Congress takes aim at Big Oil tax break.

Let’s conclude that Big Oil tax break for new oil drilling is cut. What would the possible results be? First Big oil may increase prices and keep investing in new oil development. Second Big Oil may stop investing in new development and not need the tax incentive. The uninformed public will love the slap down of Big Oil and the politicians will garner more misguided support. Profits to Big Union retirement funds will go unchanged as Big Oil fears having to tell the teamsters they won’t get any profits. Big Government won’t see any increased revenue if Big Oil decides not to invest in new oil drilling. Big Government will see 2 billion a year in increased revenue if Big Oil increases prices. 2 Billion a year transferred from poor working dogs to the Federal Government gee those Big Oil guys make good tax collectors. 2 Billion now that won’t amount to a butterfly wing flap in a hurricane but the slap down of Big Oil is what counts and after all one must show we are trying to curb our 14 trillion debt and 100 trillion in unfunded welfare entitlements. Yep after the 2 billion dollar slap down of Big Oil we can run on that. And what if some in government choose to keep the Big Oil deduction on investment costs to aid in new development and the misguided envy card is not allowed. Well then we can run on “it is Big Oil and its cronies in government” that are keeping us from confronting our debt and destroying our children’s future. If one steps back and looks at our energy issues it could be concluded that new development of Oil reserves may be a good thing at this point in our history. I myself would put military forces (or a CCC setup for those currently being paid not to work) to work helping build new oil fields and pipelines, but that’s just me. Our problems are deep and systemic. Political gamesmanship mixed with rancor, envy and bigotry may have served the “Parties” in the past but today we have rather big fish to fry. The world is seeking another currency to base value on rather than the unstable dollar. Our bond rating is under stress. Our grand children will owe foreign banks trillions before they even begin to work or vote, this is our doing and our folly. Our leaders have us wallowing in petty politics of deflection and rancor that divides us more and more. Each camp fearful of the bounds set up by unreasonable public discourse. If a Nation ever needed divine intervention it would be ours. I fear the fear of change will win out, God help us all.

Collective Bargaining

Many times in history great ideas are formed to aid in the ascension of man in the quest for purity of life for all. At no time in history did Judeo/Christian religious values and Freedom of the individual combined. That combination occurred here in our still young nation. Europeans where at a loss on how such a unique system could continue or work at all with the diverse nature of men. Europe battled constantly with corrupt governments in bed with dishonest and exploitive businessmen. Most of Europe’s upper classes greased each other and government authorities at the expense of the proletariat. Europe was a nasty place to be a working dog. Immigrants didn’t come to the U.S. because they expected the same life. Tocqueville much to his surprise found in his 19 century study of American society, freedom worked because Americans were basically good. Americans not only were good at supporting freedom and individual responsibility but good because religion was taken seriously by some. By and large the American people trusted their political, business and religious leaders. I take Tocqueville views seriously as it is one of the few third party records of our Nation we have. Our experiment in limited government based on classical liberal notions of freedom was up working.

Americans relished the challenge of the ruff and tumble nature of freedom. We did not of coarse have a pure or utopian society only the system that promoted opportunity and defended private freedom, rights and property. Bigotry, racism and crony politics still rule and ruled much of our nation but all who could see saw the opportunity that was America. America during the Tocqueville visit wasn’t paved in gold for all but made Europe look like a cesspool of social slime. Our great business leaders and Bankers were looked up to by most. Americans were proud of their successful pioneers in Electric Power generation, Auto manufacturing, Oil production, Grain suppliers, steel manufacturing, and Mining. We as a nation became the freest richest nation providing the greatest wealth for the most people in the history of the world.

The worm began to turn. Many new socialist ideas and propaganda came to our nation from the cesspools of Europe. My Grandfather was a draft dodging Bolshevik from Russia. He not only believed all politicians and business/banking leaders were corrupt, he also knew all religious leaders were corrupt no exceptions, his beliefs did not temper after coming to our nation. He did not feel freedom was evil he was trapped by his past. He was black balled for “Red” organizing in Minnesota later Northern Michigan and Wisconsin Mining regions. Although married in a Lutheran Church in Sparta, Mn his atheistic beliefs led to divorce and his inability to hold a job didn’t help. My grandfather was not alone; many Europeans around the 1900s brought more than luggage they also carried rancid polluted dogma born out of suffocating corruption and victimization that was Europe. Did we have worker issues at this time, of course we did. European immigrants who were injured seriously on the job had no extended families to help. They had no workers comp. For some atheism didn’t allow church help at a time when religious groups provided most relief. Many committed suicide when they could no longer provide for their families. In general it is never a good idea to project modern sentiments back to past times as social norms and accepted ways do not translate in a straight forward way. Because many perceive they know best and do relate past social norms as evil or exploitive practices that does not make it so. Cities were not built on rivers because early evil pioneers wished to pollute rivers with human excrement and factory effluent, they settled there because they needed sewers and rivers were the accepted means. Jefferson did not wake up one day and decide to be an evil slave holder. Miners and seamstresses were looked at as professional tradesmen and as such were required to provide their own tools of their trade. I had to laugh when a recent TV program related miners having to buy their own candles and seamstresses having to buy their own needles to evil employer exploitation. In reality it was respect for their trade and understood practice by both parties. Many mechanics are still required to provide their own tools and proudly do. Bankers did not decide to not loan money to poor people because they were evil but because of fiduciary responsibilities. Ops I forgot we haven’t fully crack that evil fiduciary nut yet. At no time in our history has it been in any businesses interest for employees to be unhappy, unproductive or distracted by personal issues. Past social norms are denigrated by modern all knowing Monday morning Quarterbacks. These self aggrandized emissaries of BS are a large part of our blind eyed political quagmire.  Many are so full of it they protest when their stupidity is challenged. They have no allegiants to freedom, others personal rights or property rights. Quite the contrary they feel they have a right to others property and freedom where voting is just a tool to steal those rights. When that doesn’t work they deny voting rights (Collective Bargaining) to others. Their zealotry has spread to the theft of freedom from future generations with only token recognition of their dastardly deed; it is always someone else’s failings, never theirs. If we just “collectively” steal more money from others and “future others” all will be well. Well I have a little different view of things. We still as humans have our bigotry, hatred, envy and many other human failings. Selfishness (self interest or greed) rules the world, always has and always will. Our choice of political affiliation or system does not remove our human failings. There is no (us and them) only us.

Our labor enjoys many changes to the work place environment and kudos to those like my grandfather that struggled for needed change. Many small businessmen and women still work 14 or 16 hour days 7 days a week. Many still strive to own their own business. We haven’t turned off all opportunity but we are dangerously close. Probable the saddest thing our current system does is burden the working poor with heavy regressive taxation making it almost impossible for them to save and move up. Many have some understanding that corrupted “Robin Hood ideology” politics may have went too far but still many more are in denial. Our short lived freedom born from the crucible of a bloody war based on mutual respect and bolstered by religious freedom was the last best hope for opportunity for all. Our “collective” effort to tear down freedom is rather new to history but seems it works quite well. Since the 1960’s many long term national prejudices have been reduced. The job is still far from being done and it is very sad for me to ponder the lost opportunity to right many wrongs before our nation collapses. Our collective action has always been an American right. If work place safety is an issue we can and do vote for that change. If sanctioned monopoly labor is wanted we have and can vote for it. If fiduciary banking rules hinder loans to the poor we can and have voted to reduce them. If our system does not provide for enough largesse to meet our current perceived needs we can and have voted to steal from future generations. If we suffer inflation, stagflation, recession or depression we can and do vote for more government to create more control for more of the same. God knows our political leaders know best and are genetically superior to us lowly citizens. We must face the fact we are incapable of caring for our selves and need the governments to sustain us. The entire federal income tax collected from “every worker” in our nation barely covers the interest on our debt. For all the taxes us workers pay none will go to any services. Recent credit downgrading will increase interest payments to far greater amounts. One could say the only thing worse than individual greed is collective greed, but who am I to say. Here Piggie Piggie. I feel catering out of political greed to twisted European dogma and envy may have gone too far and is and was a mistake. Although we Americanized many Socialistic ideals (Entitle Welfare), over all we have failed and are failing our children. I take no pride in our “Collective Bargaining” of late.

Grooming your dog

A rather go getting couple decided to start a Dog grooming business. With little money to start with they managed to rent a store in a heavy traffic area. Their business plan called for an after tax profit margin of $50,000 per year on business income of $280,000. They set up their business as a Corporation to reduce personal litigation risk. Their experience in the dog grooming industry left them with a clear understanding to the craziness some dog owners can inject into a simple task and viewed incorporation as a necessity to protect their home. They felt 2 employees would suffice for hours of operation and work force needs. At peak times they felt 4 booths would do the trick. Although the $25,000 each would receive from the business seems small they felt the first year of establishing their business required modest reward. Both were quite proud of their employees and very happy with their work. One employee was a recent emigrant named Jaun and the other was a single mom with two small children in transition from welfare. They provided the young mom with training and she soon was a key asset to their business. The young man from Mexico after overcoming some language problems became a productive worker as well.

Surprised by higher than expected quarterly tax payments and mandate outlays for FICA, income, unemployment insurance, and workmen’s comp after 90 days of operation they were forced to raise their price for grooming from $22.50 to $30.00. Although they didn’t wish to push the higher end of market prices they felt they had little choice. To compensate somewhat they reduced their after tax profit margin to $40,000. Now they worried if their higher prices would stifle business revenue; only year end would tell the story.

Well good news for the couple, their adjusted business plan worked out and they saw an after tax profit of $42,000 the first year. They then met the reality of their personal taxes, mostly benevolent regressive state and local taxes, they were shocked at how little they had left in disposable income. Things were tight but the business was viable and both were prideful of what they had accomplished. By year end the business was still growing and things were looking up.

Their dreams were soon crushed. The State budget wasn’t balanced; local taxes were going up by more than 15%. Public employees and many other dependents on tax payer largess cried and protested that “any cuts would not be from them”. “Businesses they say must be made to pay”. State house tax connivers raw from fights with the tavern league and seeing an increase in welfare related costs from excessively increasing tobacco taxes did not want to see an increase in the usual sin taxes. Higher fuel prices made worse from FED inflationary policy ruled out higher fuel taxes. The couple informed their employees that the uncertainty of government action has forced them to hold off on the $1 pay raise they planed for them but when things stabilize they were sure they could raise their pay. Then some bright legislator got the idea that Dog Grooming was a luxury for the rich. A $10 excise tax was quickly slapped on to the evil dog grooming industry that caters to the filthy rich. The dogma and rancor sold the tax to the majority of citizens.

The couple’s business revenue fell off as many customers refused to pay the higher prices the business was required to collect for the government. The business soon folded. Juan scraped up money and moved to California to work the celery fields. Mattie the single Mom is back to being a ward of the state her children’s future in doubt. The couple is subsisting on early Social Security the husband qualified for as he reached 62, they lost their home last month. $200 million was raised from the tax by businesses that were able to glean it from filthy rich people still able to afford dog grooming. Most of the larger grooming establishments and chains survived but were forced to lay off staff. Unemployment has run out for unemployed staff. The unemployment checks, food stamps and new welfare costs went up by $350 million costing the state $150 million more than new tax took in.

Some would just like some to open their eyes and realize we all ride the business gravy train. Successful businesses feed us “all” no exceptions. When dogma turns dog grooming into groomed political blindness please step back and look. Business taxation policies of our governments stifles job creation, reduces competition, and increases consumer costs hurting the less fortunate the most. All business taxes are in reality regressive consumer taxes collected by business on behave of governments without compensation for those businesses. Yes there are evil businessmen as there are evil people in every group and strata of our nation. Again please do not label and attack an entire group to serve your political rancor and needs. Only a truly bigoted person labels an entire group. It is in all our interest that business in America is successful. Class warfare is a nasty business that requires many to cut off their nose to spite their face. We do not have to engage in class warfare even though power hungry leaders seem to force the (us and them) on us to divide us for political gain.

Self righteousness is a fault “all” us humans carry, we must overcome this bigotry based insanity gleaned from decades of  socialist propaganda and dogma. I wonder if Juan has gleaned the celery fields yet. I heard he joined the UFW out in California. He is busy trying to reform some of its groomed members. I really don’t know why he has a new or different understanding than them, the ungrateful SOB. His counseling and rhetoric are truly open and full of human understanding and acceptance. Because of his well rounded take and understanding (always looking at both sides) fellow union members began calling him “Honest Juan” but he told them he resented that name and never said why. The couple must have told him of their troubles and subverted his natural position in life. He will have to be purged from the union, naaa he might start a business and really become a complete turncoat to be vilified. (Based on a true story)

The Politics of Name Calling

Some may see a deflection or deception in a claimed name. Name calling can work too, if the name fits and is not just a slam. But I think we all can agree the less name calling the better. The level of nastiness indicates the amount of frustration, insecurity and division many feel. At this time in our history we are a Nation in decline. Many who see government as the answer cling desperately to its apron while others see freedom being destroyed to appease the dependent at the expense of freedom and opportunity for future generations. The denying of Representative Democracy in Wisconsin was probably the first act in a pending civil war between our two very diverse camps. Many do not realize that entitled dependency on government is now perpetuated by the destruction of freedom. We are at war with ourselves and choosing a side is not always straight forward or easy. Colorful metaphors can help relieve stress for some. For those who see more and more Government action and cry out for still more it may be the very long term results of Government control that is destroying our nation. Business formation and subsequent job creation is fighting a many front battle with Government tax policy, inflation policy, environmental regulation, long delaying judicial cases and mandates too numerous to list. The working poor struggle under a 50% regressive tax burden to live of life of stress and depravation with the promise of money and benefits at the end when their bodies and spirit are feeble from government tormenters. Money that won’t be there because the greedy of this generation do not wish to give up a dime. To live and die without ever having the opportunity to save your own hard earned money and create their own personal security because some do gooding power hungry politician feels half your money is his to buy votes with is beyond a shame. I say to the so called progressive, entitled dependent nanny state worshipers, socialist, communist, Government Party members, knee jerk liberals, hippy cloud jumper, freedom hating usurpers of our democracy, kiss off. I feel better. LOL

A progressive’s pot of gold, take # 3.

“Thick” is the name my mom called me when I had the wrong take on something. It still does haunt me. There is no such thing as corporate taxes, corporate subsidies, or corporate welfare; there are only consumer taxes and resulting increased or decreased prices. This regressive government “tax” practice hurts the working poor the most.  Government manipulation of business tax code is one the greatest tools to buy votes and pick and choose winners we unequal Americans face. If we raise taxes to say 50% on the evil Caterpillar Corporation they are forced to raise their prices to meet fiduciary and other responsibilities to their stock holders ( a stock holder like say the teamster pension fund). All is good until Cat sales drop off because their prices are no longer competitive with Komatsu which enjoys a lower tax rate. How do so many Americans not understand business taxes? Easy they equate them to their own taxes when in reality they are two completely different animals. This ignorance is easily taken advantage of by unscrupulous politicians with envy and bigotry used as assistants to drive home the manipulation. If you are dependent on tax payer money that does not give you an excuse to be mislead; you don’t get a pass on ignorance just because you don’t care about private economic activity other than eating its fruit.

Due to human nature and congressional manipulation of the tax code the effective tax rate on the very top evil rich corporations or evil individuals is about 19%. Our tax rates for the evil rich have been as high as 90% and now are at 35% while the effective rate has been fairly stable at 19%. Those pesky humans tend to change their behavior when they feel they are unfairly taxed. However the low end earners within the highest rate like small and medium business find higher taxes stifles job creation as many of these businesses have limited options and pay a higher effective rate. They also struggle with pricing due to far more competition. In order to transfer higher consumer payments to the government many businesses have to cut labor which is their largest expense to maintain needed profit margins (the owner of the business has to pay to send his or her kids to college, to think they don’t use government largess, da nerve).

There is a rather clear example of progressive politicians believing their own propaganda. It may help those who still struggle with their need to remain “thick”. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (a Rep. Patrick Kennedy soak the rich scheme).In 1990 there were no luxury excise taxes, all of them having been repealed. Patrick felt the rich who bought aircraft, jewelry and furs over certain prices and yachts costing more than $100,000 should be punished for their ability to buy high end consumer products. In 1990 it was projected that the 1991 revenue yield from new luxury taxes would be $31 million. It was $16.6 million. According to a study done for the Joint Economic Committee, the tax destroyed 330 jobs in jewelry manufacturing, 1,470 in the aircraft industry and 7,600 in the boating industry. The job losses cost the government a total of $24.2 million in unemployment benefits and lost income tax revenues. So the net effect of the taxes was a loss of $7.6 million in fiscal 1991. Needless to say congressmen Kennedy is no longer “thick” why should you be? It is one thing for politicians to use stupidity for their benefit it is quite another thing if politicians believe their own malicious class warfare propaganda. To make up for his transgression Patrick introduced a bill to give the evil rich a 20% tax break if they purchased a yacht. Man you got to love a reformed progressive. I wonder if he had to do a twelve step program.

Good news from a recent IMF report.

If you look solely at the gross domestic output of the U.S. and China using current exchange rates, you wouldn't see this coming. That's because China works hard to undervalue its currency.
The IMF analyzed something different: "Purchasing power parity." Or, the amount people earn and spend in their economies.
Using this yardstick, China's economy is set to zoom from $11.2 trillion this year to $19 trillion in 2016 surpassing the U.S. The U.S. economy will rise as well in that period, but only from $15.2 trillion to $18.8 trillion. The U.S. portion of the world economy drops to 17.7%, which is the lowest in modern times.

Good news for the cause as this recent IMF report also shows Free enterprise, Self reliance and Merit are on the run in the United States to the delight of many.

The IMF report comes a few days after Standard & Poor's sounded a warning shot over America's debt status. The U.S. federal debt has hit World War II levels, and Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlement liabilities not faced during the WW2 correction are five times the annual GDP.  Our five year plan looks for this to be at 6 to 7 times GDP by 2020 to meet the leader’s budgetary goals.

Chinese free enterprise moves of late are working, much to the regret of the faithful. A stiff campaign of propaganda slamming the successful here and abroad should quiet any that might transgress. Federal efforts to socialize the Oil Industry are on schedule and to plan. Our leader has taken the lead on deflecting FED inflationary policy and is searching far and wide for a scapegoat. Rumors of several Oil retailers making profits from their work and effort should make his task an easy one. Keep your chins up, we are winning.
Thanks K. P.

Are unemployment benefits now a Government dependency trap?

Unemployment benefits as we now know have become a political football. Just what it is and how it serves the working class is maybe a little lost. Unemployment is a tax payer funded program of temporary relief for laid off workers or workers who have lost their jobs permanently.  By definition employers help fund unemployment but as is the case with all costs of doing business these cost are passed on to the consumer and can be equated as another regressive government tax. It can be safely said we the people pay for the unemployment checks. Currently we are in debt and the new Government extended unemployment checks are on the backs of future generations. Unemployed workers under current law will receive money for 99 weeks about 2 years which will be extended soon. As most know unemployment was to have a 26 week limit.

 The Socialist country of Denmark once paid unemployment for 5 years but found most did not seek real work until the benefits ended so the socialists reduced the benefit to 4 years and last spring reduced it further to 2 years. Our Nation seems to be heading in the other direction.

There has been and still is some abuse of unemployment benefits in our country. Some seasonal and most construction workers use unemployment as an augmentation employment income, tax payer paid vacation if you will. They know and understand unemployment is part of their work year and unemployment benefits rightly or wrongly have become part of their life style. Many young two income families that have a parent laid off find they are better off with unemployment checks as the daycare and other costs are no longer a burden. A parent at home is a hard thing to give up. A side bar; is the high burden of regressive sales tax, regressive fees, regressive excise taxes, regressive property taxes, regressive consumption taxes, and regressive FICA taxes, forcing both parents to work outside the home?

Some unemployed suffer from depression and grief from their job loss they must seek help. If an area lacks jobs, relocating must be an option. There are also job training programs available. People tend to be healthier more emotionally stable and live longer if they are productive. Sloth is an all too human trap some can find themselves in. My experience has shown me unlike most parents your Government will enable sloth for political purposes. We probably need a debate in this country as to whether unemployment benefits should be a permanent welfare entitlement or a 6 month limited helping hand. There was a time in Mining communities when workers moved on to other areas when the Mine petered out and job opportunities ended (Ghost Towns). Now unemployment, SSI, and welfare keep working age people in place with little or no job prospects, this also holds somewhat true for welfare ghettos in large cities. This may not be a good thing.

Another Social Conundrum?

Some seem to be confused about business taxation. Deflection and deception by some politicians adds to the confusion. Business taxes are regressive government taxes on consumers. Business taxes as a cost of doing business are an expense no different than a utility bill, wages, plant or equipment. Any taxes, like utility bills, are passed on to the consumer and the poor are punished the most by this regressive government taxation practice. It is sold by saying “fat cat businesses” must pay their share and many (including some poor) buy into the propaganda.

When a business pays its employees, the heavy taxes of almost 50% each employee pays must be considered by the employer. Pay to ensure good employee moral. An example would be $12 an hour (governments take about $6 per hour) leaving an employee with $6 an hour. This is a hard thing for business to deal with as the regressive personal taxes paid by the working poor have made life unbearable for many workers. It is not in any businesses interests to have cash strapped employees with personal problems. All regressive taxes (sales, fees, property, consumer, excise, FICA, etc.) must be means tested. As business taxes are inherently regressive they must go. Do not fear progressives those humans who profit from business will still pay.

Some think a tax break for business is welfare. When a local government gives a $10,000 property tax break to entice business activity, it can be looked at as a $10,000 loss by public workers or others vested in the government. Some then attack the tax break as they can only see “their” largess being eroded. This combined with buying into “the evil business propaganda” makes the rancor understandable but bigoted. The reality is if a business takes advantage of the property tax break and the business employs 50 people the tax increase for local coffers would be about $100,000 whether the employees rent or own a home. The $100,000 coming from business income paid to workers, the business is still paying property taxes via employees. Some still can’t see the obvious positive outcome (more jobs and taxes) of business incentive let alone private worker incentive; I guess some have never needed to. Politicians know business taxes are regressive and stifle employment but to hold the faithful they still attack the engine of our American success and many buy into it. The true reason for Business taxes is to hide the real cost of government paid by the worker. The politicians who create such stealth taxes are not necessarily good people, but hey they are politicians who know how to buy votes.

Businesses are not people!!! They do not nor have they ever paid a dime in taxes!!! They are entities that simply employ people who do pay their personal taxes and they collect regressive taxes on behalf of the governments. If all business taxes were the same everywhere in our nation and throughout the world the amount of business taxation would be irrelevant. However their regressive nature would still hurt the poor the most. Business success depends on a fair and even playing field; we all have an interest in this. The rancor and bigotry against the group called “Business” is wrong, as wrong as it would be against any group. All groups have bad apples; we need to get off the bigotry stuff so we can think. I do concede bigotry and propaganda against business “works” in making political hay and getting votes, I just wish some could see past it.

Pity the Fool? Excuse me Mr. Ryan.

A brave Paul Ryan the soon to be pariah from the (progressive) State of Wisconsin has timidly stepped to the plate to strike back at the mountain of Federal Debt. Having heard of the token 4 trillion dollars over ten years cutbacks on Federal outlays, I find Ryan’s proposals way too little way too late. For his actions Ryan will be bloodied by the political hacks from every largess dependent group. All the same hacks that say sacrifices must be made “but” just not by them. If the “third graders” in elementary school were aware of the debt their parents are dumping on them they would write a new bill that would cut 3 or 4 times the amount proposed by Ryan. Then the third graders would tell their parents and grandparents “you have to pay back the allowances you have so greedily stolen from future generations”. Most third graders would also say because Government Party members can vote themselves a check, it doesn’t make it right and this practice must end.

Mr. Ryan will be accused of wanting to starve children, old folks, and middle class leaches. He will be accused of taking crutches from the disabled. He will get the full attack from bigots and class warfare hacks. For what, a token effort to reduce the volume of slop in the trough? He will only succeed at best in angering the entitled dependent slaves to socialist programs and those who profit from enabling the status quo. These same politically dependent slaves who will never do anything to save my grandchildren’s future. As President Obama’s war chest swells to over 1 Billion dollars bolstered by those seeking to buy power for maintaining the status quo, I say good luck with your fool moves Mr. Ryan. I feel we have become a nation were most citizens want a “Government Party” and they enjoy their entitled and dependent status paid for on the backs of their children. Many will say, “how dare you Mr. Ryan mess with this golden egg, stealing from powerless children has worked, is working and the kids protest not”.

I give Mr. Ryan kudos for volunteering to be the victim of the American Dependency Industry; however I will work to have him removed from office for his half hearted uncommitted attempt to save the children. For me committed leaders to save my grandkids future have yet to show up. Half measures will only serve to slow down the slitting of our nations throat and the theft of my grandkid’s future. I guess I would rather have it over quickly by doing nothing like many lefty hacks will propose. At least then the kids can pick up the pieces and start over. Mr. Ryan like many other progressives misjudges the American people seeking the deliverance of our nation from the stealing of children’s money to grease adults for votes through unsustainable socialism. Many wanted Mr. Ryan to hit a home run, his bunt will not do.

Eating our own

The human action of eating ones own can run the gambit of actually eating ones own to nibbling at the fringe of their future. Over the years I have strayed into the fanatical regions of both ends of the political spectrum. The spectrum being from Government control of ones life to Libertarian Freedom and individual responsibility. My dance of life has never helped me find peace as it has led me instead to far more questions than answers. Often I find the range of human politics, beliefs, and culture completely bewildering. As I try to categorize and gain a foothold of understanding a new or different wind of complexity confronts me. I have found the vastness of human behavior contains the greatest mysteries and questions of all. The grappling with physics to me is chump change in comparison.

 Although I do not consider myself very religious I do see and understand the good of being a religious person. I do try very hard to practice the Golden Rule but my endeavor to do this consumes all the religious practice I can handle and I still fail at even this simple idea. I also see the perversion of religion by people caught in the traps of bigotry, group think, dogma, hate and envy and all the horror dispensed. However this is true of any group be it Social Democrats, KKK, PETA, Right wing nuts, Left wing nuts, Middle stove bolts, Political Parties of all persuasions, Religious groups, Racist groups and many other groups. Why do we create so many vastly different sub groups when we are basically the same? We all have fears; does the choice of which fear we fear the most force a group selection and the absence of a particular fear another? Is any association based on fear a good thing or a necessary thing?  It does seem to me there is a wacko side of human nature that can not be put onto any particular group but can roar its ugly head from any idea or belief. One must conclude the negative side of human nature is not removed from the human condition by association. These very associations can add fuel to the fire of human frailty as personal, not necessarily virtuous; beliefs are enhanced by group think. Is our choice to participate in groups the problem? Many Americans participated in and supported mob lynching but very few would choose as an individual to personally lynch someone. At the time most members of the Lynching Group also had associations with a Religious Group, main stream Political Group and maybe a “radical” KKK group.

  As individuals we may respect another’s freedom but as a group is any respect over ridden by group dynamics? Does the forming of groups by necessity cause the destruction of freedom as each seek to one-up the others? Some feel there was a time when the practices of Native Americans were respectful of nature and had a positive group dynamic. I have seen the mass grave where envious Minnesota Sioux are buried when they tried to raid the Mole Lake Chippewa wild rice cash; again I find little comfort in association. Is our need to be part of group an ancient tribal urge, (us/them, win/loose, eat/or be eaten), we cannot control? Do our politicians mine groups by taking advantage of group fear, bigotry, stupidity, envy and other lesser human group dynamics to achieve power? Why are we engaged in stealing our children’s and grandchildren’s money, destroying their freedom and limiting their future opportunity? Is our insecurity that strong? Is this a modern perversion of tribal or group dynamics or the same old story? Have we become so dependent on our Government Masters that we now freely eat our own?

I am by default a part of the Association of Humans the biggest group, the Human Freedom Group and a Religious Group. I still search to understand why the biggest group does not choose freedom even when it is given to them via the blood and sacrifice of others. History shows periods of Freedom are extremely short and frail, Greece, Rome, some Tribes, America? Is it Human nature that condemns us to a world where Liberty is the impossible? Why do we seek with such vigor to trade Liberty for security from a Government? Is our need for a Master so strong we are helpless without one? Do the Masters need a Master? Will we riot when the Masters make necessary changes (cuts to Socialist programs) or will our Masters fearing riots fail us altogether?  Once most Americans supported and protected Freedom now it seems our group divisions and subsequent rancor has set up Freedom first as a gradual victim and now as the fall guy. Are the ups and downs of Freedom with all its vast Human choices, mistakes and beliefs so scary we must control it? Why do so many polish the trailer hitch on their coffin, selfishness, remnants of an ancient afterlife religion?  I know there is an answer to eating ones own; I know it is probably simple and obvious but it eludes me. Is my need to understand a result of Liberty or the residue of its demise? Does not being a rank and file member of a political sub group cause me to have questions and confusion? Do we seek sub groups so we won’t have questions or to answer questions?

 Has the choice to end the life of our suffering Lady Liberty already been decided by our genes? Ahhh genes the ultimate pickle can’t live without them and can’t have Freedom with them. Could this be the answer? No, what about the Masters? In the end aren’t we all capable of being Masters? Does our fear of death or ignoring death trump all and blind us to our actions? Is it time for us to think outside our little group boxes or do our natural human fears trap our thoughts there? What we are doing to future generations is very wrong, there must be an answer as to why and then we must fix it. My Bolshevik Grandfather would say “meidan taytyy tehda se lapsille” (we must do it for the children).

Stinking Politics

Well I can’t get any straight answers on why our President pushed offshore oil drilling during his recent visit to Brazil. Here is what he said to the Brazilians.


“We want to help you with the technology and support to develop these oil reserves safely. And when you’re ready to start selling, we want to be one of your best customers. At a time when we’ve been reminded how easily instability in other parts of the world can affect the price of oil, the United States could not be happier with the potential for a new, stable source of energy.”


I wonder why he does not support our offshore drilling. It scares me to think he feels a Socialist State owned Brazilian Company is more worthy of our help than our own nations needs. Some feel our energy issues are more important than our lustful quest to drive our debt and nation into oblivion by buying votes from our own entrenched dependent “progressives”. It may be like many complicated issues, President Obama is only giving lip service to fellow beings in the cause and his words are hollow. Many feel he would never support any type of offshore oil drilling anywhere for any reason. I feel he is more comfortable supporting a Socialist concern in Brazil than a free enterprise effort here at home and the environment is apparently of little consequence when it comes to schmoosing comrades. What is clear now is that American banking interests and others have been looking to invest in Brazils offshore regions for several years and President Obama’s blessing although hypocritical is welcome as it helps the world and us in meeting our energy needs. I just wish he had the same interest here at home. There are many workers who need jobs here too. I guess selling a few drill bits and some pipe will have to do and our oil workers can remain wards of the State just like Brazils oil workers. All in all I guess life is good.

NFL Players are just dumb.

The NFL is in disarray, the millionaire and billionaire whiners couldn’t come to an agreement and like most collective bargaining it was about principal not money. Well in the scheme of things their problems are a big fat zero in my book. The convoluted nature of antitrust and greedy parties is at best very nauseating and with the Government rules it makes for a grand Laurel and Hardy comedy now to be choreographed by greedy lawyers. Well gag me with a Ginsu.

The NFL parties haven’t got the rules to collective bargaining down at all. If the Players Union did it right they would have agreed to a contract long ago. First they must extort dues from members and give the money to the Owners and executives. They must also include large donations to Roger Goodell to codify the scheme. Although Roger is just the top figurehead of the Owners, his position on the bully palpate garners the paid for not so moral, moral ground.  With Union grease in place the Players Union would have a far friendlier group to bargain with and in fact their due money would buy off most owner opposition. As the open bribing of business executives may be frowned on, this open corruption may need to be given a legal basis in law. I would begin to seek a political Party willing to engage in such graft and make the required laws. Once this Political party crosses this line they will also need union dues to keep the scheme going.

It can be sold as (it is no different than any other collective bargaining, pull at the heart strings) we can never let the people use their heads as they may not be able to stomach the crony corruption. All in all legal crony corruption is the way to go and politicians do it best. The NFL Players Union members are fools indeed; I do pity their political naïveté.