Grow the economy, not the government.

When people say they wouldn't mind paying more taxes to get more government services, it's begs me to ask the question, "why not just pay for the services directly?" See, the more people who pay for something causes growth of an industry which causes competition and innovation which causes lower prices. Why not just pay for your own healthcare and focus on fixing the Medicaid & Medicare systems? Then, instead of paying higher taxes, donate your money to a charity that does the kind of work that pulls your heartstrings.

And for those folks like Warren Buffet who say they should pay higher taxes, you CAN voluntarily pay more taxes! Do it! Or, better yet, invest your money in an idea that employs people so they don't have to rely on government assistance. Grow the economy, not the government.

Finance reform hits home

So, you don't think this financial reform deal is going to hit the bank account of average Joe & average Jane? Check out this letter from USAA, the nation's largest financial institution serving the military and their families.

Dear Mr. Bouterse: Rarely in our 87-year history have we turned to USAA members to weigh in with elected representatives on an issue of great importance. But, we are now. The U.S. Senate currently is considering legislation (S.3217) that would impose new rules on the nation's financial services industry, including USAA. As the leading provider of financial services to America's military community, USAA supports financial services reform. However, the current Senate bill would disproportionally impact USAA because we are a unique and fully integrated association. USAA is not like the banks and other companies that helped bring down our economy, and we never took a penny of TARP funds. We do not engage in the harmful practices this legislation seeks to resolve. If unchanged, the bill would: Prevent USAA from managing the association's portfolio as we have for the past 87 years. Jeopardize our ability to continue offering many of our competitive products. Limit our ability to return money to our members. Last year, USAA returned $1.2 billion to our members in the form of distributions, dividends, and bank rebates and rewards.* So, we are asking all USAA members and employees to urge their U.S. senators to amend a portion of the bill, known as the "Volcker Rule," to eliminate its effect on a company like USAA. Please know that this legislation does not impact individual member's investments. Regardless of the outcome of the legislation, USAA will remain a unique and enduring association that's all about you — the military and their families. Please take action on this matter by immediately contacting your U.S. senator. You may click here to access a special website that will enable you to quickly send an e-mail message to your senator. Thank you for your help and support, Josue (Joe) Robles Jr. Major General, USA (Ret.) President and CEO

Student loan sham

Have you heard the reports in the news about the government "cutting out the middle man" when it comes to student loans? Well, if you haven't, here's a synopsis:

The government passed the healthcare legislation a couple weeks ago. Within hours, democrats presented a reconciliation bill that would make the spending outlined in the reform bill legal. Because reconciliation is used for budgeting and finance purposes, the dems threw student loan reform into the reconciliation.

Up until now, the federal government has backed the loans given to students though independent lenders. The loans were government guaranteed, but the lenders did all the detail work. The government provided the guarantee with our tax dollars while the banks made and serviced loans at really low rates.

The news clips I've heard about it report that the government is cutting out the middle man - the banks - and handling the loans themselves in order to save money on fees. Instead of outsourcing student loans to the experts, the loan industry, our federal government has absorbed the lending market for student loans and created a whole new government agency.

Now you can only get student loans through the government.

Back to the basic question: What does government do RIGHT that makes us think it can handle student loans?

Follow up question: How much will the government take-over of student lending increase the government size? What about federal debt?

Blatant trickery, a move disguised as student loan reform turns out to increase government dependence.

Obama even recommended that workers who stay employed with the federal government for 10 years or more should have their student loans disolved. Another incentive for good government worker-bees.

Again, only people pay taxes!

Finally, it's not just us FairTaxers screaming "ONLY PEOPLE PAY TAXES"!! The Congressional Budget Office (a non-partisan group that basically prices out legislation) sent a letter yesterday to Senator Chuck Grassley explaining how new bank taxes will be passed down to the consumer, the employees and the investors. Here's the actual quote as stated in Mike Brownfield's Heritage Report article:

[T]he ultimate cost of a tax or fee is not necessarily borne by the entity that writes the check to the government.

The cost of the proposed fee would ultimately be borne to varying degrees by an institution’s customers, employees, and investors.

Customers would probably absorb some of the cost in the form of higher borrowing rates and other charges, although competition from financial institutions not subject to the fee would limit the extent to which the cost could be passed to borrowers. Employees might bear some of the cost by accepting some reduction in their compensation, including income from bonuses, if they did not have better employment opportunities available to them. Investors could bear some of the cost in the form of lower prices of their stock if the fee reduced the institution’s future profits.

If you're still not getting it, please go back and review my ranting post from January on the same exact topic.

We have a problem with our government that is more than just spending... it's the lack of transparency in taxation. Right now, what in the world does taxation have to do with spending or fiscal responsibility? This year alone, our federal government will spend $1.4 trillion MORE than they take in (that's called deficit spending). So if spending were attached to taxation, we wouldn't have any problem balancing our budget! We've gotten so far out of hand with spending, though, that no amount of taxation in 2010 or beyond will balance the budget, let alone catch up on the accrued debt.

We need transparency. Without knowing where the government's revenue comes from, how can we hold them accountable? We also need a common sense law that says "No spending above tax revenue". Just an idea.

Chavez will always hate us

A blip on the news scene today noted that Hugo Chavez called Hillary Clinton a "blonde Condeleezza". Apparently, despite our new progressive Presidential leadership, America's policies in Latin America remain the same as when Condoleezza Rice held the position of Secretary of State.

It's actually pretty funny when you think about it. Chavez is the dictator of Venezuela who enacted socialist policies and last enjoyed an economic inflation rate of 30% in 2008. Any way you look at it, Chavez should really hate America with our FREEDOM and all.

That's why it was so strange to anyone paying attention when President Obama sided with Chavez over the overthrow of the attempted dictator of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya. Zelaya tried to change the Constitution while in the Office of President to illegally extend his Presidency. The military in Honduras arrested Zelaya and exiled him from the country.

The Honduran Military was upholding the Constitution.

Our President stepped in and sided with the attempted-dictator along with other socialist pals like Hugo Chavez. Our government worked to restore Zelaya's presidency within hours of the arrest. Supporters of Zelaya claimed that he should stay in power for the sake of democracy. Yet the Supreme Court of Honduras found that Zelaya's "call for a referendum for his term limits to be eased" unconstitutional and the military's actions supported by law.

Despite our President siding with the socialists back in July, Hugo Chavez still hates us. He doesn't think President Obama has done enough to weaken our military, socialize our society or distribute our wealth (whatever that is being that we have a $1.4 trillion deficit on the books). Despite this administration's attempt to take-over our free-market economy, Americans have slowed the ransacking with hopes to return the old glory of this nation.

Oh, back to our blonde Condoleezza. Apparently Hillary Clinton did not only perpetuate the strategies of the Bush administration, she absolutely and completely offended the entire nation of Honduras. With the ousting of attempted-dictator Zelaya, the country has seen blood-shed, violence, arrests and torture by the government in attempts to stifle the pro-democracy movement. With all the damage to Honduras, Clinton said in a recent speech, "The Honduras crisis has been managed to a successful conclusion... it was done without violence".

So, anyway, I'm pretty okay with Hugo Cavez hating America. It means we haven't completely slipped into the depths of socialism.

...a major opportunity to distribute wealth...

There was a time in our history when unions were needed. That was back before Federal and State laws banned child labor or created workplace environment controls. One of the few things that I agree with FDR about is that he was absolutely against the unionization of government workers.

Government workers are notorious for being under-productive, lacking customer service and basically unable to be fired. Yet, they make nearly twice as much as a private sector employee (and remember - they're being paid with our tax dollars!). All the while, they tout that they are "public servants". A "public servant" would enjoy their job, would do it because they care, and would show compassion for their citizens by fighting for our Constitutional rights. Where do you see that happening in our government? WE are fighting THEM for our rights to life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. We are fighting for our right to own land, to worship as we please, to carry a gun and to speak freely.

Have you noticed how the Federal government is quick to demonize anyone who doesn't agree with their tactics? How about that Homeland Security Threat that was issued last April 15 for those of us protesting the income tax system? Ya, I'm sure a threat! (well, a threat to the status quo, anyway)

If this next quote doesn't scare the beegeebies out of you, I don't know what will. Andy Stern, the head of Service Employees International Union and President Obama's newly added "deficit panel" member recently said this:

We now have a new metric. The president says he wants to judge the new economy whether it increases the number of people in the middle class. Whether we have shared prosperity, not just growth. Which is a fundamental different philosophy then what we've seen in this country to date. Now how do we distribute wealth in this country ... clearly government has a major opportunity to distribute wealth - from the EITC, from tax policies, from minimum wages, from living wages - the government has a role in distributing wealth and social benefits. We are at historic crossroads ... in terms of what our new president is trying to do and a different way we are going to try and evaluate the economy. And so all of sudden we are witnessing the first new American economic plan led by the government, not necessarily by the private sector.

Um, what?! He literally says that it's the government's job to spread wealth. It's the government's job, not the private sector's job, to create jobs and to determine how much people will make. Ever heard "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need"? THOSE ARE MARXIST PRINCIPLES.

It is time for Americans to wake up and understand what's going on in this great country. The socialist Democrats have been very patient over the last 100 years developing government dependence and class envy. It started with income taxes, then social security, then welfare and now a majority of Americans take more from the government than they pay in taxes. Next is our healthcare.

We are pawns in a power game and we are seriously being played. WAKE UP!! Capitalism, free market and a rule of law are what made this country great. If you don't like it, move on out! No one's stopping you.

2 reasons I'll never advertise with the News-Journal

The Daytona Beach News-Journal is filing bankruptcy and is in the midst of being sold for a ridiculously low price. I assume everyone knows that advertising is how any media outlet pays its bills. Which means that you must put out a product that businesses will support with their advertising dollars.

I will never advertise in the News-Journal. (reason #1) Check out this column by Pierre Tristam, a staff writer for the newspaper. He would rather see private businesses collapse than our economy rejuvenate. This particular article on healthcare is not out of the ordinary for him.

If the News-Journal really wanted to stay in business, they'd listen to potential advertisers! Wouldn't it be fun if they did an ongoing debate between Pierre and someone who believes in free-market economy and private business?

And then here's a little doozy by the staff editorial cartoonist that ran in the March 2nd edition (reason #2):

He's basically saying that if you're not a Republican, you have no real reason to dismiss Obama's policies. All we can do is be jealous of the messiah - reasons enough to "hate" him, right? Well, I don't "hate" Obama and I'm not a Republican, so I must just be jealous.