A Quiet Rage Building Across the Nation
By Richard Larsen
Earlier this week I posted a graphic on my FaceBook wall that stated, “All across America a quiet rage is building against the assault upon American values. More so than ever in the history of America, the concerns and patience of its people are being tested, tried, and attacked by a group of elitists that are hell-bent on the destruction of this country.” It then ended with the phrase, “Refuse to remain silent!”
The post elicited responses by some who concurred with the sentiment, and some who didn’t. The posting afforded a teaching moment about what the right of the political spectrum feels about the “fundamental transformation of America” that has been occurring for several years, but accelerated dramatically over the past five.
Some were upset that the term “rage” was used, and thought it improper to be enraged toward those who’re dismantling our republic. But in a politico-cultural context, emotions like anger and rage can be a powerful motivator, especially in regard to values, convictions, and ideals that are violated and impinged upon.
Likewise, those of us who treasure America as the land of the free and the home of the brave, see contemporary statists, those who are actively engaged in expanding centralized governmental authority at the expense of personal liberty, as adulterators and enemies of freedom. They are “fundamentally transforming America” into a fiercely potent centralized government that was never intended for this republic; a fascist police state that, regulates, coerces, bullies, and spies on its citizens. And they have done it surreptitiously, clandestinely, and dishonestly. How any thinking person, who professes love for America, can accede to the destruction of American idealism perpetrated by those who have a stated objective of “fundamentally transforming” the nation is beyond my comprehension!
And for those on the left who are obsessed with race, obsequiously regurgitating racist epithets against we who love what America used to stand for, it makes no difference what color the skin is of the torchbearer leading the destruction of American values. He could be green, white, red, or purple, and we’d still object to the dismantling of the country, as we’ve observed the past few years. Stated more succinctly; you mess with what made America great, and you start simmering a pot of patriotic rage until it reaches a boiling point, and race has absolutely nothing to do with it.
For men and women of principle, who believe that this country was special and intended to be different from the rest of the world, what is happening to America is not just unacceptable, but it’s evil. How else can the destruction of good be characterized?
Edmund Burke stated that, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.” We can no longer do nothing! The silent majority must find its voice, and a backbone!
When you think about it quantitatively, conservatives are mostly to blame for our current modified state of the union. How many conservatives refuse to vote if their candidate is not in the race, or are disengaged or oblivious to the destruction occurring around us, or do nothing, or say nothing, to preserve and protect our constitutional republic?
Conservatives have allowed this transformation to occur, by acquiescent reticence. I think no one has stated it more perfectly than Albert Einstein who said, “The world is a dangerous place not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”
Speaking out against this erosion of freedom is good, but it’s simply not enough, and it must be more vociferous and protracted. Too many battle among themselves for ideological purity, fight amongst themselves over the most efficacious political tactics, or just throw verbal stones at those whose destructive policies are morphing the country into something never intended, but then flame out before anything is accomplished. If they don’t bother to vote, don’t get involved in the process, and don’t try to make a difference electorally, and worse yet, are divisive to the conservative ranks, they deserve some of the blame for what is happening. Every conservative must do what he can, and most of all, to vote. If every conservative voted in every election, statists wouldn’t stand a chance.
We who consider ourselves to be patriots, devotees to the principles that made America great, need to be proactive in our resistance to those who are corrupting and transforming our republic. We can no longer sit idly by complaining, and doing little else. The silent majority must find it’s voice, and then act!
Associated Press award winning columnist Richard Larsen is President of Larsen Financial, a brokerage and financial planning firm in Pocatello, Idaho and is a graduate of Idaho State University with degrees in Political Science and History and coursework completed toward a Master’s in Public Administration. He can be reached at rlarsenen@cableone.net.
Richard,
There is a lot to agree with in your opinion piece today. You wrote: “We who consider ourselves to be patriots, devotees to the principles that made America great, need to be proactive in our resistance to those who are corrupting and transforming our republic. We can no longer sit idly by complaining, and doing little else. The silent majority must find it’s voice, and then act!”
The American public needs to be aware of the issues, be educated and informed, and have the courage to change what needs changing — as well as how to stop change where it should not be happening.
We cannot just cry that the President is trying to gut our military when he modernizes weapons systems. He will have to do that, but it will be because all our smartest minds say that our military has to shrink if it wants to improve.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/to-improve-the-us-military-shrink-it/2013/12/06/b3b1b062-5c3c-11e3-be07-006c776266ed_story.html?hpid=z2
We cannot win ANY election by just energizing our divisive issues. Our education needs to be changed and updated. Our immigration system cannot stand without systemic changes and our farm bills need to be revamped.
Our national ethics need to be overhauled. Our court system needs to be functional. We can’t fear religion or those who have different religious beliefs.
Our health care is a monstrosity and a costly one at that. Other countries can point the way, but to try to shout down those who disagree with us solves nothing.
Find myself agreeing with a lot of what you just wrote alaskathayne.
Obama, it appears is not improving the military but more like removing those who disagree with him than anything.
“What the president calls “my military” is being cleansed of any officer suspected of disloyalty to or disagreement with the administration on matters of policy or force structure, leaving the compliant and fearful.
We recognize President Obama is the commander-in-chief and that throughout history presidents from Lincoln to Truman have seen fit to remove military commanders they view as inadequate or insubordinate. Turnover in the military ranks is normal, and in these times of sequestration and budget cuts the numbers are expected to tick up as force levels shrink and missions change.
Yet what has happened to our officer corps since President Obama took office is viewed in many quarters as unprecedented, baffling and even harmful to our national security posture. We have commented on some of the higher profile cases, such as Gen. Carter Ham. He was relieved as head of U.S. Africa Command after only a year and a half because he disagreed with orders not to mount a rescue mission in response to the Sept. 11, 2012, attack in Benghazi.
Read More At Investor’s Business Daily: http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/102913-677116-197-military-officers-purged-by-obama.htm#ixzz2mqYhhfVv Wrong way to improve the military.
Not improvement in any sense of the word.
“our divisive issues”? Dude, that’s all he has and he abuses them something horrible. Never had a president who prides himself of getting everyone fighting with everyone else.
“Our national ethics need to be overhauled. Our court system needs to be functional. We can’t fear religion or those who have different religious beliefs.” Indeed we can’t but this ‘transparent’ administration is anything but ethical for an obvious start.
Agree with your remark about healthcare. Other countries have pointed the way, it seems it didn’t work for them this way either. Mine is worse, how about yours?
Good reply.
A better question for some conservatives to ask of themselves:
“What am I doing to make our current system better, will save lives and embrace important needed change?”
One Republican’s answer is below.
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/health-care-inc/2013/12/this-week-in-health-care-new-deals.html
I read your entire URL alaskthayne, where exactly is the ONE REPUBLICAN ANSWER? It’s 3 pages of bad things happening at best.
What am I doing to make Oblundercare better? I’m standing in the way of it destroying the entire American economy, seems that the only option left since Democrats crammed it down our collective throat how many years ago? The current system is beyond broke and getting worse but you say I have to accept it, no choice. Been down that route too many times in the part 5 years. It never worked and never will.
So, a better question for democrats is what is this mess getting worse, this isn’t what was supposed to happen? But they’ll never ask, will they?
You didn’t read Colin Powell’s argument??
You are a sad, sad example of humanity, aren’t you?
Richard,
I read your column this morning with interest, thinking that you may at last be willing to accept the fact that indeed, there is a “quiet rage” in this country that if not addressed will boil over into full scale revolt if it is not included in the dominant discourse of this country and given the credibility and action that it deserves. I refer to the persistent redistribution of wealth upwards to the top ten percent of our citizenry and the refusal of our politicians to recognize the need to raise the minimum wages of those who labor to support their affluence and to maintain food and housing programs to aid the needy.
Instead, I found the same call to action against a plethora of platitudes that so often characterize your moral outrage, Richard. Time after time you rail about the Obama’s desire to “transform” the nation.
Well, I have news for you, Richard, the nation is being transformed all right, but it is by those who think it is smart at a time when the nation is experiencing an economic crisis that in terms of unemployment almost equals that of the Great Depression to return to the depression years “fixes” and impose austerity on the masses who are already at the bottom of the barrel for sustenance, including the very ability to place food on the table. The selfish Ayn Rand immorality from which you so often draw inspiration has spread a haze of hate and discontent over this nation directed, not at the real redistribution of wealth upward and the refusal of corporate America to invest in jobs in the country that has granted them their “rights” to become what they are, as well as the tax give aways and loopholes they enjoy, but a focus on what those of your party refer to as the “socialist” redistribution of wealth from the benevolent victimized one per cent of “producers” to the working poor and those in need of food stamps and other forms of welfare – aka “parasites”. The message has become stronger and stronger over the years to include, not just welfare but what are now called “entitlements” such as Social Security, health care, medicare, and other programs. The message that these programs actually help strengthen the economy, rather than destroy it is lost.
That rage to which you refer is not going to be so quiet. It will be as Tom Joad put it in
The Grapes of Wrath, the mighty sound of those who have joined with one another against such inequity. “And some day—the armies of bitterness will all be going the same way. And they’ll all walk together, and there’ll be a dead terror from it.”
Perhaps we should stop looking for conservatives, liberals, democrats, republicans, right or left to solve our massive problems and should start looking to men and women who adhere to sound principles.
I agree with Jenuwin on the wealth upward take. Then let’s fix the tax code and go to a flat tax, void of loopholes–and support anyone who can step forth with a road to that end. I agree with Jenuwin that Social Security was meant to be an immeasurable boon to society–and should have been. Baby boomers have been well blessed. The fund should be overflowing if it had been set aside as it should have been. Then let’s vote in people who will limit the federal government period–to the powers rightfully entrusted to it and return more power to the states where accountability for such things is more easily demanded.
Our “party” divide is impossible. It is the result of our greed. The glut is in government, corporations, various industries, national heads worldwide and all their networks with each other.
Paul Harvey gave a little piece called “If I were the devil”. Well add to that: If I were the devil, I get everyone to fight so nothing could be solved.” Other nations have fought their way to oblivion. We are not “special”. If the bitterness does not recede and our inherent understanding of basic decency does not rise, we will learn as C.S. Lewis stated–“Experience is a brutal teacher. But you learn, my God, do you learn.”
Jas,
I appreciate your affirmative response and positive comments. I am especially struck by the C. S. Lewis quote with which I totally agree; however, it seems that those in congress have never been called upon to undergo the trials of poverty, and having had no experience from which to learn first hand, there are no compassionate or even common sense ways to mend the current political and ideological divide between our elected officials. I suppose the sanitized versions of our American history that is currently taught in our schools may have contributed to some of it, for if not personal experience, then a true account of history should tell our leaders that the conditions which led to the Great Depression are being replicated and their “solutions” currently being proposed are misguided (today’s news- more cuts to unemployment insurance, government pensions, etc. with no cuts to huge corporate subsidies, etc., and no tax increases). How can we “learn” from experience if even history is ignored.
Jenuwin,
I think that maybe the best response to your question isn’t an original one. “Those who can’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it”.
Hopefully you have a two year supply of what you will need to survive.
Smokey,
You think two years will do it?
jas:
“. . we should stop looking for conservatives, liberals, democrats, republicans, right or left to solve our massive problems and should start looking to men and women who adhere to sound principles.”
Could not agree with you more.
Rick’s column this week is properly entitled, but progressives and conservatives have directed the agenda in pendulum like fashion throughout my lifetime. The outcomes are evident of their failed agendas.
“. . let’s fix the tax code and go to a flat tax, void of loopholes–. . ”
Agreed.
“. . return more power to the states where accountability for such things is more easily demanded. ”
It is Federalism which is where the majority of our most difficult problems of socio-economics should be resolved for greater accountability.
Only if you know how to add to it as you go, and keep those who weren’t prepared from doing whatever they can, to get it away from you.
Thinking about possible scenarios isn’t pleasant, and you probably ought to avoid getting too paranoid, but planning ahead will make you better off if push comes to shove.
One very real possibility is that the government may step in and require those who did prepare to give up a large portion of their food storage to those who weren’t prepared, including government officials.
How far will you go to protect your two year supply. Decide now, not when you are faced with the stress of dealing with desperate people.
Anyway, decide how much food, water and other essentials you will need for you and your family members for two years, decide how you will supplement your supply, and how you will secure it from looters, including the government if it comes to that.
Most of us are reasonably compassionate, so also decide how much you can afford to share.
Since I have no way of knowing how familiar you are with this issue, and the various resources for building a food and essentials supply at reasonable prices over a period of time, I’ll stop for now.
Jenuwin:
The wealth distribution or income gap is a real issue. However, there are some economic realities born of historical reality:
” . . refusal of our politicians to recognize the need to raise the minimum wages of those who labor to support their affluence . . ”
Increase of wages only occurs when we bridge and address the productivity gap that nets an increase in wages.
This involves value added skills and education that derives exportable competitive advantage to demand the higher wages.
The intent and aim behind the increase in the minimum wage is laudible.
But it only contributes to inflation whereby the costs for a better standard of living rise with an outcome that does not reduce statistical poverty long-term which has remained relatively constant since the 1970s after a brief decrease upon enactment of the Great Society programs of 1964. It can also exacerbate unemployment.
The role of government should reside with becoming an appropriate regulator rather than having the regulated be the authors of the regulations which is what we see as an outcome of Democrats and Republicans supported by their special interests of choice.
I’m with you on the corporate greed and creation of market distortions, but mandates on wages is not going to resolve the problem of poverty or getting the working poor earning more. Nor will it resolve market distortions or manipulation of corporations.
I would also remind everyone of one important reality: businesses and corporations do not pay taxes ultimately, they collect them.
We also need to look at the base principles of self-reliance, personal responsibility and accountability.
I am all in favor of assistance for basic necessities when individuals or families, despite their best efforts and excercise of responsibility, can have a safety net which does mitigate long term external costs for society if not for a safety net.
However, I see way too many individuals who purposely keep themselves at poverty level or as the working poor in order to not lose their food stamp, housing, medicaid, or day care subsidies.
The food stamp program, housing programs, etc. have laudible aims, but we have close to 50 years of data that demonstrates these programs to erode poverty have not derived that stated outcome and have eroded the principles of personal accountability and responsibility as well as incentivized economically the disintegration of the family and perhaps enabled the continuation of poverty.
I currently work a couple of jobs, between 60 to 80 hours a week at substandard wages. Been doing it for 2 years solid now. I’m greatful for the work I have. It is a blessing not a curse.
I know I have my family starting within the 4 walls of my own home, extended family, my faith community provided I have done everything I can, to make up the difference for the basics of my family after eliminating non-essentials, And that does include internet, unnecessary phone service, and cable TV which many believe is essential within the entitlement culture.
We as a family see too many times while we are purchasing groceries or essentials, there is always someone in front of us buying all the non-essential food you can imagine with food stamps in an amount 3 to 4 times what we have to spend on items that quite frankly are not of high nutritional value nor include staple healthy foods.
I have done the math and it would be to our advantage for us as a family to have me quit one of my jobs and run down to the food stamp office. We could eat like kings and probably qualify for a whole host of benefits with no incentive to improve our situation.
I’m not making this statement out of some sort of resentment towards those truly in need who don’t have a faith community or family to help fill the voids. Nor am I opposed to a food assistance or housing assistance program.
But we need to re-evaluate what we have incentivized and enabled with programs designed to eradicate poverty. This has not been done since the Clinton years in 1994.
We need a fundamental shift in our culture coupled with addressing manipulation of the economy to back on the right track.
http://www.forwardprogressives.com/8-reasons-why-the-gop-is-a-dying-party/
Jayson,
I worked in a welfare office during the 60’s and early seventies. After ten years of work as a Stenographer, I was making just under what women on welfare with the same size family as mine were allotted each month. They did not have to pay baby sitters either or to have insurance and retirement deductions from their pay. I wasn’t against the intended future benefits of having retirement income, but when you have five hungry children to feed every penny counts, as you well know. I had to go to work initially in order to have medical and hospitalization insurance for my children, two of whom had recurring medical problems. The women who drew welfare had medical and dental insurance provided for them. Go figure.
I have struggled with trying to apply my experience to the continuing problem of low wages. Fortunately for me and other women like me, Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great society programs included help to improve our earning ability though low interest loans and grants that were available to help us gain a college education; nevertheless although the minimum wage has increased on occasion, it has never approached a living wage in the last forty some years since I had my firsthand experience.
I don’t think the issue of raising the minimum wage should always simply become a political football, but instead should be a national policy issue that is based, as Jas said, on morals and ethics that are reflective of a nation which recognizes the benefits of integrating responsibility of government and corporations with society so that those who work are not considered to be an inferior underclass.
Sadly, government supported unfettered capitalism feeds an underclass and actually ensures its growth.
Everything became more solidly against the labor force in 1970 when Milton Friedman declared that the number one priority of a corporation was to maximize shareholder profit thereby incentivizing CEOs to abandon any focus on societal responsibity which they may have previously exercised.
Also, with technology rapidly replacing manual labor and more and more white collar jobs,the ideal of capitalism began to crumble. I don’t mean to be prophesying doomsday, but I have to wonder how things are going to shake out in the future; e.g., With the demand for higher wages how long will it be before Mickey D’s will have almost fully automated drive up windows and only basic kitchen workers and wait staff. How long will it take Walmart to more fully automate as well. The old ideal of the invisible hand with the proprietary self interest feeding other ancillary interests no longer applies under many such advances. Unless we can come together in this country and begin to plan how to absorb the changes that are now occurring and are certain to occur in the future, we will eventually have anarchy. With corporations calling the shots politically and culturally, that doesn’t appear to be avoidable.
As for welfare only increasing dependency, that has been true since the Great Society was dismantled. Originally intended to create a well rounded welfare program with built in incentives and aids for people to get out of poverty and dependency, the Great Society programs had significantly reduced the poverty rates in the 1960s, down from 19 percent to 12 percent of the population between 1964 and 1969. When conservative Republican administrations phased out Great Society programs in the 1980s, poverty rates increased to about 15 percent. In the 1960s the income of young black families had risen more than 60 percent. In 1992 families with children headed by people younger than 30 had one-third less income, and young black families had half the income of their predecessors in 1972. The thing is that unless the reduction in poverty is done through education and lending a hand to those who are reaching for their bootstraps in order to pull themselves up, you are right Jayson. Ultimately, it will only create more need.
So I guess my lesson from observing all this over some forty years is that the government giveth and the government taketh away; however through it all those who work for a living are going to get the short end of the stick every time no matter which political party is in charge. As I said before – Go figure.
Nice discussion–well stated and thoughtfully submitted. You are to be commended, Jayson, for your positive outlook on your personal working situation.
My experience with corporations is on a par with recent statistics such as this: “the average net worth of the top 7 percent of the wealth distribution increased by 28 percent while the lower 93 percent dropped by 4 percent” (2011) I read something somewhere indicating value at the top had increased by over 300 times in just a short time while the working bottom was not keeping up with the cost of living. I recognize there are corporations that are not guilty of this destructive imbalance, but our family has not had the benefit of them in our lives.
I believe Jayson put it well when he stated, “The role of government should reside with becoming an appropriate regulator rather than having the regulated be the authors of the regulations which is what we see as an outcome of Democrats and Republicans supported by their special interests of choice.” We need to support people who can understand such core basics and who will work toward those ends. Unfortunately, the social ills of the day have taken a prominent place in voting choices and those desiring political position often use this to their advantage.
I am interested in Dr. Benjamin Carson who gives quite a discourse in his book suggesting governance includes a blend of basic function and some safety net options. I have real difficulty with the government at the federal level being in charge of any programs we term “socialistic” in nature–even with men and women of sound principle at the helm–for two reasons: the bigger a program is, the harder it is to regulate and ensure against abuse and the federal government is not required to have a balanced budget.
When we were quite a bit younger, we set up a retirement fund through the union we were affiliated with. Based upon the projections of the time, we felt peace of mind believing our future would be secure even if social security went bankrupt as there were murmurings of even then. It is disappointing to find our retirement funds plus social security leave us in basically the same straits we were when young and at a time in our lives when there are increasing bills in the health area and decreasing options for adding income. It is even more worrisome to realize our posterity bears the bill.
I hope America will study future candidates for office very carefully and not get sidetracked by the fluff. In the meantime, down here on the ground, we need to develop concern for each other, learn to talk to each other and foster in ourselves the very traits we need in our leaders–because we may very well only have each other to see ourselves through.
I travel and when I visited Australia, they explained that they have a Minimum livable Wage law based on age. Age 16 – $7.74 Age 21 – $16.37 an hour. Independent Contractor – $20.30 an hour.
I noticed no one expected a Tip at a restaurant in Australia. Why, the waiters are paid a Livable Wage. Herman Cain, the “999” guy who says if you are poor, it is your own fault, lobbied Congress to keep wages of Restaurant waiters at $2.31 25 years ago. A fellow pointed out that Taxes are collected with everyone being paid at minimum wages and the employers are lest likely to “pay under the table to avoid taxes”.
Guys like Herman Cain have “stacked the deck” against the American Dream. 30 plus years of Wage Suppression, Tax laws transferring the burden of taxes to the 99% away from guys like Cain and Mitt Romney who paid taxes at 13/8% tax rate on $100 million Taxable Income.
I did a study, where 1000 families making $120,000 annually and reported $100 million of income, same as Romney paid $43.3 million in taxes, three times as much taxes as Mitt Romney.
I used Mitt only because he is one of the few who had to disclose their income taxes (but he did not report more than one year). His $100 million IRA as part of his net worth more likely than not, came from the deferred wages of the employees pension funds his company Bain Capital drove into bankruptcy where the pension funds pay off the debt of the Company even though purposely driven into the ground, with one sole objective, get to the pension funds.
The US Post Office is being set up for bankruptcy with the same scheme, get to the 500,000 postal workers Pension fund via bankruptcy.
As I travel, I always visit McDonalds, like in Russia, McDonalds is the only Franchise that was allowed to import its food, same in other countries. The Big Mac beef you are eating is from the good ol USA in Russia and Australia even if the hamburger is composed of bits and pieces of 200 cows.
The Big Mac in Australia is a 30 cents more than the USA I think. There is a “Big Mac” index available that lists the price of Big Macs around the world.
The point is, the recent protest seeking $15 an hour minimum wage is not going to impact the price of a hamburger at McDonalds. If anything, the public will stop subsidizing the working poor who are on Food Stamps like Wal-Mart and McDonalds to name a few.
If you think, “Out of the Goodness of the hearts of the Wal-Mart or McDonalds Corporations, they are going to increase the Minimum wage, you are badly mistaken”.
We are living today, in the 21st Century what our Great Grandfathers fought for. The sooner we recognize that, the sooner we will get off our behinds, and find a labor rally to protest.
Here is Australia’s Minimum Livable Wage law, the buying power of the Australian Dollar is very close to the US Dollar.
http://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay/national-minimum-wage/pages/default.aspx
I certainly hope people start wising up, as 30 plus years of “Conservatism” and putting people in office for Guns, God, Gays, Abortion, Prayer, and other single issues, and Not paying attention to Tax Laws, Trade Laws, Wage suppression, Voting Suppression, and shift of taxes away from those who are making Billions to those of us whose wages have been suppressed is not the way to Vote.
I notice Simpson has started a bunch of Ads on TV and Internet funded by the Chamber of Commerce, Conservative. Well that out to tell you, the only thing Conservative about a Conservative is “Conserving the Rich Man’s wealth”, a minority, at the expense of the 99% of us who are struggling with low paying jobs.
If you think you can become one of the “Rich Guys’ think again, the Laws passed and not passed for the benefit of the Banks, Wall Street, Corporations, and Billionaires have stacked a huge barrier against that ever happening. You have a far better of winning the Powerball ten times than living the American Dream with the barriers set up over the last 30 plus years.
Of course, we can turn this around, but we have to activate those who are expecting someone else to show up and make it happen. We out number them and it worries them.
The Elite know that.
Flat Tax is not the answer.
We need to fix the Loopholes.
For Example, 30 years ago, Corporate Executives, usually 1 to 3% of a Corporation were allowed to pay themselves in Stock, most Corporations pay their Executives 90% in Stock.
You might think that is good for your 401K or IRA but remember, you are taxed at Ordinary Income tax rates of 39% on your IRA and 401K (graduated from 10% to 39%).
Whereas, Corporate Executives are taxed at Capital Gains tax rates of 15 to 20%. The Corporate Executive stock payment scheme is just a ploy to avoid ordinary income tax rates like their employees are paid.
Fixing the Tax incentives to Offshore jobs to China, Vietnam, Brazil, and Russia and receiving a tax refund for doing so, like the 60,000 manufacturing plants have been offshored and shut down in the USA in the last 12 years. (A bill was in the works in 2010 to remove the tax incentive to shut down manufacturing but as a block vote the Republicons voted it down).
With the Loopholes, Corporations pay at a 12% tax rate.
Want to give up your Social Security and Medicare, that constitutes 15 per cent?
A flat tax would put that safety net at risk.
In order to get our Financial House in order, we need to raise taxes on the guys like Mitt Romney, Corporate Executives, Wall Street, and Billionaires to start, equal to the 1000 families earing $120,000 annually that pay at the 43.3 per cent tax rate.
Mike,
Got some Australian friends who would like to come back to the good ‘ol U.S. of A. Seems then went down there to work in the IT portion of industry that is long gone and with it their work. They’re trying to make in as best they can in the outback but seldom pull the wages that you post for minimum wage down there. Big disconnect between what the present government brags about and reality itself.
Had a number of them save for a long time to come to the U.S. for health care. Had a friend die who made the mistake of living 400 miles one-way from the hospital bed he was assigned to in Melbourne. No local hospital where he was at and in their twisted way of doing things he never made it there in time.
Indeed flat tax is not the answer but then tax the rich 100% is also not the answer. Glad you can only find loopholes on one side, I used to take care of IRS computers and with an estimated 70,000 pages of tax laws there were so many loopholes on all side, it was pathetic.
In order to get our Financial House in order we need to stop spending more than we take in. Mexico is estimated to get $484 billion per year from us, returned by their citizens who are by in large here illegally. But go after Mitt Rommey’s $43.3 million and ignore the billions going away and the now TRILLIONs that are required to pay for healthcare that no one can afford. How many Mitt Romneys does this country have, and not enough is the answer.
Taxing rich people to death means that money goes away and doesn’t return and trust me, rich people employ more people than poor people ever will.
How much can we expect you to cough up? I just lost $13,000 to ‘my maternity healthcare’ and $4300 last year to government waste and will lose an estimate $6,000 more again this year. But all you can see is robbing the rich (everyone else except you) to waste on people who are poor for a valid reasons. The poor will always be with us, it has something to do with they way they conduct their lives. Having said that, someone who gets hit with massive debt that is not directly their fault gets my help, period. Those that sit with hands out get at a bare minimum my disgust.
If you want to clear your head from what you hear on “Choose the Right” Conservastoop local Radio, you might want to listen to Internet Radio that might get you to “THINK”, Laptop, Iphone or Ipad or Internet radio.
http://tunein.com/radio/WCPT-820-s27032/
Ah, yes, AM Radio, you still possess one of those. ” We are one of the last independently owned radio stations in the country. Chicago’s Progressive Talk believes that a blue city and a blue state deserve a Progressive Talk radio station…” Indeed they are few and far between if indeed there are any left. Seems they’re not too popular especially with the people who provide money to keep them going.
AM does have a few physical transmission limitations that don’t bode well for it ever being popular again, much.
Mike
Very interesting post. How do we get people to focus on issues that directly relate to their well being when they are fed only what broadcast companies that have gobbled up more and more free airspace want them to hear. These huge corporations are serving real public needs less and less. AM radio? Not many will be reached.
Jenuwin,
Good question, I think I have an answer you won’t like though.
Posted by FL-1064284
Bob: “Did you hear about the Obama administration scandal?”
Jim: “You mean the Mexican gun running?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “You mean SEAL Team 6 Extortion 17?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “You mean the State Dept. lying about Benghazi?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “You mean the voter fraud?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “You mean the military not getting their votes counted?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “You mean the president demoralizing and breaking down the military?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “You mean the Boston Bombing?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “You mean the president wanting to kill Americans with drones in
our own country without the benefit of the law?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “You mean the president arming the Muslim Brotherhood?”
Bob: No, the other one.”
Jim: “The IRS targeting conservatives?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “The DOJ spying on the press?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “Sebelius shaking down health insurance executives?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “The NSA monitoring our phone calls, e-mails and everything else?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “The president’s ordering the release of nearly 10,000 illegal immigrants from jails and prisons and falsely blaming the seqester?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “The president’s threat to impose gun control by Executive Order in order to bypass Congress?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “The president’s repeated violation of the law requiring him to submit a budget no later than the first Monday in February?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “The president’s unconstitutional recess appointments in an attempt to circumvent the Senate’s
advise-and-consent role?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “The State Department interfering with an Inspector General investigation on departmental
sexual misconduct?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “HHS employees being given insider information on Medicare Advantage?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “Clinton, the IRS, Clapper and Holder all lying to Congress?”
Bob: “No, the other one.”
Jim: “I give up! … Oh wait, I think I got it! You mean that 65 million low-information voters stuck us again with the most corrupt administration in American history?”
Bob: “THAT’S THE ONE!”
Bet AM radio never touched a single one, they didn’t here. Then most of the stations tend to be in Spanish for another problem. They exist on the east side of town, guess what that is?
D.R.,
Interesting list. Somewhat based on right wing propaganda in places, but also valid to an extent Why did you leave out Obama’s nationalization of public education curriculum? If we are talking low information voters, how much of Common Core is devoted to making informed citizens or to making more sheeple? But isn’t this list a digression from the “Quiet Rage”?
Jenuwin,
Not ‘MY’ list.
Ah, yes, Common Core, where when the child reaches age 6 the parents are no longer allowed to input as to what their children are or aren’t taught? That Common Core? Informed as to all the liberal lefts side but no information that the other side exists, that kind of ‘informed’ citizens that put Obama back in to do more damage? Excellent example of something going south and fast. Thanks for agreeing with me.
Ah, yes, the Stanford Prisoner experiment in about 1971 that spun out of control and had to be stopped after 6 days, that one?
Quiet Rage?
“In the summer of 1971, Philip Zimbardo, Craig Haney, and Curtis Banks carried out a psychological experiment to test a simple question. What happens when you put good people in an evil place-does humanity win over evil, or does evil triumph?
To explore this question, college student volunteers were pretested and randomly assigned to play the role of prisoner or guard in a simulated prison at Stanford University. Although the students were mentally healthy and knew they were taking part in an experiment, some guards soon because sadistic and the prisoners showed signs of acute stress and depression.
After only six days, the planned two-week study spun out of control and had to be ended to prevent further abuse of the prisoners.”
When are they going to apply what they learned to the present abuse going on in D.C. and prevent further abuse of American tax payers? Plenty of signs of acute stress and depression in the populace. In fact, way too much.
Way too many things have transpired that in times past would have resulted in a huge number of people being fired and one in particular being impeached, but no longer, seems we’re informed but not any smarter.
Sheeple in abundance, the liberal mindset creates them by the gross and more.
Oh, neither here nor there but if I had put in the computers/software the healthcare.gov and it came up as bad as it did, I would have been fired on the spot.
Sebelius want an investigation but since one is already going on, why does she want two? First one finding too many things wrong and she wants to limit the damage as much as she can.
See if this one whets your appetite, these are bigger ones but I’m in enough trouble with c.R. Stucki.
1. I will have the most transparent administration.
2. I have Shovel ready jobs.
3. The IRS is not targeting anyone.
4. If four Americans get killed, it is not optimal.
5. There are going to be bumps in the road. (referring to Libya and Egypt protests/attacks).
6. ObamaCare will be good for America.
7. You can keep your family doctor.
8. Premiums will be lowered by $2500
9. You can keep your current healthcare plan
10. Just shop around, for that healthcare I claimed you wouldn’t lose.
11. I am sorry you lost your healthcare, (you know the health care you have to shop around for, ya the same health care I said you could keep, yup, that’s the one).
12. I did not say you could keep your health care. (Regardless that 29 recorded videos show I did)
13. ObamaCare will not be offered to illegal immigrants.
14. ObamaCare will not be used to fund abortions.
15. ObamaCare will cost less than 1 Trillion Dollars.
16. No one making under $250,000 will see their taxes raised one dime.
17. It is Bushes fault. (this can be inserted in between every statement).
18. It was about a movie.
19. I will fundamentally transform America. (This one sadly is very true)
20. If I had a son.
21. I am not a dictator.
22. I will put an end to the type of politics that “breeds division, conflict and cynicism”.
23. You didn’t build that.
24. I will restore trust in Government.
25. The Cambridge police acted stupidly.
26. I am not after your guns.
27. The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. The BHO of (2006).
28. I have been practicing…I bowled a 129. It’s like — it was like Special Olympics.
29. “If I don’t have this done in three years, then this is going to be a one-term proposition.
30. I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money.
31. I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.
32. The Public Will Have 5 Days To Look At Every Bill That Lands On My Desk
33. It’s not my red line it is the worlds red line.
34. Whistle blowers will be protected.
35. We got back Every Dime we Used to Rescue the Banks, with interest.
36. I am good at killing people.
37. I will close Gitmo. (but instead built them a $750,000 soccer field).
38. The point I was making was not that Grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn’t, but she is a typical white person
39. I am not spying on American citizens.
40. By, on, on, by, Friday uh afternoon things get a little uh, uh challenged uh, uh ( when left to think for himself without a Teleprompter).
41. I am a Christian.
42. John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith.
43. It’s not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy.
44. UPS and FedEx are doing just fine, right? It’s the Post Office that’s always having problems. (Attempting to make the case for government-run healthcare).
45. What’s good for illegal immigrants is also good for people who are losing their health insurance because of Obamacare.
And the biggest lie of all
I Barrack Hussain Obama pledge to preserve protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.
Just got a premium increase from my insurance company, seems I now cover everyone who smokes and I don’t smoke. Isn’t Obama wonderful? Price? About $500 a year. But that makes in more AFFORDABLE? Hardly.
We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force. – Guess who?
Hint: Ayn Rand of all people
How many years ago did she say that, D.R.? I would rather trust the “government” than unfettered capitalism any day. Look how far her “religion” worshiping at that alter has taken us. Talk about risking rule by brute force. What choices do we have to improve our lot through earning more when the work force is a deep pool from which employers may draw to replace anyone who objects to the low wages they inflict on workers. Call it slavery, rule by brute force, or whatever. In any case it isn’t pretty.
Be afraid…very afraid…Geez. Sad to see Richard Larsen and his lap dog from Texas are living their last years in fear and despair. They fail to recognize they are in the minority on every issue they argue. Pretty pathetic.
Jenuwin,
Ayn Rand died in 1982, became popular in the latter 1950s in the U.S. Who cares how many years ago she said it, it’s true today and now. her religion? Philosophy it appears. She called it Objectivism and it appears to be atheistic in nature. Google it if you don’t believe me.
So, trust the government that is now spying on all of it’s citizens instead? Be sure to thank NSA next time you hang up the phone or send an email, they appreciate the acknowledgement for their hard work. You can best describe it as ‘brute force’ by Obama. And, no, it isn’t pretty.
theidahokid,
Be Afraid? Of what, another depression? Born at the long end of the last one. I know poverty very well and never want to go back there. You go instead, I’m going after the idiots that are promoting the next one.
No, the only thing I fear is you’re too dumb to know up from down. 42.6% of the registered voters never voted last time. They’re the majority and the people who put Obama back in, all 30% of them are still a minority who can’t believe their ‘bad’ luck at convincing so many naïve people that what they said is true when it can’t possibly be true.
Being a minority isn’t bad. Being a ‘bad’ minority however is and you people give liberalism a bad smell to start with. Congratulations, the U.S. is now worse off after just 5 years of the ‘choom boy’ than it ever was before. Longest recession in history and yes, he gets credit for it.
Fail to recognize, dude, you’re just blind and will remain so all your life. My health insurance just went up AGAIN, seems it didn’t cover drunks of which you’re one and I’m not. Can I send you the bill for WIC? Oh, sorry Obama already did? Another $6,000 per person lost in the U.S. again this year, thanks Obama, put that one top of the $4300 lost last year. Pretty soon no one will have any money except dems who vote more for themselves and then go borrow it to make sure they get it.
How long will the majority stand for this garbage from the minority that thinks they were born to be taken care of by others in this life?
Nothing landed, did it?
DR:
You are honing your skills at personal attacks, to the detriment of intelligent dialog. I don’t see anyone who would like to discuss the issues when all you spew out is personal vomit.
alaskathayne,
That you will never see is an obvious admission. Vomit is all yours.
Here’s why I can’t afford Obama’s “affordable” plan:
“I bought a private family plan from Anthem BlueCross / BlueShield – in Colorado – after losing my job.
$525 per month premium
$3K deductible
80/20 copay
Full hospitalization, $100 ER coverage, preventative, wellness care, Prescription coverage ($75/mo max for brand name, $35/mo max generic), No lifetime cap, and it includes the Dr’s and facilities we know and love.
The cheapest ACA plan we can get is:
$1,078 per month premium
$12,700 deductible
60/40 copay
$1,000 ER charge
Our meds are not covered by the plan, nor are the Dr’s and facilities we’ve used all our lives.
Since the prescription meds we need are not covered, that will come out of pocket at $380 per month, which doesn’t even count towards our deductible.
That’s $17,496 burned – per year – assuming no claims.
Add on a claim that overshoots the deductible and we’re in for: $30,196.
How much does Obama’s feckless mandate rob from me and my family’s future?
If we assume I’ll live for another 25 years (or go on medicare), I’ll be paying roughly $857 more per month than I do now. (That’s the difference between my current premium and the ACA premium, plus the prescription med difference).
Over 25 years that’s $257,000 scorched in Obama’s socialist furnace. That’s a quarter of a million not going to my retirement, my home, my child’s college fund, my savings, vacations. Basically I’d have to sell my home, forgo opening a business, and just hunker down and slave away to Obama’s plan. This is a major amputation of our financial future and freedom.
That’s why I won’t be giving Obama a penny for his scam.”
I didn’t write the above comment, there are thousands of them all over the web today and getting more and more. The detriment is you will never listen. Enjoy the coming anarchy, it isn’t going to be the least bit pretty and yes, lots of sputum.
Intelligent diaglog, you mean like you finally admit you’re not right and maybe, just maybe there are a bunch of things wrong and not getting fixed but more things are getting broken? That kind of detriment to your sides way of doing things?
Come on back, I enjoy baiting you for a start.
Oh, be sure to call me a “fill in the blank” phobe. I’m not the least bit afraid to call things as I see them. Tough.
Gridlock in the Senate, didn’t see that one coming, did you?
It would bring a certain peace of mind to be able to turn to any one specific group of people and lay the blame for our current mess directly at their feet. Capitalism is an “ism” grown out of the government set up by our founding fathers. There can be little doubt the birth and growth of capitalism has been a big factor in making America great among nations. But now, we see America jockeying for place among the former decadent civilizations that eventually crumpled and left the scene.
If capitalism is the biggest problem, then we just regulate it–right? If government, then reign it in? Probably has to be a combination of both. But, until the sanctimonious “my way or the highway” attitudes are set to one side in preference to identifying the core of the problems and working on fixing them, we’ll just continue to have dead end confrontations–can’t really be called discussions. This particular blog has more fit the discussion definition than many. I would like to see a good, qualified discussion at the national level on the merits and problems of a flat tax, options for closing loopholes, etc.
John Adams said, “Our constitution is only fit for a moral and religious people. It is wholly unsuited to the governance of any other kind.” This statement is so often set aside as a little bothersome gnat. It is more probably the basic element of the equation to a thriving nation.
Jas,.
Well stated.
jas,
I agree with Jenuwin, well stated.
However, how do you rein in, i.e. regulate capitalism when it appears that regulation itself failed us miserably time before last. Who went to jail for that mess? Don’t count Madoff, he was involved in something else.
How do you rein in, i.e. stop a government who can do anything it wants but you have to ask permission of the same government to even look sideways at it’s practices. When the self same government abuses the IRS to go after people who don’t agree with it? Wolf is in charge of the hen house, it would appear!
I agree with John Adams and there are few of those people around any more.
Thanx Jenuwin and DR….and I don’t know the answers to your ?s DR. Until John Adams’ astute observation becomes generally credible amongst the populace, what good are regulations and attempts to limit government? Our “leaders” are a reflection of what we have allowed ourselves to become. Change looks either tediously slow or as something emerging from disaster (or should I say “more” disaster)…and if the latter, anyone’s guess as to what the outcome might be.