letting congress push him around. It's time Pres. Obama followed suit. Lay out the "original" ideas you had for healthcare reform, tell Pelosi and Reid they either get in line and play nice with the other side of the aisle or you're going to take a couple of visits out west this summer...on behalf of their opponents...and kick those two to the curb. And yes, I know that's two items in a row where I suggest the political demise of the Dumbnamic Duo, but this is that important and they are that bad...
THEY DID WHAT?: My sports-fix guru Dennis Miller, editor of ACES: Northern California's Premiere Golf Lifestyle Magazine ( www.acesgolfmagazine.com due to hit news stands with the debut issue this summer!) tells me that San Francisco 49ers team owners Denise and John York have gone and signed yet another FORMER #1 NFL draft pick, this time Houston Texans' reject David Carr, at the QB spot. Two thoughts here: 1. These people must have inherited their wealth, because no one can be successful and still be this stupid, and 2. Football intelligence is NOT hereditary. Denise, do the world a favor and on his next brithday (or better yet, for St. Patty's Day!), give your brother Eddie back his team. Trust me, after what you and your hubby have done to this onc storied franchise, the NFL will not only welcome EddieD (owner of the epic Niner teams of the 80's and 90's) back to the fold, but if you play it smart (meaning have someone else lead the negotiations), you can probably get the league to pony up for the new stadium...
WALKING THE DOG this morning, I was thinking about the 72 cardboard boxes that remain, untouched, in my garage, where they have resided since we bought the Brandon Drive house more than two years ago. Lisa and a friend are going on a three-state Temple-hopping tour in late June and I was thinking this may be the perfect time to move the stuff we'll never use from the garage out to the storage unit. But then I figured, this WILL be the summer we'll decide to pull out the peuce and fuscia fondue pot...
TOMORROW THE LOUNGE will offer up it's Hump Day pot of Solution Stew. But for today, here's a quick and easy fix to stop the spitefull bickering and useless arguing between the people who are supposed to be representing us and doing our work in the nation's capitol: FIRE 'EM ALL! The ULTIMATE Spring Cleaning Job. If every voter commits to select the challenger, and all the incumbants from BOTH parties in BOTH houses of Congress are shown the door, then the new kids in town can start over, doing what we want them to do, instead of appeasing the lobbyists and their election donations. Stop and think for just a second...how totally cool, and American, that would be.
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