Pathetic Republicans

The Republicans are just playing a game of brinkmanship for no particular purpose except for politics.  Is there any other reason that they would refuse to extend the payroll tax reduction for two months, let alone a year?  And why are they not agreeable to extend unemployment benefits when we still have about 9% of the workforce without work?

I am really surprised that they will not approve the extension of the payroll tax exemption as it does apply to the top 1%.  Don’t they think that this continued reduction would help that elite group continue to provide all of the job creation that they have been providing over these last months?  Hasn’t the unemployment rate just tumbled from being at 10%?  If it continues for just a few more months perhaps we would have a jobs surplus!

Or perhaps the Republicans are not for the reduction because it does apply to everyone.  If it just is extended for the top 1%, then they will gleefully pass it?

Unemployment insurance benefits.  The extension is necessary because we have so many folks out of work and there is no easy solution to putting them back to work.  The problem is not that this considerable part of the work force is lazy or is not looking for work.  It is because, in large part, because manufacturing jobs have left this country.  It is also because a different type of education and training is needed for the jobs that are here. 

We need a national effort to meet the educational needs of all Americans in light of what the job market is and will be.  We need to be able to compete in the world market and not try to put up trade barriers all over.  We need national leadership in this area rather than a party than only seems to say that the answer to all of our problems is to cut spending.  Ridiculous!!!

More food for thought.  Please think and do something to help.  Call, email, and write your elected officials. Tell them you want plans and efforts that will start addressing our problems, not actions that just benefit their re-election funds and the pockets of the top 1%.

Take care.   

A Pathetic Congress

Our Congress continues to play games like immature children instead of acting like leaders.  They look to blame the other party and do whatever they can to set themselves up for re-election, whether it is good for our nation or not.


A survey by the Pew Research Institute from December 5 states that  "public discontent with Congress has reached record levels, and the implications for incumbents in next year's elections could be stark. The number who say their own member should be replaced matches the all-time high recorded in 2010, when 58 members of Congress lost reelection bids. Republicans are taking more blame than the Democrats for a do-nothing Congress."


The following figures indicate the percentage of Americans unhappy with Congress's performance and thinking that they should be replaced at the next election.

2011 - 67%
2010 -  53%
2008 -  49%
2006 -  49%

If you are dissatisfied, do something. Let your representative know that you are unhappy and that you will support an opposing candidate next fall.

How many more issues can this Congress play games with? Now it is the reinstatement of the payroll tax. The nation's economy and its people can not handle such an increase at this time.

The Congress ties extraneous issues to the major issue, like the shale oil pipe line. Vote on the issue and be responsible for your own vote.

More later.

Take care.

The Economy and the Budget

I didn’t get to listen to Obama’s speech last night, but I will read about it and read the commentaries, but the bottom line is that definitive action is needed.  Action has to happen quickly as the results are not immediately.  One commentator I heard this morning said that any changes now would not make an impact for six months.  So Congress, do something now.

The Republicans seem to have only one primary goal in sight and that is to defeat Obama in 2012.  Newt Gingrich was up front with that in the Wednesday night debate and said that exactly.  What happened to working on solving the problems of this country?

The August 27 issue of the Economist put it pretty plain and clear.

In 2008 the world economy was saved from depression by a bold and co-ordinated plan to shore up banks and counter the slump with fiscal and monetary stimulus.  Today there is no boldness…and no co-ordination.  …a bout of budget-cutting …will only increase the risk of another recession.

Adjusting fiscal policy does not mean simply doling out more stimulus.  The trick is to put in place more reforms now that will improve the public finances over time without slamming too hard on the brakes today.

America is in most need of such a shift.  It has done virtually nothing to deal with its medium term deficit, but on current policy will see the biggest short term tightening of the big rich economies next year.  That would have been a poor choice even in a reasonable recovery.  Given the economy’s weakness, it looks daft.  But it could be fixed. 

The congressional supercommittee … could agree on a bolder package of entitlement cuts and new revenue, while Barack Obama and the Republicans could limit the short term squeeze by extending the temporary payroll tax cut and boosting spending on things like roads and school repairs.

We need some thoughtful action by our “leaders”.  Millions of people are hurting in this country and they need help.  Jobs are needed and retraining is needed for workers.  We are not a manufacturing country anymore.  That problem needs to be addressed. 

We do not need the Republicans to be against everything for the next sixteen months.  They are shirking their responsibilities if they continue to do that.  Compromise is needed on both sides.  We need some true leadership and true problem-solving.

Don’t let our “representatives” play the same old politics.  We are in a serious situation that requires action.  Keep on them until they do their jobs.

Take care.

Today

Another day in the wonderful world, which is full of the beautiful and the disgusting, the kind and the gruff, the light and the dark, rags and riches, and you and me.

I haven't ridden my bike to work for two weeks now, and it is depressing.  Never mind that the weather has been beastly hot and we have had some torrential rainfalls - we have had more rain than anytime since 1880 something - that's quite awhile.  My piece of mind is now in several pieces.  A small consolation is riding the CTA to work, bus and train, as I have been trying to catch up on my reading - behind on everything.

Still steamed about our politicians and the debt ceiling - get something done!  Then try to solve some other problems - don't just posture for 2012.  Saw a saying that is apropos:  Washington DC is like lying what Wisconsin is to cheese.


Take care.

Brinkmanship

Our government leaders are behaving poorly, to say the least.  We are an amusement to those around the world because our two political parties will not compromise and provide an answer to allow the raising of our debt limit.  But what is worse is the disservice our elected representatives are doing to us, their constituents.  They are putting the federal government and all of the state governments in a position to default on its obligations.  In the case of the federal government, the obligations are those which our elected officials created themselves.  Bond rating agencies are considering lowering the rating of our bonds even if there is no default!  It is not good practice to push these serious matters to the brink of disaster for the sake of politics.

It has been documented in The Economist and most news media in this country that the two opposing partisan plans at one time stood two percentage points apart, but still no agreement.  The Democratic plan called for 83% of the reduction to be in budget cuts with 17% in tax increases and the Republicans were at 85% and 15%,  respectively.  The Republicans seem to want to solve the issue for six months or so, and then be able to bring it up as a campaign issue next year.  What is more important in their minds - a stable government and economy or getting re-elected?

Where are our true statesmen in this country?  The "Gang of Six" tried, but was shot down by their own parties.  It is hard to have any respect for the political hacks who are not working for a reasonable compromise, but just like to stand in front of cameras and microphones and pontificate.  There are many other difficult issues that must be addressed, such as jobs, education, health and welfare of the people.  Yet our politicians are letting them fester while they grandstand.

It is time for a compromise - time to stand up to the far right and far left of the parties.  It is hard because there is no pork in this settlement, like there usually is.  "I will vote for it if you appropriate a little money for my district for some roads or bridges...."

So, ladies and gentlemen, start doing your jobs like the rest of us.  Maybe you'll take a little heat, but you all retire from elected office as millionaires if you weren't one going in - you can stand a little heat can't you?

For everyone else, except our elected officials, take care.  Keep a close eye on how responsible your representatives are.  Many some of them should be turned out next year for not being able to look after our interests.

Miscellaneous Stuff

Good Morning All,

And it is a good morning despite all of the rain, thunder and lightening that we are experiencing this morning.  Better than the tornados that have hit Missouri, Oklahoma, and Minnesota in the last several days.  After all, spring is not our strong suit in Chicago - what with the cloudiest April on record this year!  And we are alive, dealing with what life deals us each day.  Nothing better!

After Memorial Day I am going to pull my bike out, pump up the tires, and start my twice weekly commute to work from Lakeview to Hyde Park.  It was a wonderful ride last year as I started in late June and went into September.  Always a wonderful picture along the lakefront with the Lake giving me a different look each morning and evening and the fourteen mile ride at about 15-16 mph burns 700 calories - an added bonus.  The traffic on the path has already picked up even though the weather has been very uneven - there is some construction on the South Side where the City is putting in a new harbor, but nothing that can't be handled. Last year it seemed like the wind was blowing against me both ways and that the path is also uphill both ways, but that just can not be possible, can it?  I did google earth my route and the elevation is about three feet higher at home than at work.

On the political front, I am now reading The Economist again and enjoying the different viewpoint it presents to the world's news.  A point really hit me in last week's issue as the comment was that the solution is really for the Democrats and Republicans to compromise to solve our problems.  Neither has a mandate and they should work together instead of just looking ahead to the next election.  Fair and just solutions for everyone should be the goal.  For the budget, there should be a combination of tax increases and budget cuts, not one or the other.

I am attaching a rather long article that a friend sent to me recently, and while I do not agree with everything it says, I do think that our elected officials are at the root of the problems.  They have an awesome responsibility which is not easy, but I think a majority of them don't really try.  They have their hands out to lobbyists, and are looking to gather power, not govern with everyone's needs and obligations in mind.

So skim it or read it, and treat it as food for thought.

Take care.

Very interesting column.. COMPLETELY NEUTRAL Be sure to Read the Poem at the end. Charley Reese's final column for the Orlando Sentinel... He has been a journalist for 49 years. He is retiring and this is HIS LAST COLUMN. Be sure to read the Tax List at the end. This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be. The article below is completely neutral, neither anti-republican or democrat. Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day. It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!  545 vs. 300,000,000 People -By Charlie Reese Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does. One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank. I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes. Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist. If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan ... If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way. There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do. Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees... We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess! Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper. What you do with this article now that you have read it... is up to you. This might be funny if it weren't so true. Be sure to read all the way to the end: Tax his land, Tax his bed, Tax the table, At which he's fed. Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes Are the rule. Tax his work, Tax his pay, He works for peanuts anyway! Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat. Tax his ties, Tax his shirt, Tax his work, Tax his dirt. Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he Tries to think. Tax his cigars, Tax his beers, If he cries Tax his tears. Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways To tax his ass. Tax all he has Then let him know That you won't be done Till he has no dough. When he screams and hollers; Then tax him some more, Tax him till He's good and sore. Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in Which he's laid... Put these words Upon his tomb, 'Taxes drove me to my doom...' When he's gone, Do not relax, Its time to apply The inheritance tax. Accounts Receivable Tax Building Permit Tax CDL license Tax Cigarette Tax Corporate Income Tax Dog License Tax Excise Taxes Federal Income Tax Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) Fishing License Tax Food License Tax Fuel Permit Tax Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon) Gross Receipts Tax Hotel Occupency Tax Hunting License Tax Inheritance Tax Inventory Tax IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax) Liquor Tax Luxury Taxes Marriage License Tax Medicare Tax Personal Property Tax Property Tax Real Estate Tax Service Charge Tax Social Security Tax Road Usage Tax Recreational Vehicle Tax Sales Tax School Tax State Income Tax State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) Telephone Federal Excise Tax Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax Telephone State and Local Tax Telephone Usage Charge Tax Utility Taxes Vehicle License Registration Tax Vehicle Sales Tax Watercraft Registration Tax Well Permit Tax Workers Compensation Tax STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. What in the heck happened? Can you spell 'politicians?' I hope this goes around THE USA at least 545 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!! GO AHEAD. . . BE AN AMERICAN!!!

June 3

Another nice drive down the Drive today - just a little haze that the sun is trying to shine through. Traffic is relatively light at 7:20 am and no accidents. As I cross over the Chicago River it is calming to see the trees and greenery along its banks as I look down to the Trump Building. (We now have four buildings taller than anything in NY: Sears, Trump, Aon, & Hancock!)

My quote for this week comes from that famous shoe banger Nikita Khrushchev: Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even when there is no river.

You know the old saying that the politician's first priority is to get elected, and then his or her next priority is to get re-elected. While democracy is the best form of government, it does not relieve us of holding our elected officials accountable as much as possible. The carryover of many of the populous groups such as Move On is probably good as they are vehicles to keep important issues in the forefront and to keep pressure on our elected officials.

On a national level we have more critical issues pending than we have had since the Depression so we need honest efforts from the Congress to resolve them, not game playing. I do think that we have the man best suited for this task at this time in President Obama.

More later, and take care.

Bush

Haven't written forever but am so ticked at Bush that I have to say that his effort in the Middle East lately is not genuine, but a last ditch effort to try to do something that he can take credit for after eight years of his administration. He has not put forth any substantive proposals, has not acted in any manner that would facilitate a peace agreement, and does not understand the issues, but is just grasping at straws so that he will have some legacy besides his incompetance.

With the lowest approval ratings of any president in history and the highest disapproval ratings, he may as well forego a Presidential Library. There is nothing to put in it anyway.

A number of things!

Another week has started and the weather in Chicago is not bad.

Yesterday it was perfect. My block had a block party - seems pretty rare in the big city - I experienced these little neighborhood get togethers in other much smaller communities but I think this is unusual in this setting. Got to meet a few new folks.

Haven't ridden my cycle for almost two weeks - first the heat - then the rain - now a commitment that required wearing a suit - so in the four wheeled monster. Can't tomorrow as I am going down to Lafayette to my sister's retirement ceremony (my younger sister - how depressing! :-) not really. Maybe I'll ride on Wednesday.

Hooray! Our US AG finally resigns! I have new appreciation for his predessesor Ashcroft who at least had some scruples. Gonzales fits in the same boat with Rove - totally political animals with no consciences. This man was a danger to US society - his memos as White House counsel probably got us into the whole torture mess - we don't have to comply with the Geneva Conventions - unbelievable! Glad that he's gone - at least there is a little justice!

And Dick Cheney falls right in line (along with Rumsfield and Wolfawicz) with his totally political behavior. It's hard to find anyone in this administration who has a little humanism in even their pinkie! Did you see this clip on our VP?

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2879&id=10983-3748630-DEO01n&t=2

What an opportunist! The father knew it was a disaster to go into Iraq and the new tricky Dicky went along then. Why did he change his story a few years later?

With all the campaigning going on (ugh), we should just have the election this fall, get bush out, and put some Democrat in office this January - give them a five year term as they will need all of that time and more to start to right all of the wrongs of the bush administration.

Remember that you saw it here many weeks ago that the Dems should go with a Clinton - Obama ticket. I think that the country is so fed up with bush and his cronies that this unheard of ticket - a woman and a black man - should win. We need drastic action for terrible times.

That's about it for now.

Take care.