Obama Takes

The Stimulus Joke

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:58:50 -0400

Alright, if you missed it, here it is again. Council of Economic Advisers’ chair Christine Romer’s observations about the stimulus package. Romer said that “the government’s economic stimulus spending has already had its biggest impact,” and will (in Romer’s words) “likely be contributing little to further growth by the middle of next year.”

Wow, an honest statement that should have plenty of us worried. We spend 400 billion out of almost 800 billion, get negative growth in the quarters that follow, but must understand that it’s “done it’s job”????????? And, by the way, don’t expect anything better going forward…How about giving us the money back or using it to reduce the out of control deficit?

I’m sure they are currently working on the next “stimulus” since this White House doesn’t have a clue.

NewsBusters.org takes on this issue at http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2009/10/24/ap-waters-down-impact-romers-stimulus-has-had-biggest-impact-remark-igno

More of the Same

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:47:00 -0400

We keep hearing that the stimulus is working even as 10% of the population remains unemployed. We keep hearing that our healthcare is screwed up and needs the government to make it right, yet the government can’t take care of the current medical programs that have been around for decades. They are basically bankrupt.

So what’s the answer? I screwed up, give me another chance? The government is not efficient at running ANYTHING. The only employment numbers that are going up are government numbers that add to the incredible waste we continue to see.

Oh, and as it pertains to waste…isn’t it interesting that we are going to be able to fund a huge amount of this healthcare fiasco by cutting out waste and fraud in medicare, etc…if that’s truly the case, why not simply cut those things out now?

The solution is less government, not more. Tell your Congressman to read the Constitution.

Hey Obama, So What is it?

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:39:45 -0400

It started out as the only way to save our economy, yet here we are and the economy is improving…without changes to healthcare and without any real stimulus spending getting to work yet.

It then became a story about reforming our health care since it was so completely screwed up, according to the administration. The people spoke and said they actually like their health care plans just the way they are.

It then became the story about health insurance reform and those evil businesses that actually make a profit. God forbid, a profit!

The CBO and and every day Americans make it clear that this thing that the Democrats so want to shove down our throats is nothing more than a Washington power grab. There is a method to their madness. Control your access to healthcare, control your votes…it’s that simple.

Don’t let this government stomp on the Constitution. The Constitution does not guarantee people homes, food, healthcare, retirement income…it guarantees your ability to pursue those ends. That’s it.

Over the past seven decades, this has gotten blurred as government has expanded it’s reach well beyond the limits imposed by our founders.

Let’s help those who are truly in need of help. That’s the American way…not handouts for all.

Krugman and Big Government

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:15:28 -0400

Let’s give it to Paul Krugman. He can find a way to twist things to utter amazement. For instance, in his opinion at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/10/opinion/10krugman.html?_r=1&ref=opinion he states: “From the beginning, I argued that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a k a the Obama stimulus plan, was too small. Nonetheless, reasonable estimates suggest that around a million more Americans are working now than would have been employed without that plan — a number that will grow over time — and that the stimulus has played a significant role in pulling the economy out of its free fall.”

If anyone is paying attention, the “stimulus” has barely been touched. Indeed, numbers show that less than 10% of it has even been put to work. What we have in play here is the market, after an extended recession, beginning to right itself. It’s not a shock that the liberals will choose to ignore these facts as they attempt to claim victory for their big government initiatives.

How is this going over with the public? Not so great. Simply tune into the many town hall meetings to get a flavor for how the people that elected these officials feel about their actions.

Here’s a suggestion. Return the 700 billion dollars to the people who are on the hook for it: taxpayers. It is our money, in reality.

Politics of Fear

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:38:24 -0400

This headline has been associated with the Bush administration for years. Using fear of terrorism and attacks on U.S. soil gave Bush the ability to execute on his foreign policy. Many on the left have bitterly attacked this strategy.

Ironically, we are seeing the exact same approach with the Obama administration. Instead of wars on foreign land, we are waging a domestic war on capitalism. We’ve been told over and over how we “must act now” to avert disaster…regardless of what it is we need to act on. That includes buying banks and auto companies as well as “fixing” healthcare.

The policitics of fear are back in action again, and have been for quite some time. Ironic indeed.

Here it Comes for the 95%

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:17:41 -0400

Remember the campaign promises from Obama that the bottom 95% won’t see their taxes go up? That is about to change as the massive spending that’s already taken place in just six months comes home to roost…on top of the proposed spending that Congress and Obama are pushing hard for.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Obama-officials-Taxes-may-apf-1522318830.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=1&asset=&ccode=

The top 5% can’t pay for everything. That’s not a democracy. Everyone needs skin in the game for democracy to work. And now, you’ll have it, whether you like it…or even voted for it.

Healthcare Lies

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:04:50 -0400

When the President and Congress tell you that you can keep your current insurance and continue to see your existing doctor if you want to, they are telling a complete lie. They tell you this in the hope that you’ll not listen to the truth and believe what they tell you until it’s too late.

How do I know? As a business owner with 50 employees who are eligible for our health care plan I will consider the government option if it becomes available. The decision will be mine alone, but will affect everyone of our employees. They will not have a choice in whether they get moved on to the government plan. That decision will be up to me.

It’s remarkable that people, even in my own company, don’t see this. We are rushing towards a change that will negatively impact this country, in many ways, for decades to come. I rarely see the television shows talking to people like me that employ the vast majority of people. Instead, it’s so called pundits and politicians who think they know what’s best…on both sides. Most of these people have never run a business or even gone through the process of choosing an insurance plan for employees or a company. Yet here they are creating healthcare reform in the dark.

The vast majority of Americans have health care and of those that do, 80% say they are happy with their current plan. The issue is getting the bottom 5% who aren’t eligible and can’t afford insurance into a program that they/our government can afford.

Let’s not screw it up for the other 95% to fix this problem.

The Housing Mess (Continued)

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:34:28 -0400

When will our politicians ever learn? The Congress is now threatening banks that are foreclosing on mortgages that aren’t being paid. It was the Congress that created these foreclosures when they forced banks to loan money to people who couldn’t pay.

They did this through the Community Reinvestment Act in 1977 (look it up so you understand how this played a major role in the current crisis) and by buying these loans via Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSE’s with implied backing via the government).

Now, Barney Frank is threatening to force banks not to foreclose on bad loans, more of the government intervention that got us here in the first place.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Frank-threatens-banks-to-stop-apf-1701955541.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=4&asset=&ccode=

Liberal Suicide

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:38:00 -0400

In a case of “here we go again”, the Democrats are following the Republicans down the spending path. Will anyone ever stop repeating the sins of the past?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/opinion/21brooks.html

Say it Again

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:21:39 -0400

Do the politicians in Washington think that you’re ‘rich’ because someone handed you a bucket of money? Or that you hit the lottery?

The vast majority of the ‘rich’ are self made…meaning they built a business over decades with their own money and hard work. While they were getting ‘rich’, they paid a disproportionate share of all income taxes. Now that they are ‘rich’, they’ll pay more so that people who didn’t work as hard, or take as many risks, can have the same benefits as those that did.

Welcome to the new version of the American Dream.

Taxing the Rich...This Time for Healthcare

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:31:43 -0400

The pot of gold is about to run out on democrats…that is, taxing the rich to pay for things that other people aren’t willing to pay for. For the latest, check out this link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090709/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul

The rich don’t have a never ending pot of gold. People like me are considered rich, yet we run small businesses that have to lay off employees and cut back on investments in order to shoulder our currently high tax burden, let alone all of the new increases being proposed.

That means fewer jobs, lower tax revenues (people who work pay taxes—if I don’t hire them or keep them they don’t pay taxes) and higher entitlement spending for things like unemployment—they’ll be collecting when they get laid off.

Our current administration, and democrats in general, are clueless to the realities of all of these incremental taxes. The republicans blew it as well, but seem to be getting the idea of fiscal responsibility again.

New Jersey Raises State Income Taxes...Again!

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:10:34 -0400

It’s basically a double. Five years ago, effective tax rates in NJ went up by several percentage points. As of today, they are set to go up again for the highest earners. As one of those top earners, what am I thinking about right now? How to take my earnings, and my tax revenues, to another state that is more business friendly.

Instead of wooing people like me, states like NY, NJ and others are encouraging us to leave, and leave we will. If you don’t have kids, it’s a really easy decision. Move to a tax friendly state like Texas, Florida, Nevada or New Hampshire and tell the politicians in your previous state to go fx%^ themselves.

How is NJ doing since they bumped up the tax bracket for top earners a few years back? They’ve lost many of those top earners who have chosen other places to live and run their businesses. Tax revenues are down, as they are in all of these examples.

What states are doing well in comparison? States like Texas that are seeing a net inflow of residents, better job prospects and a growing economy.

More Taxes, Fewer Jobs

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:05:33 -0400

The headline says it all. As taxes go up, people like me need to take the money we would use to start a new business or expand an existing one and allocate it to the government. Will that create new jobs?

I’ll let the unemployment numbers today, and going forward, give you the answer: 10% plus unemployment is coming…fast.

More on Climate Change

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:16:08 -0400

As the house passes a historic bill to introduce “cap and trade”…read: TAX INCREASE FOR ALL, many former climate change cheerleaders are now reversing course. Obama’s own words speak to the length of time it will take for something like this to have an impact, if ever. So what’s the big hurry?

It’s back to the line by Rahm Emanuel: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” That statement by itself should worry most of us…just read it again if you still think it’s a good idea to follow that lead.

So what are many of the former proponents of climate change legislation saying today? Basically, hit the brakes:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124597505076157449.html

People who are lot smarter than our elected officials are pausing, and changing, with regards to their position on climate change. What’s the rush?

The Climate Change Joke

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:36:24 -0400

You’d think someone was kidding, but in reality, they aren’t. Did you know that more greenhouse gasses are emitted by belching farm animals than all of the other things you usually see associated with the whole climate change debate.

We’ve gone from calling it Global Warming, to Climate Change…and now we are faced with the reality that living creatures are the greatest emitters of what the EPA has deemed dangerous to mankind.

The idea of spending trillions of dollars to try and control the environment is ludicrous. If the true idea is to help poor people who are being affected by what they deem to be climate change, then simply use those dollars that would go to government coffers and distribute them directly in food, housing and medicine.

We could stop hunger and many diseases like Malaria in their tracks with this approach vs. the Al Gore sensational/line my pockets approach.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/THE-INFLUENCE-GAME-Excuse-me-apf-2452272823.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=

The Five Month MBA

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:14:23 -0400

If you owned a business would you hire an employee with zero business experience and make him your CFO? Would you let him drastically change every aspect of your business in that first five months? Would you throw away 200 years of facts: the fact that you’ve created the wealthiest business in the world?

I do own a business and I can tell you that nobody would do what I just outlined. That is, not if they wanted to stay in business. Yet, here we are as one thing after another gets piled onto the Obama agenda. Healthcare, Finance, Automotive, etc.

People need to take a look at EVERY government program that has been managed by our federal government. EVERY one of them has failed. Whether you’re talking about medicaid or social security, it doesn’t matter.

For those of you who voted for Obama, and continue to follow him blindly, maybe it is time to get your facts straight.

Hope? You’ll need more than that unless the independents and moderate democrats come to their senses. For more on hope, check out: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124528087493225237.html

Higher Taxes and Growth

Wed, 27 May 2009 05:56:57 -0400

If you don’t believe that higher taxes negatively affect revenues and growth, think again. I see it from the perspective of a small business. When almost half of my profits go to pay taxes, and the other half needs to be there for the next month’s cash flow needs, there isn’t anything left over to fuel growth or new hires.

That leads to a stagnant business environment and higher unemployment. Look no further than the high tax states in the Northeast to understand how higher taxes are impacting their revenues. In Maryland, the idea of soaking the rich led to higher taxes fro the rich. Since no one has to stay in Maryland, higher taxes made them leave.

The end result? Less taxes for the state and fewer millionaires calling MD home. Where did these people go? Lower tax states like Florida and Texas benefit with job growth when these people, mostly small business owners, bring their businesses there.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124329282377252471.html

Decision Making

Wed, 13 May 2009 16:07:01 -0400

Check out the latest reversal…this guy cannot make a decision. Now he has reversed himself on the prisoner ‘abuse’ photos. He should have rejected this earlier, but finally has come to his senses. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_pentagon_abuse_photos Leadership? Only a lack of it.

Lack of Leadership

Wed, 13 May 2009 10:07:47 -0400

Leaders take responsibility for their actions. They understand consequences. Obama understands neither. That’s why he has consistently thrown everyone, from his pastor to people on his staff, right under the bus. If you think the guy who authorized the flyover in NYC was the guy they just fired, think again. Obama talks about sacrifice and then spends over 300k of YOUR MONEY to take a photo that guys in my office could have put together with Photoshop. If you don’t think he was aware of this brilliant idea, think again.

White House Military Liaison Ousted Over Low-Flying Flight Over Manhattan

Fri, 08 May 2009 16:49:38 -0400

Shocking…Obama throws another one of his guys under the bus. That isn’t a shock for those of us who watched him throw his pastor and others under that same bus during his campaign. Another great example of leadership.