Prostitutes, Pimps, and Tax Dollars

Even in the midst of my moving I had to take a time out to post this one. This has to be something out of a Charlie Rangel dream:

"Officials with the controversial community organizing group ACORN were secretly videotaped offering to assist two individuals posing as a pimp and a prostitute, encouraging them to lie to the Internal Revenue Service and providing guidance on how to claim underage girls from South America as dependents." [link]

Talk about being at a loss for words...

Hurray?

It's here, it's finally here. Oh well not really anything to get excited about unless your a statist.

"In 2009, Cost of Government Day falls on August 12. That means, working people must toil 224 days out of the year just to meet all costs imposed by government. In other words, the cost of government consumes 61.34 percent of national income." [link]

Nothing quite like actually seeing how much of your hard earned money the government actually takes by force to make you nauseous is there?

More Lies and Theft (SHOUT THEM DOWN)

"President Obama may have to break his campaign pledge and raise taxes on middle-class Americans to pay for public health care and the growing deficit, an eventuality that administration officials touched lightly on Sunday as they promoted an economy emerging from recession.

With an expected deficit next year of $1.8 trillion, and spending still being planned for a $1 trillion, 10-year health care reform, officials say something will have to be done to prevent further erosion of the economy." [link]

Did anyone really think that with the massive government spending he could keep a promise to not raise taxes? I am sure that there were millions that actually believed this? For some reason there seem to be millions of people in this country that believe you can get something for nothing. Wait a minute, in this country you actually can. You don't have to work, the government will take care of you. Just go down to the food stamp and welfare office. Don't mind that you really can work you're just too lazy to. That is your "right" not to work. Remember it is a free country after all.

First and foremost this is a relatively "easy" problem to fix. Men and women are doing it across the nation as we speak. As times get tougher, you quit spending as much as you used to (SHOCKER). The average American understands this and most do so without having to be told to. But the government has yet to understand this very simple concept.

Secondly something has to be done about the perceived "rights of entitlement". I have spoken briefly about this before, and have briefly discussed a fix for this as well in that short piece.

Lastly the government (elected officials) truly need to understand their place and their true duty. It is not that hard to pick up a small pocket Constitution, read it and understand it in roughly an hours time. In fact just to give an example of how much the government has overstepped its bounds do this small experiment. Go to a local bookstore and find a small pocket Constitution that includes the text of the Declaration of Independence. Two documents that our country was founded upon and set out how and what a government is allowed and is not allowed to do to the people. Now take that pocket Constitution and set it next to a recent copy of the U.S. tax code...enough said.

How do we put these elected officials in their place. SHOUT THEM DOWN! Go to your local fiscal court meetings, your congresscritters "town hall forums" and take along a copy of the Declaration and the Constitution. When they say anything contradictory to or in direct violation of the Constitution SHOUT THEM DOWN! Let them know that enough is enough. Demand they show you in the Constitution what clause gives them the authority to take your hard earned money. Demand they show you the clause that gives them the authority to make sweeping changes via procedural measures instead of voting on bills. SHOUT THEM DOWN! When they are looking after their own best interests and not the best interests of freedom and liberty. SHOUT THEM DOWN! When they refuse to listen to you, because in all reality we are their bosses not the other way around. They are put there to serve us and to protect the Constitution.

Thoughts on Health Care

"President Obama and his political team -- starring David Axelrod, Rahm Emmanuel, and Robert Gibbs -- will begin a full court press with the American public today to sell their $1 trillion dollar plan..." [link]

Can we just WHOA UP! just a bit right here. $1 trillion dollars? And remember this is just an estimate. Just like Obama and teams estimate that the porkulus would keep unemployment at 8.5% or below. The government itself is broke, people are losing their jobs at an alarming rate, prices on goods are going up, where do they think they will get this money?

Oh right tax the rich. I will say I am far from rich, and I do not want to take from others. I opt out of insurance at my job because of the cost. However I am covered due to my wife's insurance plan, I wonder if I am one of the "estimated" 46 million Americans without health insurance?

If Obama and team can show me a health care package that reduces price, does not tax the people, does not diminish the care one can receive, and still allows for being able to see a doctor in a timely manner (unlike other nations with socialized medicine where you take a number and wait several months to see a doctor) then I might think differently about this sweeping overhaul. Until then I will not be for "socialized medicine."

Could Someone Explain This?

The House Democrats Health Plan. I can't make heads or tails of it, and I have a college degree.

Highway Robbery aka Taxes

"The Republican governor will delay $63 million worth of sales tax refunds for capital equipment purchases starting in January 2011. Businesses will wait an extra three months for their cash as part of Pawlenty's plan to balance the state budget using executive powers." [link]

The key phrase above is "for their cash" which rightfully denotes that the money belongs to them not to the government. Yet the government in this case is going to use private money to fix its problems. But in reality this is exactly what governments due on a consistent basis, they cause a problem then they use the taxpayer money to attempt to fix a problem that would not have existed in the first place had the government left things alone.

Government in the long run amounts to highway robbery and those in the right positions benefit from those whose industry they rely upon to support themselves

Once Again, So Much For Transparency!

"White House Won’t Reveal How Much Michelle Obama’s European Vacation Cost Taxpayers" [link]

Sometimes a headline is enough and nothing else really needs to be said.

Electricity Is Good

We all have to agree that electricity is definitely a good thing, but how exactly do we get it? Well to break it down by the percentages we get electricity from:
48.9% -- Coal
20% -- Natural Gas
19.3% -- Nuclear
1.6% -- Petroleum
This comes out to just a little under 90%. The remaining 10% of energy usage comes from:
7.1% -- Hydroelectric
2.4% -- Other Renewables
0.7% -- Other [source]

Interestingly the Waxman-Markey (Cap-and-Trade) will tax coal, natural gas, and petroleum based electricity generating plants. Which theoretically works out to taxing roughly 70% percent of all Americans to help subsidize the 10% of "clean" renewable energy sources.

However the same people that howl for clean energy also howl in disgust when a dam is built because it damages wildlife and the ecology, furthermore there are probably very few remaining places in the United States where a new dam could be built that would provide a sustainable amount of electrical output. So what we really get is a tax that will subsidize 3.1% of energy production.

Now assuming a nice round number of 300 million Americans 3.1% of those would be 9,300,000. So in reality the remaining 290+ million will be taxed to make those 9.3 million sleep better at night. Doesn't that make you feel all warm and cozy deep down inside.

On a side note here in Kentucky small co-ops provide services for a large portion of the Commonwealths population. Most of these co-ops allow for each household to even sign up for "clean" energy only. Needless to say a line has yet to form.

Why Bother Anymore

"The White House left open the possibility Sunday that President Obama could tax employer-provided health insurance to pay for his $1 trillion universal health care plan, a violation of the president's campaign pledge to not raise taxes on middle-class families." [link]

Why bother even reporting stories like this anymore. It is already obvious that this man has no sense of honor and/or honesty and just said or did whatever it took to get elected. Also with the drooling media and a large portion of the citizenry either too stupid or too apathetic to do anything about the travesties going on is Washington D.C. it may just be best if everyone just took their choice of "opiate for the masses" and held their television remotes just a little bit tighter, cause they're going to be in for a long bumpy ride.

Irony!

"A Texas woman who stole a Hurricane Rita travel trailer and resold it has pleaded guilty to theft of government property." [link]

Uncle Sam seems to get really upset when the "peasants" take something that Uncle Sam got through money gained by force(taxation). Granted it was right for the woman to take something that other tax payers had payed for but I still just love the irony of a thief prosecuting a thief.

On Liberty Pt. 3 (Personal Responsibility)

Personal responsibility is perhaps the cornerstone of true liberty. It is not always easy for a person to say that "I am responsible for myself and my actions at all times", but this is the reality of life, and the sooner this is understood the sooner all people can start living free. How can such a simple statement be so powerful? If I am responsible for myself (my safety, well being, health, economic standing, etc...), then I will also be on the lookout for things that could harm my self interest and take the necessary measures to fix them.

Selfishness! In a way yes, but in the broader scope of things it works out differently. How do "selfishness" and "self-interest" actually coincide with a better community for all? If each person in a community were to be personally responsible for themselves and their actions then they would not do anything to jeopardize their "self-interests". This would include not committing crimes against people or property. This would also mean if I wanted to make money from my investment in my home that I would want to be on good terms with my neighbors. (Human nature is strange, make a friend and more often than not there will be friendly competition on a subconscious level. "I can make my lawn look better than his", or "Her flower garden is beautiful, but I bet I can outdo her"). However make an enemy and oftentimes out of spite they will let themselves go to make you look bad.

The best thing about personal responsibility is being in full control of your own life. If I do not have to depend on anyone for necessities then I am beholden to no one. As soon as you turn to someone else to take care of your needs, you are no longer the one in control of your life. You have chosen to allow someone else to control you and you are along for the ride. Do not misunderstand this in certain respects, charity in many instances is to help, if the charity is freely given. Once charitable contributions are forced (taxes) then there is a sudden rift between those being forced to be charitable and those choosing to accept the charity (tax money).

In a community where people are responsible for themselves charity is freely given, because each person usually realizes that things can happen. Homes can burn, crops can whither and die, fatal accidents do happen, sudden illness strikes, etc... In times like this it is best to turn to friends and neighbors for help. However if you have been responsible and charitable yourself, you will not have to turn far because help will usually be there before you even have to ask.

On Liberty Pt. 2 (Entitlements)

Any more there are quite a few people that seem to think they deserve something for just being. Well in a since they are correct. They deserve to have their rights honored and the chance to work as hard as they want to achieve whatever they may. They also deserve the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

They do not however deserve a handout if they fall on hard times, they don't deserve a bailout because their 401K tanked, and they don't deserve "free" food because they don't make enough money.

Plenty of people would call this harsh and in a way it is, however it is not my job or yours to be forced to fend for those that either cannot or choose not to fend for themselves. To look at it another way. If not for the income tax, payroll tax, unemployment tax, social security tax, school tax, library tax, property tax, etc...a community could easily support those less fortunate via charity than is being done now via forced taxation.

Deep down a vast majority of human beings are very generous, we just don't always have the means to give what we would like. However if not for forced "entitlements" there is quite a bit of good that each and every one of us could share easily.

Keep watching for more short topics On Liberty.

A Real Blood Boiler

"With budget deficits soaring and President Obama pushing a trillion-dollar-plus expansion of health coverage, some Washington policymakers are taking a fresh look at a money-making idea long considered politically taboo: a national sales tax...But advocates say few other options can generate the kind of money the nation will need to avert fiscal calamity." [link]

The more I read the angrier I got. How about these same advocates of robbing from everybody to give to who knows what bureaucratic entity start screaming to the government to "STOP SPENDING MONEY!" It really is not that hard to do. It may be uncomfortable at first, but it can be done, and millions upon millions of Americans are doing it on a daily basis.

I fear that if this is the "fix" that the government comes up with then the people will only be left with one box to stand on seeing that the soapbox, the ballot box, and the jury box have failed. That lone box will be the cartridge box and has been used to great effect for hundreds of years in getting the attention of tyrants and despots alike.

Myth of GOP Only Tax Protest

"...the no vote is fueled by voter anger at the enormous surge in spending in the Golden State over the past decade, and by the refusal to make serious reforms in the way the state runs. The public pension problem is also beginning to come into view, and ordinary voters are shocked at the amount of spending the public employee unions have carved out of the legislature." [link]

In the land of the left there seems to be general disgust at the way the state government is ran and the cost to the taxpayers. Start digging too deeply in any one's pockets and they start turning ugly. The MSM should get their stories straight and realize that corruption and over-taxation hurts everyone and it is not just about the GOP being bitter.

Money Well Spent, Don't You Think?

I really had to roll my eyes at this one. I honestly cannot think of one single reason, even with my imagination in overdrive for spending U.S. Taxpayer dollars on this.

"The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will pay $2.6 million in U.S. tax dollars to train Chinese prostitutes to drink responsibly on the job...The grant, made last November, refers to prostitutes as "female sex workers"--or FSW--and their handlers as "gatekeepers." [link]

One thing to keep in mind, notice how there is a change in language and noun usage to keep people from summoning mental images. "FSW" and "gatekeeper" what images would come to mind with whore and pimp. Doubt they would have been given $2.6 million if they would have used those terms.

The left excels at this practice. Using "assault weapon" instead of battle rifle or AR-15. "Automatic weapons" instead of the true label of semi-auto. "Extremists" rather than family oriented, deeply religious, or defenders of the Constitution.

They make it a word game and how they can shine whatever type of light on it they want to as long as they light they use benefits them or their agenda. Keep this in mind when you hear them speak and write. Look at how they use words and phrases. Be ever vigilant.

Quote for the Day

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it." -- Dr. Adrian Rogers

We'll Take It Any Way We Can!

"...Obama announced Monday a plan to prevent U.S. companies using offshore banks to deferr tax payments, saying that the effort to "shelter" money creates an unfair advantage to U.S. companies and amounts to evasion." [link]

Take a moment and think about that for just a moment. First off there are provisions in place that allow companies and individuals to keep more of the money that they make due to their work and industry. Boy would be a shame to allow them to keep all of their hard earned money wouldn't it? In effect Obama is saying it does not matter where you keep it, we are coming after it, with force!

Also notice the quip about "unfair" advantages to U.S. companies. HELLO! As president of the United States shouldn't you want U.S. companies to get ahead? Or is this another sneak peak at your true intentions?

Explain how it is unfair when most other nations have provisions in place to allow income from outside the country to be sheltered from taxation? Wake up America, this man and his administration are going to run the country straight into the ground!

Our Tax Dollars at Work

"Talks between the Treasury Department and lenders aimed at keeping Chrysler LLC out of bankruptcy broke down late Wednesday, making it all but certain that the car maker will file for Chapter 11 protection Thursday..." [link]

Let me get this straight, taxpayers pump billions into this corporation (not willfully mind you, but forced by the government both the Bush and Obama administration) being told it is the only way to save it, and it still tanks? Aren't you glad the government is here to help us?

Gun Control Loopholes: From the Left's Point of View

"Modern government is not only a lawmaker. Indeed, the most effective executive powers may not derive from statutes at all. The government that President Obama oversees is also a gigantic, well-funded procurement agent. And it can—and should—use that power to change American gun policies."

You're right on one point at least. The most effective executive powers do not derive from statutes at all, they derive from the people. Remember that pesky "We the People" part of the Constitution?

"What is striking is that the government buys guns from manufacturers who also sell them to criminals—either knowingly or by willfully overlooking the behavior of the retail outlets that the gun companies use as their distribution system."

Really, where is your proof that gun manufacturers sell to criminals? Show me a bill of sale directly from a gun manufacturer to a known criminal. And I don't mean some private business owner that did not fill out or file a 4473 improperly, or one who was wrangled on a minor technicality by the BATFE.

"If President Obama wants to devise a creative way to limit gun violence, he will use his power as the world's largest consumer to require the cooperation of gun manufacturers. If government cannot legislate the conduct it wants, then it can use market power to buy it." [link]

Uh-Oh! You just let the cat out of the bag didn't you? Couldn't you have just said: If we can't get our way via legislation and with the consent of the people. We will just become tyrants and do as we please.

Now a few questions for you ex-Gov Spitzer and whoever you are Peter Pope. I guess that the soaring profits by both Smith & Wesson and Sturm, Ruger & Co. are not due to government buying up their supplies yet, is that correct? Hmmm, you mean private citizens are causing those increased profits? I am sure the government could waste more tax payer dollars to prove whatever it wants to prove though, right?

Also does this mean that the government shouldn't buy from itself? Here is a list of FBI agents who committed violent or criminal acts. So can the government still buy from these companies but not arm the FBI with those weapons?

Don't get me wrong I know that there is just a small percentage of law enforcement officers that are criminals. But just as that is the case the same is true of society in general. The vast majority of people are not criminals, it just takes a few bad apples to give them a bad name. So you are for punishing the many because of the actions of a few?

Someone is Full of It!

"...Barack Obama unveiled new steps on Saturday to restore U.S. fiscal discipline..."

I laughed until it hurt after reading this sentence, then I finished reading the sentence and it really hurt:
"...including support for legislation that would require Congress to pay for any new programs by raising taxes or cutting other expenditures..." [link] Now do you really think Congress is going to stop spending money? .... What is gonna happen to your paycheck now?

"Earlier this week I held my first Cabinet meeting and sent a clear message: cut what doesn't work," --Barack Obama [link]

Keep in mind Obama "demanded" a $100 million cut by his cabinet. Don't worry with the fact that this amount was only roughly one-twentieth of 1 percent of March's federal deficit [source]

I only have this to say to you Chairman Obama, go take a flying leap you sociofascist/Marxist, commie loving, freedom hating, community organizing, spend other's money, blame someone else, keep your change, piece of ...!