So the other day my little girl (who just happens to be in the first grade and is discovering the wondrous world of the written word) and I were driving to the local Publix when she spotted a fairly large commercial land for sale sign. As we zipped by the sign she tried to read it and asked me what zoning meant. I told her that the property for sale was zoned commercial meaning that someone could buy it and build more stores. She was horrified at the thought. She told me that it would be wrong for someone to buy that land to build more stores because the squirrels and birds would have to find a new home. She said we had enough stores already. I thought to myself what tha?
I was the one that was actually horrified, just how was she forming such an opinion? When I quizzed her a bit, she told me that no one was telling her those things, that was just what she thought. Of course I was not satisfied. Finally she told me about some pictures a teacher at her school showed her class. Pictures that showed what little squirrel's and birds homes looked like before stores were built on land they called home; poor things. My six year old daughter loves her teacher and her school. How am I supposed to tell her that whoever told her such nonsense is full of bull? Besides, what business does any teacher responsible for 1st graders have in promoting their own values?
What this teacher failed to discuss was the fact many new developments have extraordinarily positive impact on their communities. The Publix store in question probably generates close to a million dollars a week in sales and more than likely employees a minimum of 250 people while the shopping center in total probably generates close to 1.8 million in revenue employing 400 or more folks. Not to mention the sales taxes collected. What's more, the little squirrels and birds only have to fly about 500 yards and they are in the country side. If anyone has any really good ideas on how to communicate such positive things to a six year old. I'm all ears.
I'm going to do my best to make sure that my little girl grows up with a well rounded idea of the world. Teachers should make that easier, not more difficult.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
You Might Be A Liberal......................
You Might Be A Liberal If:
You believe that the issue with our deficit is not that federal spending is not too high, it's that everyone's taxes with the exception of your own are too low.
You believe that public unions should have the right to collectively bargain against their employers; the tax payers.
You believe that your Senator or Representative is better suited to make decisions about your neighbors life than they are.
You believe that from each according to his means to each according to their needs sounds pretty cool.
You believe that the United States should grant citizenship to twelve or fifteen million illegal aliens.
You believe that people who feel the Department Of Education should be dissolved are extremists.
You believe that Barack Obama understands how an economy works. An economy base on capitalism that is.
You believe that a woman has the right to end the life of her baby as long as it is in her womb.
You believe that John McCain is a conservative.
You believe that Lindsay Graham would be one Republican you could support for President.
You believe that we (The Citizens of The United States of America) were at fault on 9/11.
You believe that the Tea Party is a flash in the pan.
You believe Bill Maher is funny.
You believe that the United States place in world affairs is just to be part of a collective.
You Believe that it's OK to be in debt up to our eyeballs to the Chinese.
You believe Obama is a good President and you would vote for him again.
You belive Obama is a poor President and you would vote for him again.
You believe that a good national energy policy is doing away with oil and employing wind mills (except on your property, or anywhere that you may have to see them).
You believe that it's ok for the government to manage your thermostat.
You believe that Obama Care is a good thing.
You believe that everyone is equal in their contribution to our economy.
You believe that the rich don't pay their fair share of taxes and should be forced to pay more.
You believe that Obama will be re-elected.
You believe that the issue with our deficit is not that federal spending is not too high, it's that everyone's taxes with the exception of your own are too low.
You believe that public unions should have the right to collectively bargain against their employers; the tax payers.
You believe that your Senator or Representative is better suited to make decisions about your neighbors life than they are.
You believe that from each according to his means to each according to their needs sounds pretty cool.
You believe that the United States should grant citizenship to twelve or fifteen million illegal aliens.
You believe that people who feel the Department Of Education should be dissolved are extremists.
You believe that Barack Obama understands how an economy works. An economy base on capitalism that is.
You believe that a woman has the right to end the life of her baby as long as it is in her womb.
You believe that John McCain is a conservative.
You believe that Lindsay Graham would be one Republican you could support for President.
You believe that we (The Citizens of The United States of America) were at fault on 9/11.
You believe that the Tea Party is a flash in the pan.
You believe Bill Maher is funny.
You believe that the United States place in world affairs is just to be part of a collective.
You Believe that it's OK to be in debt up to our eyeballs to the Chinese.
You believe Obama is a good President and you would vote for him again.
You belive Obama is a poor President and you would vote for him again.
You believe that a good national energy policy is doing away with oil and employing wind mills (except on your property, or anywhere that you may have to see them).
You believe that it's ok for the government to manage your thermostat.
You believe that Obama Care is a good thing.
You believe that everyone is equal in their contribution to our economy.
You believe that the rich don't pay their fair share of taxes and should be forced to pay more.
You believe that Obama will be re-elected.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Just One More Voice
Over the Christmas holiday I had the opportunity to visit with my brother for a while and as usual our conversation turned to politics. Like me, my brother is wary of where our country is, where it is headed, and what that direction portends not only for his future, but that of his children. However; unlike me, my brother feels that his voice will not make a difference.
Well Brother, just over a year and a half ago a single voice was heard telling Americans that they should unite to provide opposition to our out of control government. In that instant the Tea Party Movement was born and with it a fire rekindled under a single belief that made our country great; a belief at the very center of this countries fight for Independence; FREEDOM. Freedom from an overbearing government that believes its citizenry is intended to serve the government rather than government serving its citizens.
This single voice that is now the Tea Party is actually a collection of hundreds of thousands of individual independent voices speaking as one. Voices that have our Constitution as a foundation, voices that have translated into action, voices that have indeed made a difference.
Just like the "Shot Heard Round The World" in Lexington MA. so many years ago. The election of November 2, 2010, is only the beginning. We must each remember the words of John Paul Jones when he said: "I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight". His words should be our battle cry because the fight we face begins and ends with the voice of each individual American working together with others. USE IT.
Well Brother, just over a year and a half ago a single voice was heard telling Americans that they should unite to provide opposition to our out of control government. In that instant the Tea Party Movement was born and with it a fire rekindled under a single belief that made our country great; a belief at the very center of this countries fight for Independence; FREEDOM. Freedom from an overbearing government that believes its citizenry is intended to serve the government rather than government serving its citizens.
This single voice that is now the Tea Party is actually a collection of hundreds of thousands of individual independent voices speaking as one. Voices that have our Constitution as a foundation, voices that have translated into action, voices that have indeed made a difference.
Just like the "Shot Heard Round The World" in Lexington MA. so many years ago. The election of November 2, 2010, is only the beginning. We must each remember the words of John Paul Jones when he said: "I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight". His words should be our battle cry because the fight we face begins and ends with the voice of each individual American working together with others. USE IT.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
We Are Not Stupid! Extending Current Tax Rates Is Not A Stimulis!
From my vantage point, anyone that thinks making a decision not to raise taxes amounts to an economic stimulus is either a fool or drunk on Obama Kool-aid.
Look at the extension of the current tax rates in the following context. Lets say that the company you work for is struggling to stay afloat and everyone working there knows it. As a matter of fact there are rumors floating around that at the end of the year the company is either going to have to lay folks off, or cut everyone's base pay.
Now as a smart person you brace yourself and begin to cut back on spending as you don't really know what your future is regarding your income. Finally, at the end of the year the company announces they are not going to lay anyone off, nor cut anyone's pay. They do announce however; that there will be no raises for the next year because they believe that times will continue to be difficult. In other words your pay is staying exactly the same.
Now after hearing this news you may be relieved, you may be happy, but are going to treat the news like a raise and start spending money wildly? Do you really have any more money to spend?
The answer is no, and the obvious result of keeping the current tax rates is exactly the same. The act to maintain the current tax rates averts disaster, it does not create an economic stimulus.
At some point the income tax producing citizens of this country must turn this table around and become the leaders of the company and congress must be held in check as employees of the people, WHICH THEY ARE. Meaning that the people of this country must keep government spending in check.
Look at the extension of the current tax rates in the following context. Lets say that the company you work for is struggling to stay afloat and everyone working there knows it. As a matter of fact there are rumors floating around that at the end of the year the company is either going to have to lay folks off, or cut everyone's base pay.
Now as a smart person you brace yourself and begin to cut back on spending as you don't really know what your future is regarding your income. Finally, at the end of the year the company announces they are not going to lay anyone off, nor cut anyone's pay. They do announce however; that there will be no raises for the next year because they believe that times will continue to be difficult. In other words your pay is staying exactly the same.
Now after hearing this news you may be relieved, you may be happy, but are going to treat the news like a raise and start spending money wildly? Do you really have any more money to spend?
The answer is no, and the obvious result of keeping the current tax rates is exactly the same. The act to maintain the current tax rates averts disaster, it does not create an economic stimulus.
At some point the income tax producing citizens of this country must turn this table around and become the leaders of the company and congress must be held in check as employees of the people, WHICH THEY ARE. Meaning that the people of this country must keep government spending in check.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Current Debate On Bush "Tax Cuts" Perfect Example Of Why We Need The Fair Tax
First things first, and that is that all the hoopla in DC and in the press around the so called "Bush Tax Cuts" is a bunch of baloney. What Democrats are trying to do is raise taxes! Period! Tax cuts that were passed during President Bush's administration established new tax rates; Democrats would like to raise those established rates to the Clinton's administration higher levels.
The reason this debate serves as the perfect example of why we need the Fair Tax is that it illustrates with the utmost clarity how Politicians use the tax code to maintain their power over you and I. Just look at what they are doing. THEY are debating on how much income the average American can keep, therefore; tax paying Americans have to count on the benevolence of their elected officials to determine what take home pay should be! This is an absurd position for the American People to find themselves in and one that passage of the Fair Tax would eliminate.
The Fair Tax would end these type of discussions in DC, because the Fair Tax would abolish politicians ability to manage your income through the income tax code because there would be no tax code to manipulate.
Name one politician anywhere that should have the power to tell any American how much they should bring home from their pay check, how much a family should fork over in inheritance taxes, or for that matter has any business at all knowing what anyone's income is........period.
America needs the Fair Tax and we need it now!
The reason this debate serves as the perfect example of why we need the Fair Tax is that it illustrates with the utmost clarity how Politicians use the tax code to maintain their power over you and I. Just look at what they are doing. THEY are debating on how much income the average American can keep, therefore; tax paying Americans have to count on the benevolence of their elected officials to determine what take home pay should be! This is an absurd position for the American People to find themselves in and one that passage of the Fair Tax would eliminate.
The Fair Tax would end these type of discussions in DC, because the Fair Tax would abolish politicians ability to manage your income through the income tax code because there would be no tax code to manipulate.
Name one politician anywhere that should have the power to tell any American how much they should bring home from their pay check, how much a family should fork over in inheritance taxes, or for that matter has any business at all knowing what anyone's income is........period.
America needs the Fair Tax and we need it now!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Why The Fair Tax Could Be Called The "Tea Partiers Tax"
When you get right down to it, one could argue that the fuel that feeds the passion driving the Tea Party Movement comes directly from BIG GOVERNMENT. Big Government that spends too much, taxes too much, intrudes too much into private affairs, does not listen to the governed, and is directed by politicians that wield too much power over the governed.
So what does the Fair Tax have to do with the Tea Party's drive to cut bloated, over stimulated, too far reaching government down to size? EVERYTHING. The Fair Tax is much more than simple tax reform, the Fair Tax provides reform that cuts to the heart of what Tea Party activists strive to accomplish, and that is cutting the strings that tie one's income to the greedy hands of politicians. Once you get government out of your pocket book, a huge step is taken to get them out of your everyday life.
The passage of the 16th Amendment created those strings by allowing Congress to institute the income tax and initiate all the appropriate measures for the government to confiscate income from individuals; can you say IRS? The 16th Amendment imparted great power to politicians with respect to being able to tax one individual less at the expense of another being taxed more. It hatched a whole new industry of lobbyists, hired guns if you will directed to entice politicians to bend tax rules in their clients favor. The tax code is a politicians ace in the hole. An ace not much different that Obama Care really. The favors have already started for McDonald's and twenty two other lucky companies and unions that get a waiver from parts of Obama Care; but I digress.
The Fair Tax cuts the heart out of Congress's ability to manipulate the tax code by doing away with the tax code for good. With no tax code to manipulate, the federal government's view into any tax paying American's life is obliterated. I believe that one could argue that where one can find a politician willing to support the Fair Tax, one can find a politician willing to surrender power, work for the people, and cut government down to size. One the other hand where one finds a politician unwilling to support the Fair Tax, one can find a politician seeking to keep their power over you, and your money.
So there you have it. the Fair Tax is the Tea Party Movement.
So what does the Fair Tax have to do with the Tea Party's drive to cut bloated, over stimulated, too far reaching government down to size? EVERYTHING. The Fair Tax is much more than simple tax reform, the Fair Tax provides reform that cuts to the heart of what Tea Party activists strive to accomplish, and that is cutting the strings that tie one's income to the greedy hands of politicians. Once you get government out of your pocket book, a huge step is taken to get them out of your everyday life.
The passage of the 16th Amendment created those strings by allowing Congress to institute the income tax and initiate all the appropriate measures for the government to confiscate income from individuals; can you say IRS? The 16th Amendment imparted great power to politicians with respect to being able to tax one individual less at the expense of another being taxed more. It hatched a whole new industry of lobbyists, hired guns if you will directed to entice politicians to bend tax rules in their clients favor. The tax code is a politicians ace in the hole. An ace not much different that Obama Care really. The favors have already started for McDonald's and twenty two other lucky companies and unions that get a waiver from parts of Obama Care; but I digress.
The Fair Tax cuts the heart out of Congress's ability to manipulate the tax code by doing away with the tax code for good. With no tax code to manipulate, the federal government's view into any tax paying American's life is obliterated. I believe that one could argue that where one can find a politician willing to support the Fair Tax, one can find a politician willing to surrender power, work for the people, and cut government down to size. One the other hand where one finds a politician unwilling to support the Fair Tax, one can find a politician seeking to keep their power over you, and your money.
So there you have it. the Fair Tax is the Tea Party Movement.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
We Reserve The Right To Say NO!
Among the many rights we enjoy in this great country of ours should be the right to say NO!
NO to a Mosque for Muslim worship built in the very space where 3,000 innocent Americans were brutally murdered by radical Islamic Terrorists.
NO to so called Social Justice.
NO to overreaching government.
NO to out of control government spending.
NO to government imposed debt on our children and grandchildren.
NO to suffocating taxation
NO to one man's definition of "Hope and Change".
NO to government bureaucrats meddling in a private individuals doctor patient relationship.
NO to the government dictating what temperature a private citizen should keep the thermostat in their own home.
NO to allowing eleven to twenty million illegal aliens rights to citizenship just because they are here illegally.
NO to government ownership of what should be public companies.
NO to government coercion of private lending institutions to lend money to those that do not have the means to pay back such loans.
NO to government bail outs of private industry.
NO to transforming this country into a Socialist Utopia.
NO to politicians that do not listen to the people.
NO to depriving our children the rights, freedoms, and opportunities that made this country great.
Sometimes you just have to say NO!
NO to a Mosque for Muslim worship built in the very space where 3,000 innocent Americans were brutally murdered by radical Islamic Terrorists.
NO to so called Social Justice.
NO to overreaching government.
NO to out of control government spending.
NO to government imposed debt on our children and grandchildren.
NO to suffocating taxation
NO to one man's definition of "Hope and Change".
NO to government bureaucrats meddling in a private individuals doctor patient relationship.
NO to the government dictating what temperature a private citizen should keep the thermostat in their own home.
NO to allowing eleven to twenty million illegal aliens rights to citizenship just because they are here illegally.
NO to government ownership of what should be public companies.
NO to government coercion of private lending institutions to lend money to those that do not have the means to pay back such loans.
NO to government bail outs of private industry.
NO to transforming this country into a Socialist Utopia.
NO to politicians that do not listen to the people.
NO to depriving our children the rights, freedoms, and opportunities that made this country great.
Sometimes you just have to say NO!
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