Stop Pulling the Wagon

The Simpsons Movie - 20th Century Fox - Matt Groening

I ask the question metaphorically as I do not advocate violence. 

Still, what does the citizenry do when government will not listen to the clear voice of the people?

Federally run and mandated Healthcare – We don’t want it!

Amnesty for illegal aliens – No! 

Porous and open borders – No!

Bailouts for poorly run Corporations and States -No!

Bankrupting our children and grandchildren with deficit spending – No!

Micro-manage every aspect of our lives – No!

Tax everything and every part of my daily life – No!

Leave me alone, get out of my way and stay out of my wallet – YES!

Are these people so self focused on their own failed ideology and so oblivious to the will of the American people?  Have they no eyes?  Have they no ears?  The American people are fast approaching the point of open rebellion.  The anger is building day by day.  Revolution is in the wind.  They have taken our America and trashed it. 

Pray that it will be only a peaceful rebellion and confined to the ballot box.                         …..Bob

Yesterday was our day to go to the State Fair.   My wife, myself, our daughter and one of her friends.  We planned the day so that  after we all had enjoyed  the animals, county exhibits,  some food and bought a few souvenirs, my wife and I could find a shady place to sit and people watch and the girls could go off to the fun of the Midway and the Rides.  It was a pleasant day with a light breeze and we found a bench in the shade and just rested. 

Relaxing there on that bench I remembered something I heard on the radio a couple of days earlier.  It was a news report that in preparation of implementing the new Government Run Health Care Plan, the Administration has issued instructions and guidelines on a new data base to be built.   Over the next couple of years they plan to collect information on each of us as individuals.  This will include our name, address, height, weight,  body mass index (BMI), whether or not we smoke, consume alcohol, etc. etc.  

The plan is that with this information they (the government) can develop healthy living plans for each of us.  Are you scared yet?

After “people watching” (and  looking in a mirror to include myself), I came to the conclusion that there was a whole bunch of  us folks that might not meet the governments guidelines on the Body Mass Index charts for “ideal” or “normal” weight to height ratio.  This applies across all age, racial, ethnic and social lines.

Coming home and doing a little on line (Google)  research I found a whole lot (too much) information and charts on the Body Mass Index (BMI) but I will include here one of the simplest to understand charts that I could find.  Keep in mind that what these indexes attempt to do is develop an “ideal” (and narrow) weight range based on height.  The ones I found do not take into consideration the fact that some people have smaller/larger  bones and body frames than others.  

Looking at this chart I realized that the only time in the last 25 years that this chart would not have considered me on the upper end of overweight or obese was after I discovered that I had a serious health issue.  Among other things, I went on a very strict diet to the point  that my doctor directed me not to lose any more weight and my family and friends told me I had become  emaciated and looked like an escapee from a concentration camp.  I didn’t believe them until I got my new drivers license picture and realized they were right.  At that lowest weight point, based on the BMI Chart, I was still a couple of squares into overweight  category and the government would have considered me still “fat”. 

I am not positive but I would guess that a whole lot of us Americans are going to get really “ticked off” when the “Feds” come knocking on our door and tell us that we are too fat and since “they” will be paying for our health care,  “they” have the right and the power to tell us what and how much we can eat and drink. 

I don’t know what kind of approved government foods I could have eaten at the State Fair.  I didn’t see any food vendors offering  boiled Rutabaga stew.

Now,  are you scared yet?                                          …….Bob   

I AM SORRY TO SAY than in my mind our current government has become little more than a dis-organized criminal enterprise.  if it were an organized criminal activity it would be efficient and not Thirteen Trillion Dollars in debt.

Howver, instead of just complaining about Government on a Federal (and most States) basis I have an obligation to say what I believe  Government  should look like and what I think it should be responsible for.  Especially what I have observed it is capable of doing resonably well even if not cost effectively.

Let me think:

1.  Provide for the nations defense and prevent armed and unarmed invasion by foregin powers and masses.  Secure our borders. 

2.  Uh…….Give me a little time……..  I’m trying to think of something else I want the Federal Government to be in charge of. 

In the process of (re)building the Federal Government we should examine all current Federal Departments and Agencies.

For example:

The Department of Energy was formed in the 1970’s with the goal of making the U.S.  LESS  dependent on foreign oil.  At the time we were importing about 30% of the oil we used.  Today, the Department of Engergy has a budget of more than 24 Billion Dollars and we are importing  70% of the oil we use.  If this were a private enterprise it would be broke and out of business.

How about the Federal Department of Education?  Could someone please tell me what the purpose of this department truly is?   Again we have liftime employment and benefits for those who work there but aside from that, I am unaware of any real, practical, positive help they provide my local schools.  Sorry,  issuing ill-conceived, unwanted and often unfunded “mandates” don’t count.  Our schools are best managed on a local basis with very little interference from State Government and none from the “Feds”.

I could continue department by department and agency by agency but will instead let the reader think of all the the Federal Agencies and Departments they come in contact with and ask themselves what they truly accomplish other than issue a lot of regulations and rules which complicate and make our lives more difficult and expensive.  To me, it does not count that these Departments and Agencies provide a place where employees shuffle papers around and build “Kingdoms”.  

Do any of these agencies or departments ever get “sun-setted” or shut down no matter how ineffective or wasteful they are?  If so, can you name one? 

Even programs and agencies most of us could support like Social Security, Medicare and a few others are so horribly mis-managed, stolen from (by Congress) and inefficient that they are un-sustainable and virtually bankrupt.  In the long term the only way the government will be able to make Social Security viable is to keep increasing the age of eligibility to the point that we qualify for benefits one month before we die. 

I would ask the reader to make a list of the Departments and Agencies that they believe Government manages efficiently and cost effectively.  How about the Postal Service?    

Your own thoughts are welcome and it is okay to disagree.

Just something to think about.                             …..BOB

I JUST HEARD ON THE NEWS THIS MORNING THAT A “SENIOR POLITICAL SPOKESMAN” HAS “FLOATED” THE IDEA THAT A 1% NATIONAL TRANSACTION TAX IS UNDER CONSIDERATION.

THIS TAX WOULD WORK LIKE THIS.  EVERY TRANSACTION (EXCEPT FOR SOME REASON STOCK PURCHASES/SALES) WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A 1% TRANSACTION TAX.  THIS NEW TAX WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER TAXES (SUCH AS SALES AND USE TAXES) BEING COLLECTED.  IT WOULD INCLUDE A 1% TAX WHEN YOU WRITE A CHECK, USE A CREDIT CARD, PAY BY CASH ETC..  WRITE A CHECK TO PAY YOUR ELECTRIC BILL, THATS A TRANSACTION AND SUBJECT TO THE TAX.  PARK YOU CAR AT A PARKING METER; THATS A TRANSACTION.  PULL THE HANDLE ON A SLOT MACHINE, ANOTHER TRANSACTION.  GET THE PICTURE?

IN ORDER TO KEEP WITH THE PRESIDENTS PLEDGE NOT TO  RAISE TAXES ON THOSE WHO EARN LESS THAN $250,000 PER YEAR,  A “MECHANISM” (SPELLED BUREAUCRACY) WOULD BE SET UP TO “REFUND” THE 1% TAX PAID BY ALL THOSE WHO EARN LESS THAN THE $250,000 PER YEAR THRESHOLD. 

OF COURSE TO DO THIS THEY WOULD NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRACK ALL OF OUR TRANSACTIONS.  PERHAPS A NATIONAL TRANSACTION CARD THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO USE FOR EVERYTHING?  AND THIS WOULD  HAVE THE ADDED BENEFIT OF GIVING THEM (THE GOVERNMENT) THE ABILITY TO KNOW EVERYTHING WE BUY AND DO.  THE GOVERNMENT WOULD THUS BE ABLE TO MONITOR WHETHER WE ARE BUYING “APPROVED” LIGHT BULBS, “APPROVED” TOILETS, “HEALTHY” FOODS, ECO-FRIENDLY CARS, ETC..   AD-NAUSEUM. 

THIS OUGHT TO WORK OUT WELL.  THIS NEW BUREAUCRACY WILL OF COURSE BE A MODEL OF EFFICIENCY AND BY MONTORING ALL OF OUR DAILY TRANSACTIONS THOSE IN POWER CAN TURN US ALL INTO “GOOD LITTLE SHEEPLE”.  WHERE IS THE ACLU WHEN YOU FINALLY NEED THEM?

BIG BROTHER IS ALIVE AND WELL ….                    BOB

I’VE GOT A QUESTION.

WE ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR BP TO PAY FOR THE COSTS OF THE DAMAGE IT HAS DONE TO THE GULF COAST.

CAN WE AGREE THAT IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE IT HAS DONE TO THE ECONOMY AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY?

WHERE DOES THE LINE FORM TO  GET PAID?

TO ALL MY LIBERAL FRIENDS.  I LOVE YOU.  I CARE ABOUT YOU.  I USED TO BE ONE OF YOU.  WE’VE TRIED IT THE LIBERAL  WAY FOR OVER 40 YEARS IN MY LIFTTIME.  IT DOESN’T WORK.   WE ARE THIRTEEN TRILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT AND COUNTING.  IT’S TIME TO CUT UP THE CREDIT CARDS. 

THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRAT VS REPUBLICAN ISSUE! 

OUR GOVERNMENT IS LIKE A 15 YEAR OLD WITH MOMS CREDIT CARD, DADS NEW CAR AND GRANDPAS BOTTLE OF JACK DANIELS. 

IT’S TIME TO STOP THE ‘SPIN’ AND THE LIES.  THE NEW HEALTH CARE PLAN IS NOT “DEFICIT NEUTRAL”.  ITS A LIE TO SAY IT IS.

WE CANNOT SPEND OUR WAY INTO PROSPERITY.   ITS BEEN TRIED.  IT DOESN’T WORK.  IT HAS NEVER WORKED.  IT WILL NEVER WORK.   FISCAL BANKRUPTCY IS THE MONSTER HIDING UNDER THE BED.                                ……..BOB

This oil spill disaster in the gulf has reminded me of the old Uncle Remus Wonderful Tar Baby Story with BP playing the part of Br’er Fox,  the Obama Administration playing the part of Br’er Rabbit and the oil spill playing the part of the Tar Baby.  

I think our “Dear Leader” may have been “Out Foxed” by BP on the 20 Billion Dollar “pot” of claims money that they “gave” President Obama’s hand picked Adminstrator to pay out for claims in the Gulf area.

It may be the cheapest 20 Billion Dollars that BP could have spent!

My reasoning is that no matter who doles out the claims dollars hardly anybody is going to be satisfied and the angry recipients are going to look for somebody to “Tar and Feather” (at least in the media).  As of now, BP can truthfully say that they have paid the money they were requested (Chicago style) to pay and the Complaint Department is now “down the street” at the Obama Adminstrations Claims Distribution Center. 

In other words they can wash their hands of trying to figure out who gets what and how to define a “just” claim from those who will simply try to game the system for some fast and easy money. 

In the aftermath of this nightmare the only ones who are likely to be satisfied with what they receive will be the ones who scam the system.  Anytime the “Guvment” gets its hands on a big bucket of “mulah” a good portion of it is going to be wasted.  If you doubt me look at the hundreds of millions of dollars scammed from Medicare.

Those who have truly suffered the most in this ongoing ordeal will likely never be truly satisfied,  because dollars alone cannot fully heal the wounds of this nightmare.  And many, if not most, will honestly feel they have not been justly compensated for their losses.  It will be hard to blame them for feeling this way.

It seems to me that if you really wanted to punish BP for this mess you could have forced them to deal with the tens of thousands of angry folks demanding (justly) to be compensated for the destruction of their environment and way of life.

The President and his Admistration  will likely find themselves up to their necks in oil (and maybe tar and feathers) for a long time to come.           ……….Bob