The Debt Crisis

With August 2nd rapidly approaching, I wanted to share my thoughts on the looming government "default" if Congress doesn't raise the debt ceiling.

First off, what is the "debt ceiling"?  It is what dictates how much the U.S. government can borrow, or how much debt they can carry. That being said, let me state clearly that the only way that the government will default on it's debts is if the President chooses to do so.  For President Obama to come out and say that he could not guarantee that Social Security checks would go out after August 2 is complete bull.  He can use the revenue the government gets every month to pay whichever bills he sees fit.  The U.S. government brings in enough money every month to pay the interest on our debt, pay Social Security, pay our military, and a few other obligations.  Will we be able to pay all of our bills?  No.  But Obama is the one who makes the call of what is and is not to be paid.  The responsibility and any blame for what is not paid is solely his.  Think about it this way, if you bring in $1,000 a month and you have bills totaling $2,000, you aren't going to be able to pay certain things.  So what do you pay?  It's up to you and your priorities to make that decision.  Will everyone be happy?  Of course not, but you have to do what is best for you and your family.

What really bothers me about this "increasing the debt ceiling" thing is the thought that the government can choose to increase how much money they can borrow.  That's like calling the bank when you've maxed out your credit card and saying, "Hi. I'm going to go ahead and raise my credit limit by $2,000 because there's some stuff I really want to buy.  Ok, thanks."  Simplistic?  Perhaps, but the idea is the same.

Now, whether you are for or against increasing the debt limit is irrelevant and here's where this discussion gets very interesting.  During the George W. Bush administration, President Bush wanted to increase the debt limit to expand the war in the Middle East, among other "projects".  The Congress, controlled by Democrats at the time, was opposed to this.  The most vocal critics?, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who said any government projects should be "fully funded." In other words, can't spend money you don't have.  Sound familiar?  It should.  The Republicans are saying it now.  The other vocal critic of raising the debt ceiling back then?  A certain junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Hussein Obama.  That's right, they were AGAINST it before they were FOR it.  So what changed?  Brace yourself, cuz here it is.....there is a Democrat in the White House where before there was a Republican.  That is the only reason that the parties have pulled a complete 180 on their view of the debt ceiling.  Really, what else has changed?  Ok, Obama has spent trillions of dollars we don't have on stimulus and bailout programs that didn't work and a healthcare plan that was passed after several backroom deals and false promises both to politicians and the American people.  But it's not all Obama's fault. And no it's not all George W. Bush's fault either.  Debt spending has been going on for decades but now its gotten to a point of critical mass.

So what is to be done? Cut spending?  Increase revenue (ie taxes)?  A combination of both?  I contend that the first option is the best one for the health and financial stability of this nation.  Raising taxes will only result in the wealthiest people, who are already the Democrats' primary targets, finding ways to reroute their money so it looks like they make less than they do. Face it, they don't have all those accountants for nothing.  So when taxing the rich doesn't get them the money they want, where will they go to get?  To you and me, that's where.  I don't know about you, but times are tight enough for me and my family as it is without having to give more to the government.  Raising taxes will only worsen this country's economic situation.  Look at Europe, they're starting to learn this lesson the hard way.

I guess the bottom line of this entry is this.  I don't trust anyone who considers themselves a "career politician."  When you've been in office for so long, you forget who put you there and why.  You are only concerned with one thing, getting reelected.  You will do whatever you have to do to keep your position.  Your morals and convictions go right out the window.  I am a very firm believer in term limits for all levels of government as a deterrent for this kind of corruption.  But that's a discussion for another time.

If you like what I have to say, please tell your friends about this blog.  It is the best way I can think of to reach  as many people as I can so together we can save this great nation.  Thanks for reading and God Bless the Republic.

Is justice being served?

Hello again.

With all of the controversy and debate surrounding the Casey Anthony verdict, one might wonder what is wrong with our court system.  Well, I would venture to say that there is NOTHING wrong with the system.

Don't misunderstand, under no circumstances am I saying Casey is innocent of killing her daughter.  As a father it is impossible for me to fathom even harming my children, let alone killing them.  But there were many things about this case that didn't pass the "sniff test."

First off, Casey doesn't report Caylee missing for 31 days.  Red flag.  Her car smells like there was a decaying body in it.  Strike 2.  She lied to police, hampering the investigation.  And in the 31 days before Caylee is reported missing, Casey is seen out partying.  Open and shut case, right?  Not so fast.  I believe that Casey will never win the "Mother of the Year" award, but that doesn't make her a killer.  There are a lot of unanswered questions and "Hmmmm" moments involved with this case.

Most bizarre in my mind is how her parents contended all along that Casey was guilty.  What kind of parent doesn't at least give their own child the benefit of the doubt?  At least initially.  And let's not forget that both of her parents were found to be lying on the stand.  Why?  Why didn't they report Caylee missing?  And when their own daughter was acquitted of murder, they sit stoic and pale-faced, and then leave the courtroom!?  WTF?  Too many questions that unfortunately may never be answered.

So with all this damning evidence pointing right at Casey, how did she walk?  The same reason O.J. Simpson walked in his murder trial.  Poor investigating and poorer prosecution by the District Attorney.

The downside (or maybe the upside) to our judicial system is that the prosecution is saddled with the "burden of proof."  This definitely makes the D.A.'s job much harder than the defense's.  But the plus side here is that it helps to ensure that the actual criminal is the one on trial.  Our system can make mistakes, yes, but I believe that it is still preferable to any other system of justice on this Earth.

Is Casey guilty of murdering her child?  Only she and God know the answer.  And while she may have escaped human justice, divine justice is inescapable.  And karma can be a real bitch, too.  Just ask O.J.

If you agree, disagree, or have your own opinion, leave me a comment.  I love to hear different points of view.  Until next time, God bless the Republic.

David

Spread the Wealth?

As many of you may remember, there was a now famous interaction during the 2008 Presidential campaign between then Senator Obama and "Joe the Plumber."  During this exchange, Obama stated, " I believe when you spread the wealth around, it makes it better for everybody."  So now we'll look at that and I'll tell you how it in fact makes it WORSE for everyone.

Now I'm not going to spout off a bunch of Republican talking points at you, that's all been done.  Let's look at this from a common sense point of view.  Let's say, for example, we have 5 people who each earn $12,000 a year. Not much, I know, but I'm trying to keep the math simple.  Next we have 1 person out of work.  Now the idea of "spreading the wealth" is rather "Robin Hood"-like.  Take from the rich, give to the poor to make everyone equal.  So we'll take $2,000 from each of the working people and give it to the unemployed person.  Now everyone has $10,000. Great, right?  Not so fast.  If you were one of the working people, what would you think if you found out that money was being taken from you and given to someone who did nothing to earn it?  Would you say, "Oh, that's good. Now they can live the life I do," or would it be something like, "Why do they get as much money as I have when they don't have a job and I do?  What am I busting my butt for?"

Let me be absolutely clear. This is not a greed thing. I have no problem helping the less fortunate. I don't think that the government should be doing it for me.  This nation is the most charitable nation in the world.  Americans part with their hard-earned money to help those in need more than any other country in the world through their own generosity, not through a government mandate.

But let's get back to the example.  I contend that most people will be asking the latter set of questions rather than the first.  I further believe that if they see someone getting "money for nothing," they will want to do the same thing.  So 1 of the working people quits their job. Now the other 4 working people will be forced to care for 2 non-working people.  So now all will have $8,000 a year.  Now the incentive for the working people to continue working is shrinking rapidly.  You see where this goes.  So I contend that "spreading the wealth" does NOT make it better for everyone as the President believes.  I feel that this is an express lane to Socialism and will result in the end of this great nation.

This is but one of many, many flawed and destructive philosophies that President Obama subscribes to.  PLEASE do not be complacent in allowing this to continue.  This path must be stopped and we CAN stop it. Please, please vote in the upcoming election.  If you aren't registered, please do so.  Make your voice heard, whether you agree with me or not.  Get educated, know who the candidates are and choose wisely.  Until next time, God bless the Republic.

David

July 4th, 2011

Happy Independence Day!

Yes I said Independence Day, not Happy 4th of July.  The 4th of July is just another day, like the 10th of October, but Independence Day means something.  It celebrates the day that the American people stood together against the tyranny and autocratic rule of King George and Great Britain. Our Founding Fathers believed in the morality and character of the people of this young collection of colonies and that they could govern themselves more effectively and justly than an overbearing, invasive government.  This defiance of the crown and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence required amazing courage and tremendous sacrifice. The brave men who signed that parchment knew it would trigger a strong reaction from England and that they would be branded traitors and that all of America must pay for this act of defiance.  Many lost their businesses and their fortunes but they knew that the benefits of independence and self-governance was worth the sacrifice.

Today we are facing a similar situation. We have a government that is growing larger and more invasive by the  moment. It is rapidly creating a "nanny state" based on entitlements and bloated government programs.  This has two glaring problems:

1. It promotes laziness among its citizens.
2. It requires enormous sums of money to fund it each and every year.

So, where does that money come from?  The "rich?"  The wealthiest 10% of Americans already pay approx. half of the nation's tax burden!  Half of all Americans pay NO TAXES AT ALL!!!  Why?  Simple.  The US tax code is a convoluted mess. There are so many loopholes and deductions in it that it would hold water as effectively as a colander.  There is a solution, possibly two.  We should get rid of the current graduated tax scale and implement either a flat tax of 15% across the board or the "fair tax" which is based on consumption, not income.  Either would be better that what we have in place.  The Democrats' "soak the rich" philosophy will only harm and could possibly destroy our economy.  As I'm sure you've seen, it's already doing it.  Don't they realize that the ones they so vilify are the ones who are responsible for growing this economy?

Don't get me wrong. I don't feel that anyone should have to suffer through poverty, but it is NOT the government's responsibility to ensure your quality of life!  You should determine your own fate.  Also, this country is the only country that I know of that penalizes you for being successful! Why? The graduated tax code.  If we use the fair tax or the flat tax, that problem goes away. You are rewarded for your hard work and you get to reap the benefits.

So, how do we stop this from happening? We use the best weapon we have at our disposal: knowledge.  Do your homework, read, read, and read some more.  Don't rely on cable news and the media to form your opinion for you.  Then take that knowledge and VOTE!!!  We had an election here that was decided by one vote!  That is proof that every vote does in fact count. Please don't be a spectator in your future and the future of this great country.  Have a say and make your opinion known, no matter what it is.  Above all, ask yourself this question:  Is this what our Founding Fathers wanted, and would they be proud of what we've become?  Don't let us become King George's England!  Until then, Happy Independence Day and God Bless the Republic.

David