I am almost sorry Obama released the long form of his birth certificate - although the short form he released in 2008 (which was the first time, Donald Trump notwithstanding) is just as legal. I loved the Birthers and their fantasy that they weren't questioning Obama's legitimacy because he is Black - why I am sure that many of them would like to see Romney's certificate, after all he is a Mormon and they are furriners in the eyes of many religious fundies. Of course, now Trump is saying that Obama was a poor student. I guess Harvard's law school gives out magna cum laude diplomas to anyone who can afford the tuition. But, Trump, a long-time Republican (if you don't count his being a registered Democrat 2001-2008) is currently at the top of the Republican candidate list based on his many lies. And I thought he would make an admirable opponent for Obama.
His foreign policy statements alone would have made the campaign highly entertaining. Evidently, all we have to do to lower the price of oil is to tell OPEC to lower the price of oil. Those Arabs just need some stern and straightforward talk to put them in their place. And that pesky debt ceiling need not be raised, we just need to cut a deal with our creditors - hey China, cut us some slack or we will stop buying your cheap goods and some guys from Brooklyn will come to your house and break things. But I now doubt that he will be the nominee, so comedians will be crying at this loss of such great material.
Palin, who doesn't seem to be popular with much of anyone except those who think that an undrugged moose will stand still while being shot at 5 times, seems unlikely to run. Michele Bachmann doesn't seem to have the support to push her to the top leaving us with no one to rewrite our history to suit her loony fantasies.
Newt - well, I don't see how he could in good conscience accept the nomination since he is so patriotic it forces him to commit adultery nor could we live with ourselves if we forced the nation's highest office on him. What would wife number 3 think about us, and who would be wife number 4? Besides, he is still trying to explain how Obama is going to implement an atheistic Islamic theocracy in this country - where we would have to bow down to the God that they don't believe in.
Huckabee confuses Kenya with Indonesia, the British for the Dutch and Mau Maus for Sukarno's people, so as president he would have invaded Liechtenstein instead of Afghanistan. And he evidently believes that colonialism - where one country invades another, oppresses that country's people and siphons off all of their natural resources - is a good thing. So, he obviously believes our Founding Fathers made a big mistake when they resorted to anti-colonialism back in the 1700s.
The only decent candidate - now that Haley Barbour has decided that there are too many Tea Party nutjobs to have to please to win the nomination - is Mitt Romney. The guy who created universal healthcare for Massachusetts, which he now hates (although the folks in that state seem to like it a lot), hasn't been absolutely hypocritical. And, he leans more to the moderate side, so he hasn't a chance.
So, who does that leave? Paul Ryan. He is a courageous man who put forth a budget that got him booed by his own supporters. He is against raising the debt ceiling, although his budget calls for adding $2 billion to our debt in 2012 and up to $7 billion more by 2022. Evidently, he has a lot in common with David Copperfield and can use magic to accomplish 2 contradictory things. He wants to give vouchers to old people to buy insurance from private companies, because they love to give good rates to people who are most likely to have preexisting conditions. And, he would only do that to people who are currently under 55, because he obviously hates 54 year olds. This is a man who is proud of his hypocrisy and doesn't make wild promises about invading Libya and basically stealing their oil. So, I nominate Paul. Trump could be his VP so that the comedians would still have someone they can make fun of. Ryan/Trump in 2012. Or, even better, Glen Beck and Ann Coulter - you get the best of wild eyed lunacy, venomous lies and mean spirited policies - she wants us to invade countries and force them into Christianity (wasn't that one of the Beatitudes) while he believes helping the poor leads to communism.
I look forward to next year to see if my candidates prevail.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
News of the Weird
According to the "News of the Weird" column by Chuck Shepherd, the IRS records show that residents of the NY Helmsley Hotel - famous because of "Bitch Queen" Leona Helmsley who once said, "only little people pay taxes" - whose average income in around $1.2 million pay less in taxes percentage-wise than do the janitors who clean their rooms.
This shouldn't be considered weird, as it has been noted in many news articles and economic research that most people whose "income" is $1 million or more don't actually receive a paycheck. In other words, they don't really work for their "income." They receive the lion's share from investments, which are treated as capital gains and are taxed at a 15% rate. As Warren Buffet said, he pays less of a percentage of his income than his secretary does - and to the billionaire's credit, he thought this was unfair.
Most people who defend the right for the rich to not share the burden of taxation argue that they are the productive class. It is these rich altruists who create the jobs so that we all may prosper. However, they have had Bush's tax cuts for over a decade now, and the unemployment rate has gone up steadily every year the tax cut has been in effect (until recently due to the efforts of the - gasp - Obama administration).
Actually, small business owners are the ones who create the majority of new jobs in this country, and they rarely qualify as rich - if you use $1 million+ as the bar for being wealthy. The rich tend to invest their money in financial investment packages - derivatives, hedge funds, etc. - which do not create jobs - except in investment brokerages. Investment brokerages are the one area where incomes do exceed $1 million. So, the rich create jobs and job stability for the rich.
Another myth about the rich is that they work longer, harder and smarter than the rest of us so they deserve their wealth as a reward for all their toil. Having worked in fundraising for the last 20 years, where studying the rich is mandatory, I can say that most rich people I have met or researched are part of what has been called the largest transfer of wealth ever. In other words, most of the rich got that way by just being born. Daddy, or more likely Grandpa, actually created the wealth - the current richies just inherited it.
In fact, I have had very few significant contributions from rich people's personal funds go to the nonprofits for whom I worked. They have foundations - again most likely created by their father or grandfather's wealth. So, they direct the foundation to make the gift - they get the thanks and the publicity without having to actually whip out their debit card.
And, just to get all moral on the subject, the Bible has literally hundreds of quotes that liken the creation of wealth to corruption, greed and a sure way not to get past the Pearly Gates. In fact, even the Old Testament indicates that if a person is rich and they don't help the poor willingly then they are violating God's will. Jesus of course was more detailed about the evils of wealth, but to hear the conservatives talk about Him, He said, "Blessed are they who cutteth the capital gains tax," or "Blessed are the poor, but be sure and verify that they are poor through the most direst of conditions and consequences and are not gaming the system and putting their grubby little hands into the rich person's pocket."
I don't hate the rich. I do hate the attitude that people of wealth, privilege and power deserve even more of it at the expense of hard working average Americans. Bill Maher once tried to explain the illogic of an average Joe supporting cuts in the estate tax - which only kicks in after the first million or so is exempted - it's called an estate tax because it taxes people who are wealthy enough to have estates - otherwise known as "not you." This to me sums up all of the support average workaday conservatives provide the rich - they use this support to actually siphon off more of your share of the economic pie, leaving you with less, while they get even richer. It's like a pig contributing to the More Barbeque Party. You ain't gettin' nothin' back except more economic pain, but somehow they have convinced you that it is your right and your duty to surrender your share of the economic equation to them.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that the liberal media are all owned by extremely rich corporations - who evidently are too stupid to recognize the socialistic bent of their own TV and radio stations, newspapers and magazines. But you know they would never use the power of these media outlets to influence Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sixpack that the fact that their share of the economic pie now is over one third, while the rest of us have lost 15% of this same pie.
This shouldn't be considered weird, as it has been noted in many news articles and economic research that most people whose "income" is $1 million or more don't actually receive a paycheck. In other words, they don't really work for their "income." They receive the lion's share from investments, which are treated as capital gains and are taxed at a 15% rate. As Warren Buffet said, he pays less of a percentage of his income than his secretary does - and to the billionaire's credit, he thought this was unfair.
Most people who defend the right for the rich to not share the burden of taxation argue that they are the productive class. It is these rich altruists who create the jobs so that we all may prosper. However, they have had Bush's tax cuts for over a decade now, and the unemployment rate has gone up steadily every year the tax cut has been in effect (until recently due to the efforts of the - gasp - Obama administration).
Actually, small business owners are the ones who create the majority of new jobs in this country, and they rarely qualify as rich - if you use $1 million+ as the bar for being wealthy. The rich tend to invest their money in financial investment packages - derivatives, hedge funds, etc. - which do not create jobs - except in investment brokerages. Investment brokerages are the one area where incomes do exceed $1 million. So, the rich create jobs and job stability for the rich.
Another myth about the rich is that they work longer, harder and smarter than the rest of us so they deserve their wealth as a reward for all their toil. Having worked in fundraising for the last 20 years, where studying the rich is mandatory, I can say that most rich people I have met or researched are part of what has been called the largest transfer of wealth ever. In other words, most of the rich got that way by just being born. Daddy, or more likely Grandpa, actually created the wealth - the current richies just inherited it.
In fact, I have had very few significant contributions from rich people's personal funds go to the nonprofits for whom I worked. They have foundations - again most likely created by their father or grandfather's wealth. So, they direct the foundation to make the gift - they get the thanks and the publicity without having to actually whip out their debit card.
And, just to get all moral on the subject, the Bible has literally hundreds of quotes that liken the creation of wealth to corruption, greed and a sure way not to get past the Pearly Gates. In fact, even the Old Testament indicates that if a person is rich and they don't help the poor willingly then they are violating God's will. Jesus of course was more detailed about the evils of wealth, but to hear the conservatives talk about Him, He said, "Blessed are they who cutteth the capital gains tax," or "Blessed are the poor, but be sure and verify that they are poor through the most direst of conditions and consequences and are not gaming the system and putting their grubby little hands into the rich person's pocket."
I don't hate the rich. I do hate the attitude that people of wealth, privilege and power deserve even more of it at the expense of hard working average Americans. Bill Maher once tried to explain the illogic of an average Joe supporting cuts in the estate tax - which only kicks in after the first million or so is exempted - it's called an estate tax because it taxes people who are wealthy enough to have estates - otherwise known as "not you." This to me sums up all of the support average workaday conservatives provide the rich - they use this support to actually siphon off more of your share of the economic pie, leaving you with less, while they get even richer. It's like a pig contributing to the More Barbeque Party. You ain't gettin' nothin' back except more economic pain, but somehow they have convinced you that it is your right and your duty to surrender your share of the economic equation to them.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that the liberal media are all owned by extremely rich corporations - who evidently are too stupid to recognize the socialistic bent of their own TV and radio stations, newspapers and magazines. But you know they would never use the power of these media outlets to influence Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sixpack that the fact that their share of the economic pie now is over one third, while the rest of us have lost 15% of this same pie.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Obama's Birth Certificate
In light of the renewed interest, engendered by The Donald Trump (who is great friends with "the blacks"), in Obama's birth certificate. I have uncovered some equally startling cover ups.
Sarah Palin loves Grizzly Moms because - are you ready for this - she has sex with bears. Oh yes - have you ever seen her shoot a bear or club one's brains out. Nope. She loves her some Ursa Majors.
Newt Gingrich sells small Mexican children to sausage factories in Germany. The next bratwurst you bite into should be saying, "Hola, Gringo." He gets them wholesale from Herman Cain - you might want to check the "sausage" in your next Godfather's large meat lovers.
Paul Ryan's budget is harsh on seniors - placing Medicaid under the control of budget cutting Republican governors and reducing Medicare to two for one coupons at Blue Cross Blue Shield for $30,000 annual policy fees and $8 trillion deductibles. But, do you know why? He hates old people. His grandmother used to pinch his cheeks and call him her "Little Tinky Winky." Well, all of those old people who wander off from nursing homes and die of exposure - well just check Ryan's pockets for prunes - and look for trails of prune pits outside these facilities.
Michele Bachman keeps her looks by drinking the blood of virgins. Fortunately, Minnesota has a huge supply - it is so cold that people only have sex in July. If she lived in California, she would resemble the hag in Snow White.
And, The Donald himself is the biggest heroin dealer in New York. Where do you think he got the money for his real estate empire - like he inherited it. Really!!!
I have as much proof of all of these accusations as do the birthers - and I don't have the backing of an organization like Fox News.
Sarah Palin loves Grizzly Moms because - are you ready for this - she has sex with bears. Oh yes - have you ever seen her shoot a bear or club one's brains out. Nope. She loves her some Ursa Majors.
Newt Gingrich sells small Mexican children to sausage factories in Germany. The next bratwurst you bite into should be saying, "Hola, Gringo." He gets them wholesale from Herman Cain - you might want to check the "sausage" in your next Godfather's large meat lovers.
Paul Ryan's budget is harsh on seniors - placing Medicaid under the control of budget cutting Republican governors and reducing Medicare to two for one coupons at Blue Cross Blue Shield for $30,000 annual policy fees and $8 trillion deductibles. But, do you know why? He hates old people. His grandmother used to pinch his cheeks and call him her "Little Tinky Winky." Well, all of those old people who wander off from nursing homes and die of exposure - well just check Ryan's pockets for prunes - and look for trails of prune pits outside these facilities.
Michele Bachman keeps her looks by drinking the blood of virgins. Fortunately, Minnesota has a huge supply - it is so cold that people only have sex in July. If she lived in California, she would resemble the hag in Snow White.
And, The Donald himself is the biggest heroin dealer in New York. Where do you think he got the money for his real estate empire - like he inherited it. Really!!!
I have as much proof of all of these accusations as do the birthers - and I don't have the backing of an organization like Fox News.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Conservative Lies
George Bush's deficits were caused by the Democratic controlled Congress - wrong. The Dems only controlled the House in 2006 - actually they didn't take office until 2007. All the other years of W's reign of terror the Republicans controlled Congress - and, given W's appointments - the Supreme Court. So, they controlled all 3 branches.
Republicans don't want to raise the debt ceiling - wrong. If Paul Ryan's budget were to actually be enacted, it would raise the deficit by $6 trillion. So, how could Republicans pass an increase in our debt, while opposing raising the debt ceiling to accommodate this debt increase?
Republicans swore to repeal and replace the Healthcare Act. They have tried to repeal it, but where is their replacement proposal? Of course, they won't need one if Ryan's budget gets enacted. Seniors would get vouchers to replace Medicare and would have to apply to private insurance companies for coverage. Of course, the fact that Medicare recipients are older than 65 and more than likely have one or more preexisting conditions, means that many companies won't even consider them. And their costs out of pocket will go up because insurance companies have up to 20% administrative costs built into their policies (Medicare's is only 3%). Ryan's budget also assumes that healthcare costs won't continue to rise as they have for the last 20 years, so these vouchers will always be enough. And unicorns will deliver the seniors meds for them.
Bill Clinton forced banks to make risky loans to deadbeat poor people and that caused the housing bubble which burst on Bush's watch - wrong. There was no such legislation or executive order "forcing" banks to make these kinds of loans. (While the unicorns are delivering meds, let's just pretend that Slick Willie managed to create such an act. Then why didn't the Republicans - who controlled Congress and the Presidency - do something about it while they were in power?) Because such an act didn't exist - banks were encouraged to make loans to more people but only if they didn't violate their own fiscal responsibilities.
So, if poor people couldn't force the banks to make these loans, then why did the banks make such loans? And why did Wall Street bundle these toxic loans and sell them to unsuspecting investors? And why did many investment firms, like Goldman Sachs, create investments that would see large returns if these loans would fail? But, according to conservatives, the financial sector had little if anything to do with this economic disaster. It must have been public school teachers - the conservatives new villain du jour.
Yes, how dare public employees want good wages and benefits. In fact, conservatives are against almost all American workers having good wages and benefits. American workers should aspire to the below poverty wages and incredibly dangerous working conditions of China so American companies can compete. How else are executives supposed to receive their millions in salaries and bonuses if the American worker is not willing to sacrifice to make this happen. Of course, the rich are making their own sacrifices. With the continuation of tax cuts, tax rates that are half of what they were under Reagan and capital gains rates the lowest ever, these poor rich people have so much more money to handle. All those decisions about luxury cars, multiple houses, vacations in exotic places, can certainly take a lot of time and effort. But better that the middle class should cease to exist than for the rich to pay more. After all, the rich are the productive class - they create jobs - just check the unemployment rate to see how well they have succeeded using their tax breaks for the last decade.
Republicans don't want to raise the debt ceiling - wrong. If Paul Ryan's budget were to actually be enacted, it would raise the deficit by $6 trillion. So, how could Republicans pass an increase in our debt, while opposing raising the debt ceiling to accommodate this debt increase?
Republicans swore to repeal and replace the Healthcare Act. They have tried to repeal it, but where is their replacement proposal? Of course, they won't need one if Ryan's budget gets enacted. Seniors would get vouchers to replace Medicare and would have to apply to private insurance companies for coverage. Of course, the fact that Medicare recipients are older than 65 and more than likely have one or more preexisting conditions, means that many companies won't even consider them. And their costs out of pocket will go up because insurance companies have up to 20% administrative costs built into their policies (Medicare's is only 3%). Ryan's budget also assumes that healthcare costs won't continue to rise as they have for the last 20 years, so these vouchers will always be enough. And unicorns will deliver the seniors meds for them.
Bill Clinton forced banks to make risky loans to deadbeat poor people and that caused the housing bubble which burst on Bush's watch - wrong. There was no such legislation or executive order "forcing" banks to make these kinds of loans. (While the unicorns are delivering meds, let's just pretend that Slick Willie managed to create such an act. Then why didn't the Republicans - who controlled Congress and the Presidency - do something about it while they were in power?) Because such an act didn't exist - banks were encouraged to make loans to more people but only if they didn't violate their own fiscal responsibilities.
So, if poor people couldn't force the banks to make these loans, then why did the banks make such loans? And why did Wall Street bundle these toxic loans and sell them to unsuspecting investors? And why did many investment firms, like Goldman Sachs, create investments that would see large returns if these loans would fail? But, according to conservatives, the financial sector had little if anything to do with this economic disaster. It must have been public school teachers - the conservatives new villain du jour.
Yes, how dare public employees want good wages and benefits. In fact, conservatives are against almost all American workers having good wages and benefits. American workers should aspire to the below poverty wages and incredibly dangerous working conditions of China so American companies can compete. How else are executives supposed to receive their millions in salaries and bonuses if the American worker is not willing to sacrifice to make this happen. Of course, the rich are making their own sacrifices. With the continuation of tax cuts, tax rates that are half of what they were under Reagan and capital gains rates the lowest ever, these poor rich people have so much more money to handle. All those decisions about luxury cars, multiple houses, vacations in exotic places, can certainly take a lot of time and effort. But better that the middle class should cease to exist than for the rich to pay more. After all, the rich are the productive class - they create jobs - just check the unemployment rate to see how well they have succeeded using their tax breaks for the last decade.
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