Was watching Hannity tonight and got annoyed. While I agree Obama is and will continue to be a disaster for our country, Obama did hit on an issue that I think needs some discussion and a lot of change. The issue is income disparity. I believe in the Capitalist system, but as a country we no longer have an operational capitalist society. The problem Obama has is that his solutions to the problem fails to solve the problem.
This is actually pretty complex and I only have the beginnings of an outline for attacking this issue. It involves taxes, corporate issues, anti-trust laws and international considerations. I will be writing up a plan on this blog in the near future. Got some things I need to put in order and need to do some research to flesh my ideas out, so I can put this out there for all to see in a cogent, logical and compelling manner.
Please let me know if you have an interest in this topic and if you have some ideas as to how to approach a solution.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Sunday, October 21, 2012
spending money
As we approach this year's election date, everyone or almost everyone seems to have made up their mind about who to vote for. Before you cast your ballot, I would like to ask everyone a question that I think they should answer before doing so. What should our government STOP spending money on?
If your income goes down, or your expenses go up, you and your wife, or partner, sit down and figure out what to cut back on. Whether it is entertainment, food, vacations, etc., you decide where to stop spending income you no longer have or income you can no longer spend due to increases in areas where you cannot cut back.
So, where do you want to stop spending government money? We cannot keep borrowing forever! Is it defense? Do you wish to risk you and your children's future safety? Is it the department of energy? This would be one of my favorites! The department of education perhaps. Public TV? The list is long and no matter where we cut, the biggies will still be there, ie, Social Security and Medicare. And, now, Obamacare! If we stop spending on everything but these three programs, we can generate a balanced budget, but we cannot pay down our debt. Every American now owes about $50,000. The third largest expenditure in our budget is interest on our debt and we are in a period of extremely low interest rates.
So, I ask again, where should the government stop spending our money? The difference between Obama and Romney is the thought that government should be big (Obama) or small (Romney). We can no longer afford "big"!
If your income goes down, or your expenses go up, you and your wife, or partner, sit down and figure out what to cut back on. Whether it is entertainment, food, vacations, etc., you decide where to stop spending income you no longer have or income you can no longer spend due to increases in areas where you cannot cut back.
So, where do you want to stop spending government money? We cannot keep borrowing forever! Is it defense? Do you wish to risk you and your children's future safety? Is it the department of energy? This would be one of my favorites! The department of education perhaps. Public TV? The list is long and no matter where we cut, the biggies will still be there, ie, Social Security and Medicare. And, now, Obamacare! If we stop spending on everything but these three programs, we can generate a balanced budget, but we cannot pay down our debt. Every American now owes about $50,000. The third largest expenditure in our budget is interest on our debt and we are in a period of extremely low interest rates.
So, I ask again, where should the government stop spending our money? The difference between Obama and Romney is the thought that government should be big (Obama) or small (Romney). We can no longer afford "big"!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Embassy Attacks & More
Well, 9/11 has come and gone with the usual pomp and traditional ceremonies at various locations. In addition, two countries have added their own ceremonies to 9/11 by attacking our Embassies in Egypt and Libya. Anyone who thinks this is a random event is either stupid or covering their eyes because they do not want to see (middle monkey).
The current administration is going to say is was a few (1,500) crazy people who did this and most muslims are with the USA, as will the Egyptians and Libyians. i am no longer buying it. It was the job of those governments to protect those embassies, just as we protect theirs! Failure to do so constitutes an act of war.
If Obama takes this lying down, accepting whoever their scapegoat is (unless there are 1,500 of them), he needs to go. We, the USA, need to find our way back to toughness, so those who dare, will not dare again.
Muslims are deeply religious. It's time to put their religion on the line. They are either with us or against us. Next attack, we take down Medina, the entire city. If the Muslims are with us, another attack will not happen. If they are not, Medina goes. Second attack, we take down Mecca. We make these threats public, so every Muslim alive knows it. They also know it is something we do not wish to do, but it is in their hands as to whether it happens or not. So, either Muslims as an entity win, or their fanatics do!
The current administration is going to say is was a few (1,500) crazy people who did this and most muslims are with the USA, as will the Egyptians and Libyians. i am no longer buying it. It was the job of those governments to protect those embassies, just as we protect theirs! Failure to do so constitutes an act of war.
If Obama takes this lying down, accepting whoever their scapegoat is (unless there are 1,500 of them), he needs to go. We, the USA, need to find our way back to toughness, so those who dare, will not dare again.
Muslims are deeply religious. It's time to put their religion on the line. They are either with us or against us. Next attack, we take down Medina, the entire city. If the Muslims are with us, another attack will not happen. If they are not, Medina goes. Second attack, we take down Mecca. We make these threats public, so every Muslim alive knows it. They also know it is something we do not wish to do, but it is in their hands as to whether it happens or not. So, either Muslims as an entity win, or their fanatics do!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Energy Manipulation
I'm getting really tired of government manipulating energy markets. Here in Jersey the Governor just signed a bill subsidizing solar power to the tune of $400 Milliom dollars/year of ratepayer's money (that's another tax on us people). This money is not being used to develop new technology to make solar power more efficient or more cost effective, but to make NJ the leader in installations. The payback period without subsidy (by the industry's own numbers ranges from over 20 years to over 30 years), a rate that NOBODY would invest in without substantial subsidy (ergo, the reason for the new bill).
Nationally, the government has blocked drilling in many promising areas, prevented exploratory drilling in many other areas, has outlawed hydraulic fracturing for gas production, has prevented the building of LNG import facilities, while subsidizing wind energy offshore. the economics of wind energy run neck and neck with the economics of solar power, i.e., not cost effective, nor reliable.
our economy suffers as a result of these policies. we are more energy dependent, have higher energy prices, have fewer american jobs and have a landscape of fans and panels which are quite unappealing.
how about letting the market work! nobody wants pollution. we have the strongest pollution laws in the world. lets enforce them, but stop regulating our businesses out of existance. What's good for Brazil, should be good for us (we are giving them our money to develop offshore oil and gas wells). Let's let common sense rule! It's the same ocean.
Nationally, the government has blocked drilling in many promising areas, prevented exploratory drilling in many other areas, has outlawed hydraulic fracturing for gas production, has prevented the building of LNG import facilities, while subsidizing wind energy offshore. the economics of wind energy run neck and neck with the economics of solar power, i.e., not cost effective, nor reliable.
our economy suffers as a result of these policies. we are more energy dependent, have higher energy prices, have fewer american jobs and have a landscape of fans and panels which are quite unappealing.
how about letting the market work! nobody wants pollution. we have the strongest pollution laws in the world. lets enforce them, but stop regulating our businesses out of existance. What's good for Brazil, should be good for us (we are giving them our money to develop offshore oil and gas wells). Let's let common sense rule! It's the same ocean.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
presidential race
two issues came to light over the past couple days. first, obama is proving to be an effective liar and totally unaware of how the country actually works economically. his remarks in texas that no one can succeed in business without government support is ridicilous. he said without roads etc these business could not succeed. well, when oil was found, the businesses built their own roads, drilled for their own water and provided for their own fire and police protection. it is scary to think that this man, our current president is that ignorant. If he aint that dumb, then he must be lying. in either case, he does not belong in the White House.
now, romney needs to do two things. one he needs to release tax returns for at least the last 4 years. i dont care if it impacts his partners or not. he is the one who chose to run, he knew going in this would be an issue, so he needed to figure out a way to do it. if he wont, then walk away and let the republicans find someone else. there is plenty of time. second, get a proper explanation of the bain thing out there. from 1999 to 2002 he was listed as CEO and sole stockholder. either he was or he wasn't. if he wasn't, explain how. if he was, explain why. but explain the discrepancy.
we need an election that is decided on the merits of obama's record (horrible) versus the record and/or plans of his opponent, not a pissing contest about issues that should not matter.
now, romney needs to do two things. one he needs to release tax returns for at least the last 4 years. i dont care if it impacts his partners or not. he is the one who chose to run, he knew going in this would be an issue, so he needed to figure out a way to do it. if he wont, then walk away and let the republicans find someone else. there is plenty of time. second, get a proper explanation of the bain thing out there. from 1999 to 2002 he was listed as CEO and sole stockholder. either he was or he wasn't. if he wasn't, explain how. if he was, explain why. but explain the discrepancy.
we need an election that is decided on the merits of obama's record (horrible) versus the record and/or plans of his opponent, not a pissing contest about issues that should not matter.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
7/12/12 musings
first, let's talk pot. got medical pot law on books that for some reason has not been implemented yet after alomst two (?) years. and now have talk of decriminalizing pot (good idea). get them help in lieu of punishment (at a lower cost to boot!) i think we should start doing things that make sense rather than things that are "moral".
second thing on my list today is "budgets". why does government always have to raise capital by borrowing for all its maintenance needs. if you got a park, you know the benches will need painting, board replacement, etc. So, why don't you "budget" for it? this "budgeting" process goes up through NJ transit and all other state and federal agencies. if you know u r going to need new cars, "budget" for them, instead of borrowing for them.
next is foreign affairs. i'm tired of third world, and near third world, countries jerking us around. if they are going to stand up to us, let them stand up to us without our help! you want to show us how tough you are, great! Now, do it on your dime! it 's time we pull the plug anytime a country screws with us. yeah, we might be percieved as bullies, but i'm tired of turning my cheek and acting the fool for the world's bozos!
Romney spoke before the NAACP. He should have come out with both guns firing. If blacks look at where they are now compared to where they were 20 years ago, they were a hell of a lot better off then. Obama has done nothing to improve their lot, and won't, if given another 4 years. And, i think he was given a chance to express his views, so, rah, rah for the NAACP!
House vote to repeal "Obamacare" succeeds. This will force the Senate to vote on it again, identifying the Senators voting for or agin it, making it difficult for those up for reelection in tight States. This i think could turn the tide for the senate in november toward the republicans.
the "study" of memorable TV moments is either total "BS" or a dire indictment of our country as it exists today. How can anyone not have the moon landing in 1969 on their list? That was the most significant technological moment in our history! Certainly a top five, if not #1 or #2. i have never been one who could march in step with the masses, but i cannot be so out of touch that anything OJ did could possibly be in my top 25, not even my top 50.
last for today is about money in politics. The amont of money being raised and spent is appalling. and, the methods being used to raise it have become more nefarious. trying to keep this simple, it all began with trying to stop corporate money from being used in elections. it then grew into stopping union money from being used. then try to stop foreign money and the beat goes on. at the end of the day, the ruling says - you can spend all you want as a corporation as long as you don't let the campaign control how it's spent. oh, and by the way, you don't have to tell us who is making donations. otherwise, you must tell us and there are limits to how much can be donated, which favors the union side of things. i can offer two solutions to this problem. one is to make all airwaves free to candidates. airwaves belong to us, we rent them out, so we can control their use. you say the devil is in the details. i can be the devil (as can just about all american citizens), so that's not really an issue. the alternative is to allow (and limit) the amount of money used in a campaign. once again, i'll act as the devil.
second thing on my list today is "budgets". why does government always have to raise capital by borrowing for all its maintenance needs. if you got a park, you know the benches will need painting, board replacement, etc. So, why don't you "budget" for it? this "budgeting" process goes up through NJ transit and all other state and federal agencies. if you know u r going to need new cars, "budget" for them, instead of borrowing for them.
next is foreign affairs. i'm tired of third world, and near third world, countries jerking us around. if they are going to stand up to us, let them stand up to us without our help! you want to show us how tough you are, great! Now, do it on your dime! it 's time we pull the plug anytime a country screws with us. yeah, we might be percieved as bullies, but i'm tired of turning my cheek and acting the fool for the world's bozos!
Romney spoke before the NAACP. He should have come out with both guns firing. If blacks look at where they are now compared to where they were 20 years ago, they were a hell of a lot better off then. Obama has done nothing to improve their lot, and won't, if given another 4 years. And, i think he was given a chance to express his views, so, rah, rah for the NAACP!
House vote to repeal "Obamacare" succeeds. This will force the Senate to vote on it again, identifying the Senators voting for or agin it, making it difficult for those up for reelection in tight States. This i think could turn the tide for the senate in november toward the republicans.
the "study" of memorable TV moments is either total "BS" or a dire indictment of our country as it exists today. How can anyone not have the moon landing in 1969 on their list? That was the most significant technological moment in our history! Certainly a top five, if not #1 or #2. i have never been one who could march in step with the masses, but i cannot be so out of touch that anything OJ did could possibly be in my top 25, not even my top 50.
last for today is about money in politics. The amont of money being raised and spent is appalling. and, the methods being used to raise it have become more nefarious. trying to keep this simple, it all began with trying to stop corporate money from being used in elections. it then grew into stopping union money from being used. then try to stop foreign money and the beat goes on. at the end of the day, the ruling says - you can spend all you want as a corporation as long as you don't let the campaign control how it's spent. oh, and by the way, you don't have to tell us who is making donations. otherwise, you must tell us and there are limits to how much can be donated, which favors the union side of things. i can offer two solutions to this problem. one is to make all airwaves free to candidates. airwaves belong to us, we rent them out, so we can control their use. you say the devil is in the details. i can be the devil (as can just about all american citizens), so that's not really an issue. the alternative is to allow (and limit) the amount of money used in a campaign. once again, i'll act as the devil.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Dwayne Wickham
read his commentary today in APP (7/2/12). Essence of his words are that all black need to come out in volume in order that obama can be reelected. he needs blacks to win. nothing to do with issues, just obama the blacks to vite for him. this is as racist a call as anything any southerner did in the 50's or 60's. this call for votes worked in 2008 for two reasons. first, a black man was on the ballot for the first time. i understood it then. second, it was a time of "hope and change". i did not believe it then, but many others did. I do not believe even the most gullible believe it now.
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