Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Did ObamaCare save this woman?

Ths photo is completely and 100% fraudulent. There is no provision of ObamaCare currently implemented which would have helped in such a situation. She would have had to purchase health care through a special program six months before she went to the hospital which she clearly did NOT.

I have seen this shared over and over. While we all have our biases we should all strive for the truth before pullling that lever in November.  
 
Remember, friends don't let friends vote ignorant!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Obama interview on Libya and Green Subsidies


I just want to highlight some quotes from one of the rare interviews Obama gives where he is asked some pertinent questions….

Kyle Clark, asked if it's fair for Americans to be told to wait until after the election to...learn what truly happened in Libya.

Obama, "The election has nothing to do with four brave Americans getting killed and us wanting to find out exactly what happened,"

I am sure Obama would like for the American people to think his failed foreign policy and reaction to the attacks are not used as a deciding point and that he can hide the truth until after the election.

The President was also asked about the loss of tens of millions of taxpayer dollars in the failure of Abound Solar, a Fort Collins company connected to one of the President's billionaire fundraisers.
"These loans that are given out by the Department of Energy for clean energy have created jobs all across the country," President Obama said. "Some of them have failed but the vast majority of them are pushing us forward into a clean energy direction. These are decisions, by the way, that are made by the Department of Energy. They have nothing to do with POLITICS,"

The facts:

80% of these loans went to President Obama’s campaign donors. That means POLITICS in my book. I looked and it appears all the failures are well documented yet a Google Search of “Obama green energy success” failed to list a single company which has been a success story, at least of the first two pages of results. I would like for someone to point to the successful selection of using our tax dollars to pick green companies to support, corporate welfare, if there are any.

Complete list of faltering or bankrupt green-energy companies:

1. Evergreen Solar ($25 million)*
2. SpectraWatt ($500,000)*
3. Solyndra ($535 million)*
4. Beacon Power ($43 million)*
5. Nevada Geothermal ($98.5 million)
6. SunPower ($1.2 billion)
7. First Solar ($1.46 billion)
8. Babcock and Brown ($178 million)
9. EnerDel’s subsidiary Ener1 ($118.5 million)*
10. Amonix ($5.9 million)
11. Fisker Automotive ($529 million)
12. Abound Solar ($400 million)*
13. A123 Systems ($279 million)*
14. Willard and Kelsey Solar Group ($700,981)*
15. Johnson Controls ($299 million)
16. Schneider Electric ($86 million)
17. Brightsource ($1.6 billion)
18. ECOtality ($126.2 million)
19. Raser Technologies ($33 million)*
20. Energy Conversion Devices ($13.3 million)*
21. Mountain Plaza, Inc. ($2 million)*
22. Olsen’s Crop Service and Olsen’s Mills Acquisition Company ($10 million)*
23. Range Fuels ($80 million)*
24. Thompson River Power ($6.5 million)*
25. Stirling Energy Systems ($7 million)*
26. Azure Dynamics ($5.4 million)*
27. GreenVolts ($500,000)
28. Vestas ($50 million)
29. LG Chem’s subsidiary Compact Power ($151 million)
30. Nordic Windpower ($16 million)*
31. Navistar ($39 million)
32. Satcon ($3 million)*
33. Konarka Technologies Inc. ($20 million)*
34. Mascoma Corp. ($100 million)
*Denotes companies that have filed for bankruptcy.

We also know that loans went to foreign clean energy companies (Fisker sent money to their overseas plant to develop an electric car), and that 80% of these loans went to President Obama’s campaign donors.
The President is trying to claim in an early campaign ad that he’s created 2.7 million clean energy jobs. When you look at all the companies going bankrupt, some of those jobs might have been paid for by the stimulus, but they are gone now. You can’t claim we’re up 2.7 million jobs if so many of those jobs have been subsequently lost.

It appears Romney was wrong in the debate when he stated half of all companies Obama picked were going broke. Seems it is actually well over half.

http://www.9news.com/news/politics/296294/166/9NEWS-questions-President-Obama-on-Libya-attackSee

Help us spread the word....

Often I have assisted others in putting forth logical discussion points to combat liberal ideas.  The Left often resorts to name calling and simple denial as arguments.  To be successful we must not resort to name calling and hate speech.  History, facts, and basic economic theory are on our side.  On numerous occasions I have provided links or thoughts to FB friends in order to give them the information required to successfully beat back ignorance.

Remember our goal here is not to win arguments.  Our goal is to change people’s attitudes, and ultimately their voting behavior, over time.   You don’t do that by name calling and insults.  You do that through education and a sense of humor where possible.  Look at the Occupiers vs. Tea Party demonstrations as examples.  Realize you may not change the person which posted the article or picture stating something incorrectly.   However, other persons reading the discussion can appreciate a reasoned and sensible argument against the disinformation. 

I have posted previously a discussion I had with an Obama supporter in my yard.  Here is another recent FB discussion where the person probably believes they won the discussion, but would any sensible person reading this discussion think,”Wow!  She really knew what she was talking about?”   She was not armed with any facts and had to resort to simple dismissal as her only weapon. 

It starts with a posting of this youtube video.  I have removed last names of other persons involved.

·         I will be driving their getaway vehicle....

Wes Owen Funny stuff! But if you need any gas money please let me know!

21 hours ago · Like · 1

Carol Ok will do! ;)

Mike What a tasteful ad!

7 hours ago · Unlike · 1

Wes Owen If fits the source. Just enjoy the humor for what it is

7 hours ago · Like

Carol  Don't be doggin' my ole' homies or we will stop by your place on tour de force!

7 hours ago via mobile · Like

Carol  You are right about the source. Anyone who needs to win by voter suppression deserves the get sucker punched right in the balls!!

7 hours ago via mobile · Like

Wes Owen LMAO. Voter suppression? Let's talk Black Panthers or not sending out ballots to the military. Besides why would the R's want to suppress the senior vote. They are old and wise = Not voting for Obama

7 hours ago · Like

Wes Owen  Seniors: Obama currently faces an 8-point deficit among seniors. That’s the same deficit he had against McCain on Election Day in 2008. But there’s one key difference: Obama lost seniors to McCain by 45–53; today, he trails Romney 41–49. Anytime an incumbent drops to around 40 or 41 percent with a specific group, it’s a safe assumption that the majority of that group’s undecided voters will break for the challenger. So there is great risk that Obama’s numbers among seniors will, in the end, be worse than they were in 2008.

7 hours ago · Like

Wes Owen Would you like to make this an issue on free and fair elections where we can bring up voter fraud by ACORN and the NAACP? Or voting machines which change votes to Obama? No but you want to talk about voter ID as voter suppression I suppose?

7 hours ago · Edited · Like

Carol There you go again...Wes ;-) You need to friend Mike . You two can go on a rant together! I love a
how you over-react to everything. Super-defensive eh? You should be. Because you are WRONG!

7 hours ago via mobile · Like

Wes Owen And there you go dear, ignoring facts in blind support of Obama. Doing nothing to present any case to support your assertion except using an Obama tactic from the debate proclaiming something false with no evidence to the contrary. What is really scary is you probably think you present a more compelling argument. BTW I do like Mike

Carol  I don't have the time to respond to your bologna! Romney is the biggest LIAR on the face of this planet so please don't insult my intelligence with your rambling crap you claim as facts!

6 hours ago via mobile · Like

Mike  Wow! I get in the shower and you guys really go at it! Speaking of voter ID, didn't I see Obama show his drivers license the other day when he voted in Chicago? Is that voter suppression? I guess it does suppress the dead guys that used to vote so much there ... under the Democratic Daley Machine. I wonder how much of that is still around?

6 hours ago · Unlike · 1

Carol You are not worthy of a debate with me! Please  Mike & Wes Owen go have a tea party together elsewhere! ;-)

6 hours ago via mobile · Like

Carol  I have too much work to do on my list, one thing includes getting my 82 yr old father's id renewed. If it weren't for me helping him, he would probably not have the opportunity to vote.

6 hours ago via mobile · Like

 I encourage all; post your Obama/Left ideas when you don’t know how to combat a particular point, or if you have already successively combated one let others benefit by posting.  Perhaps a good analysis of a news release?  Together we can help each other to show the return of limited Constitutional government is the path to prosperity and a greater America for all.

Above all remain use the powers of logic and knowledge to overcome ignorance. 

Monday, October 29, 2012

Another Riley story

Another true story about my Little Brother, Riley, from Big Brothers........

Tonight Riley is having his first sleep over at my place with Jack my neighbor's son. On the way to pick up Riley I was listening to Hannity with Jack in the car. Hannity was talking about Obama and Jack stated "Obama is like Carter", obviously he had been listening to his mom. As a response I just said "sure are some similarities."

After we pick up Riley Hannity was still on. One of the boys said, "I don't see why anyone likes Obama."

This is the conversation that ensued;

Well, alot of people like him because he gives them stuff.

Huh?

Like cell phones or free doctor's visits.

Huh?

Ok how about if I gave you candy would you like me better, Jack?

Yeah!

That is why people like Obama.

Now what if I took money from your dad to buy candy to give to Riley. Would you like that?

NO!

That is why people don't like Obama.

Just have to talk to them in kid terms and start them young!

Obama good for race relations?

A question to ponder. Has the Obama presidency helped or hurt race relations in the US?

Reading various blogs Obama supporters talk of killing Romney and rioting if Obama loses.

While Romney supporters talk about leaving the country.

I believe this shows a basic diffference between the two demographics.

If Romney wins and we have the threatened riots does that set back race relations?


This recent poll seems to indicate racism is getting worse.

My Pledge

I will make everyone a deal. IF the person I am supporting in this election wins, I pledge to you the following ten things will happen by during his term:

1. The annual deficit will be reduced by 50% from this year’s level, projected at $1.1 Trillion
2. Unemployment will be under 6%
3. Federal tax revenue will be increased without raising marginal tax rates
4. GDP growth will be over 3%
5. The number of persons on food stamps will be down from 2012-13, not because of cutback to the program
6. We will have been involved in fewer military engagements than we have been in the last four years
7. Poverty levels will have decreased from 2012-13
8. None of our ambassadors will be murdered abroad in the last three years of his term
9. The previous President will not be blamed for the state of affairs in the next Presidential election cycle
10. The Attorney General will not be under investigation or under contempt of Congress

If 2 or more of these conditions are not met I will admit I was wrong and will NOT vote for him or his party for another term. Just in case you were not aware, I do happen to support Romney in this election. If Obama wins and can meet 8 the same conditions I will vote for his party.

Are you willing to do the same? Do you have a different 10 things you expect from your President in the next 4 years?

The Elasticity of Taxes


The Right Point Too!

We have heard lately how Romney wants to cut taxes by $5 Trillion and Biden stating Obama will raise taxes by $1 Trillion on the “rich”. For the purpose of this article I am going to ignore the politics involved in both of those statements and instead discuss ONE reason why a tax break never “costs” the government as much, nor does a tax increase ever generate as much revenue for the government as politicians attempt to portray. While we could talk about the increase/decrease in economic activity, velocity of money, or simply truth in characterizing these things, here we are only going to discuss one small piece of the puzzle, the elasticity of taxes.

Very simply the elasticity of taxes states the higher the tax rates the less you will collect of what you should, while the lower the tax rates the higher percentage you will collect. In France we have a perfect example of such a thing happening right now. http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/french-taxes-hollande-socialist/2012/08/08/id/447944. Basically, France is attempting to tax the rich at 75% and raise capital gains taxes. The rich are running which result in fewer taxes collected than expected.

I want to illustrate this concept further using examples which we all can relate.

1. Gas taxes in Kansas are 25 cents, while taxes in Missouri are, 17 cents normally resulting in a 5 to 10 cents difference per gallon at the pump. As a result, I will wait to buy gas in MO each week when I go to play volleyball on the MO side. Each time I do this KS loses revenue because I am avoiding the higher tax rates by going to MO. It is relatively easy for me to do so I choose to save the couple of bucks each week. KS loses because of higher taxes. The larger the difference between the states the more persons would make the effort to avoid the higher tax. When the higher taxes were put into place proponents would have simply counted the number of gallons sold and multiplied that by the tax increase to provide their estimate of the revenue. They would not have taken this into account.

2. You hire someone to repair your garage door. The bill comes to $100. You offer him $90 in cash. If this small business owners tax rate is low he will likely decline. The higher the tax rate the more likely he is to accept your offer. The more he can save the more willing he is to accept the risk he may get caught. The more he can save the more likely you are to make him a cash offer knowing he will accept.

3. You need to purchase a new TV set for $1000. Sales tax is 9% or $90. You can get the TV set at Best Buy or you can purchase the same TV set with free shipping at an Internet site. Where do you purchase? Would you purchasing decision changed if the tax rate was 2% or what about 20%? How many of you claim all of your Internet purchases at the end of the year on your tax returns and pay taxes as you should? Would you be more likely to do so the lower the tax rate?

Many of us have faulted the “rich” for legally, some cases likely illegally, attempting to lower their tax rates by getting dividend income, using tax shelters etc., but how many of us do much the same thing, legally or illegally? Ever claim a few extra bucks on the charity receipt for clothes you donated? Do you justify in your head because you pay so much in tax already?

We should accept the elasticity of taxes as reality and understand the raising taxes will never generate as much revenue as expected while lowering tax rates will never “cost” as much as stated. The more you raise taxes the greater extremes businesses and persons, the 1% or 99%, will go to avoid paying the tax.

“Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains.”
--Thomas Jefferson

Similarly, the more other countries raise taxes while we lower ours, the greater share of their tax revenue we can collect as persons seek lower tax rates. Just like the interaction with KS and MO for a couple of bucks a week, investors will have money flow between countries when millions, billions, or even trillions of dollars are at stake.

The best we can do is attempt to keep tax rates as low and as simple as possible for all.

That is my opinion and The Right Point Too!

Another bit of humor and a true story

True story happened to me last night.

I come home and Mike, a painter friend of mine, is working at my neighbor's house so I stop in to say Hi. Here is part of the conversation which came up, leaving out the personal chit chat.

Hey Mike, how's it going.

Good.
How's business been?

Eh, not that good. Been pretty slow

Sorry to hear that.

Been watching the playoffs

Nah, politics is my sports right now.

Mario, Mike's helper, chimes in "better watch out Mike knows his stuff"

"I think I will be ok", I said thinking Mike as a self employed small business owner was likely a Romney supporter.

Mike starts, "Yeah we gotta make sure we keep Romney out."

Really how come?

Oh, Obama has done so much?

Really, like what?

Silence......

Mike, let me ask you this do you think all that the Fed is doing is Constitutional?

Of course

Really, have you read the Constitution?

oh yeah

And you think all is within the Enumerated Powers

Enumerated Powers?

Yeah

Never heard of them

But you have read the Constitution

Sure I have

Well they are a major part of the Constitution. I wrote a paper on them. I can send it to you?

No.

Do you know Obama blames his failure on the Constitution and says it is bothersome for him.

Oh he did not say that

Actually he did in an interview with Matt Lauer

Who's Matt Laurer?

He is on the Today show. Ok, so what has Obama done?

Foreign Policy!

Really like Libya

No I told me friends he screwed up on that one. But he got Osama?

Yes, he did but do you think there was any President that would not have done that.

Probably not

Back to Libya for a second, do you think it is more likely they were pissed off about Obama going around bragging about killing Osama or the video.

Well yeah, but he has been good for the middle class.

So I suppose you don't think the decliine in income has hurt things

well

What about unemployment do you believe that is really going down even though unemployment claims are rising?

uh

You told me business is not good. Is it better now than 4 years ago?

well, he is socializing medicine

And that is a good thing?

Yes!

So did you realize ObamaTAX gives the government the authority to access your bank account and take money at any time

Mikes, jaw drops.

Do you know if you don't buy health care insurance you will be fined?

All I know is that he is going to take money from rich guys like you, with two cars, and give to me!!!!!

Now there is one I can't argue with, Mike!

Update 11-6.   Mike just told me he did NOT vote for Obama.    He said between Libya and not accepting Federal funds in 2008 it was just too much for him.   However, he elected to leave the Presidential slot open on his ballot rather than vote for Romney

A Flat Tax for a more prosperous country

The Right Point Too!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/25/fact-check-is-romney-tax-rate-really-lower-than-yours/

While I appreciate what this author has to say I think he misses the main point. What Romney did or did not pay in taxes is not relevant. So long as he did not break the law it is completely irrelevant if he is or is not suitable to President.

What we should be discussing is tax policy. The purpose of a tax is to gain revenue for a government to function. I would suggest it should not be used to purchase votes, reward lobbyists, or manipulate behaviors. Quite the opposite taxes should be structured in such a manner as to have the least impact on the private sector possible.
With our current tax system of loopholes, incentives and outright payoffs you really have no idea if you are paying more or less taxes than Romney or Obama.
Our current tax system is a burden on businesses to comply, as well as pay. Billions perhaps, trillions are spent simply in tax preparation between business and personal filings. This money is wasted as it produces no valuable product or service. That cost is multiplied as businesses make business decisions based on tax avoidance instead of deploying capital in the most valuable manner to obtain a real return. Business taxes make our products less competitive abroad, costing jobs. Business taxes make America less attractive to foreign capital, costing jobs. Business taxes provide a disincentive for bringing home foreign profits made by American companies, costing jobs. Noticing a pattern here? Business taxes are an added expense to a business which makes us less competitive in a global market.

In addition, for all of this effort, and job loss, business income taxes are a rather small part of Federal government revenues, accounting for only 8% of the total.

The reason it is argued taxing capital gains or dividends are taxed at a lower rate, which is what happens with Buffet and Romney, is that income has already been taxed once. Why should we get to tax it again?

I believe eliminating the business income tax and simplifying the personal tax code would more than make up the lost 8% in increased economic activity more exports, and foreign investment in our country. If you are a company where would you like to put your HQ? In the US with a great infrastructure and zero taxes or in China where you give a up a quarter of your profits, or perhaps a European country with tax rates between 13 and 35%.


A simplified tax code would not be used for social welfare. As an example, 3 years ago my brother paid in $8 in Federal income tax. His rebate? $3599. How is that a revenue generator for the government? Under a simplified tax code all income is treated equally since dividends and capital gains are no longer being taxed at the business level. Questions about Romney’s tax rate become irrelevant. There is no longer that “tax break” for the “rich” or anyone which has investments.

No longer do you have to drop $50 for tax software every year or a couple of hundred to an accountant.

Under this plan everyone pays the same, everyone gets the same deduction. That deduction is set to remove
all of those in poverty from the tax rolls. Let’s say that number was set at $35,000. Let’s further assume the tax rate is 20% in order to collect adequate revenues. That would mean a person earning $40,000 pays taxes on only $5000, a pretty good deduction, and pay $1000 in tax. While a person earning $1,000,000 would find the deduction to be pretty insignificant, and pay $193,000 in tax. For those under $35,000 in income I propose they pay a symbolic $1 minimum tax to demonstrate we are all in this together. Any increases in the tax rate would also be added to the $1 so an increase of 10% in the tax rate from 20% to 22% as an example would raise the $1 to $1.10.

Now here is the kicker. As you may have noticed there are no longer any rewards or punishments for choices you make. Get married or not, have kids or not, buy a house or rent, go to school, invest, no longer will you be rewarded or punished for those choices. No longer can politicians buy votes by manipulating the tax code. A dramatically smaller and less intrusive IRS is the result.

There you have it. More jobs. More prosperity. And, an assurance of no more tax breaks for the rich. No longer will Buffet’s secretary pay less than he does. Now what’s not fair?

There you have it, my opinion and the Right Point Too!

The Enumerated Powers

I orginally published this on FB immediately following the debate

The Right Point Too!

During the debate Romney made a statement that chilled me to the bone. If he were not running against the most destructively successful President of my lifetime I would consider voting for someone else. He stated the first question he would ask himself about any program was if we should borrow money from China to pay for it. He did not even consider a program ...should be Constitutional!! That is the first question all new laws should be asked to pass. The Constitution is what the President is sworn to protect.

Not too long ago someone stated to me that the Constitution is thrown around too much. REALLY? It is only the founding document of our Country and the foundation for our government. Too much? We ignore it far too often.


Our forefathers intentionally attempted to limit the powers of the Federal government and reserve most of the power for the States. They went so far as to list the powers which the Federal government has, called the Enumerated Powers.
====================================================
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and

Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
=======================================================
That is it! That is all they can do!

Additional powers may be granted to the Federal government but those must be granted by amending the Constitution. Most of those further restrict the powers of the Federal government but can be used to grant additional power, such as the 16th which allows for income taxes, passed in 1913. Yep, before that no income taxes!

Some persons may attempt to argue the “general Welfare” or “necessary and proper” statement grants the Fed the power to do anything that is good for us. However, that was not the intention when written. This is abundantly clear by reviewing the Federalist Papers and some of the other writings of the our Forefathers. These were both related to providing the Enumerated Powers. The Federalist papers were a series of articles written to discuss and promote the ratification of the Constitution.

When viewing these Enumerated Powers I ask you how do you possibly justify government run health care, the department of Education, food stamps, Medicaid, Social Security and on and on?

Does the Constitution say States can’t do these things? Absolutely not. This is where those things belong! States have the right to healthcare if they choose. Food Stamps sure. If a state thinks that is the best manner to provide for its citizens it may do so.

Huge Federal debt? No. While the Enumerated Powers do provide the power to borrow it is clear they never expected the sort of abuse we see today.

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes."
— Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence

Parents and grandparents how is it you justify supporting the sort of spending we see today, burdening you children and grandchildren with your debt?

It was not even imagined our future leaders would lack the moral integrity to control the abuse this has led to. A country that would stop midway through building the Washington Monument, for lack of funds, would one day have a $16 Trillion debt? Unimaginable, yet our reality today.

When you hear politicians promising to take care of you and give you whatever it is I hope this article gives you pause and ask yourself, “Is that Constitutional?”

That is my opinion and The Right Point Too!

A bit of humor

Riley is my "Little" Brother from Big Brothers and he just turned 10 a few weeks ago.    I will from time to time share stories about him.


This past Sunday Riley and I went to the Chiefs game and was lucky enough to sit in a vendor tent.....
 
I told him the cheerleaders would be coming by the tent. he says, "it would suck to be a cheerleader because you are basically just wearing a swimsuit"

I reply," that is the point!"

Riley ," huh?"

Somethings I will just have to let him grow into....

The End of the Two Party System

The Right Point Too!
"There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution."
--John Adams

While I like to stay away from talking about specific candidates or parties I am going to break my rules for this one just because I have been thinking about this.   I am going to making some broad generalizations of the candidates and parties, realizing they are stereotypes.

I want to take this opportunity about what happens after the election.  What impact will the next four years have on the two party system?   I see three possibilities:

1.            Obama wins – We get four more years of similar policies with expanded government, tax increases, and more regulation
2.            Romney wins and he governs like Bush – We get a slower expanding government and tax cuts.
3.            Romney wins and has a Ryan influence – We get tax cuts, a significant slowing of government growth if not some minor cuts, and a modest reduction in regulation.

As “the 47%” plays heavily into my thoughts of the future I want to speak to how I view them.   The 47% is a demographic description.  I realize it encompasses everyone from the lady screaming how she loves her Obamaphone to my own mother who is on Social Security.   I can assure you between those two the election would be a tie that would have to go to the House of Representatives to be decided.  This is a very broad selection of people.  However, I think it is fair to state that demographic will vote heavily towards a Democratic candidate.   Easily 60%, and maybe much higher, will vote Democratic regardless of the candidate. 

Now how will this play out moving forward under the various scenarios?

Obama wins – In this case the 47% expands, maybe 50 – 52%.  The deficit continues to balloon.  The economy continues to stagnate.     With this larger base it becomes impossible for the Republican Party to win a national election.  They lose in 2016.   The Republican Party has two choices, move to the left or go through dramatic changes to appeal to a broader base.   Because of the establishment not wanting to lose power, it is more likely the Republicans move further left.    This spells the end of the Republican party making way for a third party while the country slips further into debt and the 47% continues to expand. 

Romney wins and follows a Bush path – The 47% expands more slowly, 48-49%.    The deficit slows its growth.  The economy is anemic.   Disenfranchised Republicans say home in 2016 and the Democrats win back the Presidency.  The Republican voters having been fooled once look for an alternative this time.  The Republican Party has failed and the rise of a third party begins.

Romney wins and follows a Paul Ryan path – The 47% will likely stay about the same in the next four years. The economy likely slows for the first two years, as government spending slows, and the Democrats win back at least part of Congress.  There will be a robust rebound in the economy in the third year.  There will be enough done to show some progress in reducing the size of government, and the 2016 election is very close.  The perceived need for a third party dissipates, for now. 

As you can see, I do believe there is a good chance we have a viable third party in the next decade.  Now where will that party come from and what will the party stand for?

In talking to many people I hear the same thing over and over.   I like the fiscal part of the Republican Party, but I don’t like their social stance or they seem to be for big business.   I believe there are huge segments of the Republican Party that like the fiscal part of the Republicans and tolerate these other things.  Further, there is a large piece of the Democratic Party which tolerates their fiscal policy because they like these other parts.  I believe a third party, which would embrace Constitutional government, could attract many of these people.  You would have a fiscally conservative party, which does not believe in hand outs to big business, and a party which kept the government out of your personal life. I believe this party could pull these two significant chunks from the two parties together.  It would attract the Libertarian and Constitution Parties.

A quote from Rand Paul on Sept. 9th--

“You know, what I’ve been talking to leaders in the national Republican Party about is, there’s certain parts of the country we’ve given up on. The whole west coast and New England. What I keep telling them is, maybe we need some libertarian type Republicans who might be popular in those areas. Maybe a less aggressive, more socially tolerant but still fiscally conservative policy that may be more libertarian. Might do better in California, might do better in Oregon and Washington and New England, and I think if we had that it would be a great strategy. Our problem in the presidential election is we’ve given up 150 electoral votes before we even get started.”

Rand Paul is right.  However, we don’t need some minor tweaks of individual candidates that run like Libertarians and then govern like Republicans when they get to Washington.

Where does this party start?  What does the platform look like?  I would suggest we have the beginnings.  Here is the Platform:

1. ELIMINATE EXCESSIVE TAXES - Excessively high taxes are a burden for those exercising their personal liberty to work hard and prosper as afforded by the Constitution. A fiscally responsible government protects the freedom of its citizens to enjoy the fruits of their own labor without interference from a government that has exceeded its necessary size, scope and reach into the lives of its citizens.

“Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery.” --Calvin Coolidge

“A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.” --Thomas Jefferson


2. ELIMINATE THE NATIONAL DEBT - By implementing fiscally conservative policies at all levels of government, progress can be made toward eliminating the U.S. National Debt. Massive increases in the National Debt have created and continue to create a huge burden for the next generation of Americans, thus imperiling the country’s short-term and long-term economic health and prosperity.

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” --Abraham Lincoln

“no generation can contract debts greater than may be paid during the course of its own existence.”  -- Thomas Jefferson


3. ELIMINATE DEFICIT SPENDING - All deficit spending must be eliminated immediately. We insist that government representatives at all levels maintain a fiscally responsible budget and balance the books as would be expected of any American business.

 “A penny saved is a penny earned.” --Benjamin Franklin

“Tomorrow, every Fault is to be amended; but that Tomorrow never comes.” --Benjamin Franklin

4. PROTECT FREE MARKETS - America’s free enterprise system allows businesses to thrive as they compete in the open marketplace and strive toward ever better services and products. Allowing free markets to prosper unfettered by government interference is what propelled this country to greatness with an enduring belief in the industriousness and innovations of the populace.

“You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man’s initiative and independence.” --Abraham Lincoln

“The government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” --Ronald Reagan

5. ABIDE BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES - The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land and must be adhered to without exception at all levels of government. This includes the Bill of Rights and other Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and their provisions designed to protect states’ rights and individual liberties.

 “The Constitution is the guide which I will never abandon.” --George Washington

“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.” --Abraham Lincoln

6. PROMOTE CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY - Citizen involvement at the grassroots level allows the voice of the American people to be heard and directs the political behaviors of our representatives at both the local and national level so they, in turn, may be most effective in working to preserve the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of this country’s citizens.

“The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” --Patrick Henry

“To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.” --Abraham Lincoln
Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light” --George Washington

“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” --Thomas Jefferson

7. REDUCE THE OVERALL SIZE OF GOVERNMENT - A bloated bureaucracy creates wasteful spending that plagues our government. Reducing the overall size, scope and reach of government at both local and national levels will help to eliminate inefficiencies that result in deficit spending which adds to our country’s debt.

 “If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy.” --Samuel Adams, 1802

8. BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE - The American people, given their guaranteed freedoms, will thrive in a democratic, capitalist environment which allows individuals to strive toward ever greater achievements, innovations and the efficient production of needed and valued goods and services.

“Industry need not wish.” --Benjamin Franklin

“The people will save their government, if the government itself will allow them.” --Abraham Lincoln

9. AVOID THE PITFALLS OF POLITICS - American politics is burdened by big money from lobbyists and special interests with an undue influence on the peoples’ representatives. This Movement is seen as a threat to the entrenched political parties and thus is the continual target of smear campaigns and misrepresentation of its ideals. We choose not to respond to these attacks except to strongly and explicitly disavow any and all hate speech, any and all violence as well as insinuations of violence, and any and all extreme and fringe elements that bring discredit to the Movement. We are a peaceful movement and respect other's opinions and views even though they do not agree with our own. We stand by these beliefs and goals and choose to focus our energies on ensuring that our government representatives do the same.

“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” --Abraham Lincoln

 “Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.” --George Washington

10. MAINTAIN LOCAL INDEPENDENCE - The strength and resilience of a grassroots movement is the ability of citizens at the local level to determine their own platforms, agendas and priorities free of an overriding central leadership. Exercising the clearly stated message of the Movement by its nature involves discourse about which policies and candidates best hold to our stated principles, and these various opinions should flourish and evolve at the local level.

“Here sir, the people govern.” --Alexander Hamilton in a speech to the New York Ratifying Convention, 1788

“Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories.” --Samuel Adams, 1781

“This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it.” --Abraham Lincoln


If you notice this platform has no social agenda.   There is no hate.  There is no abortion or anti-gay part to it.  This platform is simple and straight forward.   This platform seeks to avoid the perils of the influence of money and big business in politics.    Ask yourself is this a platform you could support?   If not, why?

This is the platform of a Movement call the Tea Party.   Today the Tea Party is more a Movement than a party.  It is a Movement that has been demonized by the Media as racist, anti-gay, radical, and violent.  Republican politicians, like Aiken, have attempted to use the title of Tea Party candidate to gain votes, but he does not represent the values represented here.  The Republican Establishment has attempted to keep them in check, but their influence has been undeniable.   The Republican Establishment silenced their voice at the Convention out of fear, fear they will upset the Establishment.

Both the Democrat and Republican Parties fear it.

All of that and yet the Movement prevails.  I have been to a Tea Party rally.  There was no talk of “legitimate rape”.  There was no racism.  No talk of hate or gays.  There was no violence.   What you did hear was talk of the Constitution, reducing the size and reach of government, and making America more prosperous for all.  

How many of you that think you know all about the Tea Party and think it is filled with bigots and have have been to a rally?  How many of you have read their platform before tonight?  I implore you to reset and take the opportunity to learn more about them if you agreed with their platform.

I believe this Movement can easily combine with large segments of the Democratic and Republican parties.    I believe the Libertarian and Constitution party will find a home here.   That is how a viable third party could look and how it could come to be in America.

That is my opinion and The Right Point Too!

A better approach to health care


The Right Point Too!

The US spends over $2.5 Trillion annually on healthcare, amounting to 16% of the entire GDP of the country. The government pays 50 to 65% of this expense through programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and Veteran’s Hospitals. It is true we spend more per capita than any other country. This is a huge burden financially for our citizens, and a huge disadvantage for ...our businesses attempting to compete globally. Reducing these expenses would create jobs and allow more persons to afford health care services/insurance.

Today many persons see health care as largely free, as it is paid for through an employer provided plan or government programs. I offer you eye care and dentistry as examples of very similar industries yet costs have remained largely in check. I would assert this is because a large percentage of people still pay for these services directly so they are more conscious of the cost. Also, both of these industries advertise, incenting competition and driving down costs. How many have gotten coupons in the mail for free teeth cleanings?

With those things in mind the goal of a Health Care system should be:
• Simple.
• Available to all members of society, including the poor and elderly.
• Offers good, basic lower cost health care options.
• Portable. Not tied to employer or the government.
• Prevention of exclusions for those who have had "pre-existing" problems.
• Expandable. Option to purchase more extensive plans according to personal choice and ability.
• Shared and personal financial responsibility for all.
• Patient health centered care. Preventive care with financial penalties for continued poor choices and rewards available for good health practices.
Following is an eight point plan for reducing the cost of providing care:

1. REDUCE THE COST AVOIDANCE THE GOVERNMENT CAUSES BY UNDERPAYING FOR SERVICES. A study in 2008 showed the amount which Medicaid and Medicare paid out does not cover the costs of providing services. This was estimated to amount to 15% of the current healthcare spend. Putting it another way your healthcare would cost 15% less if not for this cost shifting. Under Obama’s plan the stated intention is to further cut the amount of reimbursement, shifting even more costs to private insurers.
2. ELIMINATE THE MANNER IN WHICH THE U.S. SUBSIDIZES THE ENTIRE WORLD’S HEALTHCARE. Today the U.S. is the only major industrialized country which does not have government run healthcare. The consequence of this is that we are the only one that allows a return on investment, known as profit, on big investments in research. This is why the U.S. has been the country where almost all new medical breakthroughs have been brought to market. In government run healthcare they dictate what will be paid. For instance a drug that costs $50 in the states, Canada may say we will just pay $15 as that is all it costs to manufacturer, ignoring all of the expense in research. Drugs are very expensive to develop but relatively cheap to produce. We should not be bearing this burden all by ourselves. We need to simply state you may not sell any pharmaceutical or medical device for less to other developed countries than what you sell it for in the U.S. You should also ask yourself, if we do the same thing in this country where will those developments come from tomorrow?
3. MAKE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE PERSONAL. Why does health care insurance need to be dictated by your employer? Is your life, home, or car? Why can we only choose from plans that are dictated to us by our employer? An employer can give you an allowance to help cover cost instead of actually selecting your plan for you. For example if your employer is paying $500 a month for your insurance right now they could instead provide this to you as an add to your paycheck or some voucher which could only be used to purchase healthcare. It eliminates the expense the employer has in administering the plans as well. Do you know if your employer provides good health care plan compared to another? You sure could if it was a transparent $$ amount. $550 is more than $500. You choose your plan that best meets your needs, not your employer. This addresses issues of pre-existing conditions and losing insurance when you lose your job. Some conditions the insurance companies would have to meet:
     a. For the first three years, no exclusions because of pre-existing conditions giving all an opportunity to sign up.
     b. Allow you to keep children on your plan if they have severe disabilities after the age of 18.
     c. All must offer a good basic low-cost health care plan with expanded health savings accounts.
     d. Insurance companies will be allowed to adjust premiums based on BEHAVIOR driven risk factors. Obesity, drinking, drug use, and smoking as examples may cause a premium to increase, while preventive health care checks and regular exercise may decrease premiums.
     e. Persons could change plans once per year even with a pre-existing condition.
4. PRIVATE HEALTH CO-OPS. Persons that have the financially ability and organizational skills should be able to band together in a legally binding manner and cover their own costs of providing health care.
5. ADDRESS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. These persons are getting health care without insurance driving up costs for the rest of us. We need to aggressively address this issue and put in place a very liberal work program. Under this program the Mexican government can allow whatever number of persons they want in, but they are responsible for providing healthcare insurance or the employer who hires them. In 2009 it was estimated $11 Billion per year was spent on illegal immigrants.
6. HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. These enable larger deductibles and incentivize persons to take care of themselves and make better decisions about use. Policies that had a $50,000 or $100,000 deductible and millions of dollars in coverage would likely be very inexpensive and would protect people from being forced into bankruptcy due to medical expenses.
7. TORT REFORM with penalties for frivolous lawsuits and the loser paying some of the costs.
8. BETTER BILLING SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION SHARING USING TECHNOLOGY. I went to a hospital for a busted ankle and I was getting bills for months from many different sources. Why can’t I just get a single bill from the hospital for the service? When you go to McDonalds to you get a separate bill from the Fry guy? When you buy a car do you pay Firestone for the tires? Efficiencies in this area would improve collections and drive out the costs associated with these efforts. Electronic records would give you the ability to quickly provide medical history to the doctor or facility you desire.
Get these things done and let’s see where we are. At that point we can worry about the uninsured that CAN’T afford health care. By the way, when you have cable TV, smoke, have a new car, and can afford vacations you likely CAN afford health care. You are making a choice of priorities not to have health care coverage assuming the rest of us will pick up your cost and indirectly fund your discretionary expenditures. I don’t want to pay for your vacation.

Once these are done and we can see the true cost of Medicaid and Medicare and other unConstitutional government provided health care options we can determine if those are best folded back into the private sector as well. Does it make sense to have separate medical systems for the poor, financially strapped elderly, and our Veterans?

Perhaps we need to look at the supply side and provide for less expensive education options to encourage more doctors to enter the market? The way to drive down costs is not to increase demand by making persons think health care is “free”. We need to increase the supply!

I believe if we can introduce market principals and more personal responsibility to healthcare we will see more innovative solutions brought to market. What about hospitals that you pay up front for care, like you do with cars? A sort of extended warranty for your body. Hospitals advertising their costs “Get your ACL repaired for only $999!”

Now I ask you, is this preferable to Obama’s HealthCare plan?

It is specifically stated Obamacare will not apply to members of Congress. Members of Congress are already exempt from the Social Security system, and have a well-funded private plan that covers their retirement needs. Congress should follow the same rules as the rest of us.

That is my opinion and The Right Point Too!

Sunday, October 28, 2012

The Beginning


The Right Point Too!

“To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.”
Abraham Lincoln

I have been posting to FB for quite some time and at the encouragement of some of my friends I have decided to start this blog.  My first posting will be how it all started and why I do this today.
...
When I was attending college I was bothered by the lack of competition the school enforced in our book buying by not providing us a list of books ahead of time. All I wanted was the list of books so I could take that list to a local book store to save a few bucks. Yep, this was the mid 90s back in the days before the Internet, no Amazon, GASP! I took the normal route of asking the school to provide it earlier and was ignored. One day it hit me, I could get more publicity by writing an article in the school newspaper. I did. It worked, and I was able to save a few bucks on my school books.

Buoyed by this success I started to write about other things of interest to me. Those were the days of Clinton so there was plenty of political fodder. I also wrote of the school curriculum, cost of education, and as a result I even got an audience with the Dean to talk about the quality of education. In that discussion one of his questions was “Why should I listen to a student?” My response was because I “was his paying customer.” He laughed, and said “I was not his customer, the businesses which hired us was his customer.” Publishing such a statement was about like “the 47%” or “you didn’t build that” to the student body. My article even got the dean to write a follow up where he denied saying it. My first direct introduction to the lies told by the ones in power.

The school newspaper’s circulation increased by 2 to 3x while I was writing. I gained enough notoriety among the faculty one time at the start of class a professor calls out my name the first day of class and after I said “here” she goes “come up here!” I thought I was in a lot of trouble. “I just wanted to shake your hand and thank you for all you have done for this school.”

Somewhere along the line I named the column “The Right Point!”, reflecting my ideas were obviously leaning to the right and that I was always right. Recently a college friend of mine, noticing my FB postings, said I should start it back up again or start a blog. After some thought I decided to start the “The Right Point Too!”.

Why do I take the time to write these articles today? One of my favorite professors was my Economics professor, Thomas Rustici. He was conservative in nature and in explaining economics he would contrast the economics of Clinton and the left with real economic theory. Much of this was Keynesian vs. neo-Classical economics. One day the class asked him:

“If the left is so wrong how come their ideas prevail?”

“The best and the brightest of the left go into politics, media, and teaching while the best of the right are busy in making the country work in business. The right ends up sending their B team to compete in politics against their A team and they have the media behind them, while the young get educated by the left. “

“Why are you teaching then?”

“I asked myself, what would a Thomas Jefferson or George Washington be doing today if alive, and I think they would be going around teaching people. That is why I teach.”


He is still teaching today, http://mason.gmu.edu/~trustici/. One of his best quotes, “what is politics? Poly meaning many and tic(k)s or blood sucking parasites. The fewer blood sucking parasites you have the better off you are.”

“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”
Thomas Jefferson

I see these articles as attempting to spread the word using the modern tool of social networking. Perhaps George and Tom might do the same thing if still alive? Giving that some thought, I may teach after I retire from my current profession. Scary thought for some of you, uh?

The Right Point Too! is not generally going to be about a candidate or a party, at least not the Rs and Ds that I think are more about party than Country these days. It is about ideas and concepts that will better society and Country by applying economic principals and embracing human behavior rather than trying to change it. I have a strong belief in the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and our Constitution. It has produced the greatest and freest country on the Earth.


“Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”
-Abraham Lincoln



Our decline will be the result of us moving away from these foundations and falling into the trap of all great societies which have reached their pinnacle only to collapse upon their own weight of apathy and laziness. We have an opportunity to delay this, possibly even avoid it for the first time in history, but one thing is certain the longer we wait the longer it will take.
"Democracy is a form of government that cannot long survive, for as soon as the people learn that they have a voice in the fiscal policies of the government, they will move to vote for themselves all the money in the treasury, and bankrupt the nation."
— Karl Marx
"When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."
— Benjamin Franklin

I do not delude myself I will be changing many, if any, minds. That is not my goal. My goals are to stimulate discussion and thought. If I do change a mind or two, that is just gravy. I welcome your thoughts on my articles and if you just say something like this is just my opinion I will not even comment on it. I value all feedback as it helps me better my own ideas.
"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people."
-Thomas Jefferson

That is my opinion and The Right Point Too!