“Steve, the math is the math. You can’t lower rates and raise revenue, unless you’re getting revenue from someplace else,”

That student was Barrack Hussein Obama.  He is right if you ignore economics and assume that the economy never grows…never and you want to over simplify to fool voters.  Oh you also have to assume that citizens don’t adjust their behavior based on what things cost and that includes how much taxes there are (i.e. more income tax = less money to spend or higher sales tax means your income does not go as far).  I happen to think that is his intention.  That is all that I can surmise since we are told that he may just be the smartest president we’ve ever had.  HIs above quote says he is either dumb or a liar.

Economics in the economics…

History is the history…

First what happens – historically when taxes are raised?

“periods of higher tax rates are associated with sub par economic performance and stagnant tax revenues. In other words, when politicians attempt to “soak the rich,” the rest of us take a bath. Examining the three major United States episodes of tax rate reductions can prove useful lessons.”

 Second what happens – historically when taxes are lowered?

“There is a distinct pattern throughout American history: When tax rates are reduced, the economy’s growth rate improves and living standards increase… tax revenues grow and “rich” taxpayers pay more tax when marginal tax rates are slashed. This means lower income citizens bear a lower share of the tax burden – a consequence that should lead class-warfare politicians to support lower tax rates.”

 This video explains the principle, the “Laffer Curve”;

The thing to remember is that rates do not equal revenues.  So increasing tax rates does not automatically tax increase revenues.  To imply or state that as Obama did is a lie.  Shame on 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft for not challenging him.

Also why is there rarely a mention of several key facts:

1. Nearly fifty percent of American workers do NOT pay income taxes.
2. The top percent of wage earners pay MOST of the income taxes.
3. Folks who continue to tell us that they don’t pay enough taxes (i.e. Warren, Barrack, etc.) NEVER volunteer to pay more taxes.
4. You (Barrack and Congress) wouldn’t need to steal so much of our money if you CUT spending…real cuts…not cuts sometime in the future…not cuts over ten years that don’t even equal the money you spend in six months…money that you borrow each year from China.
5. Stop the spending!
6. Stop the spending!
7. God just stop the spending!

Consider Time’s first listed protester – The Arab Spring:  The scenes that I most remember were of killing, rape (ask the American reporter who was repeatedly raped during the Arab Spring – Lara Logan).  Once the Arab springers were free of oppressive rule they celebrated by killing hundreds of Coptic Christians.  Any guess at which “religion of peace” wielded the murder weapon?  The “secular” Muslim Brotherhood won power in the free elections and things have gotten much better unless you consider their desire for war with Israel or perhaps their taunts toward testing Obama’s mettle…

“The latest sign of a crackdown in Cairo is the holding back of seven U.S. citizens, including the son of a U.S. cabinet member. Elise Jordan talks to trapped American Sam LaHood. “

 Add to that the “protests” or as most of us would call them…riots in the rest of the Arab world their brutality even made me feel sorry for Mohmar Quadaffi.  Jamming a razor knife up his rear is nothing to celebrate let alone a movement to dedicate a magazine cover.

Consider next – their Athens Protesters:  Greece or as I frighteningly call it “America’s future,” provided a graphic illustration of what will possibly happen here unless drastic changes are made.  What happens to a country that spends way more than they earn (i.e. steal through taxes) and those who pay the bill are no longer around.  Like the babies they are the citizen (i.e. union) protests erupted in Athens as the “adults” initiated austerity measures (i.e. cutting all of the “free” stuff).  I see direct parallels to the union actions here in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio.

Next on our list are the wonderful, the glorious, the mighty unwashed – The Occupy Wall Street:  If you have ever ridden a toboggan down a steep slope you can understand my view of the Occupy folks.  Hurtling down a slippery slope without much guidance or direction and gaining reckless momentum…oh and is generally done on someone else’s property.  Look at the costs.  Look at the property damage.  Look at the evictions.  Look at the riots.  Look at the crime.  Look at the rapes.  Look at the success – okay there is not any success unless you consider prepie, urban camping a success.  Please give me one reason why this movement should be celebrated, but CNS posted a poem about the movement that is worth reading at this link.

What a weird world when the most true protest  - Moscow.  Thousands of Muscovites took to the streets to protest Vladamir Putin’s attempts at taking back power.  I don’t think he ever lost power, it just wasn’t official.  These folks were protesting against socialism/communism as they have found that they love their freedom.  These people even braved the cold and didn’t run home to Mommy and Daddy like the occupiers here.  True to form, Time put their cause on the bottom.

Conspicuously absent was the TEA Party protesters.  True that they had most of their protests prior to 2011, but with the swearing in of majorities of Republican legislators in 2011 they certainly had an impact on the world.  Time like most Democrats, mainstream media, progressives, and even Republicans would like to forget about the TEA Party.  Sorry, but they/we aren’t going away.

“The current Occupy Wall Street movement is the best illustration to date of what President Barack Obama’s America looks like. It is an America where the lawless, unaccomplished, ignorant and incompetent rule. It is an America where those who have sacrificed nothing pillage and destroy the lives of those who have sacrificed greatly.”

“It is an America where history is rewritten to honor dictators, murderers and thieves. It is an America where violence, racism, hatred, class warfare and murder are all promoted as acceptable means of overturning the American civil society.”

“It is an America where humans have been degraded to the level of animals: defecating in public, having sex in public, devoid of basic hygiene. It is an America where the basic tenets of a civil society, including faith, family, a free press and individual rights, have been rejected. It is an America where our founding documents have been shredded and, with them, every person’s guaranteed liberties.”

“It is an America where, ultimately, great suffering will come to the American people, but the rulers like Obama, Michelle Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, liberal college professors, union bosses and other loyal liberal/Communist Party members will live in opulent splendor.”

“It is the America that Obama and the Democratic Party have created with the willing assistance of the American media, Hollywood, unions, universities, the Communist Party of America, the Black Panthers and numerous anti-American foreign entities.”

“Barack Obama has brought more destruction upon this country in four years than any other event in the history of our nation, but it is just the beginning of what he and his comrades are capable of.”

“The Occupy Wall Street movement is just another step in their plan for the annihilation of America.”

“Socialism, in general, has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it.”

- – Thomas Sowell – -

First the headline (with a link to the original story)…

GOP moves toward slashing, nixing states’ income tax

…Now the story

OKLAHOMA CITY — A year after Republicans swept into office across the country, many have trained their sights on what has long been a fiscal conservative’s dream: the steep reduction or elimination of state income taxes. [So far so good]

The idea has circulated among academics and think-tank researchers for years [The illusion that this is some academic exercise, a wet dream of conservatives, a no so realistic or reasonable idea.]. But it’s moving quietly into mainstream political discourse, despite the fact that such changes would almost certainly mean a rewiring of tax systems at a time when most states are struggling in the aftermath of the recession. [Here is the Democrat and hence the mainstream media stance that it is unrealistic to make changes in tax codes when states are struggling.]

“I think there’s going to be more action that way,” especially as Republican governors release their budget plans, said Kim Rueben, an expert on state taxation at the Brookings Urban Tax Policy Center. [BTW the Brookings folks are a liberal think tank – you’ll notice later that the American Enterprise Institute is labeled a “Washington-based conservative think tank – no bias here]

Last year, GOP lawmakers in many states quickly went to work on a conservative agenda: restricting abortion, cracking down on illegal immigration, expanding gun rights and taking aim at public-employee unions. [Much as Democrats in power look to increase abortions, promoting illegal immigration, restricting our 2nd Amendment gun rights, and pumping more money and power into public-employee unions. Most Americans are pro-life, anti-gun control, anti-ILLEGAL immigration, and concerned about our tax dollars being laundered through public sector unions and given to Democrats for their campaigns. Perhaps rather than call them a “conservative agenda” it would be more appropriate to call them and American agenda.]

Emboldened by that success, the party has started income tax efforts in Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Carolina. But it’s not clear how those states would make up for the lost revenue, and Rueben said she’s not aware of any state in modern history that has eliminated an income tax. [lest we forget these efforts were actually started by the Americans that voted these folks into office and tossed the others out. That is an important factor to consider. These are the types of efforts that the taxpayers demand and expect. Many progressives fear the loss of income tax since most citizens are so used to withholding that they really never think about how much is being taken from them.]

Nine states get by without an income tax, mostly by tapping other sources of revenue. Nevada and Florida rely on sales taxes that target the tourism industry. Alaska has taxes on natural resources, and Texas imposes substantial property taxes. The other five states are: New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wyoming. [Nine states is a good start. I happen to work for a state agency and rather than my salary be paid by general funds, my salary could be easily paid by those folks who are required to use our services. Those who require my services should bear the cost rather than everybody. It would be fairly simple as long as fees are adjusted frequently based on the market and demand.]

But in the rest of the country, income taxes pay for bedrock government services, including roads, bridges, schools and prison systems. [This is some more bias. They did not include major social programs like welfare and other expensive entitlement programs. They also failed to mention that a great deal of the money for roads and bridges come from another tax – your gasoline tax.]

In Oklahoma, Republican Gov. Mary Fallin says gradually cutting the top income-tax rate of 5.25 percent will make the state more attractive to businesses, help spur economic growth and ensure Oklahoma is competitive against neighboring states such as Texas. Although the personal income tax does not apply to corporate earnings, supporters say company executives and employees will prefer to live in a state that doesn’t tax personal income. [As companies find it easier and better to relocate the competition will be fierce between states. Companies care about their employees and attracting good ones to states without income taxes is a selling point.]

In Ohio, Gov. John Kasich’s 2010 campaign included a pledge to phase out the state’s personal income tax, though without a timetable for doing so. Thus far, the state’s fiscal situation has stymied the governor’s efforts to achieve his goal, other than implementing a previously scheduled income tax cut. [No the Democrats have stymied Kasich’s efforts.]

Without creating an alternative funding system, “it’s clearly irresponsible to propose taking action against the income tax,” said Alan Viard, an economist with the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington-based conservative think tank. [I wonder what the whole quote was since the AP writer had to cut it so creatively.]

Brief 6:  Shortly after the new year began in 2012 President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act.  Tucked into the bill is a provision that many believe greatly expands the ability of the federal government take you into custody and hold you indefinitely;

“The National Defense Authorization Act greatly expands the power and scope of the federal government to fight the War on Terror, including codifying into law the indefinite detention of terrorism suspects without trial. Under the new law the US military has the power to carry out domestic anti-terrorism operations on US soil…Worse, the NDAA authorizes the military to detain even US citizens under the broad new anti-terrorism provisions provided in the bill, once again without trial.”

Obama’s comments about the bill does little to reassure,

“The fact that I support this bill as a whole does not mean I agree with everything in it. I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation and prosecution of suspected terrorists.”

We finally have a bipartisan effort by the Democrats and Republicans and the only losers are the American people.  I find myself in the very very weird position of agreeing with the ACLU, Al Frankin, and Diane Feinstein.

Brief 1:  One option that a president has to get some of his controversial nominees appointed is to wait for Congress to recess and then is able to appoint them to a limited term.  I remember celebrating W’s recess appointment of John Bolton as U.N. ambassador.  Obama stired controversy on recent recess appointments because Congress was not actually in recess.  The Supreme Court and settled law had determined that if Congress was not in session for three or more days then they were in recess.  Obama, with the backing of his Justice Department waited ONE DAY to claim a recess and appoint his henchmen.  Fortunately we have a strong Congress who cares about maintain the delicate balance of the three branches of government and will soon fix/find a way to reverse the appointments – - Oh wait we don’t have enough Congressmen with the guts to take on Obama.

Brief 2:  You should know that Obamacare is headed to the Supreme Court.  The major issue is whether the federal government can MAKE you purchase something.  This “individual mandate” would require you to purchase health insurance.  The way the Obamacare law is written there is no severability clause meaning that if one part is struck down it all goes down.  This was a poor way to write their signature piece of legislation, but I suspect they left it out on purpose as a way to push back at critics and force the issue; daring Congress or other to take them to court.  They got their wish and SCOTUS will hear the case this year and should have a decision before November’s election.  Perhaps sensing doom for Obamacare the White House through the Justice Department advised SCOTUS;

“Other provisions can operate independently and would still advance Congress’s core goals of expanding coverage, improving public health and controlling costs even if the minimum coverage provision were held unconstitutional,”

In other words Obama doesn’t care about the law, justice, or the American way.  He wants to push his will on to the American people…Constitution be damned.  By the way Obamacare does not “advance Congress’ core goals” they advance Democrat’s core goals.  One shouldn’t confuse Republican Senator’s timidity with their desire to rid us of Obamacare, at least that’s what they say during election time.

Brief 3:  When Obama cannot get Congress to give him everything that he wants he does the unconstitutional thing and does it by fiat or Executive Order.  Again since our Congress is a bunch of mamby pamby wishy washy Washington scaredy cats nothing is done about it except for a little bluster by Republicans.  Obama seems to be bolstered by a lack of consequences of prior executive orders and is doubling down;

“I’m here to say to all of you and to say to the people of Nevada and the people of Las Vegas, we can’t wait for an increasingly dysfunctional Congress to do its job. Where they won’t act, I will. I’ve told my administration to keep looking every single day for actions we can take without Congress, steps that can save consumers money, make government more efficient and responsive, and help heal the economy. And we’re going to be announcing these executive actions on a regular basis.”

Actually who can blame him when Congressional Democrats won’t say no to him and Congressional Republicans are hand-cuffed by timidity or ineptitude.  One way for Congress to reign in Obama is to cut his purse strings, but they just allowed another increase in the debt limit and haven’t been able to pass a budget in over 1000 days.  Our ship is sinking and these rats aren’t deserting the ship they are poking holes in it to allow the water to get out.

So far there have been 109 ObamaLaws (executive orders) and the only website that I have found that seems to be keeping an accurate tally is:  1,461 Days (that’s the length of Obama’s term in office – hopefully no more).  The site is a little slow, but if you want to see the list…

Brief 4:  President Obama approved the assassination of a United States citizen.  The good news is that it was terrorist Anwar al-Alwaki.  The action has spurred discussions about sentancing a citizen to death with out a trial or tribunal.  Essentially Obama sentenced a man to death without a trial.  That’s scary shit!  But wait…Reuters reported that the U.S. Government has a secret panel that;

“American militants like Anwar al-Awlaki are placed on a kill or capture list by a secretive panel of senior government officials, which then informs the president of its decisions, according to officials. There is no public record of the operations or decisions of the panel, which is a subset of the White House’s National Security Council, several current and former officials said. Neither is there any law establishing its existence or setting out the rules by which it is supposed to operate…The role of the president in ordering or ratifying a decision to target a citizen is fuzzy. White House spokesman Tommy Vietor declined to discuss anything about the process.”

Brief 5:   Scary Barry being the “Christian” that he is doesn’t seem to care about health care providers First Amendment rights.  For instance if you are a Catholic employer you will be forced to provide sterilization, birth control, and abortions as part of your coverage.  In an open letter one Catholic bishop wrote:

“The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.  By this ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. Unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to violate our consciences or drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.”

SCARY STUFF

Grammy Controversy: Rev. Jesse Jackson Enters Fray Over Cut Categories

Since Jackson has absolutely nothing to do with the music industry (or any industry or anything for that matter) I can only surmise that it has been too long since he got any press and decided this may work.  Jackson DEMANDED a meeting with CEO Neil Portnow to discuss his demands or threatened boycott or to “occupy” the grammys.  Portnow acquiesced to Jackson’s blackmail as have so many others in the past. 

Ordinarily I would be rather irritated about some executive cow-towing to Rev. Jackson, but since this is the entertainment industry I am enjoying this.  I do so love to see the left eat their own!  None of the articles that I read disclosed what Jesse wants from the Recording Industry, so it could range from getting a beer distributorship for his sons, to better seats at the awards show, to an invitation to meet Shakira, or perhaps he is trying to ensure that Taylor Swift doesn’t beat out Beyonce again.

There has been no word on the demands of Rev. Al Sharpton.  Perhaps he is waiting to see how low they bow to Jackson.

“In 1964, James Bond’s creator sealed a package containing a manuscript he thought no one would read until fifty years after his death.”

That’s the subtext of the storyline of the novel set in 2005.  The heroine, the granddaughter of a man close to an inner circle of the British government, finds herself in possession of an Ian Flemming’s manuscript that many people are “dying” to get their hands on.  The premise loosely tries to thread together several of the British monarchy’s skeletons including the death of Princess Diana and the abdication of the throne by the Duke of Windsor.  Author Mitch Silver provides some interesting theories in this novel, In Secret Service and differentiates between fact, fiction, and supposition in the Athor’s Note.

This was an Okay novel and I found myself becoming more interested in what parts were true.  It was almost as if the book did not need the “thriller” parts set in the current day and most certainly did not need to open with the death of Princess Diana.  That part seemed to be stuck in for shock and in poor taste.

The "Justice Brothers" - Attorney General Eric Holder and Assistant Attorney General in the criminal division of the Justice Department Lanny Breuer.

If you listened to Obama’s State Of The Union Campaign Speech yesterday (I can’t listen to him anymore lest my head explodes) you’d think his administration is all about doing for the “main street” person, protecting the little guy, championing David versus Goliath.  Unfortunately his words ring hollow when Obama’s actions tell a different tale.  Imagine if, say the Obama Justice Department, chose to use “prosecutorial discretion” when going after law breakers.  You expect that to some extent as law enforcement should spend their time on the most serious crimes and Obama has promised to go after big banks who screwed customers using illegal practices,

“The evidence, including records from federal and state courts and local clerks’ offices around the country, shows widespread forgery, perjury, obstruction of justice, and illegal foreclosures on the homes of thousands of active-duty military personnel.”

That’s front page news!  Right!  You probably haven’t read about the prosecution of fraud because there really hasn’t been any by Eric Holder’s Justice Department.  The big banks and lenders like Bank of America, Citigroup, JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, Fannie, and Freddie.  Prosecution of these players for illegal practices would send a strong message to all lenders to straighten up and fly right.  No brainer?  So why hasn’t Holder cracking that whip?

“U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Lanny Breuer, head of the Justice Department’s criminal division [watch this to get a sense of Breuer], were partners for years at a Washington law firm that represented a Who’s Who of big banks and other companies at the center of alleged foreclosure fraud, a Reuters inquiry shows.  The firm, Covington & Burling, is one of Washington’s biggest white shoe law firms…Reuters reported in December that under Holder and Breuer, the Justice Department hasn’t brought any criminal cases against big banks or other companies involved in mortgage servicing, even though copious evidence has surfaced of apparent criminal violations in foreclosure cases.”

 Please explain why actions by two of highest ranking people in the Obama Justice Department failing to prosecute thier friends is not FRONT PAGE NEWS!  Are “journalists” such Kool Aid drinkers that they cannot do some investigating?  If Watergate was perpetrated by a Democrat in 2010 would even a Deep Throat be able to get the story published?