$100M Here....$100M There....

Something about this article from the WSJ just got my blood boiling. While it is easy to make fun of .0006% cost savings as compared to the overall deficit and make political hay, let’s look at a deeper, more fundamental issue.

If the (now-fired) CNN reporter wants to know why Americans turned out at TEAParties, then this story is a good reason why. While I applaud Pres. Obama for asking for these savings, how easy was it for these departments to find these savings? My guess…VERY easy. (My wife could have found $100 billion!) This story, if handled properly and repeated often, can be used as prime example why the Federal government cannot and should not be given anymore responsibility over our lives and dollars. Add these examples on top of the ridiculous earmarks for turtle crossings and pig fart studies and the American voter should be DISGUSTED with their government and be ASHAMED for the apathy for letting this happen.

Voters in MA. – Aren’t you ashamed of Frank, Kerry, Kennedy?
Voters in NV. – Aren’t you ashamed of Reid?
Voters in PA – Aren’t you ashamed of Spector, Murtha?
Voters in CA – Aren’t you just ashamed?

How easy it was for Washington to vilify Wall Street and the “greed” of investment bankers. How easy to point out the lavish lifestyles of executives whose companies received your “hard-earned tax dollars” and tell you that they are only interested in Main Street. To those hypocritical bastards…STFU!

It’s you I despise and detest! Wall Street is only doing what it knows how to do….make money, create wealth. You sanctimonious SOBs have violated the PUBLIC TRUST. If the EPA won’t declare the District of Columbia a toxic waste dump, then its left up to us, the voters, to clean it up in 14 months.

Shame on us…my fellow Americans…shame on us.

Isn't It Ironic?

As the Democrats wrangle over their Obamacare bills working their way through Congress, one fact seems to be emerging….that despite the President’s claim that if you like your current insurance plan, you will be able to keep it. Not so fast... apparently the President hasn’t read the 2,000 pages of legislation being proposed. This is a great article from Fortune and CNNMoney that once you actually READ the bills, a different picture emerges. The article highlights the “5 Freedoms You Lose” with Obamacare.

Isn’t it ironic that when it comes to Roe vs. Wade, the Democrats are all about Freedom and the Freedom to choose? They are all about the 14th Amendment and the Right to Privacy. Remember their concern over the Patriot Act and its “invasion of privacy” and the left-wing blogs filled with vitriol towards Bush and Cheney over taking away “cherished freedoms and rights”.

Isn’t it ironic that now, the same people so concerned about American’s “freedoms and rights”, are willing to ignore the fact that Obamacare will do just that?

Healthcare Debate – “Read My Lips”

Then candidate Obama made it a cornerstone of his campaign that people making under $250,000 per year (95% of Americans) would not see a “tax increase”. He would raise taxes on those “lucky” (his term) 5% that “benefitted” unfairly during the Bush years. Now with the healthcare debate raging, his promise to “tax the rich” is coming true.

Not only do he and the Dems plan letting the Bush tax cuts expire, but now they want to add a “surtax” to this “lucky” group in order to pay for nationalized healthcare. Unfortunately, most uninformed Americans look at this and say “about time!”…”tax the rich!”…”not going to effect me!” and go back to watching Jerry Springer or Entertainment Tonight.

However, the truth is far different. Many of the “lucky” 5% are small businesses that provide 90% of all new job creation. The Tax Foundation paints a far different picture of what the Democrats are up to. While the explanation may be somewhat complicated, it breaks down into simply this:

Businesses DO NOT pay taxes! – Tax is looked at as an expense. Increase expenses in business are dealt with in one of three ways:
a) To cover increases, prices must go up.
b) Other expenses cut (personnel, capital projects, etc.)
c) Reduce profits

A) If prices go up for the goods or service the business provides, is this not an unforced “tax” on the consumer?

B) Cutting other expenses – In most businesses (especially small business), the major expense is in personnel costs. Therefore, the area to make the most impact is to cut personnel expenses and/or benefits. The next option is to drop or delay capital projects or expansion. This means putting off a “shovel ready” project and potential employment.

C) Lastly, the business can choose to reduce profits. Yet, in today’s economy, profits are already being squeezed and the lifeblood of any business is cash profits. Without enough cash on hand, businesses can’t meet payroll, pay vendors, etc. and faces bankruptcy.

All 3 scenerios are hurtful to the economy, employment, and the long-term viability of the country. This “spread the wealth around” sounds good to those who are “less fortunate”, but is disasterous to the economy. Therefore, when it comes to the economy, the Democrats are either bumbling fools or smart enough to know they can play on the economic simplicity of the masses. My guess is the latter.

Wake Up Fools! Tax increases are coming for everybody, not just the “lucky”.