...wouldn't you like to be a Tenther too?
Once again the left is down to name calling. Those of us who question the origin of the B-HO are derisively called Birthers. If we don't like higher taxes and bigger government, "luminaries" like Anderson Cooper call us Tea-baggers - interestingly enough a derisive term for homosexuals (I notice the radical 'gay' groups haven't squeaked a protest about the use of that term like they do if someone on the right uses a homosexual slur).
The latest attempt to demonize the right is to call those of us who oppose Obamacare 'Tenthers'. Naturally the left would find the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution and those who uphold it as a defense against big government offensive to their centralizing, corrupt power-grabbing goals. But this is doomed to fail as a marginalizing tool before it ever starts. Like the early Americans who co-opted the term and tune Yankee Doodle as a badge of honor, we Tenthers will do the same. Like the commercial where young men and women proclaim that they will not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we should not be ashamed of our belief in the Tenth Amendment which simply states:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
That's pretty straightforward!
Were we to fall to the level of the left, I suppose we could called Empress Pelosi and crew "Commerce Clausers" since they continually beat the American taxpayer over the head with their intentional misinterpretation of that little line on a daily basis. But unlike them, we understand where the Commerce Clause fits into the original intent just like the 10th Amendment. The Commerce Clause states: [The Congress shall have power] To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes. The word among means between. It was included to keep the States from charging tolls and taxes when products crossed their borders as they had done under the Articles of Confederation and that's about it.
Before the days of blogging the state of Washington raised their cigarette taxes outrageously and then threw a tantrum when people living near the borders - especially with low tobacco taxing Idaho - were crossing over to buy cigarettes. The state sent troopers to spy on people buying cigarettes just across the line and issue tickets to them on returning to Washington. This is a CLEAR violation of the Commerce Clause because the product is legal in both states as long as the buyer is 18 and a state cannot penalize its citizens for buying elsewhere no matter their motivation; especially tax avoidance.
The state of Idaho long ago tried to violate the Commerce Clause in a less onerous manner by adding a line on their income tax form where you were supposed to calculate the amount of money you spent out of Idaho and pay the state sales tax for that spending. I don't recall anyone ever admitting to spending money out of state and believe it has since been removed. But it was an innovative try on their part!
The Tenth Amendment is becoming one of the last barriers to complete government control over our lives and it is currently at odds with the expansive abuse of the Commerce Clause as used by the Left. Stand up and proudly broadcast that you are indeed a 'Tenther'! I know I am.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Eat the Rich
Here in Washington State certain groups are attempting to pass an income tax on individuals, through Initiative 1077, making more than $200,000 or couples earning more than $400,000. One of the leaders of this modern day witch hunt is the father of 'His Majesty' Bill Gates; William Gates Sr (my first thought was: He's still alive???). The populist argument in favor of this attack on the wealthy is that it will reduce middle class and small business taxes.
Regarding the Middle Class, it will come in the form of property tax relief. The supporters claim a 20% reduction in state property taxes. That may be true but they conveniently omit the fact that only 10-15% of your property tax bill is levied by the state. The rest is local. So you will get relief of 20% of 15% of your tax bill. For the math impaired, 20% of 15% is a whopping 3%! That's $30 on a $1000 property tax bill. Try not to spend that all in one place! Small businesses will see a similar 'savings'.
In return for that, all we have to do is cannibalize the people in WA state who create our jobs. Bill Gates Jr. employs nearly as many people as the gubbermint. Boeing has quietly been sending jobs to states with less onerous tax burdens and what makes anyone think they won't accelerate this process as more of their high income officers start taking a hit on their personal incomes?
Of course, like any other increase in taxes, this will have the opposite of its desired effect and REDUCE revenue to the Treasury. I-1077 will head us in the direction of California rather than Texas and the few states that are not in fiscal trouble. Even if, in the unlikely event, I-1077 did increase revenue, there is no precedent that demonstrates the morons in Olympia will spend the additional revenue wisely by reducing the state's deficit.
All around the nation we are seeing attempts to eat the rich. Much of this is being pushed by socialists and other anti-capitalists attempting to direct populist outrage against government mismanagement of OUR money toward wealthy people who mismanage THEIR OWN money. Oregon just passed an income tax on the rich. Why don't we in WA wait for a year or two and see what happens in Oregon before we throw our own rich in the cooking pot? Better yet, why not reduce state spending?
Regarding the Middle Class, it will come in the form of property tax relief. The supporters claim a 20% reduction in state property taxes. That may be true but they conveniently omit the fact that only 10-15% of your property tax bill is levied by the state. The rest is local. So you will get relief of 20% of 15% of your tax bill. For the math impaired, 20% of 15% is a whopping 3%! That's $30 on a $1000 property tax bill. Try not to spend that all in one place! Small businesses will see a similar 'savings'.
In return for that, all we have to do is cannibalize the people in WA state who create our jobs. Bill Gates Jr. employs nearly as many people as the gubbermint. Boeing has quietly been sending jobs to states with less onerous tax burdens and what makes anyone think they won't accelerate this process as more of their high income officers start taking a hit on their personal incomes?
Of course, like any other increase in taxes, this will have the opposite of its desired effect and REDUCE revenue to the Treasury. I-1077 will head us in the direction of California rather than Texas and the few states that are not in fiscal trouble. Even if, in the unlikely event, I-1077 did increase revenue, there is no precedent that demonstrates the morons in Olympia will spend the additional revenue wisely by reducing the state's deficit.
All around the nation we are seeing attempts to eat the rich. Much of this is being pushed by socialists and other anti-capitalists attempting to direct populist outrage against government mismanagement of OUR money toward wealthy people who mismanage THEIR OWN money. Oregon just passed an income tax on the rich. Why don't we in WA wait for a year or two and see what happens in Oregon before we throw our own rich in the cooking pot? Better yet, why not reduce state spending?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
So Much Going On
April usually turns my attention from politics to something more important: baseball. Though I haven't annoyed my keyboard much lately I am still keeping a weather eye on the B-HO and his cronies.
There has been a recent row over Joe Klein (columnist at Communist Stooge Time Magazine) who accused Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin of sedition on Chris Matthews' show. Another guest chimed in adding Rush Limbaugh to the list for calling it the Obama 'Regime'. This blatant attempt to chill Free Speech comes from the very people who demanded 'regime change' (preferably violent) when George W Bush was president. In fact, the left called Bush's two terms a regime more than 6500 times from 1/20/01. Additionally, they trotted Bubba out to further attempt to chill free speech on the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. You may remember that he blamed Limbaugh directly for the actions of Timothy McVeigh.
Lesson: When Republicans are in power, dissent is the highest form of patriotism but when Democrats are in power dissent is seditious.
Feeling his oats after destroying American health care, the B-HO is targeting Wall Street for submission to the "Soviet Central Committee" this week. His willing accomplice in this scheme is Goldman Sachs. You may remember from previous posts the lengthy tentacles Goldman has in our government (across the political spectrum). Without warning the SEC slapped charges on Goldman - conveniently at a time to keep it from getting into the news cycle until after the weekend. The White House claims it had 'no idea' this was coming but by Monday, a Google search of "Goldman Sachs SEC" brings up a SPONSORED LINK to the B-HO's website (not the White House website). I'll let you draw your own conclusion there. In addition to that suspicious little tidbit, an article in the Washington Examiner today reveals the fact that Goldman has donated 7 times the amount of money to Obama as Enron did to George W Bush! Where is the MSM on that? They wouldn't let us forget that Enron donated a paltry $151,000 (inflation adjusted) to his campaign. Goldman dropped 7 digits into Barry's coffers. If Obama gets his "reform" passed look for Goldman to pay a small SEC fine while their competitors are destroyed by said "reform". Remember back in 2008, Hank Paulson (former Goldman bigwig) advised Bush not to intervene when Lehman Brothers collapsed and they were Goldman's main rival...
To distract us from that, the Regime has the FDA out trying to regulate how much salt can be added to our food - for our health naturally! Who do they think they are?
Both of these are being used to distract us from the Idiot of Economics, Paul Volcker floating the VAT trial balloon for the Regime recently. The VAT (value added tax) should be slapped from the lips of anyone who utters it as a legitimate idea. A VAT could double the prices of some goods overnight for consumers. Unlike a sales tax which is only charged at the retail level, a VAT is added to an item at EVERY LEVEL of production!
As an example, let's look at the wheat for a loaf of bread. A farmer grows the wheat, harvests it and sells it to the flour mill. The government charges VAT because the farmer has 'added value' to the wheat. The flour mill grinds it and sells it to the bakery triggering a second VAT because they 'added value' by milling the flour. The bakery mixes the flour into batter with other ingredients (all charged VATs) to make bread. They sell it to a retailer creating yet another VAT. The retailer finally sells it to you triggering the final VAT in the system. At every level of production the seller has had to charge the buyer more because of the VAT and the buyer has passed on that cost to the next seller which means that the consumer ultimately pays for each and every VAT back to the farmer who grew the wheat. In the real world (or at least Europe where the VAT is everywhere) the result has added 100%+ to the cost of an item depending on what goes into it and the VAT rate. This is unlike a sales tax where most if not all wholesale (pre-consumer) transactions are exempted. Most consumers cannot absorb even a small VAT and it would kill any economic recovery - even the phantom one we're being told is going on right now.
There has been a recent row over Joe Klein (columnist at Communist Stooge Time Magazine) who accused Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin of sedition on Chris Matthews' show. Another guest chimed in adding Rush Limbaugh to the list for calling it the Obama 'Regime'. This blatant attempt to chill Free Speech comes from the very people who demanded 'regime change' (preferably violent) when George W Bush was president. In fact, the left called Bush's two terms a regime more than 6500 times from 1/20/01. Additionally, they trotted Bubba out to further attempt to chill free speech on the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. You may remember that he blamed Limbaugh directly for the actions of Timothy McVeigh.
Lesson: When Republicans are in power, dissent is the highest form of patriotism but when Democrats are in power dissent is seditious.
Feeling his oats after destroying American health care, the B-HO is targeting Wall Street for submission to the "Soviet Central Committee" this week. His willing accomplice in this scheme is Goldman Sachs. You may remember from previous posts the lengthy tentacles Goldman has in our government (across the political spectrum). Without warning the SEC slapped charges on Goldman - conveniently at a time to keep it from getting into the news cycle until after the weekend. The White House claims it had 'no idea' this was coming but by Monday, a Google search of "Goldman Sachs SEC" brings up a SPONSORED LINK to the B-HO's website (not the White House website). I'll let you draw your own conclusion there. In addition to that suspicious little tidbit, an article in the Washington Examiner today reveals the fact that Goldman has donated 7 times the amount of money to Obama as Enron did to George W Bush! Where is the MSM on that? They wouldn't let us forget that Enron donated a paltry $151,000 (inflation adjusted) to his campaign. Goldman dropped 7 digits into Barry's coffers. If Obama gets his "reform" passed look for Goldman to pay a small SEC fine while their competitors are destroyed by said "reform". Remember back in 2008, Hank Paulson (former Goldman bigwig) advised Bush not to intervene when Lehman Brothers collapsed and they were Goldman's main rival...
To distract us from that, the Regime has the FDA out trying to regulate how much salt can be added to our food - for our health naturally! Who do they think they are?
Both of these are being used to distract us from the Idiot of Economics, Paul Volcker floating the VAT trial balloon for the Regime recently. The VAT (value added tax) should be slapped from the lips of anyone who utters it as a legitimate idea. A VAT could double the prices of some goods overnight for consumers. Unlike a sales tax which is only charged at the retail level, a VAT is added to an item at EVERY LEVEL of production!
As an example, let's look at the wheat for a loaf of bread. A farmer grows the wheat, harvests it and sells it to the flour mill. The government charges VAT because the farmer has 'added value' to the wheat. The flour mill grinds it and sells it to the bakery triggering a second VAT because they 'added value' by milling the flour. The bakery mixes the flour into batter with other ingredients (all charged VATs) to make bread. They sell it to a retailer creating yet another VAT. The retailer finally sells it to you triggering the final VAT in the system. At every level of production the seller has had to charge the buyer more because of the VAT and the buyer has passed on that cost to the next seller which means that the consumer ultimately pays for each and every VAT back to the farmer who grew the wheat. In the real world (or at least Europe where the VAT is everywhere) the result has added 100%+ to the cost of an item depending on what goes into it and the VAT rate. This is unlike a sales tax where most if not all wholesale (pre-consumer) transactions are exempted. Most consumers cannot absorb even a small VAT and it would kill any economic recovery - even the phantom one we're being told is going on right now.
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