The Tax Cut Myth

If it’s been a while since I’ve posted, it’s because I’ve been thinking. For example: The myth perpetuated by the Republican Part about tax cuts for the rich is that it increases employment. It doesn’t. It simply increases the amount of money the rich take home. The idea that adding a 3% tax on their income would cause someone to lose their job is preposterous, unless we’re talking about Jose Mow-de-Lawn or Anita Keep-de-House. The entities that create jobs are businesses, not individuals.

Of course the argument could be that giving the rich more of the money they earn will be spent and that will create jobs, but that argument is better for the middle-class than it is for the rich because there are millions more middle-class than there are rich. So, giving the middle-class tax breaks makes more jobs than giving tax breaks to the rich. On the other hand, one could look at it like Congresswoman Bachmann does; “…there are not enough rich people.” That statement is so stupid that it astounds any sense of decency. She favors wealth transfer from the poor to the rich. She survived 2008 reelection 47% to 44% in the sixth district in Minnesota. That must mean that at least 47% of the voters in Minnesota's sixth district are stupid.

But, Bachmann is just the tip of the iceberg. All Republicans appear to have jumped onto the Limbaugh band wagon. He is their spokesman and he wants Obama to fail. And, no, I’m not taking Limbaugh statement out of context. He was very clear on that. And, to hear all the Babel coming out of the Republican Party, they are bent on causing Obama to fail. Out of one side of their mouths they preach that allowing the Bush tax cut for the rich to expire and giving the middle-class a tax cut is “Socialism”; transferring wealth to the middle-class. But, what is giving the rich a tax cut while not giving one to the middle-class? That sounds like “Socialism” for the rich; transferring wealth in the other direction. They speak with forked tongue selling their tax cut snake oil as an elixir for all government ailments.

Progressive tax on all is a good thing. It means that if you make more because of the opportunity and fortunate circumstances given you, then you should pay more dues. There’s nothing wrong with being grateful to the country that provided you with your good fortune. It’s difficult to find grateful rich people now days or even people who want to support their country. The fact is that the U. S. of A. is broke; more than broke. The only way to get us out of the hole is taxes. So, if you make it, then pay up.

If Obama does fail, I don’t think it will be because of anything he did; it will be caused by the opposition to his success. That’s too bad. It will cause America to fail too.

The Devil and KGO NewsTalk Radio

Nothing pisses me off more than a so-called news source playing with the news. KGO is taking on that hue by playing devil’s advocate with the noisiest opinion of the day. This morning was no exception. For example, the latest prattle on the wires is that Obama is losing the “message” war with the right-wing Babel. So, yesterday Obama sounded off with some pretty straight talk about what the stimulus bill ought to be; that of creating jobs… period. So, instead of emphasizing what Obama said or assessing whether what he said had merit, the Babel focused on his temperament or whether he was throwing a tantrum or not. True to form, the KGO Morning News show with Ed Baxter and Jennifer Jones, with a Lynn Jimenez’s assist, plays devil’s advocate, not with what Obama said, but with the Babel’s take; i.e., whether he threw a fit or not. They, Ed and Jen, brought on some opinionator from somewhere to speak as a so-called expert on Obama’s message while they, Ed and Jen, questioned him on Obama’s temperament. It doesn’t matter that the expert accurately described Obama’s message and intent. The fact is that the lasting impression KGO gave is that Obama has an anger problem. The message was secondary.

So, in response to a previous email I sent Ed regarding these “devil advocate” positions the he and Jen frequently take, Ed responds that “he thinks KGO is fair.” Well of course he would, since it’s his job. I, of course, as a listener think he’s all wet and that KGO needs to take another look at how it addresses the latest Babel of opinion. It is, after all, only opinion and is noisily spewed out by people whose only skill at all is talking. Why would KGO side, even when playing the Devil’s Advocate game, with those who wish failure on President Obama when his failure will mean that we all fail? We are not in a game. We are in a severe downturn of the economy machine that maintains our very survival. Is it for ratings or his/her job? Is an argument of opinions worth continuing the paralysis of the decision process with more argument?

To listen to KGO Morning News one could begin to believe that the old Republican mantra of tax cuts is the one and only save all. Yet, out the other side of their mouth they wonder what is going to pay off the debt. Taxes pay off government debt. It’s the only thing that pays off that debt. Ah, but there is another argument against that too; cut the spending that will create the jobs. One would think that we would be happy to support our country, but it appears, per the KGO devil, that we’d rather have a tax cut.

Jobs, not tax cuts, are the most important part of the stimulus, and it’s already been proven that tax cuts do not create jobs; government projects will create jobs. Yet, the Babel cries about all the spending on these projects and deceives the public by calling it “pork.” I’ve looked through the bill, especially at the things being called pork, and it looks like 99% are needed investments in America infrastructure someplace in America. How is that pork? Calling it pork is just another deception by those who got us into this mess. Improving infrastructure creates jobs. Sewers don’t dig themselves. Concrete doesn’t mix itself. Computers don’t install themselves.

But, when Ed thinks he’s right and listeners are left out, I have very little hope of anyone else being heard and little hope that we will succeed. We are paralyzed by the continuing cacophony of Babel.

The Great Republican Traitorous Ponzi Society

Have you had enough yet? I have. I have had enough of corporate executive bonuses and stock options that suck this country dry. Every multi-million dollar bonus and stock option sale sucks money from the consumer, stock holder, assembly line, customer service, job, government tax revenue, community development, social service, school and any other aspect of American life you want to name. These guys and gals are traitors to this country. They use every excuse to justify their big bonus and millions of stock options. When their company is making money that could be put into company expansion or research, they say they deserve the money instead for their bonus and stocks because they showed a company profit. When their company is in a downturn, they say they deserve the bonus and stocks because they are saving the company from bankruptcy. When their company is bought out to prevent bankruptcy, they say they deserve their bonuses because they lead their company through hazardous times. When they ship jobs and manufacturing to other countries, they say they deserve their bonuses. In fact, everything they’ve done is to trickle-up the money to their own pockets at great expense to the United States.

The Republicans say, of course, that they should be able to keep their money in the form of tax cuts while they trade their honor for multi-million dollar corporate or lobbyist positions after their political lives end. At the same time, Republicans vehemently oppose giving to the poorest of the poor; those who don’t make enough to pay taxes. “Socialist redistribution” they call it. Bullshit! Enough! Is there a single Republican or super-rich willing to support this country? Corporate thieves, traitors to America, need to be in jail. I have had enough of million-dollar offices, corporate jets for the top dogs, multi-million dollar bonuses for people who already have million-dollar salaries, and multi-million dollar stock option sales that the companies ultimately pay. The whole Republican laissez faire philosophy for the past 40 years has been a great ponzi scheme to suck this country dry, and they nearly succeeded. They’re still trying.

The Dreaded Technical Support Call

If there is one thing I hate to do when I buy some new techno-gadget it’s making that dreaded technical support call. But, it is inevitable. I know I’ll be talking to someone in India with a heavy accent that I can’t understand and most of the conversation will be me asking “what’d you say,” “say that again.” And, another thing; it makes me mad that the technical support is not located in the United States where the manufacturer is located.

But, my old 2.4 gigahertz D-Link wireless router was on its way out. Besides Internet disconnects that occurred when I answered my 2.4 gigahertz home phone, it was disconnecting more frequently on its own. It froze; all port lights lit whether anything was plugged into the ports or not. I was constantly “rebooting” the thing, i.e., unplugging and plugging in the power cord. So, I knew it was time for a new router.

I bought a new Cisco Linksys Wireless G router and began installation. But, when the setup got to the Internet connecting step, it wouldn’t connect. So, after calling my cable Internet provider four times, resetting the cable modem four times and talking to the cable provider’s “home network” staff, all located in the United States and who spoke good English, I knew it was time to make the dreaded technical support call to Linksys.

After his introduction and I have explained my problem, “What was your name again?” I asked him to repeat everything at least twice, sometimes three and four times before I understood what he was asking me to say or do.

“Romeo.” (I know it really isn’t Romeo.) “Can you plug your computer directly into the cable modem? (I do that) Can you access the Internet? (Yes) Okay. Plug the cable modem either net cable into the router. (I did) Plug your computer either net cable into the router. (I did) Please open Internet Explorer and type in 198…. (He gives me the router’s IP address). Please uncheck ‘Do Not Allow Anonymous Internet Access’. (Jeeze. Why was it checked in the first place? The setup program did not give me a chance to uncheck it.)”

“How is your day going so far?” (What?) “How is your day going?” (Christ! He wants to small-talk.)

“Not so good. I can’t access the Internet yet. Why didn’t the setup program allow me to change these settings?”

“It is best to setup the router using Internet Explorer.” (What?)

“That’s not what the instructions say.” He gave me a few more instructions, twice.

“Try accessing the Internet now.” (Guessing what he wanted, I navigated to yahoo.com. It worked.)

“So, how is your day going so far?” (What? We just went over that.)

“Better now. I can access the Internet. What do you think of our new President?” (I can do small-talk too if he insists.)

“I think it is great. We are happy for America.”

“Me too.”

“We will send you a survey to rate my service. How will you rate me? (What?) We will send a survey to you. How will you rate me? (Ah, he’s more interested in keeping his job.)

“I will say that you did a good job. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Have a good day.” (What’d he say?) You’re welcome. Have a good day.”

“Same to you. Bye” (Finally, it’s over.)

Romeo did a good job. He solved my problem. My complaint is with Cisco, however. My questions for Cisco are: What the hell is your customer support for U. S. citizens doing in India? With all your smart managers, weren’t you able to figure out how to keep those jobs here and still be profitable?

America Has Changed its Mind

Today I am extremely proud of America when a black man takes the oath of the Presidency. America has changed its mind. Today, our credit around the world becomes genuine. Today, respect for America is advanced untold limits. Barack Obama becomes our President.

And it could not have been any black man who could be our President. Mr. Obama, a calm, pragmatic, thinking man, is the man we want and need today. Jessie Jackson, for example, would not have made a good president several years ago when he ran for the presidency. Nor are there any other men, black or white, today on the national scene who can do what Mr. Obama can do for us today. Today is more than simply overcoming our racial prejudices. Today is a day where we declare a solid departure from self-defeating ideologies; that we want business to prosper for America, that we want communities to come together for America, that we want our government to work for America, and that we want individuals to contribute to America. It is a good day, maybe the best day we’ve had in a century and maybe the best day America has had since our declaration of independence.

Today, faith and hope are restored with a great symbolic explosion of well-being. Today is also my older brother’s birthday. I wish he had lived to see this day. I would like to talk to him. He too would be proud of America today.

Bush is Going, Going, Gone

I didn’t listen to Bush’s exit speech. I know what he said, though. He said the same thing he’s been saying all along; he did what’s best for America, he didn’t sell his soul, blah, blah. Well, G. W. has been leaving for several months now. You should have seen, if you didn’t, Oliver Stone’s movie “W.” It is probably accurate. It depicts a man who fails at nearly everything, who quits before the job is done and who thinks everything is a joke and “Poppy” Bush, the 41^st president, bails him out; except Poppy Bush couldn’t fix W’s gaffs as President. But, G. W. has a young (under 30 years old), starry-eyed speech writer from Danville, California who makes G. W. look good and can soften history for him. The fact is that G. W. is the worst president ever who will leave office without one single investigation into his abuse of power and unlawful actions. I guess it proves that “When a president does it, it’s not against the law,” as Nixon said. There ought to be a criminal investigation into his, and Dick Cheney’s, activities for the past eight years. They ought to go to jail.

But, January 20 will be an historical day. Someone said it would be a cold day in hell when a black man becomes President of the United States. Well, Washington D. C. is hell and it will be cold on January 20^th. So, I guess they were right. The funny thing is that when you contrast Obama with Bush, it will also be the best day in Hell we’ve ever experienced.

Coulter is Back – God Help Us

The Bitch is back. Yesterday Ann Coulter appeared on The View and before that she appeared on Fox. Jeez, why do they give her a stage? The stupidity of this woman and the extent she will go to deceive simply takes one’s breath away. Well, she has a new book out and she has to sell it. So far, my take is that the book is based on fantasy that Coulter purports as truth of empirical data. She will twist any fact to suit her own purposes. That a network would give her a stage to spew her deceit and lies on us is astonishing.

Ann is really a freak and her public displays should be considered nothing more than a freak show similar to Barnum and Bailey of the 1930s; ape men, a two headed calf, dwarfs, Siamese twins, all meant to leave us aghast believers in some reality but was really deception. Please, save yourself from ignorance; don’t buy the book. If you must listen to Coulter, see her as a confused freak for entertainment sake.