Only in America

Only in America (12/14/2011) Every day the world around seems to get crazier. Headlines shout out moves by our government that make no sense, but yet we abide by the changes thrust upon us. I thought I would compile a short list of what I consider infringements upon our liberties that we could not imagine five years ago, and certainly never a decade or two ago. Through slow incrementalism we, the citizens, have eroded our own freedoms. Actions by TSA top the list; an agency which did not exist a decade ago but now employs approximately 50,000 screeners and has a budget of $8.1 billion. This agency now requires everyone to throw away water before boarding an airplane. Water is the essential liquid required to live on our planet, it puts out fires, and easily identified. But, only in America if you are drinking water while waiting in a security line is it now a security threat. A close second is last week’s incident by TSA strip searching 85 year-old Lenore Zimmerman. Only in America would a 100 pound 85 year-old be considered a terrorist requiring a complete vacate of common sense. Attending theme parks and sports events has brought another level of questionability to liberty erosion. Watching the “rent a guard” screeners at facilities like the Coca-Cola museum, Georgia Aquarium, Disney, or Sea World laughingly rifle through personal belongings with chop sticks while wearing latex gloves confirms the authoritarian moves of fear implementation and our own stupidity. Only in America would we trust our lives to $9.00/hour security guards and allow them to infringe on our privacy while claiming to protect a commercial enterprise from a bogeyman terrorist threat. Tracking citizens has become the latest trend by government both national and local. Although the constitution guarantees freedom from warrantless search and seizures, we have allowed government entities to track vehicles with GPS, install cameras using facial recognition software to track individuals, and license plate scanners watching and permanently recording the location of our vehicles. In addition, police departments now carry devices to take and download cellular phone data, without warrants, during stops. Only in America would George Orwell’s predicted tracking of citizens occur in our lifetime. Nearly everyone with a smart phone has a video camera with them 24-hours per day. The first sensationalized recording of police brutality was the Rodney King beating caught by news helicopters, and if the cameras were not on scene the LAPD would have denied the punishment they put on King. Nearly every day citizens are now arrested for filming their own arrests or the arrests of others. The most serious being Michael Allison in Illinois who faces five counts of wiretapping for filming his own arrest this past summer. If we cannot film the public servants hired by us, the citizens, to ensure rights are protected then a police state has truly come into existence. Only in America would filming a police officer lead to the arrest of an innocent bystander. Our country has changed before our eyes. Since the passage of the Patriot Act our government has accelerated its actions to interrogate, search, and control the innocent citizens of America. Our founding fathers warned against such actions and tried to protect us with the Bill of Rights. Only in America would we ignore history and readily give up Rights that were won with the blood of our ancestors.

Hang 'em

Hang ‘em (12/7/2011) Americans tend to bury their heads in the sand when it comes to government. Sadly a majority cannot name the Vice President, and certainly not the Secretary of State or the Speaker of the House. Thus, this is the reason for referring to “sheeple” or “zombies” to stereotype the average citizen. It seems the career politicians understand this and manipulate the masses for their own gain. The latest failure of the ruling-elite is to come up with budget cuts for the next ten years. The proposed method of manipulation to make this happen was so appalling every member of the House and Senate should be publicly hung for treason against the people. Over the last years, under Obama and prior to the Republicans winning the House majority, Congress has failed to submit a budget. This year with new leadership the Republican majority made a valiant attempt but was blocked by Democrats in the Senate from approving the budget. The new “super-committee” was created to break through the deadlock and find $1 trillion in cuts. What is more important to note was they were tasked with finding $1 trillion in savings over 10 years, starting in 2013. A simple task, right? $1 trillion over 10 years works out to $100 billion per year and the current budget is approximately $3.7 trillion in expenditures (outlays) and $2.6 trillion in revenues (incomes=taxes). A $100 billion cut per year is 2.7% of the total expenditures. Sadly, these ass-clowns running our country could not come to an agreement, but why should they? There are no consequences! Similarly, on November 18, 2011 Congress had a chance once again to demonstrate the interests of the country and the people were more important than their bipartisan bickering. Voting primarily along party lines the proposal for an amendment to the constitution failed to pass. Currently 49 states have some type of balanced budget amendment. Interestingly, the federal government has only balanced the budget six times in the last 50 years, four times while Bill Clinton was president. It is easy to ignore the actions of Congress as most people yawn over politics and turn on a Sunday afternoon football game. However, this past week the Federal debt hit a post WW2 high of debt to GDP (Total Debt/Total GDP) equal to 99.5%. In the next two weeks that number will move to triple digits and will not stop increasing. Interest rates are artificially low and any crisis remotely similar to Europe will drive the cost of treasury bonds higher therefore adding to debt faster. At the same time an economic malaise engulfs the country and GDP based on the consumerism of the threatened American shopper is likely to remain relatively flat. Congress is the only entity to change the course of America right now and it must make tough decisions to rein in spending. Arguments are taking place over taxes, but spending is the first, and easiest, place to cut. For instance: foreign aid, arts, museums, the Department of Interior, Department of Education, Department of Energy, and closing military bases overseas. The ass-clowns running Congress want to ensure they have a luxurious lifestyle based on a taxpayer funded income and pension for life instead of making tough decisions best for future generations. I assert today’s Congress is committing treason as they have become the domestic enemies of our country by willfully and knowingly harming our credit rating, impairing national security through reckless spending, and stealing the wealth of future generations.

I love Corporate Jet Owners

I love Corporate Jet Owners (10/12/2011) Our president loves to talk about “fat-cats”, “the rich”, and “millionaires and billionaires” as he makes a case for the malaise in which we find ourselves. The parallelisms to Carter’s same pleas with America in 1979 are eerily similar, especially knowing such criticisms and populist arguments drove the economy further away from recovery. One of President Obama’s specific criticisms targets corporate jet owners and it is with this I must take exception. If driven by jealousy and envy it might seem appropriate to target those rich guys flying around in their jets, but personally my family and I depend on corporate jet owners to pay our bills. Where the president misses the mark is he believes the government through Keynesian economics is best suited to transfer wealth and create economic growth, whereas I feel corporate jet owners are better suited. For instance, a jet must first be built and this is accomplished at plants like Gulfstream in Savannah, GA where 5,500 at all skill levels are employed. Additionally the supply chain, maintenance or even the multiplier effect of employees spending money locally all come from the purchase of corporate jets. Once in the air the jets must be fueled, maintained, and managed. A hangar with a staff of three to five is typical and two pilots are needed. Thus, the “evil” corporate jet owner directly employs people to take care of his aircraft paying at least $350,000 in total salaries and the appropriate taxes. Further economic stimulus results from the hangar rent and property taxes. Operating the aircraft requires fuel; a truck driver delivers the fuel and companies sell the fuel to the corporate jet owner. Additionally, every gallon typically collects $0.244 in Federal Excise Tax, $0.05-$0.20 in state and local taxes, and another $0.10 in miscellaneous taxes. A corporate jet owner will consume 50k-200k gallons of fuel annually, generating tens of thousands of dollars in tax revenues. Each time the aircraft lands at an airport’s FBO (Fixed Base Operator) employees keep their job by servicing and fueling the aircraft, like an old-fashioned service station. It is easy to be envious and jealous of those who have more, especially when you have never held a job or worked to start a company like our president, but under examination a different view comes to light; like a car a corporate jet is a tool to do business, to travel faster and more conveniently. In 2005 General Aviation contributed $150 billion to the economy, employed 1,250,000 million people and generated $53 billion in wages. As America’s single biggest corporate jet user, via the taxpayer’s pocketbook of Air Force One, I wish President Obama would rethink his populist arguments against corporate jet owners.

Small Town Destruction

Small Town Destruction

In my job I drive through small towns throughout the southeast U.S. It saddens me to see these former, vibrant communities withering away. Most people would find easy reasons for the local downfalls, like manufacturing plants closing. There is some truth to this, and of course the long-term trends in demographics point toward moves toward the suburbs, but I would argue the root cause is the locally self destructive historic actions of the communities themselves. I believe there are three distinct errors.

First, "we need a bypass." One can follow US441, US301, or US1 in Georgia and Florida to see numerous examples. Beautiful towns are bypassed by high speed highways giving no reason to slow and take a look. The land on the bypass is commercialized by modern developers building look-a-like cheap structures found anywhere in America. The unique downtown charm of Main Street is then left to die. Ironically, my Garmin GPS has routed me through many towns, instead of the bypass, as the shorter faster route. I have enjoyed this scenic discovery and reminder of small town charm, and enjoy the scenery of the plantation homes, brick buildings, and unique architecture versus the lackluster appearance of the bypass.

Second, “we need a national retailer.” Too often a local lobby to bring a national big box store to town under the guise of job creation turns into job shift and tax incentives amounting to bribery. Sadly, locally spent dollars give way to money transfer outside the local economy. Given the option between a national retailer and a local merchant, most consumers will choose the big store. The Main Street hardware, grocery or auto repair store, where they know your name, is wiped out by the faceless corporation. Of course, the box store provides amenities like longer hours and opening Sundays, but the minimum wage employees don't know the products, customer names, or industry in which they are selling.

Third, “we can’t have alcohol sales.” Respectfully the values of the conservative South must give way to allow beer and wine sales at local restaurants. The primary revenue stream for restaurants is drinks: soda and tea for $2.00, beer and wine for as much as $5.00 a glass. Without this joyful elixir food choices are not gourmet, but relegated to diner-style, low-end choices forcing consumers to look for other options. My preference would be the locally-owned unique establishment with an atmosphere conducive for business or a romantic evening. These establishments spawn the growth of nearby merchants because there is now a reason to be downtown.

Our own town of Cleveland, Georgia is facing tough decisions, but it appears the local political establishment has opened themselves to public opinion. Next time you travel I encourage you to avoid the highway and take a trip through the nearby small towns. Avoid the bypass; choose the “business” route. Don’t eat at a national chain, but find a local restaurant. If you need something, stop at a local merchant, not a national box store. The recipe for success is not difficult, but sadly undoing the prior destruction, or motions set in place, is nearly impossible.

Higher Education Myth

Higher Education Myth (7/6/2011)

My daughter is 15, just finished her freshman year of high school. Like many parents with a high school student I am carefully watching her grades and doing everything I can to ensure she will make it to college. Over the last four decades the number of students going to college has increased, and so have the costs. I was the first in my family to attend college, earning my way on a scholarship and understanding the path in front of me: attend school, work hard, get good grades, and graduate expecting to find a good paying job. Even in the 1980s I was puzzled by the choice of major some would make, possibly liberal arts related and then wonder why they could not find a job. As an Engineer I was showered with job offers and an excellent starting salary (nearly $39,000 in 1990).

Today it appears college has become an entitlement program, fueled by readily available public financing and a willing consumer unqualified to receive a “real education.” In 2011 the average public university cost will be $20,000 per year, and a private school twice that much. Assume your son or daughter is following their passion into liberal arts and a 4-year degree will approach $160,000 with income prospects of $25-30,000 per year; if they are lucky. Sadly, there is an assumption these students are qualified for education, and more so entitled to a job at graduation. I recently heard this anecdote, “Just because you have a fishing license does not mean you know how to catch a fish, or will catch a fish. College degrees are the same, a piece of sheepskin will not guarantee success.”

College debt in America is now $800 billion and less than 54% of graduates in 2010 were able to find work. The Washington Post reported 85% of college graduates will be returning home. As a father, I must weigh what advice I would give my children and truly wonder, unless tuition is covered by a scholarship, whether college is worth the liability (note, I did not say investment) created. Like the housing crisis and shoddy loans, college degrees are being handed out to unqualified and undeserving students with no prospects of work, but fully guaranteed by the U.S. taxpayer. We must remember a fishing license will not cause fish to jump in the boat, nor will a college degree cause paychecks to fall from the sky.

How Small Towns Can Survive (Cleveland, GA)

The following column appeared in the "White County News" 6/30/2011 where I was a guest columnist.

In my job I drive through small towns throughout the southeast U.S. It saddens me to see these former, vibrant communities withering away. Most people would find easy reasons for the local downfalls, like manufacturing plants closing. There is some truth to this, and of course the long-term trends in demographics point toward moves toward the suburbs, but I would argue the root cause is the locally self destructive historic actions of the communities themselves. I believe there are three distinct errors.

First, "we need a bypass." One can follow US441, US301, or US1 in Georgia and Florida to see numerous examples. Beautiful towns are bypassed by high speed highways giving no reason to slow and take a look. The land on the bypass is commercialized by modern developers building look-a-like cheap structures found anywhere in America. The unique downtown charm of Main Street is then left to die. Ironically, my Garmin GPS has routed me through many towns, instead of the bypass, as the shorter faster route. I have enjoyed this scenic discovery and reminder of small town charm, and enjoy the scenery of the plantation homes, brick buildings, and unique architecture versus the lackluster appearance of the bypass.

Second, “we need a national retailer.” Too often a local lobby to bring a national big box store to town under the guise of job creation turns into job shift and tax incentives amounting to bribery. Sadly, locally spent dollars give way to money transfer outside the local economy. Given the option between a national retailer and a local merchant, most consumers will choose the big store. The Main Street hardware, grocery or auto repair store, where they know your name, is wiped out by the faceless corporation. Of course, the box store provides amenities like longer hours and opening Sundays, but the minimum wage employees don't know the products, customer names, or industry in which they are selling.

Third, “we can’t have alcohol sales.” Respectfully the values of the conservative South must give way to allow beer and wine sales at local restaurants. The primary revenue stream for restaurants is drinks: soda and tea for $2.00, beer and wine for as much as $5.00 a glass. Without this joyful elixir food choices are not gourmet, but relegated to diner-style, low-end choices forcing consumers to look for other options. My preference would be the locally-owned unique establishment with an atmosphere conducive for business or a romantic evening. These establishments spawn the growth of nearby merchants because there is now a reason to be downtown.

Our own town of Cleveland, Georgia is facing tough decisions, but it appears the local political establishment has opened themselves to public opinion. Next time you travel I encourage you to avoid the highway and take a trip through the nearby small towns. Avoid the bypass; choose the “business” route. Don’t eat at a national chain, but find a local restaurant. If you need something, stop at a local merchant, not a national box store. The recipe for success is not difficult, but sadly undoing the prior destruction, or motions set in place, is nearly impossible.

Gestapo and Gulags

Gestapo and Gulags

Congress successfully reauthorized the Patriot Act on May 27th, 2011 with hours remaining before the Act would expire. America is eerily following the same path Hitler’s Nazi Germany took in the early 1930’s; a path of Federal law enforcement, diminished civil rights, and lack of transparency in the courts. The Gestapo was given the authority to investigate treason, espionage, sabotage and criminal attacks against Germany. The basic law passed in 1936 gave the Gestapo the right to operate without judicial oversight. The Gestapo could not be sued by citizens in Administrative court.

Americans are subjecting themselves to our own Gestapo, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) willfully. Examples abound from TSA searches, disrobement, and groping at airports, rail stations, and even high school proms to document and papers required to open a bank account or get a job. Openly over the last 18 years there has been a push from local community law enforcement to a federally dominated model of control. Any local assertion of state’s power is met with federal resistance, like the Arizona and Georgia immigration lawsuits or economic threats to Texas over passing an anti-groping bill. DHS has pushed a “see something, say something” campaign to encourage spying on neighbors and standing up to Big Brother is now cause for consideration as “domestic terrorist.” It was that “domestic terrorism” that brought us freedom and the genesis of our country.

As police power expands, and 1st, 2nd, and 4th Amendment rights are reduced more citizens are being jailed than ever before. The term “Gulag” was originally an acronym for the Soviet agency administering the prisons, but has since come to represent any penal system. America has sharply turned her view on incarceration from on of rehabilitation to mandate. In 1982 approximately 1 of 77 Americans was under “correctional-control”, today that number is 1 of 31. Georgia leads the country with 1 of 13 adults under some type of judicial supervision. Take into account wage garnishment orders, child support orders, and foreclosure liens and judicial findings and the number is higher. Today the United States has the highest incarceration rate (3.1%) and the largest prison population of any country in the world. Even communist China with three times the population incarcerates fewer people.

The trend I see developing is one of government control creating fear among the citizens. I challenge you, what consequences would you face if you question how TSA handles you? What would you expect to happen if you say “no” to a police officer regarding a roadside search? Why are our countryman arrested for filming police stops? Why do victimless crimes, like drug use or possession, result in incarceration? More frequently the noose is tightening around our necks, “We the People..”

Little Noticed News

Little Noticed News (6/1/2011)
Oprah, Republican presidential candidate implosions, and Obama’s Irish roots seem to dominate the news. On a national and international level none of these newsworthy events will impact most Americans. Instead, I argue there is an entire underlying level of news taking place nationwide, some of which gets a brief mention on one of the cable or broadcast networks, but most of the news disappears not to be heard from again. America is changing, and changing rapidly. Willfully civil rights and constitutional guarantees are being eroded, and yet a blind eye is turned. Below I have listed examples from the last three weeks.
On May 22, 2011 - a Santa Fe, NM high school announced TSA would pat-down students as part of security to enter Prom. From TSA’s own web site, the agency’s mission is, “The Transportation Security Administration protects the Nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.” Nowhere is a high school or sports event mentioned, and I cannot imagine being groped on my last night in high school.
May 21, 2011 – Mark Fiornio strolled through downtown Philadelphia lawfully, openly, carrying his permitted gun. The issue at hand is Mr. Fiornio was detained, nearly shot, and charges brought against him for disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment. He tried to explain to police offers he had a permit and cited the statutory laws allowing him to open carry. Local authorities are warning gun owners that they will be "inconvenienced" if they carry unconcealed handguns in the city.
May 15, 2011 – The Indiana Supreme Court, 3-2, ruled people have no right to resist officers who enter their homes under the premise it is in the greater public good and would minimize confrontation. Additionally, the Indiana Court ruled police do not need to knock to serve a search warrant.
May 17, 2011 – Historically police offers required probable cause and a search warrant before breaking into a home. That changed with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Kentucky v. King. Ruling 8-1 the justices gave police more leeway to break into homes or apartments in search of illegal drugs when they suspect the evidence otherwise might be destroyed. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented, fearing the ruling gave police an easy way to ignore 4th Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.
In each of the above cases I can easily see the argument for “greater good”, “public safety” and other pansy excuses. Sadly, “we the people” are continuing to allow our freedoms to incrementally erode away. In one week, four cases that have far reaching circumstances. As a reminder, blood was shed for The Fourth Amendment, which assures that “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated,”

Nuclear Meltdowns

Nuclear Meltdown (5/25/2011)

This past week I counted at least four meltdowns, all covered with vigor, in the media headlines. Probably the most obscure and curious regarding the hype to most Americans was the arrest, indictment, and release of IMF Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Little do many of my countrymen understand regarding monetary policy, let alone the calls for an end to the dollar as the reserve currency by Strauss-Kahn. The second meltdown was the failure of the Gingrich campaign to gain traction. Laughably, the most academic of a possible Republican field of presidential nominees, fell flat before starting. Like Strauss-Kahn, Newt melted down.

Meltdown number three was President Obama extinguishing his fiery return in the polls by crossing middle-east ally Israel with a call to return to territory held 44 years ago. The contradictory nature of Obama is puzzling as a blind-eye is turned toward our own border issues and we idly watch killing of refugees seeking democracy in Syria. But, the President is pro-Hamas supporting the terrorist organization publicly as far back as May 2008. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu skillfully schooled our President on the fallacies of his position and Obama’s action may be the beginning of his re-election meltdown. Finally, the mainstream pundits could not get enough of the Terminator’s marriage meltdown, number four last week, as revelations exposed infidelity and a love child with a household staff member. Each of these personal meltdowns, in my opinion, is rooted in ego and self-interest.

Sadly though, the most important nuclear meltdown in the world is not garnering any media coverage and is similarly rooted in ego and self-interest. However, this meltdown over the next 30 years will result in many unnecessary deaths and cancers worldwide. On March 11, 2011 the historic earthquake rocked northern Japan, suspiciously damaging nuclear reactors, but denied by Japanese government. A newly released TEPCO report this week contains a disaster timeline stating within 5 hours of the quake fuel rods were exposed and rapidly melting, and within 16 hours Reactor No. 1’s rods had melted down and dropped to the bottom of the reactor. Similar events occurred in Reactors 2 and 3. Today the reactors are continuing to spew radiation and radioactive water is flowing to groundwater and the ocean. Worse than Chernobyl, Fukushima has become the world’s first nuclear meltdown. Curiously, the four men in personal meltdowns garner far more coverage, but every plant, animal, and human being in the Northern hemisphere is now poisoned by the ineptness of a government and power company that chose to hide their failures to protect their egos.

Land of the Free

Land of the Free (4/27/2011)

Our national anthem brings pride unto ourselves when we quote the famous lines, “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Sadly, since that fateful night at Fort McHenry I would offer the founding fathers fight against royal tyranny for liberty and our forefathers shedding blood for future generations has been usurped by complacency. Examples abound in our current society of both the loss of freedom and lack of bravery.

A December 4, 2006 column in the Russian paper, Pravda, makes reference to “A record 7 million people - or one in every 32 American adults - were behind bars, on probation or on parole by the end of last year', and when these figures are added to the estimated 1 million prisoners of war held by the United States, all around the World, the once great American Nation has now become the greatest jailer of human beings the World has ever known.” Laws such as “Three Strikes” have increased our incarceration rate for even the pettiest of crimes. Even the truly law-abiding are not free. Consider random traffic stops to check your license and insurance, TSA airport searches, security screenings to enter a public event, and proof of identity requirements for job applications and opening bank accounts. Exacerbating the situation is claims these freedoms are taken in the name of liberty.

Ironically, even bravery has been eroded out of fear of consequences. Questioning TSA regarding the 4th amendment and basis for searching six-year olds will prevent you from flying. Publicly videotaping law enforcement creates a fast path to court with criminal charges. My favorite example occurred two weeks ago: Juror 799, an Asian woman in her 20s, when asked to name three people she least admired on her juror questionnaire, wrote: “African-Americans, Hispanics and Haitians.” In the land for the free and home of the brave the woman was sentenced to indefinite jury duty by Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis – a unilateral decision with no crime committed.

I challenge you to listen carefully to political demagoguery and proposals to “make you safer.” Blood was shed September 3, 1814 to capture freedom and liberty for future generations whilst Francis Scott Key watched the fight and immortalized his feelings. Sadly, our former enemies in Russia watch our freedoms erode and write about it, but the timidity bred into our generations of children makes them blind to the blood given for their liberty and they will not stand bravely for themselves.

The King's Speech

The King’s Speech (04/20/2011)

I have never been as angry after a President’s speech as I was last week. Being forthright, I do not like Obama, never have, and never will. I believe he was unqualified to lead our country, has blamed others for his failures, will not hold himself accountable, and ultimately we disagree on the direction our country should go. Furthermore, I believe the Republicans have nothing different to offer than to protect their own interests and continue stealing our freedoms.

The King had an opportunity to win the American people over to the proposals for our future. Our fiscal situation is dire, inflation is increasing, wages are falling, energy and food prices are increasing, the Democrats have proposed spending $1.4 trillion more than tax revenues will produce, and in just 2 years the King and his court have increased the national debt 33%. The Jester, John Boehner, bragged regarding the bipartisan budget agreement, largest in history, but that lie only survived a week. The CBO reported the “real” cuts are only $352 million, less than 1% of the lie put to us.

The King, Jester, court, and sleeping beauty (Joe Biden) know how government works; let me explain. Let’s say you and I spend $100/month on eating out and decide next month we will budget $50 more dollars for dining. Using government accounting if we reduce the total budget to $120, we “saved” $30! There were no cuts; we just didn’t spend what we planned to, unlike spending $70 you and I would have inferred. Because my children’s future is in peril let me propose true government responsibility: mandatory 15% income tax for everyone, 20% for all corporations, and reducing the tax code to just one page as there will be no deductions of any kind. Second, eliminate the Departments of Energy, Education, Interior, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services. Third, close all foreign military bases. Fourth, eliminate public funding of arts, Planned Parenthood, charitable programs, and any constitutionally questionable program. Fifth, cut all Congressional member and staff budgets and salaries by 50%. Sixth, eliminate all civil service pension plans and special medical plans. Seventh, remind our elderly that Social Security and Medicare were supplemental programs, not entitlements, and cut the monthly benefit to $750/person, regardless of income or marriage.

Only radical, truthful proposals will work to save our country. A parent makes tough decisions and redirects behavior; similarly we need politicians to lead, not steal our futures. The current tomfoolery will continue to strengthen the uprising and anger in America and revolution against the elected royalty will occur.

Death and Taxes

Death and Taxes Redux (4/13/2011)

Attending funerals I reflect on death, and although inevitable we deny our mortality one statement that intrigues me is the saying, “Only two things are known; death and taxes.” I know with certainty I will die and everyone around me will die, someday. Of course cause of death cannot be predicted but risks associated with death can be minimized and each of us tries to live with a goal of prolonging life and we fight death with all of our might but cannot stop its inevitability. Taxes, however, are not an absolute, but we evolved to accept taxes part of our being, just like death. Instead of continually working toward ending this other ‘absolute’ in our lives our society seems willing to perpetuate this self-destructive mechanism upon ourselves.

Taking a step back, maybe a better word for tax would be “privilege payment”. We pay for the privilege of living in a civilized society, and this argument could be made throughout human history. Most of us are willing to contribute a nominal amount of our individual efforts to support the purported common good of the society in which we live. I accept there is a cost to civilization as I expect infrastructure for safe water, sewage disposal, defense, and transportation.

Regardless of the specifics of the individual line items that we agree to tax ourselves for, we should constantly examine the necessity. I choose to minimize the risks I take in my daily life, exercise, eat well and therefore am hopefully prolonging my life and cheating death. I argue that we no longer do the same regarding taxes and instead readily acquiesce to taxing our individual efforts and allowing the state to control and disburse them. I assert we have voluntarily enslaved ourselves to an entity that we may not be able to escape.

Death is inevitable; the process of self-destruction through taxation is not. Taxes are acceptable when presented with a true cost and benefit analysis, a clear exit strategy from the tax, and a method to provide for checks and balances against a tax. If you were taking an inventory of your personal health in an effort to ensure you were prolonging your life you would question every risk, every activity, and eliminate those that are harming you. This same analysis must be performed frequently and regularly regarding taxes. We must question every dollar that is spent and be willing to take tough measures to eliminate waste, just as you would do personally.

The Hydra Monster

The Hydra Monster (4/13/2011)

On Friday Americans will repeat the annual ritual of paying taxes. Local television stations will provide live coverage from postal offices near closing time; editorializing what we “must” do to pay our taxes. Obediently most all of her citizens will have complied and the monster of government will continue living, and regardless of attack she cannot be killed through starvation or even radical cuts. Valiantly some men are trying like Congressmen Ron Paul and Paul Ryan, but attempts to shut down the government and truly kill the monster to save future generations are met with mockery from the press and she continues to live.

Sadly, the Hydra Monster lives at all levels of our lives. We start with our paychecks by enslaving ourselves for the first three to four months of the year to pay Federal income tax (20%) and FICA (7.65%). Sadly, most people ignore the 7.65% raise they would receive if employers did not have to pay taxes “on their behalf.” In Georgia I have a state tax of approximately 3% and there are the other taxes my employer pays instead of paying me: SUTA and FUTA. Adding it all together nearly 40% of our paycheck is gone. In November most local municipalities seek property taxes on those who own real estate, amounts of $5-$15k are averages in Volusia County (let’s assume 10% of income). With every purchase comes sales tax: 6.5%. Adding everything together comes to 55% of earnings. Of course, there are countless fees and taxes on phones, internet, licenses, and registrations further driving up costs.

Taxes anger me because the Hydra Monster called government relentlessly feeds itself on the backs of all men and abusively spends the collected monies. At the national level the monster is so large the President readily acknowledged during his promotion of healthcare fraud and waste in Medicare comes to $1 billion, but the monster lives on. Locally governments build multi-million dollar firehouses on prime commercial property and create pension plans to allow productive citizens to withdraw from the workforce at early ages. In Nassau County, NY policeman earn $100k after five years and are entitled to hundreds of thousands in annual retirement benefits!

Our country is dying, consumed by the Hydra Monster. No matter how hard our heroes try to cut a head she will live on, breathing fire against her people, growing meaninglessly, and adding more heads to become ever more pervasive and invasive in our lives. Radical change is required to defeat the Hydra Monster, only banded together can she be killed. Paying taxes this week is a sad offering to the misery befalls man but will make the Monster stronger.

Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy (03/30/2011)

I consider hypocrisy to be the most appalling and disgusting action someone can take. I believe examples abound like politicians campaigning for family values then engaging in affairs, organized religious leaders looking away from rape by their clergy, preachers wrapped in wealth, or global warming followers driving jets and SUVs. Many on the right are struggling with the hypocrisy of the press; their basis of accusations of liberal bias against the mainstream media. Out of fairness, our media has never been held accountable for any reporting, no matter how inaccurate. With the Libyan conflict though it appears a “wink-wink” of approval has been made to the current administration.

In December 2007, Senator Obama said: “[the] president does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.” Shortly thereafter Senator Obama was supported by Senator Joe Biden who pledged to start impeachment proceedings against President Bush if Iran were attacked without congressional approval. Ironically, we find ourselves with the hypocrisy of our President and Vice President doing exactly what they accused Bush of doing. On March 19, 2011 President Obama stated, “Today we are part of a broad coalition. We are answering the calls of a threatened people. And we are acting in the interests of the United States and the world.”

Hypocritically the question must be raised as to how Obama could make such a statement, and ignore his prior assertions of Presidential authority. Over the last several weeks uprisings have occurred throughout the Middle East, starting with the self-immolation of a fruit stand worker in Tunisia. Each of the middle-eastern governments has turned on its citizens: Tripoli, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, and of course our oil-rich ally Saudi Arabia. While the President had psychic-like success with his NCAA basketball picks his reason to start a war with a meaningless dictator remains a mystery. Whether or not I agree with Mohammar Qhaddaffi, Libya is a sovereign nation entitled to manage her affairs, or the same principles shall apply to China, Korea, Venezuela, and most of the middle-east. Protected by our media it is easy to see the quick dismissal of the hypocrisy of the situation, as a lover will always look away. “Hypocrisy is a fashionable vice, and all fashionable vices pass for virtue,” – Moliere (1622-1673).

I am Angry

I am angry because it appears no one knows what is going on around them with deficits, rising fuel prices, Islamic radicalization, and Middle East uprising. The most twisted issue is an American society willing to tax food, clothing, and shelter, at the same time as supporting 44-million Americans on food stamps all while watching media celebrities like Charlie Sheen make fools of themselves. It cost an extra “Andrew Jackson” to fill my car today and the mainstream blames fuel prices on the Middle East, but that's far from the truth. A middle-school look at the readily available data shows a more fundamental reason for the rise, one destroying our lifestyle and future.

Rising fuel prices are simply attributed to three factors: monetary supply, supply and demand, and speculation. Speculation is based on fear in the market which is driven by political unrest around the world. Supply and demand is a direct consequence of emerging economies, hurricanes in the Gulf, or destruction of Middle East oil assets. Although the Middle East uprisings are dominating news reports daily, the current rising prices are truly a function of monetary supply. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke speculated on QE2 in August 2010 and it was officially announced November 4, 2010. Each week I graph crude oil prices and up until August prices were relatively stable, but immediately following QE2’s speculation fuel prices started to rise, increasing more after the official announcement. With the devaluation of our currency, OPEC announced a desire for higher fuel prices to effectively capture the same income. Today’s Middle Eastern uprising is a secondary issue exacerbating the underlying cause of rising fuel prices. Blame our government and central bank, not those fighting for civil liberties.

The solutions being thrown around by political pundits from both sides make no sense and demonstrate politics’ need-to-please, not realistic solutions. Opening strategic reserves is anecdotal to a giving a cancer patient a band-aid. “The Long Emergency,” as James Howard Kunstler writes, has begun and political unrest, failed monetary policies, and a third-world desirous of the same excesses we enjoy will continue to drive oil prices upward. I am angry pop-culture nonsense Tom Brady’s hair and Gaga’s breast milk ice cream exploits resonates more importantly than the collapse of our currency. On November 10, 2010 I wrote, “Gasoline should easily reach $3.40/gallon by April as OPEC is demanding a minimum $100/gallon.” I am angry no one listens.

Left - I agree more than you think

I rarely read the columns to my Left and Right on this page, but recently was made aware of a comment asserting I had a “Right” bias. Although probably not far off at first glance, due to my fear of tyranny through larger government, I thought I might take on the challenge and clarify many of my positions for all who read. I compiled a list of my columns for the last 80 weeks and saw a common theme emerging, one that distances me from most on the Right and those on the Left, but more so defining a tolerant middle-ground. Let me proceed.

We should not have a death penalty, in my opinion to put one innocent man to death is far more grievous an error than all the guilty men “legally” killed. In contrast I would argue the same applies to abortion and we should not terminate those who cannot speak for themselves. I do not support school sponsored prayer, or even prayer at a public event. At the same time I feel it is wrong to tell someone they cannot pray or express themselves religiously, both positions fail to respect the individual. I do believe the environment should be protected at all costs, to not be a conservationist is only destroying the world for future generations. However I am of the opinion Global Warming is complete hogwash. Regarding health care, as dutiful men we need to care for the indigent and infirmed, but government is least likely the right mechanism to transfer such wealth whereas charity and selflessness will more efficiently provide.

I move far from the left on the concept of income redistribution and sincerely believe all men are created equal, and therefore have an equal chance of success. However, I do believe some amount of government regulation is necessary as many men will choose cheating and scheming over honesty. Like many on the Left I believe the Patriot Act was the most abusive attack on our civil rights ever made and it should be immediately abolished. Unlike those on the Left I believe the Founding Fathers did not see the Constitution as a living document, fearing tyranny, and wanted to give liberty from government to future generations.

I can state my position succinctly: I love my country, but fear my government. "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." - Thomas Jefferson.

Wisconsin

I debated whether to offer an opinion regarding Wisconsin, but knew I could not let go of this protest. I am impressed with the 65,000 plus protesters that believe in something strong enough to brave the cold. More important to see debate with such passion engaging on our own soil gives me hope toward future revolution against our government and the tyranny we face. It appears the press – from the left and right, have managed to blur the issue at hand as there only appears two possible opposing views when tapping MSNBC or Fox News. I hypothesize three parties are now at war in this country: Public Servants, the Ruling Elite (executive pay), and the Private Sector. Thus, a two pointed perspective does not work and furthermore the issue at hand is not about trimming union rights, but re-aligning public servant compensation.

Austerity measures will generate class warfare and in this Great Recession the compensation of the three parties has diverged greatly. Executive pay remained safe and increased greatly and Public Service payrolls have increased far greater than private payrolls. On the other hand, the Private Sector has suffered irreplaceable job losses, flat wages and lives in fear of a pink slip delivery tomorrow. At the same time the Private Sector is asked to pay more income tax, more sales tax, more property tax, and more fees to pay for the perpetuation of Public Service compensation programs and to bailout reckless executives who lost gambling bets against the masses during the debt fueled frenzy.

Ancient Rome succeeded through an ever expanding territorial economy fueling the wants and desires of Caesar. The masses found relief through entertainment at the Coliseum and a sense of safety, but yet traded liberty for trite compensation. Similarly, America is like Rome; rich Senators, a small ruling class, and wealth obtained for a few due to the destruction of others. Our masses are entertained by media and sports, not taking time to understand the reason behind the need for change. Like Rome our public servants are protected by a never ending spigot of tax dollars and turn against the working class and income earners for whom they supposedly serve.

It is forgotten that our children will ultimately pay the price. Something is happening in America right now, and it started with the bursting of the debt bubble three years ago. Denial has not worked and protests will become more common, maybe leading to revolution. I am concerned for my children’s future and cannot imagine the tax burden, inflation, and tyranny they will face if we do not stop opposing the protesters in Wisconsin.

Dad's Money

Dad’s Money (2/23/2011)

Nightly we are bombarded by incomprehensible numbers regarding Federal government spending: $14 trillion debt, $4 trillion budget, $1.5 trillion deficit and $180 billion interest payments. There are too many zeros on each number to print in this column, twelve each for the debt and deficit. Sadly, like gamblers in Las Vegas using colored poker chips we have lost sight of reality because no one touches the monies. As taxpayers our view of the government has become like a child’s view of Dad’s spending. A five-year-old watching his father has no idea where he gets money, but feels there is an endless supply. Sometimes Dad reaches in his pocket and uses green currency or coins like nickels and pennies. Other times Dad uses colorful plastic cards and swipes them in machines, and Dad has a book with checks where he illegibly scribbles names and amounts and declares the bills are paid. Of course, he also logs on his computer and banks via the web. Similarly, the government engages in a playful deception of payments, using computers, checks, and cash cards to move monies around.

Dad always seems to have money and as five-year olds we know he leaves each day and goes to work to make more. A connection between work and money seems obvious because doing chores sometimes brings allowance to children. As young children we always seem to have food, clothes, and toys. We don't know how the lights operate or anything about mortgages and rent, insurance, gasoline, or car payments. However, we know dad takes care of us and most citizens view the government the same way with no understanding of tax income or expenditures

Right now we are enjoying historically low interest rates, easing interest payments on our $14 trillion debt. If interest rates return to historic norms of 6% the payments will increase to approximately $840 billion, nearly 23% of our current budget. Like a five -year-old trusting Dad to make money and spend money to care for the family we believe our elected trustees will do the same. However, re-election drives decision making, not the tough longevity of parenting and sadly our federal government is recklessly spending money. Congress must be held accountable for the deficit spending because they are bankrupting our country. Every parent and grandparent should know what is happening and encourage Congress to stop today’s fiscal negligence. Congress is punishing our future generations with inflation, high interest rates and more taxes. Sadly a five-year-old cannot stop Dad’s recklessness, but as a voter you can stop Congress.

Homework

My daughter’s homework recently piqued my interest while she was studying for an exam. Currently, she's taking an American Government class; learning about types of government like authoritarian, dictatorship, oligarchy, and democracy. During our studying though we came to a handout that forced me to question today’s teaching as it focused on explaining the role of government. It is this question that divides left and right, Democrat and Republican. Personally I have a strong libertarian view which believes in a very limited role of government.

Reviewing her handout I learned there are seven roles taught to today’s students: defense, taxation, judiciary, education, health care, transportation, and economy. I wondered how many Thomas Jefferson would include on the list and speculated three: defense, taxation, and judicial review. Seeking a more definitive answer I found only defense and judicial protection receive consensus and without taxation the rest of the list cannot exist. Sadly, I think our country has reached a crossroads in development: we can have freedom and independence to control our lives with no government involvement but risk personal loss and failure, or we can mutually combine all of our earnings and share the bounty regardless of productivity to protect our entire society against any calamity that may befall us.

I believe the second option has been tried repeatedly throughout history and most recently by the idealist Karl Marx in a quest to end class struggles; recognizing the needs of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. Modern communism expanded on the efforts of Marx’s writings with Lenin and then Stalin accelerating its spread; dictatorial regimes use communism to disguise their own human rights atrocities. Many would claim the U.S. has recently failed at the longest running experiment in capitalism and laissez faire economics allowing business to overrun the working class. However, a quick glance at American history confirms anyone, regardless of status, education, or connection can succeed to enormous wealth, unlike communist nations allow. Successes like Bill Gates, Larry Page, and Jeffrey Bezos abound and even Presidents Clinton and Obama come from the poorest of backgrounds and family struggles.

Ayn Rand concisely describes the role of government “as, the police, to protect you from criminals; the army, to protect you from foreign invaders; and the courts, to protect your property and contracts from breach or fraud by others.” I believe the role of government is to allow me freedom of choice – to succeed or fail

1970s versus 201Xs

The kids wearing plaid pants and striped shirts with long hair watching the “Brady Bunch”, “Adam-12” and “Emergency” are the men and women running our government today. It seems these “kids” have no recollection of the politics or monetary policy of the 1970s, instead only remembering the Bicentennial, bell bottom jeans, and Nerf footballs. A careful examination will show a decade that suffered an energy crisis causing an immediate recession. The same happened in 2008 when oil prices rose rapidly to $147/bbl driving our economy over a cliff to financial Armageddon. Nixon removed the Gold standard in 1971, and the Federal Reserve enacted new monetary policies to bring recovery. No radical method helped Nixon or Ford, and a hopeless Democrat was elected; promising prosperity and unable to deliver as we added the word “stagflation” to our vocabulary. As America entered the 1980s, after seven years of lackluster growth interest rates rose rapidly crushing the housing recovery. I remember my own parents struggling with 18% rates, job loss, and our manufacturing shift overseas as Chrysler sought a bailout and American’s learned “Made in Japan” meant quality compared to our union produced assembly lines.

For ten years inflation was high, reaching 13.5% in 1980 and unemployment soared above 10%, but like today the same policies were held: Federal spending never slowed, and tax increases for the rich were proposed. Gold prices accelerated and fueled speculation the end was near and the economy would not survive. Talk of wind mills, solar panels, energy conservation, and self-sufficiency abounded. Reviewing newspapers from the early 1980’s it is easy to spot Tip O’Neill’s 100-plus Democrat majority was adding to federal spending faster than the revenues received, not unlike the recent Pelosi dynasty. I found one article stating for every 1% increase in unemployment Federal spending deficits increased by $25-40 billion during the 1982 recession because unemployment drives down revenue and causes government to spend more.

Many argue the cornucopianism of Ronald Reagan saved the economy through supply-side tax cuts. I would argue a direct correlation should be made between recovery and oil prices as the UK's discoveries of North Sea oil increased supply and probably fueled the recovery of the 1980’s and 1990’s. The 1970’s are remembered for Disco and parties, instead we should truly understand the damage of failed economic policies. We are three years into the current economic decline and the kids I knew now run Congress; I would offer 1970’s history provides more answers than the academic speculation used today.