I want this bumper sticker.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
I'M TIRED
I have a letter written by someone else to share, but first let me add to his thoughts. I'm tired, too, you see. I am nearly 61 and I have worked since I was 14 years old. My social security statement shows my first earnings in 1962. During my junior and senior year in high school, I held down a full-time job in a nursing home from 11 at night to 7 in the morning, when I would rush home, take a quick shower, and go to school from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Then there was basketball practice and drama practice and chores at home. I would be lucky each night to get 2 hours of sleep. But I did it. For 50 cents an hour I did it. I paid for my clothes, my junior class ring, and my senior pictures. My entire life work ethic never changed. I never got anything for nothing and never expected to. After my divorce, I supported my two girls by myself, no child support, sometimes working two and three jobs. When I decided to go to nursing school, I was in school all day, came home and fed my kids, put them to bed, did my homework and once again worked 11 at night to 7 in the morning in a nursing home. I had no car and had to walk or take a cab wherever I went. I did, as Blanche said in Streetcar Named Desire, rely occasionally on the kindness of strangers for a ride, but I paid my bills and fed my kids and I never took any help. Now they tell me they are going to cut Medicare benefits. Here I am not too far from retirement. They have already changed the age for retirement several times. I hope I make it but mostly I hope I really CAN retire and take a much needed break after over 50 years of working. I sure am tired.
This article came to me via Atlas Shrugged who got it from Old Jarhead. I am sure lots of people can relate to this.
This article came to me via Atlas Shrugged who got it from Old Jarhead. I am sure lots of people can relate to this.
I’ll be 63 soon. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce, and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I’ve worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and I’m tired. Very tired.
I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth around” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy or stupid to earn it.
I’m tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to “keep people in their homes.” Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I’m willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the leftwing Congresscritters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them—with their own money.
I’m tired of being told how bad America is by leftwing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the religious freedom and women’s rights of Saudi Arabia, the economy of Zimbabwe, the freedom of the press of China, the crime and violence of Mexico, the tolerance for Gay people of Iran, and the freedom of speech of Venezuela. Won’t multiculturalism be beautiful?
I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family “honor;” of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren’t “believers;” of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery;” of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and Shari’a law tells them to.
I believe “a man should be judged by the content of his character, not by the color of his skin.” I’m tired of being told that “race doesn’t matter” in the post-racial world of President Obama, when it’s all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of US Senators from Illinois. I think it’s very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the emancipation proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less in an all-knowing government.
I’m tired of a news media that thinks Bush’s fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama’s, at triple the cost, were wonderful. That thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress, that picked over every line of Bush’s military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his, that slammed Palin with two years as governor for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever.
Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News? Get a clue. I didn’t vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.
I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America, while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.
I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore’s, and if you’re greener than Gore, you’re green enough.
I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don’t think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I’m tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana.
I’m tired of illegal aliens being called “undocumented workers,” especially the ones who aren’t working, but are living on welfare or crime. What’s next? Calling drug dealers, “Undocumented Pharmacists”? And, no, I’m not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic and it’s been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I’m willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person who can speak English, doesn’t have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military. Those are the citizens we need.
I’m tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people then themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years—and still are? Not even close. So here’s the deal. I’ll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we’ll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.
I’m tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers—bums are bi-partisan. And I’m tired of people telling me we need bi-partisanship. I live in Illinois, where the “Illinois Combine” of Democrats and Republicans has worked together harmoniously to loot the public for years. And I notice that the tax cheats in Obama’s cabinet are bi-partisan as well.
I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.
Speaking of poor, I’m tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn’t have that in 1970, but we didn’t know we were “poor.” The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.
I’m real tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination, or big-whatever for their problems.
Yes, I’m damn tired. But I’m also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I’m not going to get to see the world these people are making. I’m just sorry for my granddaughter.
Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts state senate. He blogs at www.tartanmarine.blogspot.com
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (H/T MICHAEL SOLOMON)
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of "liberalism," they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." He went on to say: "I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform."
- Norman Thomas,
Socialist Party candidate for President of the US, during a speech in 1944
Trickle Down Povery - Michael Solomon
Michael Solomon's Op-Ed this week is great. He writes:
Please visit his blog here
Be sure and read Michael's Book WHERE DID MY AMERICA GO
It's all Former President George W. Bush's fault that there are close to 9000 "Earmarks" in the new Omnibus bill passed last week by the Democratically controlled 111th Congress.
That is pretty much how it was spelled out last Sunday (March 1, 2009) on "This Week", with George Stephanopoulos by OMB Director Peter Orszag. "This is last year's business. We want to just move on. Let's get this bill done, get it into law and move forward," Orszag said. This should have been Last year's business?
Who controlled congress last year? If it was last year's business then the Democratic Congress didn't do its job last year. Only Congress can spend money. With the Congressional approval rating at an all time low of nine-percent (9%), is it a wonder that they didn't want to put all those earmarks in place. How low can you go? However, being in re-election mode, why antagonize the voters.
Are they saying that they didn't want to purpose spending legislation because they knew that President Bush would not sign it after all the criticism he was receiving for the runaway spending of the previous Congress?
In my belief, here is what the Pelosi Congress and Reid Senate did, they waited for a friendly signature to ink the pork and earmarks, and, they got it in President Obama. Now that he is giving them what they want, he has to spin it anyway he can. So Orszag is making the talk show circuit and blaming George W. Bush. If they could find a way, they would probably blame him for the Stock Market Crash of 1929. "Last year's business," wasn't Obama in the Senate last year? Why didn't he do last year's business then? It appears last year's business is fast becoming this year's fiasco.
Let us examine some of what earmarks are in this bill; earmarks that the President promised would never leave his office signed. "I will go over every bill line by line and eliminate any earmarks and pork that comes across my desk." Do those words sound familiar? He only repeated them over ten times during his campaign. I imagine that if no one in Congress read the bill why should the president.
One of the provisions in the new bill will eliminate school vouchers in the D.C. area. Disadvantaged families who are trying pull themselves up by the bootstraps and give their children a better education now have to re-enroll them in public schools that have shown to be a failure.
Is the money the government is saving on school vouchers part of the $20 million to study the swamp mouse in California? Maybe it is part of the $200,000 to remove tattoos from gang members in Los Angeles? How about the millions to study pig manure?
My question is simple, how many jobs are being created by the "Porkalucious" bill?
I have a plan to help eliminate some of the earmarks. For example there was $4.5 million to renovate a habitat for two Polar Bears in the Philadelphia Zoo. My suggestion is, put them in a refrigerator truck and ship them back to the arctic. How many children who go to bed hungry every night can we feed with $4.5 million?
But, the President wants to push through as much spending as he can. He wants the top two-percent of the wage earners to pay for it all by increasing their taxes. We have all heard of "Trickle Down Economics." This will become "Trickle Down Poverty." When the top wage earners, who for the most part are small business owners, are taxed out of existence, who will create the new jobs.
In comparing the Johnson administration to the current administration, Dick Morris stated it this way, "President Lyndon Johnson's administration was known for his War on Poverty. President Obama's will become notable for his War on Prosperity."
Actually there may be one job that has been created. There is a few million dollars in the bill to study and classify human foot odor. The Obama administration may be looking for a foot-sniffer. Anyone interested?
Please visit his blog here
Be sure and read Michael's Book WHERE DID MY AMERICA GO
OBAMA ABORTS AMERICA'S CONSCIENCE
FROM THE CHRISTIAN NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Obama administration published its official request to rescind the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regulation that clarifies that healthcare professionals have a right to conscience and should not be forced to participate in aborting a baby, or other medical services, that offend their moral convictions.
"President Obama is working to deprive the country of medical professionals who use their consciences when treating their patients," said Heartbeat International President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D. "Women, babies, and families deserve conscientious healthcare by doctors who believe in the sanctity of human life. It is wrong for the U.S. government to condemn doctors who follow the Hippocratic principle of 'do no harm'. This is un- American."
"The reversal of this regulation could cause conscientious doctors to stop practicing medicine leaving a significant void in the availability of healthcare providers. And the problem will be compounded if the government attempts to force Catholic hospitals to offer abortion." said Hartshorn. "Please email HHS to stop Obama's first attempt to purge healthcare of all people with religious or moral objections to taking human life."
The official publication in the Federal Register indicates: "The [HHS] Department is proposing to rescind in its entirety the final rule entitled 'Ensuring That Department of Health and Human Services Funds Do Not Support Coercive or Discriminatory Policies or Practices in Violation of Federal Law,' published in the Federal Register on December 19, 2008."
Go to Heartbeat International for more information.
I would like to add, when I was in nursing school in 1976, we were told that we did not have to participate in any procedure that was against our ethical or moral standards. I never thought I would see the day that would change. This is an abomination and I cannot see how prolife healthcare givers and hospitals can continue under these guidelines. Monstrous.
O'Reilly on George Tiller
In this video, one of Tiller's patients discusses her abortion process.
TWO YEARS AGO O'Reilly is discussing George Tiller and his connection to Kathleen Seblieus, including her support of him despite legislation which was attempted to be passed. Monsters.
In this last clip, Sebelius seems reluctant to discuss Tiller, except to say he is a health care provider....yes, and one who has contributed a lot of money to her. But relax folks, she's going to be running, if Obama has his way, our nationwide healthcare. I know that makes me feel just fine. In a creepy, sadistic, horrible kind of way. Of course, most of America is sleeping through this. Those who are not in the throes of Obamagasm might know, but it's hard to believe there are that many Americans who believe in abortion at all, let alone late term abortion and what about the born alive debate, those babies born alive from abortion. Obama says to put them in a dirty linen closet and let them die. I am not making this up. From what I have seen of Sebelius, it appears that would be fine with her, too.
Abortionist George Tiller, Friend of Kathleen Sebelius, in spotlight during his criminal trial
This just released by OPERATION RESCUE
Political Climate Puts Tiller Trial In Spotlight As National Leaders Gather In Wichita For Prayer
March 6th, 2009
Wichita, KS - Operation Rescue and the Christian Defense Coalition have invited national pro-life leaders and their supporters to come to Wichita during the criminal trial of late-term abortionist George R. Tiller to pray for justice.
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, will help lead prayer events at the court and will hold prayer rallies each night beginning on March 16, and continuing for as long as the trial lasts. Tiller has been charged with 19 counts of illegal late-term abortions. His trial is expected to last for two weeks.
Rev. Mahoney helped organize and lead the 1991 Summer of Mercy abortion protests, and believes that this trail may be the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice on the part of the pro-life movement.
"If convicted, it is possible that Tiller could be out of business within 30 days," said Rev. Mahoney. "We encourage everyone who can to come to Wichita and join us in prayer that Tiller will finally be brought to justice."
Tiller's attorneys have already promised to appeal any conviction, but that would not prevent the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts from using the conviction to implement discipline on the numerous open complaints that are now pending against Tiller and his abortion staff.
"We believe that circumstances have been orchestrated by the Hand of God to make this trial of critical importance, especially with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, one of Tiller's political cronies, seeking confirmation to the Obama cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue.
"The eyes of the nation will be focused on this, and it will give us a prime opportunity to draw attention to the plight of the pre-born and the political corruption that has enabled Tiller's horrific late-term abortion racket to continue."
Leaders from pro-life groups around the nation are expected to join Rev. Mahoney and Newman in Wichita during the Tiller trial.
A schedule of events and list of dignitaries who are expected to attend will be announced next week.
Political Climate Puts Tiller Trial In Spotlight As National Leaders Gather In Wichita For Prayer
March 6th, 2009
Wichita, KS - Operation Rescue and the Christian Defense Coalition have invited national pro-life leaders and their supporters to come to Wichita during the criminal trial of late-term abortionist George R. Tiller to pray for justice.
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, will help lead prayer events at the court and will hold prayer rallies each night beginning on March 16, and continuing for as long as the trial lasts. Tiller has been charged with 19 counts of illegal late-term abortions. His trial is expected to last for two weeks.
Rev. Mahoney helped organize and lead the 1991 Summer of Mercy abortion protests, and believes that this trail may be the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice on the part of the pro-life movement.
"If convicted, it is possible that Tiller could be out of business within 30 days," said Rev. Mahoney. "We encourage everyone who can to come to Wichita and join us in prayer that Tiller will finally be brought to justice."
Tiller's attorneys have already promised to appeal any conviction, but that would not prevent the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts from using the conviction to implement discipline on the numerous open complaints that are now pending against Tiller and his abortion staff.
"We believe that circumstances have been orchestrated by the Hand of God to make this trial of critical importance, especially with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, one of Tiller's political cronies, seeking confirmation to the Obama cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue.
"The eyes of the nation will be focused on this, and it will give us a prime opportunity to draw attention to the plight of the pre-born and the political corruption that has enabled Tiller's horrific late-term abortion racket to continue."
Leaders from pro-life groups around the nation are expected to join Rev. Mahoney and Newman in Wichita during the Tiller trial.
A schedule of events and list of dignitaries who are expected to attend will be announced next week.
Political Expediency vs Moral Relativity
Kathleen Sebelius and Sam Brownback have something in common. They both do not believe in abortion. Yet, Kathleen Sebelius, Obama's pick for Health Secretary, does believe in the right to abortion including the monstrous late term abortion. Sam Brownback supports her and is going to be happy to work with her. Ergo, Sam Brownback and Kathleen Sebelius are proabortion and they are also liars.
Jim Brown, from OneNewsNow, writes:
A pro-life activist says Senator Sam Brownback's decision to support pro-abortion Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius for Health and Human Services secretary shows that his commitment to the unborn is merely political rather than a core value.
Kansas Republican Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts issued a joint statement congratulating Sebelius on her HHS nomination, saying they "look forward to working with her on issues important to the state." Sebelius is a Catholic who says she personally believes abortion is wrong, yet has opposed restrictions on late-term abortions and is a friend and defender of notorious Wichita abortionist George Tiller.
Mark Crutcher, president of Life Dynamics, Incorporated, says Brownback -- a self-professed pro-life Catholic -- "abandoned" the unborn by backing Sebelius.
"I think it's typical of what we've seen over the years when somebody's commitment to the unborn is political rather than a core value with them," says the pro-life leader. "It's like the difference between a politician and a statesman."
Crutcher says Brownback's desire to become the next governor of Kansas may be driving his support of Sebelius. "All of Brownback's flowery words in the past don't really mean much," he says. "When push comes to shove, he'll throw the unborn under the bus for some political advantage -- and that's what's happened here."
In addition, Crutcher says the pro-life movement has been "stabbed in the back by people like Sam Brownback so many times" that the movement should have learned the lesson that the measure of a pro-life lawmaker is not what he tells you he believes, but rather what he will do to protect the life of the unborn.
You can read the rest of the article here
Call Me Irresponsible
Joe Guarino writes on his blog Guarino
How Obama Will Pay for Health Care
We are now beginning to see the early rough confines of the plans Barack Obama and the congressional Democrats have to pay for the massive new health care entitlement they envision; and for the rescue of Medicare, which otherwise would bankrupt the nation on its current path.
These financial undertakings are going to be attempted after having already expanded health care entitlements with the SCHIPS that was recently passed; and the Medicaid expansion under the stimulus bill. And we need to remain mindful that we are simultaneously seeing huge bailouts of financial industries, the automobile industry and certain mortgage holders; the horrendous spending in the stimulus bill; and other massive expansions of the welfare state. With apologies to the late Everett Dirksen, a trillion here, a trillion there, and sooner or later it adds up to real money.
In any case, how are we going to pay for all Obama wants to do with health care? Here are some pieces of information now coming into focus:
1. We are going to see the income tax rate for those with incomes above $250,000 rise to 39.6%.
2. Upper income Medicare beneficiaries would have to pay more for prescription drug coverage.
3. Itemized deductions are going to be reduced for higher income taxpayers for things like charitable deductions, local taxes and the like.
4. And ultimately, it seems likely there will be higher payroll taxes as well. This will likely include all taxpayers; but will disproportionately affect those with higher income once again, because there will be an enormous temptation to eliminate any income cap on payroll taxes.
The sum total of all these changes to pay for health care is that taxes will likely be increased on most Americans; and there will be very steep net tax increases on Americans with incomes greater than $250,000. The problem, of course, is that these tax increases will be much greater than what Obama disclosed during the presidential debates, when most Americans were paying attention. The net effect is a massive redistribution of income.
Obama did not disclose what his tax policies would be because he wanted to win the election. But he also felt the need to obscure his tendencies toward socialistic approaches.
Many of the people who will be paying sharply higher taxes are not really "rich". Instead, they are upper middle class. They are working people, and small business owners, who create jobs and give generously to charity. Some might not have huge amounts of assets. And many already pay a hefty burden in combined federal, state and local taxes, which causes their real net income to be much less than it might otherwise appear. Weakening this class of Americans economically by redistributing their income might be politically tempting, but will ultimately backfire, because less jobs will be created by small business-- the dynamic incubator of new job creation in the modern economy-- and less will be saved and invested. The stock market seems to agree with my assessment. It has done very poorly since Obama has had the opportunity to announce all his plans.
And taking even 100% of the income of higher income taxpayers will not be sufficient to eradicate all the deficits caused by the current bailouts, and all the current and future spending. It will not pay for all the health care schemes we are witnessing.
On Tuesday night, Barack Obama invoked themes of responsibility repeatedly to persuade those listening to his speech. But in fact, his plans for health care and the welfare state suggest to me he should be claiming the converse:
The above is from Joe Guarino's blog and you can read the rest of this great article here
I found the article after doing a search for how Obama is going to pay for health care. I was up late last night and caught the tail end of a news broadcast that said that Obama is going to pay for his new healthcare system by decreasing Medicare benefits and Medicaid benefits and decreasing charitable deductions and mortgage interest deductions. Well call me a dimwit but doesn't that mean that people will then, in turn, decrease their charitable deductions, think twice before buying a home, and probably never be able to fully retire, at least those who will only have social security to depend on. And doesn't Medicaid aid those who are economically disadvantaged? So we are going to penalize them, as well. According to the article by Mr. Guarino, it is only the rich who will be feeling the pinch, at least most of it, but it looks like all of us who are working will be paying higher taxes (gee, I can't tell you how that just warms my heart when I see all those who are not working, and I don't mean the ones who are laid off, I mean the ones who just don't want to work and please don't pretend they aren't out there!). They will probably have better healthcare than me. Also, one of the ominous clauses in the Stimulus bill points to government regulation of medical care to the point that they will decide whether a person on Medicare actually needs medical care, i.e., an 80-year-old just might not get that hip if the government believes they don't have that much of a productive life left. I'd just like to take a moment and thank all the asshats who voted for this dim bulb. We are all socialists now.
Smiley Face
How Obama Will Pay for Health Care
We are now beginning to see the early rough confines of the plans Barack Obama and the congressional Democrats have to pay for the massive new health care entitlement they envision; and for the rescue of Medicare, which otherwise would bankrupt the nation on its current path.
These financial undertakings are going to be attempted after having already expanded health care entitlements with the SCHIPS that was recently passed; and the Medicaid expansion under the stimulus bill. And we need to remain mindful that we are simultaneously seeing huge bailouts of financial industries, the automobile industry and certain mortgage holders; the horrendous spending in the stimulus bill; and other massive expansions of the welfare state. With apologies to the late Everett Dirksen, a trillion here, a trillion there, and sooner or later it adds up to real money.
In any case, how are we going to pay for all Obama wants to do with health care? Here are some pieces of information now coming into focus:
1. We are going to see the income tax rate for those with incomes above $250,000 rise to 39.6%.
2. Upper income Medicare beneficiaries would have to pay more for prescription drug coverage.
3. Itemized deductions are going to be reduced for higher income taxpayers for things like charitable deductions, local taxes and the like.
4. And ultimately, it seems likely there will be higher payroll taxes as well. This will likely include all taxpayers; but will disproportionately affect those with higher income once again, because there will be an enormous temptation to eliminate any income cap on payroll taxes.
The sum total of all these changes to pay for health care is that taxes will likely be increased on most Americans; and there will be very steep net tax increases on Americans with incomes greater than $250,000. The problem, of course, is that these tax increases will be much greater than what Obama disclosed during the presidential debates, when most Americans were paying attention. The net effect is a massive redistribution of income.
Obama did not disclose what his tax policies would be because he wanted to win the election. But he also felt the need to obscure his tendencies toward socialistic approaches.
Many of the people who will be paying sharply higher taxes are not really "rich". Instead, they are upper middle class. They are working people, and small business owners, who create jobs and give generously to charity. Some might not have huge amounts of assets. And many already pay a hefty burden in combined federal, state and local taxes, which causes their real net income to be much less than it might otherwise appear. Weakening this class of Americans economically by redistributing their income might be politically tempting, but will ultimately backfire, because less jobs will be created by small business-- the dynamic incubator of new job creation in the modern economy-- and less will be saved and invested. The stock market seems to agree with my assessment. It has done very poorly since Obama has had the opportunity to announce all his plans.
And taking even 100% of the income of higher income taxpayers will not be sufficient to eradicate all the deficits caused by the current bailouts, and all the current and future spending. It will not pay for all the health care schemes we are witnessing.
On Tuesday night, Barack Obama invoked themes of responsibility repeatedly to persuade those listening to his speech. But in fact, his plans for health care and the welfare state suggest to me he should be claiming the converse:
The above is from Joe Guarino's blog and you can read the rest of this great article here
I found the article after doing a search for how Obama is going to pay for health care. I was up late last night and caught the tail end of a news broadcast that said that Obama is going to pay for his new healthcare system by decreasing Medicare benefits and Medicaid benefits and decreasing charitable deductions and mortgage interest deductions. Well call me a dimwit but doesn't that mean that people will then, in turn, decrease their charitable deductions, think twice before buying a home, and probably never be able to fully retire, at least those who will only have social security to depend on. And doesn't Medicaid aid those who are economically disadvantaged? So we are going to penalize them, as well. According to the article by Mr. Guarino, it is only the rich who will be feeling the pinch, at least most of it, but it looks like all of us who are working will be paying higher taxes (gee, I can't tell you how that just warms my heart when I see all those who are not working, and I don't mean the ones who are laid off, I mean the ones who just don't want to work and please don't pretend they aren't out there!). They will probably have better healthcare than me. Also, one of the ominous clauses in the Stimulus bill points to government regulation of medical care to the point that they will decide whether a person on Medicare actually needs medical care, i.e., an 80-year-old just might not get that hip if the government believes they don't have that much of a productive life left. I'd just like to take a moment and thank all the asshats who voted for this dim bulb. We are all socialists now.
Smiley Face
Democrats and Nero
No one says it better than Ramirez. For a great collection of his works, go here. There aren't many conservative cartoonists. We should support those out there and Ramirez is just brilliant.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
SIGN THE PETITION, STOP PROABORTION KATHLEEN SEBELIUS FROM BEING CONFIRMED!!!
Please take a moment and click on the link and sign the petition. This is so important. Also, read posts below for more information about Kathleen Sebelius' strong proabortion stance, despite her being a Catholic. She even believes in late term and partial birth abortion.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Obama Appoints Kathleen Sebelius, Governor of Kansas as health secretary
This is what murderers look like, Kathleen Sebelius flanked by Dr. and Mrs. Tiller:
Kathleen Sebelius is a strong supporter of late term abortionist Dr. Tiller, who is under investigation for performing very late term abortions for no reason at all and in violation of the state laws. He performs them up to the moment of birth, and even has a crematorium for the fully formed babies bodies. She has held parties at the governors mansion for Dr. Tiller and is a close ally of the most vile abortionist in America, a man who performs abortions at any time for any reason in violation of every law. AND, SHE IS A CATHOLIC.
Please click on this link for more on Dr. Tiller and Kathleen Sebelius.
Kathleen Sebelius is a strong supporter of late term abortionist Dr. Tiller, who is under investigation for performing very late term abortions for no reason at all and in violation of the state laws. He performs them up to the moment of birth, and even has a crematorium for the fully formed babies bodies. She has held parties at the governors mansion for Dr. Tiller and is a close ally of the most vile abortionist in America, a man who performs abortions at any time for any reason in violation of every law. AND, SHE IS A CATHOLIC.
Please click on this link for more on Dr. Tiller and Kathleen Sebelius.
HOPEY CHANGEY
Some of the most notable economists of our time are warning against investing right now, the market is tanking but Obama says it's all good, go ahead and invest. My question is INVEST WHAT!!!!
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Jim Cramer "The Greatest Wealth Destruction by a President."
Jim is not a conservative. The other two are tools for the Obama administration. Note how Cramer says at the end "must be rooted in fact." In other words, Lauer and the female still have their rose-colored glasses on from the Obama inauguration and by God they are not going to take them off no matter what.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
RIP PAUL HARVEY
When I lived in California and during my long commutes to and from work, I tuned into his radio show every day. I loved his stories. No one could tell a story like he could. He was from Oklahoma, a Christian, and a true talent.
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