For those of you who have or will take the time to listen to our current politicians and Presidential wannabees ramble on about the ills of Government or the plight of American and her citizens, here are some questions for you. "Is Government actually the cause of all our "problems" or are these folks "using" and many of the rest of us "using" Government as an excuse?"
IF (as many in the GOP appear to promote) we simply had no Government at all, would you all suddenly be able to get a job, pay your bills, feel safe eating foods that require no inspection or quality standards, or feel confident that you and your families are safe without Government protections of any kind? The Democrats continue to try and subtly convince us that Government can and should assist all in need without limits and in doing that they push things too far in the opposite direction of most Republicans but their agenda can and is also a destructive path.
Do the GOP voices out there who constantly bash Government as the source of all our ills actually believe their own words or do they really mean they only want a Government run by them with their rules in place as opposed to any opposition? Do the Democrat voices out there truly believe that assistance programs are the ultimate answer?
Sadly, we Americans continue to try and place blame and responsibility for our own greed and poor decisions on anything or anyone other than ourselves. The Government, whether Federal or State or Local has never been the problem or the solution for our lives and we fool ourselves by giving credibility to that premise.
Start asking the correct questions and demanding clear answers!! We allow potential leaders to go around complaining about whatever policy currently in place without demanding from them a clear and concise solution. It is easy to say that everything is bad and hopeless but it is far more difficult to execute actual solutions.
Do we actually want to dissolve the EPA and have NO restrictions, regulations or controls on the type or volume of chemical waste and toxins that are spread into the air or into our water sources? Really?
Do we really want to dissolve the FDA and have no method of inspecting anything that we eat or drink or that our children eat or drink? Really?
Do we really want to dissolve the Departments of Education, Transportation, Health, Labor and most others? Really?
Should we simply eliminate Federal or State law enforcement and return to local volunteer forces to protect us? Really?
Think carefully about the words being spoken and the changes being proposed and decide if they are sincere or if they they simply being said as part of a program of spreading fear among us.
Perhaps it is best to just eliminate all Government and rules and move us into a free for all where only those with the most bullets will survive. Why not? A system of laws certainly has been a disaster for the past 235 years, right? Our political leaders are only leading us into a nation of chaos and panic and it appears that this has been the plan for quite some time. All the negative talk has weakened the confidence of Americans and that may be the most important loss of all.
It is TIME TO THINK AGAIN
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The TRUTH is still missing
So, here we are on the evening of July 30th, 2011 and the Federal Government of the United States of America is poised to enter into the twilight zone of fiscal default, which is something it has never officially done in our 234 year history. The reasons we have arrived at this critical point are many and "blame" can reasonably be shared across our political arena. A key factor that is still missing, however, is the TRUTH.
There is no question that our collective debt has expanded to levels that are not tolerable. But, when our politicians speak of a 14.5 trillion dollar debt it is somewhat misleading because over 5 trillion of the total is owed to ourselves. That doesn't mean that the 5 trillion doesn't need to be repaid at some point but we have been given the impression that we have a 14.5 trillion bill from some foreign nation that "must" be paid immediately. Simply not the truth. As you listen to both sides go back and forth about the National Debt and who should get the most "blame" for it, note these numbers and consider the Presidents and Congressional Party makeup and events that have happened during the past 40 plus years. In 1970 our National Debt was 370.9 Billion dollars. In 1980 our National Debt was 907.7 Billion dollars. In 1990 our National Debt was 3.23 Trillion dollars. In 2000 our National Debt was 5.67 Trillion dollars. In 2010 our National Debt was 13.56 Trillion dollars which was more than 36 times the 1970 level! Obviously, there is a systematic issue that has created the explosion in our total debt and the political affiliation of the President or members of Congress has, in the overall, had little or no impact on the growth of the debt.
For those who listen to or support all the talk about a Constitutional Amendment that would mandate an annual "balanced" budget either do not understand the process or do not know how to do the math. But, then again, our whole method of estimating annual budgets and extending fiscal estimates out 10 or more years is nothing more than a political and financial way to tricking us all into believing that our situation is better or worse than it actually is. I seriously doubt that ANY budget that has ever been submitted, voted on, and approved has ever contained numbers that actually lasted the length of time proposed or yielded the proposed results. 10 years? Really? How many of you as individuals or as a small or large business has EVER written out a 10 year budget plan or ever had your situation remain stable enough to not have to change things for 10 years? The truthful answer should be; ZERO. Even the numerous States that have balanced budget mandates contained in their State Constitutions seldom, if ever, go through a single year where revenues exceed expenses. Sure, there are a few exceptions, but our State legislators play the same games and extend things, defer things, over or under estimate revenues or expenses mainly to make us all feel better about voting them back into office in the next election cycle. The Federal Government can and does create any series of numbers it chooses to mask the truth.
IF, and it is a huge if, those that appear so outraged about the amount of "debt" our Federal Government has are truly serious, why have they not demanded that the Federal Government PAY back the 3 plus TRILLION dollars that Congress has allowed to be "borrowed" (more like stolen) from what was supposed to be a sacred Social Security Trust Fund? Where is the grassroots "tea party" outrage at that? WHY are Social Security funds (either the money coming into the trust fund or going out) even a part of the annual Federal Budget at all? When or how was that allowed? The impression has been sold to far too many of our citizens that Social Security Benefits are an "entitlement". Really? The word infers (in the context being used by the opponents of the program) that social security benefits are somehow a gift from U.S. taxpayers, or welfare just being given away to the elderly or disabled. Really? Most American workers have spent their working lives contributing real money to their Social Security fund. Business also contributes real money for each employee. THIS IS OUR MONEY!! Money in the Trust Fund should never be used for any other purpose than to provide a benefit to individuals who have paid into their entire working lives. If the system can't sustain benefit payments because people are living longer then RAISE the retirement age for workers currently under 40 years old and raise the % of contribution for all current workers/ businesses AND provide in all the budget plans and debt reduction plans a real plan to repay the trillions that have been stolen from the trust fund for general use and certainly remove the Social Security program from any further Federal Budgets or discussions. It is (or should be) a completely separate discussion. The merits of even having a social security program at all can certainly be discussed but that too, is a separate matter. For now, we have a program and the obligations that it contains and as with our other obligations, we cannot default on them at any point. Both sides need to face the TRUTH about Social Security and stop using it as a bargaining chip or scare tactic for purely political reasons.
Our entire health system is yet another area where the TRUTH has been long forgotten. I won't go into just how bad it is in this post except to raise a few key questions for the reader to consider. WHY has there been nothing included in any legislation or discussion by either political party of actually investigating and forcing a cost justification from Hospitals, Doctors, Insurance firms, Drug firms, and other medical service providers? The major reason that Federal or State programs like Medicare or Medicaid appear to be in such financial trouble is that costs have been allowed to expand far in excess of the amount of funding provided to the programs over the past 20 plus years. This situation did not begin with the current administration. Those who try and convince you that our entire health care system was just fine until 2009 are simply not telling you the TRUTH. The legislation passed in 2009 actually does very little to address exploding costs but is also does very little to make our health care system worse than it was or worse than it would have been anyway. The TRUTH is the TRUTH. It is much easier for the GOP to "blame" the current administration for decades of failure to control health care costs instead of actually attempting to fix the problem. The attitude is actually similar to the approach many have about our public education system. For many, it is easier to simply abandon ship and tell the masses that they wish they could help but, well, we're on our own. WHY, if there is so much "waste, fraud and abuse" in the health care system has there not been a cry and demand to provide funding and manpower necessary to investigate and actually rid the system of this problem? We have a long history of creating programs and then neglecting the oversight part of the program so that patients, vendors, insurance firms, hospitals and doctors abuse these programs and destroy them for those that are truly in need. TRUTH.
Back to our current debt and budget mess. For those "demanding" that a Constitutional Amendment for a balanced budget be a condition to allow a debt limit increase to pay the obligations (money already committed) are simply placing a nearly impossible wedge in the process. IF (and I strongly caution that care be taken before actually pushing for such an Amendment) there is a sincere goal of actually getting a Constitutional Amendment is should be a stand alone proposal. We're talking about amending the United States Constitution!! The last Amendment was ratified in 1992 after 203 years of "consideration". The 27th Amendment related to compensation of the Congress itself. The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971 (during the military crisis of the Vietnam debacle) and lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, mostly as a reaction to the fact that young men could be drafted into the military and give their lives for our country but were, at the same time, unable to vote. The 27th was a modification of Section 2 of the 14th Amendment. The point is that the process of amending the United States Constitution is and should be a serious matter and should receive consideration and certainly NOT used as a leverage tactic concerning current debt matters for purely political advantage.
I mentioned above that care should be taken before actually pushing for a Constitutional Amendment mandating a balanced budget. Here's the problem. The vast majority of those pushing for a balanced budget Amendment are also on record as being absolutely opposed to ANY legislation that would raise the revenue side of the Federal Budget (i.e. tax increases). they are also firmly opposed to ANY real decreases in our Defense budget which currently account for more than ONE THIRD of our Federal revenues. So, to be clear, these folks want a Constitutional Amendment mandating a "balanced" Budget but with the caveat that taxes cannot be increased at any point and a third or more of the current revenues are "untouchable". Hmmm.... I would challenge these folks to specifically show just how a truly balanced budget could be produced next year or in any year given their public positions. As long as the folks who stand up and rant about balancing budgets and reducing debt continue exempt tax revenue increases or cuts to the largest spending area we currently have and continue to exploit the Social Security Trust fund by leaving it in as part of our Federal Budget, all their talk is nothing more than just empty words without a grain of TRUTH demonstrating real commitment to fixing the problem. For those who continue to insist that the Federal Government (U.S. taxpayers) should continue to subsidize home mortgages by covering for the poor decisions made by the banking industry and home buyers alike, or continue to insist that the Federal Government (U.S. taxpayers) should continue to subsidize higher education student loans and again protect the banking industry from their lending risks, or continue to insist that providing U.S. taxpayer dollars for goods and services to individuals who have no legal status in this country or continue to allow your federal government to "borrow" enormous amounts of money from our Social Security Trust fund, with no plan to repay it, or continue to support welfare programs for the needy without any real oversight to prevent abuse of those programs are ALSO not recognizing the TRUTH. The process and decisions involved with buying a home or pursuing higher education are decisions and commitments between individuals and the vendors themselves and the Federal or State Governments should not commit general taxpayer funds to provide the money or to protect the risk to lenders or schools. I am all for people getting higher education or other training and I am all for people setting personal goals such as home ownership but the general public should not become responsible for the financial obligations and risks undertaken by the parties involved. Our entire system of tax deductions and credits needs a serious review and a large amount of them need to be modified or eliminated altogether. Tax rates become fairly meaningless when our tax system allows the means to reduce or even eliminate the intended revenue. In addition, major areas of our Federal and State tax structure need a fair and just review and restructuring. We have far too many types of taxes or taxes disguised as fees (mainly applies to the State systems). Both parties continue to sell out this country for their own special interests in the pursuit of power and the almighty vote, but none of that is in the best interest of America or her citizens. That too, is the TRUTH.
In the end, our nation and our relative prosperity will fall because of some senseless ideology on either side of the aisle that was never the TRUTH from the start. We are all victims of this system that only benefits those with the money to make it continue.
If there was ever a "Time To Think Again", it is now!
There is no question that our collective debt has expanded to levels that are not tolerable. But, when our politicians speak of a 14.5 trillion dollar debt it is somewhat misleading because over 5 trillion of the total is owed to ourselves. That doesn't mean that the 5 trillion doesn't need to be repaid at some point but we have been given the impression that we have a 14.5 trillion bill from some foreign nation that "must" be paid immediately. Simply not the truth. As you listen to both sides go back and forth about the National Debt and who should get the most "blame" for it, note these numbers and consider the Presidents and Congressional Party makeup and events that have happened during the past 40 plus years. In 1970 our National Debt was 370.9 Billion dollars. In 1980 our National Debt was 907.7 Billion dollars. In 1990 our National Debt was 3.23 Trillion dollars. In 2000 our National Debt was 5.67 Trillion dollars. In 2010 our National Debt was 13.56 Trillion dollars which was more than 36 times the 1970 level! Obviously, there is a systematic issue that has created the explosion in our total debt and the political affiliation of the President or members of Congress has, in the overall, had little or no impact on the growth of the debt.
For those who listen to or support all the talk about a Constitutional Amendment that would mandate an annual "balanced" budget either do not understand the process or do not know how to do the math. But, then again, our whole method of estimating annual budgets and extending fiscal estimates out 10 or more years is nothing more than a political and financial way to tricking us all into believing that our situation is better or worse than it actually is. I seriously doubt that ANY budget that has ever been submitted, voted on, and approved has ever contained numbers that actually lasted the length of time proposed or yielded the proposed results. 10 years? Really? How many of you as individuals or as a small or large business has EVER written out a 10 year budget plan or ever had your situation remain stable enough to not have to change things for 10 years? The truthful answer should be; ZERO. Even the numerous States that have balanced budget mandates contained in their State Constitutions seldom, if ever, go through a single year where revenues exceed expenses. Sure, there are a few exceptions, but our State legislators play the same games and extend things, defer things, over or under estimate revenues or expenses mainly to make us all feel better about voting them back into office in the next election cycle. The Federal Government can and does create any series of numbers it chooses to mask the truth.
IF, and it is a huge if, those that appear so outraged about the amount of "debt" our Federal Government has are truly serious, why have they not demanded that the Federal Government PAY back the 3 plus TRILLION dollars that Congress has allowed to be "borrowed" (more like stolen) from what was supposed to be a sacred Social Security Trust Fund? Where is the grassroots "tea party" outrage at that? WHY are Social Security funds (either the money coming into the trust fund or going out) even a part of the annual Federal Budget at all? When or how was that allowed? The impression has been sold to far too many of our citizens that Social Security Benefits are an "entitlement". Really? The word infers (in the context being used by the opponents of the program) that social security benefits are somehow a gift from U.S. taxpayers, or welfare just being given away to the elderly or disabled. Really? Most American workers have spent their working lives contributing real money to their Social Security fund. Business also contributes real money for each employee. THIS IS OUR MONEY!! Money in the Trust Fund should never be used for any other purpose than to provide a benefit to individuals who have paid into their entire working lives. If the system can't sustain benefit payments because people are living longer then RAISE the retirement age for workers currently under 40 years old and raise the % of contribution for all current workers/ businesses AND provide in all the budget plans and debt reduction plans a real plan to repay the trillions that have been stolen from the trust fund for general use and certainly remove the Social Security program from any further Federal Budgets or discussions. It is (or should be) a completely separate discussion. The merits of even having a social security program at all can certainly be discussed but that too, is a separate matter. For now, we have a program and the obligations that it contains and as with our other obligations, we cannot default on them at any point. Both sides need to face the TRUTH about Social Security and stop using it as a bargaining chip or scare tactic for purely political reasons.
Our entire health system is yet another area where the TRUTH has been long forgotten. I won't go into just how bad it is in this post except to raise a few key questions for the reader to consider. WHY has there been nothing included in any legislation or discussion by either political party of actually investigating and forcing a cost justification from Hospitals, Doctors, Insurance firms, Drug firms, and other medical service providers? The major reason that Federal or State programs like Medicare or Medicaid appear to be in such financial trouble is that costs have been allowed to expand far in excess of the amount of funding provided to the programs over the past 20 plus years. This situation did not begin with the current administration. Those who try and convince you that our entire health care system was just fine until 2009 are simply not telling you the TRUTH. The legislation passed in 2009 actually does very little to address exploding costs but is also does very little to make our health care system worse than it was or worse than it would have been anyway. The TRUTH is the TRUTH. It is much easier for the GOP to "blame" the current administration for decades of failure to control health care costs instead of actually attempting to fix the problem. The attitude is actually similar to the approach many have about our public education system. For many, it is easier to simply abandon ship and tell the masses that they wish they could help but, well, we're on our own. WHY, if there is so much "waste, fraud and abuse" in the health care system has there not been a cry and demand to provide funding and manpower necessary to investigate and actually rid the system of this problem? We have a long history of creating programs and then neglecting the oversight part of the program so that patients, vendors, insurance firms, hospitals and doctors abuse these programs and destroy them for those that are truly in need. TRUTH.
Back to our current debt and budget mess. For those "demanding" that a Constitutional Amendment for a balanced budget be a condition to allow a debt limit increase to pay the obligations (money already committed) are simply placing a nearly impossible wedge in the process. IF (and I strongly caution that care be taken before actually pushing for such an Amendment) there is a sincere goal of actually getting a Constitutional Amendment is should be a stand alone proposal. We're talking about amending the United States Constitution!! The last Amendment was ratified in 1992 after 203 years of "consideration". The 27th Amendment related to compensation of the Congress itself. The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971 (during the military crisis of the Vietnam debacle) and lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, mostly as a reaction to the fact that young men could be drafted into the military and give their lives for our country but were, at the same time, unable to vote. The 27th was a modification of Section 2 of the 14th Amendment. The point is that the process of amending the United States Constitution is and should be a serious matter and should receive consideration and certainly NOT used as a leverage tactic concerning current debt matters for purely political advantage.
I mentioned above that care should be taken before actually pushing for a Constitutional Amendment mandating a balanced budget. Here's the problem. The vast majority of those pushing for a balanced budget Amendment are also on record as being absolutely opposed to ANY legislation that would raise the revenue side of the Federal Budget (i.e. tax increases). they are also firmly opposed to ANY real decreases in our Defense budget which currently account for more than ONE THIRD of our Federal revenues. So, to be clear, these folks want a Constitutional Amendment mandating a "balanced" Budget but with the caveat that taxes cannot be increased at any point and a third or more of the current revenues are "untouchable". Hmmm.... I would challenge these folks to specifically show just how a truly balanced budget could be produced next year or in any year given their public positions. As long as the folks who stand up and rant about balancing budgets and reducing debt continue exempt tax revenue increases or cuts to the largest spending area we currently have and continue to exploit the Social Security Trust fund by leaving it in as part of our Federal Budget, all their talk is nothing more than just empty words without a grain of TRUTH demonstrating real commitment to fixing the problem. For those who continue to insist that the Federal Government (U.S. taxpayers) should continue to subsidize home mortgages by covering for the poor decisions made by the banking industry and home buyers alike, or continue to insist that the Federal Government (U.S. taxpayers) should continue to subsidize higher education student loans and again protect the banking industry from their lending risks, or continue to insist that providing U.S. taxpayer dollars for goods and services to individuals who have no legal status in this country or continue to allow your federal government to "borrow" enormous amounts of money from our Social Security Trust fund, with no plan to repay it, or continue to support welfare programs for the needy without any real oversight to prevent abuse of those programs are ALSO not recognizing the TRUTH. The process and decisions involved with buying a home or pursuing higher education are decisions and commitments between individuals and the vendors themselves and the Federal or State Governments should not commit general taxpayer funds to provide the money or to protect the risk to lenders or schools. I am all for people getting higher education or other training and I am all for people setting personal goals such as home ownership but the general public should not become responsible for the financial obligations and risks undertaken by the parties involved. Our entire system of tax deductions and credits needs a serious review and a large amount of them need to be modified or eliminated altogether. Tax rates become fairly meaningless when our tax system allows the means to reduce or even eliminate the intended revenue. In addition, major areas of our Federal and State tax structure need a fair and just review and restructuring. We have far too many types of taxes or taxes disguised as fees (mainly applies to the State systems). Both parties continue to sell out this country for their own special interests in the pursuit of power and the almighty vote, but none of that is in the best interest of America or her citizens. That too, is the TRUTH.
In the end, our nation and our relative prosperity will fall because of some senseless ideology on either side of the aisle that was never the TRUTH from the start. We are all victims of this system that only benefits those with the money to make it continue.
If there was ever a "Time To Think Again", it is now!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
More facts and Myths
For years now we keep seeing political advertisements about getting rid of our dependence on "foreign oil" or how we are sending our fortune to the Middle East. Hmmm.....
Have you looked at the actual facts about just where "we" get our oil? The latest statistics published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that 70% of "our" imports come from the top 5 oil exporting nations. No surprise there, BUT what is important and dispels some of the Middle East "Myth" is that the Country we import the most oil from is directly north of us. That's right, CANADA. The country that we import the second most oil from is directly south of us. That's right, MEXICO. In FACT, the only Middle Eastern country among our top 5 imports is Saudi Arabia (at #3) and we get about HALF of what we import from Canada and about 20% LESS than we get from Mexico. Nigeria and Venezuela are in the 4 and 5 spots and not very far behind Saudi Arabia. In FACT, there are only 3 Middle East nations that make our import list AT ALL.
The FACTS seem to dispel the "Myth" don't they?
Another key "myth" is that if we somehow bought no "foreign oil" and just drilled more in the Gulf or Alaska or inland that we would a) be able to supply all of our current and future needs and b) that somehow this would result in major reductions in the prices of gas at the pump or heating oil costs.Well, the answer to a) is that we could not even come close to meeting demand (unless of course we wean ourselves off the oil as a serious goal) solely with "domestic" production. The answer to b) raises another "myth versus "fact" question and that is "Does the United States Government own and operate any oil company for drilling or refining that would bring about a lowering of any prices?" No it does not. Exxon Mobil, and Chevron are private firms. Shell is a foreign owned company as is BP and Citgo. The United States Government (meaning us) own none of it! Sure we lease drilling areas and we issue permits to drill or permits to operate refineries on U.S. soil but we cannot make any demands for lower prices and politicians certainly cannot (in fact) promise the American people that not buying "foreign oil" would reduce our costs!
Another "fact" is that all the oil companies that we like to think of as "American" have partnership agreements with all the "foreign" nations to the point that they are virtually one and the same anyway.One thing the U.S. Government does do, however, is provide these "American" and not American oil firms with tremendous tax credits which only reduces the Federal revenue.
Maybe you should start asking these questions when these "myths" are tossed out in front of you;
1) Does the United States own or control any oil company?
2) Why are State taxes on each gallon of gas sold so high?
3) When will the tax credits for "foreign" oil firms be eliminated?
4) Do we consider Canada and Mexico (our two largest import sources) to be the "bad guy"?
5) When are politicians going to climb of the bed of big oil and start helping America to progress beyond oil and into a future than we can sustain?
It is TIME TO THINK AGAIN!
Have you looked at the actual facts about just where "we" get our oil? The latest statistics published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that 70% of "our" imports come from the top 5 oil exporting nations. No surprise there, BUT what is important and dispels some of the Middle East "Myth" is that the Country we import the most oil from is directly north of us. That's right, CANADA. The country that we import the second most oil from is directly south of us. That's right, MEXICO. In FACT, the only Middle Eastern country among our top 5 imports is Saudi Arabia (at #3) and we get about HALF of what we import from Canada and about 20% LESS than we get from Mexico. Nigeria and Venezuela are in the 4 and 5 spots and not very far behind Saudi Arabia. In FACT, there are only 3 Middle East nations that make our import list AT ALL.
The FACTS seem to dispel the "Myth" don't they?
Another key "myth" is that if we somehow bought no "foreign oil" and just drilled more in the Gulf or Alaska or inland that we would a) be able to supply all of our current and future needs and b) that somehow this would result in major reductions in the prices of gas at the pump or heating oil costs.Well, the answer to a) is that we could not even come close to meeting demand (unless of course we wean ourselves off the oil as a serious goal) solely with "domestic" production. The answer to b) raises another "myth versus "fact" question and that is "Does the United States Government own and operate any oil company for drilling or refining that would bring about a lowering of any prices?" No it does not. Exxon Mobil, and Chevron are private firms. Shell is a foreign owned company as is BP and Citgo. The United States Government (meaning us) own none of it! Sure we lease drilling areas and we issue permits to drill or permits to operate refineries on U.S. soil but we cannot make any demands for lower prices and politicians certainly cannot (in fact) promise the American people that not buying "foreign oil" would reduce our costs!
Another "fact" is that all the oil companies that we like to think of as "American" have partnership agreements with all the "foreign" nations to the point that they are virtually one and the same anyway.One thing the U.S. Government does do, however, is provide these "American" and not American oil firms with tremendous tax credits which only reduces the Federal revenue.
Maybe you should start asking these questions when these "myths" are tossed out in front of you;
1) Does the United States own or control any oil company?
2) Why are State taxes on each gallon of gas sold so high?
3) When will the tax credits for "foreign" oil firms be eliminated?
4) Do we consider Canada and Mexico (our two largest import sources) to be the "bad guy"?
5) When are politicians going to climb of the bed of big oil and start helping America to progress beyond oil and into a future than we can sustain?
It is TIME TO THINK AGAIN!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
What Happened???
As everyone is running around blaming each other for our fiscal mess take a look at some historical numbers and then ask; "WHAT HAPPENED?" Just how did we find ourselves with the absurd annual numbers we have now?
1950
Federal Debt = 257.4 Billion
Revenue = 66.68 Billion
Spending = 70.3 Billion
Deficit - 3.62 Billion
Individual Income tax rate = 91% over 200,000
Corporate income tax rate = 42% over $25,000
Average annual income (per capita)= $1501
Unemployment = Between 4.2 and 6.5%
1960
Federal Debt = 268.3 Billion
Revenue = 153 Billion
Spending = 151 Billion
Surplus = 2 Billion
Individual Income tax rate = 91% over 300,000
Corporate Income tax rate = 52% over $25,000
Average annual income (per capita) = $2219
Unemployment = Between 4.8 and 6.6%
1970
Federal Debt = 370.9 Billion
Revenue = 321.1 Billion
Spending = 322 Billion
Deficit = 900,000
Individual Income tax rate = 70% over 180,000
Corporate Income tax rate = 49.2% over $25,000
Average annual income (per capita) = $3,893
Unemployment = Between 3.9 and 6.1%
1980
Federal Debt = 907.7 Billion
Revenue = 885.62 Billion
Spending = 940 Billion
Deficit = 54.38 Billion
Individual Income tax rate = 70% over $161,300
Corporate Income tax rate = 46% over $100,000
Average annual income (per capita) = $9,910
Unemployment = Between 6.3 and 7.8%
1990
Federal Debt = 3.23 Trillion
Revenue = 1.927 Trillion
Spending = 2.1 Trillion
Deficit = 173 Billion
Individual Income tax rate = 28% over $28,050
Corporate Income tax rate = 34% over $335,000
Average annual income (per capita) = $19,188
Unemployment = Between 5.2 and 6.3%
2000
Federal Debt = 5.67 Trillion
Revenue = 3.675 Trillion
Spending = 3.24 Trillion
Surplus = 435 Billion
Individual Income tax rate = 39.6% over $297,350
Corporate Income tax rate = 35% over $18,333,333
Average annual income (per capita) = $$29,845
Unemployment = Between 3.8 and 4.1
2010
Federal Debt = 13.56 Trillion
Revenue = 2.381 Trillion
Spending = 3.591 Trillion
Deficit = 1.21 Trillion
Individual Income tax rate = 35% over $373,650
Corporate Income tax rate = 35% over $18,333,333
Average annual income (per capita) = $40,504
Unemployment = Between 9.4 and 9.8%
SUMMARY;
What do all the numbers reveal?
Between 1950 and 1970 (a 20 year period) the Federal Debt increased only 113 Billion (mostly during the 1960's Vietnam War era) or 43%( just over 2% per year).
Based on the average annual income figures during the 1950's and 60's the 91% top tax rate was virtually meaningless.
The Federal Debt went up two and a half times during the 1970's
The Federal Debt went up three and a half times during the 1980's
The Federal Debt went up ONLY 70% between 1990 and 2000
the Federal Debt more than doubled between 2000 and 2010
How did all this happen?
Some KEY events;
By 1990 the Top income tax rate had been lowered to 28% BUT on income over $28,050 which was only about $9,000 over the average per capita income.
By 1990 Federal Revenues had grown to almost 2 Trillion dollars BUT our Debt was 3.23 TRILLION in 1990.
The 2000 figures reveal the most telling story of why we are in the situation we are in now. In 2000 we had Revenues of 3.65 Trillion and spending of 3.240 Trillion for a SURPLUS of 435 Billion.
The 2010 SPENDING of 3.591 Trillion dollars represents an increase over the 2000 spending numbers by ONLY 351 Billion (or just over a 10% increase from a full decade earlier)which compared to any other decade in this review showed a very positive result.
The biggest key to our current deficits is the fact that Federal Revenues have DECREASED from 3.675 TRILLION in 2000 to 2.381 TRILLION in 2010. As spending for Defense INCREASED from 358.68 Billion in 2000 to 871.89 Billion in 2010 and SPENDING for Welfare has INCREASED from 176.57 Billion in 2000 to 427.65 Billion in 2010 and SPENDING for Healthcare has INCREASED from 351.65 Billion in 2000 to 846.83 Billion in 2010 it is the REVENUE DECREASE that has created the huge deficits we have now. I have not even included Social Security "spending" here because it should not be a part of the annual Federal Budget at all. But, there is over 900 Billion figured into the revenue and spending projections for 2010 (these figures were about 550 Billion out in 2000 and about 710 Billion in in 2000.
With Defense spending eating up 36% of revenues the social security/ pensions eating up almost 1/3 of the Federal revenues HUGE Federal deficits simply cannot be avoided without a dramatic INCREASE in Federal revenues. All the posturing and bickering about "cuts" to various programs will never bring about anything close to a balanced budget or any reduction in our overall debt. The ONLY WAY to accomplish the so-called goals of both parties is to face the fact that there MUST be substantial increases to income tax rates and revenues and decreases to Defense spending (back to 2000 levels) and decreases in welfare spending (back to 2000 levels) and a serious assault on controlling health care costs throughout the medical and insurance industry.A KEY requirement for any additional revenue gained through tax increases MUST be used specifically to reduce the overall debt and NOT simply used for additional spending.A plan to use any additional revenues gained from tax increases to begin to repay the Social Security Trust Fund the 3 Trillion dollars that Congress has "borrowed" during the past 40 years. This would not only reduce the overall debt but also make Social Security more solvent.
Of course, the two main political Parties will not and cannot do the right thing because the money interests who support them will not allow it. They will continue to scare citizens with 10 or 20 year forecasts (which are themselves meaningless) to intimidate voters on both sides. Welcome to the continuing fall of America.
It is TIME TO THINK AGAIN!
1950
Federal Debt = 257.4 Billion
Revenue = 66.68 Billion
Spending = 70.3 Billion
Deficit - 3.62 Billion
Individual Income tax rate = 91% over 200,000
Corporate income tax rate = 42% over $25,000
Average annual income (per capita)= $1501
Unemployment = Between 4.2 and 6.5%
1960
Federal Debt = 268.3 Billion
Revenue = 153 Billion
Spending = 151 Billion
Surplus = 2 Billion
Individual Income tax rate = 91% over 300,000
Corporate Income tax rate = 52% over $25,000
Average annual income (per capita) = $2219
Unemployment = Between 4.8 and 6.6%
1970
Federal Debt = 370.9 Billion
Revenue = 321.1 Billion
Spending = 322 Billion
Deficit = 900,000
Individual Income tax rate = 70% over 180,000
Corporate Income tax rate = 49.2% over $25,000
Average annual income (per capita) = $3,893
Unemployment = Between 3.9 and 6.1%
1980
Federal Debt = 907.7 Billion
Revenue = 885.62 Billion
Spending = 940 Billion
Deficit = 54.38 Billion
Individual Income tax rate = 70% over $161,300
Corporate Income tax rate = 46% over $100,000
Average annual income (per capita) = $9,910
Unemployment = Between 6.3 and 7.8%
1990
Federal Debt = 3.23 Trillion
Revenue = 1.927 Trillion
Spending = 2.1 Trillion
Deficit = 173 Billion
Individual Income tax rate = 28% over $28,050
Corporate Income tax rate = 34% over $335,000
Average annual income (per capita) = $19,188
Unemployment = Between 5.2 and 6.3%
2000
Federal Debt = 5.67 Trillion
Revenue = 3.675 Trillion
Spending = 3.24 Trillion
Surplus = 435 Billion
Individual Income tax rate = 39.6% over $297,350
Corporate Income tax rate = 35% over $18,333,333
Average annual income (per capita) = $$29,845
Unemployment = Between 3.8 and 4.1
2010
Federal Debt = 13.56 Trillion
Revenue = 2.381 Trillion
Spending = 3.591 Trillion
Deficit = 1.21 Trillion
Individual Income tax rate = 35% over $373,650
Corporate Income tax rate = 35% over $18,333,333
Average annual income (per capita) = $40,504
Unemployment = Between 9.4 and 9.8%
SUMMARY;
What do all the numbers reveal?
Between 1950 and 1970 (a 20 year period) the Federal Debt increased only 113 Billion (mostly during the 1960's Vietnam War era) or 43%( just over 2% per year).
Based on the average annual income figures during the 1950's and 60's the 91% top tax rate was virtually meaningless.
The Federal Debt went up two and a half times during the 1970's
The Federal Debt went up three and a half times during the 1980's
The Federal Debt went up ONLY 70% between 1990 and 2000
the Federal Debt more than doubled between 2000 and 2010
How did all this happen?
Some KEY events;
By 1990 the Top income tax rate had been lowered to 28% BUT on income over $28,050 which was only about $9,000 over the average per capita income.
By 1990 Federal Revenues had grown to almost 2 Trillion dollars BUT our Debt was 3.23 TRILLION in 1990.
The 2000 figures reveal the most telling story of why we are in the situation we are in now. In 2000 we had Revenues of 3.65 Trillion and spending of 3.240 Trillion for a SURPLUS of 435 Billion.
The 2010 SPENDING of 3.591 Trillion dollars represents an increase over the 2000 spending numbers by ONLY 351 Billion (or just over a 10% increase from a full decade earlier)which compared to any other decade in this review showed a very positive result.
The biggest key to our current deficits is the fact that Federal Revenues have DECREASED from 3.675 TRILLION in 2000 to 2.381 TRILLION in 2010. As spending for Defense INCREASED from 358.68 Billion in 2000 to 871.89 Billion in 2010 and SPENDING for Welfare has INCREASED from 176.57 Billion in 2000 to 427.65 Billion in 2010 and SPENDING for Healthcare has INCREASED from 351.65 Billion in 2000 to 846.83 Billion in 2010 it is the REVENUE DECREASE that has created the huge deficits we have now. I have not even included Social Security "spending" here because it should not be a part of the annual Federal Budget at all. But, there is over 900 Billion figured into the revenue and spending projections for 2010 (these figures were about 550 Billion out in 2000 and about 710 Billion in in 2000.
With Defense spending eating up 36% of revenues the social security/ pensions eating up almost 1/3 of the Federal revenues HUGE Federal deficits simply cannot be avoided without a dramatic INCREASE in Federal revenues. All the posturing and bickering about "cuts" to various programs will never bring about anything close to a balanced budget or any reduction in our overall debt. The ONLY WAY to accomplish the so-called goals of both parties is to face the fact that there MUST be substantial increases to income tax rates and revenues and decreases to Defense spending (back to 2000 levels) and decreases in welfare spending (back to 2000 levels) and a serious assault on controlling health care costs throughout the medical and insurance industry.A KEY requirement for any additional revenue gained through tax increases MUST be used specifically to reduce the overall debt and NOT simply used for additional spending.A plan to use any additional revenues gained from tax increases to begin to repay the Social Security Trust Fund the 3 Trillion dollars that Congress has "borrowed" during the past 40 years. This would not only reduce the overall debt but also make Social Security more solvent.
Of course, the two main political Parties will not and cannot do the right thing because the money interests who support them will not allow it. They will continue to scare citizens with 10 or 20 year forecasts (which are themselves meaningless) to intimidate voters on both sides. Welcome to the continuing fall of America.
It is TIME TO THINK AGAIN!
Friday, April 08, 2011
National Debt and the Blame Game
As our Government officials continue to debate the current budget details one thing remains a constant. Both sides will blame the other for causing the situation and of being responsible for our National Debt which has exploded to more than 14 TRILLION dollars.
Now for the TRUTH.
I'm going to list below a summary of the make up of the Executive and Legislative branches for the past 30 years and also debt levels during that time.
If you look closely and with an open mind (not locked into either Party) you will see that the growth of our National Debt has exploded without regard to which political party has been "in charge".
1980
President - Ronald Reagan (R)
House - 192 (R) 243 (D)
Senate - 53 (R) 46 (D) 1 (I)
National Debt (9-30-1980) = 907.7 BILLION
1982 (Mid term)
President - Ronald Reagan (R)
House - 166 (R) 269 (D)
Senate - 54 (R) 46 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1982) = 1.14 TRILLION
1984
President - Ronald Reagan (R)
House - 182 (R) 253 (D)
Senate - 53 (R) 47 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1984) = 1.57 TRILLION
1986
President - Ronald Reagan (R)
House - 177 (R) 258 (D)
Senate - 45 (R) 55 (D)
National Debt (9-30-186) = 2.125 TRILLION
1988
President - George H.W. Bush (R)
House - 175 (R) 260 (D)
Senate - 45 (R) 55 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1988) = 2.6 TRILLION
1990
President - George H.W. Bush (R)
House - 167 (R) 267 (D)
Senate - 44 (R) 56 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1990) = 3.23 TRILLION
1992
President - Bill Clinton (D)
House - 176 (R) 258 (D)
Senate - 43 (R) 57 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1992) = 4.06 TRILLION
1994
President - Bill Clinton (D)
House - 230 (R) 204 (D) 1 (I)
Senate - 52 (R) 48 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1994) = 4.69 TRILLION
1996
President - Bill Clinton (D)
House - 228 (R) 206 (D) 1 (I)
Senate - 55 (R) 45 (D)
National Debt - (9-30-1996) = 5.22 TRILLION
1998
President - Bill Clinton (D)
House - 223 (R) 211 (D) 1 (I)
Senate - 55 (R) 45 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1998) = 5.52 TRILLION
2000
President - George W. Bush (R)
House - 221 (R) 212 (D) 2 (I)
Senate - 50 (R) 50 (D)
National Debt - (9-30-2000) = 5.67 TRILLION
2002
President - George W. Bush (R)
House - 229 (R) 204 (D) 2 (I)
Senate - 51 (R) 48 (D) 1 (I)
National Debt (9-30-2002) = 6.22 TRILLION
2004
President - George W. Bush (R)
House - 232 (R) 202 (D) 1 (I)
Senate - 55 (R) 44 (D) 1 (I)
National Debt (9-30-2004) = 7.38 TRILLION
2006
President - George W. Bush (R)
House - 202 (R) 233 (D)
Senate - 49 (R) 49 (D) 2 (I)
National Debt (9-30-2006) = 8.51 TRILLION
2008
President - Barack Obama (D)
House - 178 (R) 257 (D)
Senate - 41 (R) 57 (D) 2 (I)
National Debt (9-30-2008) = 10.0 TRILLION
2010
President - Barack Obama (D)
House - 242 (R) 193 (D)
Senate - 47 (R) 51 (D) 2 (I)
National Debt (9-30-2010) = 13.56 TRILLION
Since 1980 (actually January of 1981) we have had a Republican President for 20 of the 30 years and a Democrat President for 10 of the 30 years.
Since 1980 (actually January of 1981) the House of Representatives has shown the Republicans in the majority for 12 of the 30 years and the Democrats in the majority for 18 of the 30 years.
Since 1980 (actually January of 1981) the Senate has shown a Republican majority for 18 of the 30 years and the Democrats in the majority for 12 of the 30 years (for 2 years from 2006 to 2008 2 Independents in the Senate actually decided the majority).
So, what has all this information revealed?
The National Debt has increased in this 30 year period from just over 900 BILLION to almost 14 TRILLION. This has happened NO MATTER which political Party has been in the White House or which Party has been in the majority in the House or Senate.
Spending is and always will be an ongoing part of our Government. Both parties always campaign with bold statements about controlling spending and reducing the debt and ALWAYS blame the "other side" for our fiscal woes. The fact is that BOTH sides have created our current crisis (is it really a crisis?). The Democrats through the years have endorsed numerous social programs and allowed far too many of these to become major additions to the growing debt. The Republicans have supported numerous military actions without regard to the costs (which have added a few trillion to the debt). The Republicans continue to endorse large subsidies for oil interests (billions of dollars) and continue to believe that taxes must be lowered in order to save the country. When estimated revenues are only 60% of estimated spending as they are for the current fiscal year, the bickering about 10 or 20 billion that is going on now is meaningless. Why? Because our annual deficits are between 1 and 2 TRILLION DOLLARS.
If there is not going to be a tax increase to bring revenues up to 3.5 Trillion and spending can't be reduced to 3.5 trillion we will never see a balanced budget. IF the Republicans believe that we can cut spending by more than ONE TRILLION DOLLARS without major cuts to Defense spending (which is about 25% of our total spending) they are not being honest and are just giving us political spin. IF the Democrats don't step up and demand cuts in military spending AND don't hold out for tax increases (that must happen) and the elimination of subsidies and tax credits (that add up to 10's of billions annually) and don't stop many assistance programs (that are being exploited by too many people) they are just giving us political spin.
The Blame Game will continue because neither side is willing to accept the fiscal facts and they will continue to be ruled by the money interests that in the end, get them elected. They are trapped so they must stand before us and lie.
A note about the debt. More than half of the published National Debt is, in reality, owed to ourselves. Congress has "borrowed" about 3 TRILLION dollars from the once protected (but not since 1968) Social Security Trust Fund. Individual States have "borrowed" hundreds of billions from the Federal Government and continue to do so. Will they pay these loans back and reduce the National Debt?
Who is to blame? It's TIME TO THINK AGAIN!
Now for the TRUTH.
I'm going to list below a summary of the make up of the Executive and Legislative branches for the past 30 years and also debt levels during that time.
If you look closely and with an open mind (not locked into either Party) you will see that the growth of our National Debt has exploded without regard to which political party has been "in charge".
1980
President - Ronald Reagan (R)
House - 192 (R) 243 (D)
Senate - 53 (R) 46 (D) 1 (I)
National Debt (9-30-1980) = 907.7 BILLION
1982 (Mid term)
President - Ronald Reagan (R)
House - 166 (R) 269 (D)
Senate - 54 (R) 46 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1982) = 1.14 TRILLION
1984
President - Ronald Reagan (R)
House - 182 (R) 253 (D)
Senate - 53 (R) 47 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1984) = 1.57 TRILLION
1986
President - Ronald Reagan (R)
House - 177 (R) 258 (D)
Senate - 45 (R) 55 (D)
National Debt (9-30-186) = 2.125 TRILLION
1988
President - George H.W. Bush (R)
House - 175 (R) 260 (D)
Senate - 45 (R) 55 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1988) = 2.6 TRILLION
1990
President - George H.W. Bush (R)
House - 167 (R) 267 (D)
Senate - 44 (R) 56 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1990) = 3.23 TRILLION
1992
President - Bill Clinton (D)
House - 176 (R) 258 (D)
Senate - 43 (R) 57 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1992) = 4.06 TRILLION
1994
President - Bill Clinton (D)
House - 230 (R) 204 (D) 1 (I)
Senate - 52 (R) 48 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1994) = 4.69 TRILLION
1996
President - Bill Clinton (D)
House - 228 (R) 206 (D) 1 (I)
Senate - 55 (R) 45 (D)
National Debt - (9-30-1996) = 5.22 TRILLION
1998
President - Bill Clinton (D)
House - 223 (R) 211 (D) 1 (I)
Senate - 55 (R) 45 (D)
National Debt (9-30-1998) = 5.52 TRILLION
2000
President - George W. Bush (R)
House - 221 (R) 212 (D) 2 (I)
Senate - 50 (R) 50 (D)
National Debt - (9-30-2000) = 5.67 TRILLION
2002
President - George W. Bush (R)
House - 229 (R) 204 (D) 2 (I)
Senate - 51 (R) 48 (D) 1 (I)
National Debt (9-30-2002) = 6.22 TRILLION
2004
President - George W. Bush (R)
House - 232 (R) 202 (D) 1 (I)
Senate - 55 (R) 44 (D) 1 (I)
National Debt (9-30-2004) = 7.38 TRILLION
2006
President - George W. Bush (R)
House - 202 (R) 233 (D)
Senate - 49 (R) 49 (D) 2 (I)
National Debt (9-30-2006) = 8.51 TRILLION
2008
President - Barack Obama (D)
House - 178 (R) 257 (D)
Senate - 41 (R) 57 (D) 2 (I)
National Debt (9-30-2008) = 10.0 TRILLION
2010
President - Barack Obama (D)
House - 242 (R) 193 (D)
Senate - 47 (R) 51 (D) 2 (I)
National Debt (9-30-2010) = 13.56 TRILLION
Since 1980 (actually January of 1981) we have had a Republican President for 20 of the 30 years and a Democrat President for 10 of the 30 years.
Since 1980 (actually January of 1981) the House of Representatives has shown the Republicans in the majority for 12 of the 30 years and the Democrats in the majority for 18 of the 30 years.
Since 1980 (actually January of 1981) the Senate has shown a Republican majority for 18 of the 30 years and the Democrats in the majority for 12 of the 30 years (for 2 years from 2006 to 2008 2 Independents in the Senate actually decided the majority).
So, what has all this information revealed?
The National Debt has increased in this 30 year period from just over 900 BILLION to almost 14 TRILLION. This has happened NO MATTER which political Party has been in the White House or which Party has been in the majority in the House or Senate.
Spending is and always will be an ongoing part of our Government. Both parties always campaign with bold statements about controlling spending and reducing the debt and ALWAYS blame the "other side" for our fiscal woes. The fact is that BOTH sides have created our current crisis (is it really a crisis?). The Democrats through the years have endorsed numerous social programs and allowed far too many of these to become major additions to the growing debt. The Republicans have supported numerous military actions without regard to the costs (which have added a few trillion to the debt). The Republicans continue to endorse large subsidies for oil interests (billions of dollars) and continue to believe that taxes must be lowered in order to save the country. When estimated revenues are only 60% of estimated spending as they are for the current fiscal year, the bickering about 10 or 20 billion that is going on now is meaningless. Why? Because our annual deficits are between 1 and 2 TRILLION DOLLARS.
If there is not going to be a tax increase to bring revenues up to 3.5 Trillion and spending can't be reduced to 3.5 trillion we will never see a balanced budget. IF the Republicans believe that we can cut spending by more than ONE TRILLION DOLLARS without major cuts to Defense spending (which is about 25% of our total spending) they are not being honest and are just giving us political spin. IF the Democrats don't step up and demand cuts in military spending AND don't hold out for tax increases (that must happen) and the elimination of subsidies and tax credits (that add up to 10's of billions annually) and don't stop many assistance programs (that are being exploited by too many people) they are just giving us political spin.
The Blame Game will continue because neither side is willing to accept the fiscal facts and they will continue to be ruled by the money interests that in the end, get them elected. They are trapped so they must stand before us and lie.
A note about the debt. More than half of the published National Debt is, in reality, owed to ourselves. Congress has "borrowed" about 3 TRILLION dollars from the once protected (but not since 1968) Social Security Trust Fund. Individual States have "borrowed" hundreds of billions from the Federal Government and continue to do so. Will they pay these loans back and reduce the National Debt?
Who is to blame? It's TIME TO THINK AGAIN!
Sunday, April 03, 2011
"United" No More
235 years ago, the Declaration of Independence was sent to the King of England. It outlined a long series of grievances that the colonies believed were so oppressive that our only choice was to declare our independence as the united (small u) States of America and drew a line in the sand that resulted in 5 years of bloody war and an uncertain future when the fighting ended.
During the course of the war for independence, the Continental Congress advised each of the colonies to draw up plans for State Government and by 1780 (4 years later) all 13 states had adopted written Constitutions. The Continental Congress of 1776 began to work on a plan for a central Government. The first "Constitution" for the United States was called the Articles of Confederation and were in effect between March 1, 1781 and March 4, 1789. The newly formed Republic (weak as it was) had an outline of government and there were 10 (yes 10) Presidents elected between 1781 and 1788. George Washington was not the first American President, although the first 10 were "Presidents" of a Congress without much federal authority. George Washington himself was very much in favor of a strong central Government. The system failed because the Articles gave little real authority to the federal government due to the fears of the individual States. The United States of America were far from united.
By 1786 it was apparent that changes needed to be made to the Articles of Confederation and on September 17th, 1787 a convention of delegates convened in Philadelphia. They were authorized to amend the Articles but instead held secret meetings and over the course of 4 months came up with an entirely new Constitution. This process was a desperate attempt to save the United States from splitting apart due to the individual interests of the States. There was much debate but in the end compromises prevailed that created a strong central government with 3 distinct branches and overall authority over the States. The hope was that we could indeed function as the United States of America then and forever. However, many critical items were put off in order to insure ratification which later led to our most stunning example of the "un-uniting" of America in the form of the Civil War. The "war" between those for or opposed to the power of the federal Government has continued since. A note to all those "Constitution" folks who go around blasting the Federal Government it was though the efforts and beliefs of many of our "Founding Fathers" that our current system exists today. Read the document!
The United States of America has faced many tests during her 235 years since first declaring her independence but I won't list them here. The "un-uniting" of America that has been taking place in earnest for the past 50 years is about to bring the United States of America to an end.
This is not happening because of foreign invasion or ghostly terrorists or natural disaster but rather because Americans themselves have determined that their fellow citizens are the real enemy and both sides of the political aisle have grown so far apart and have become so filled with hate for each other that any hope of maintaining the United States of America is all but lost. There is virtually no subject that isn't contested along political lines. If one side is for something the other side must be against it regardless of the merits or dangers involved.
HAVE WE EVER BEEN TRULY UNITED?
We have been and are a warring nation. At times of our own choosing and at times due to world events but the end result is that the "Military Industrial Complex" is in full control of the game and the enormous amounts of money involved. "We the People" continue to be sacrificed for this agenda and wear the flag of death proudly as patriots. Along the way, we are the largest seller of arms in the world as we have created defense and weapons facilities throughout the country to provide jobs and economic dependency on the system. Our politicians have been bought and paid for by this powerful group and as long as fear and threats (real or perceived) keep streaming across our media outlets, we will continue to allow this policy.
Many of our citizens claim that America is, at her core, a Christian nation. Really? Our Constitution certainly wasn't written to reveal that idea. The continuous display of intolerance and prejudice by so many of these "Godly" citizens make a mockery of the biblical teachings of Jesus. Religion too, has become nothing more than a business and a political tool for spreading hatred and of course provide the money. Go to your Church or Temple or Mosque this week and search your heart and mind to decide if all the hate is truly "God's will". Then ask for forgiveness for your lack of compassion to your fellow humans.
Our political bickering has turned Americans against each other in an ugly and shameful way and those feelings continue to become more hostile with each passing year. At this pace, we will commence a second civil war within the next decade or so. It has never been difficult for we Americans to start shooting and who better to attack than our neighbors, right? After all, anyone who has a different political view, or is a different "color" or religion or is too heavy or too thin, doesn't deserve to live in your America. you know, the America that used to known as the "Land of the Free". A closer look at our history reveals a long pattern of attacking and shunning anyone that didn't fit a certain profile so what we see today is actually nothing new.
The fact is that we haven't been "united" for a very long time (if ever) and the prospects that we ever will be are slim at best. The choice is ours. It always has been. The quest for power and control has so corrupted our sense of nationalism and humanity that contrary to all logic, we seem willing to allow this nation to sink into the chaos that is infecting so much of the world now.
Special interests of the Military Industrial Complex, Religious groups, the medical and drug industry and of course the media and its pundits relentless tactic of keeping everyone in battle mode, combined with the money at stake threaten the very union that so much blood has been shed for during past generations. A main problem is that both sides of the political aisle "talk" of having the best interests of the United States of America as their platform while refusing to "act" (in any manner) to secure those interests. Everything comes down to opinion and compromise is not an option. In the end, unless we find a way to stop the mindless bickering, America will become a tragic footnote in the history of failed nations. Of course, America may very well become a nation completely controlled by corporations (we're on that road now) and then the pretense of liberty and freedom will be lost as well. Based on current observations it appears that not enough of our citizens are willing to work together to unite their country.
IT IS; TIME TO THINK AGAIN!!!
During the course of the war for independence, the Continental Congress advised each of the colonies to draw up plans for State Government and by 1780 (4 years later) all 13 states had adopted written Constitutions. The Continental Congress of 1776 began to work on a plan for a central Government. The first "Constitution" for the United States was called the Articles of Confederation and were in effect between March 1, 1781 and March 4, 1789. The newly formed Republic (weak as it was) had an outline of government and there were 10 (yes 10) Presidents elected between 1781 and 1788. George Washington was not the first American President, although the first 10 were "Presidents" of a Congress without much federal authority. George Washington himself was very much in favor of a strong central Government. The system failed because the Articles gave little real authority to the federal government due to the fears of the individual States. The United States of America were far from united.
By 1786 it was apparent that changes needed to be made to the Articles of Confederation and on September 17th, 1787 a convention of delegates convened in Philadelphia. They were authorized to amend the Articles but instead held secret meetings and over the course of 4 months came up with an entirely new Constitution. This process was a desperate attempt to save the United States from splitting apart due to the individual interests of the States. There was much debate but in the end compromises prevailed that created a strong central government with 3 distinct branches and overall authority over the States. The hope was that we could indeed function as the United States of America then and forever. However, many critical items were put off in order to insure ratification which later led to our most stunning example of the "un-uniting" of America in the form of the Civil War. The "war" between those for or opposed to the power of the federal Government has continued since. A note to all those "Constitution" folks who go around blasting the Federal Government it was though the efforts and beliefs of many of our "Founding Fathers" that our current system exists today. Read the document!
The United States of America has faced many tests during her 235 years since first declaring her independence but I won't list them here. The "un-uniting" of America that has been taking place in earnest for the past 50 years is about to bring the United States of America to an end.
This is not happening because of foreign invasion or ghostly terrorists or natural disaster but rather because Americans themselves have determined that their fellow citizens are the real enemy and both sides of the political aisle have grown so far apart and have become so filled with hate for each other that any hope of maintaining the United States of America is all but lost. There is virtually no subject that isn't contested along political lines. If one side is for something the other side must be against it regardless of the merits or dangers involved.
HAVE WE EVER BEEN TRULY UNITED?
We have been and are a warring nation. At times of our own choosing and at times due to world events but the end result is that the "Military Industrial Complex" is in full control of the game and the enormous amounts of money involved. "We the People" continue to be sacrificed for this agenda and wear the flag of death proudly as patriots. Along the way, we are the largest seller of arms in the world as we have created defense and weapons facilities throughout the country to provide jobs and economic dependency on the system. Our politicians have been bought and paid for by this powerful group and as long as fear and threats (real or perceived) keep streaming across our media outlets, we will continue to allow this policy.
Many of our citizens claim that America is, at her core, a Christian nation. Really? Our Constitution certainly wasn't written to reveal that idea. The continuous display of intolerance and prejudice by so many of these "Godly" citizens make a mockery of the biblical teachings of Jesus. Religion too, has become nothing more than a business and a political tool for spreading hatred and of course provide the money. Go to your Church or Temple or Mosque this week and search your heart and mind to decide if all the hate is truly "God's will". Then ask for forgiveness for your lack of compassion to your fellow humans.
Our political bickering has turned Americans against each other in an ugly and shameful way and those feelings continue to become more hostile with each passing year. At this pace, we will commence a second civil war within the next decade or so. It has never been difficult for we Americans to start shooting and who better to attack than our neighbors, right? After all, anyone who has a different political view, or is a different "color" or religion or is too heavy or too thin, doesn't deserve to live in your America. you know, the America that used to known as the "Land of the Free". A closer look at our history reveals a long pattern of attacking and shunning anyone that didn't fit a certain profile so what we see today is actually nothing new.
The fact is that we haven't been "united" for a very long time (if ever) and the prospects that we ever will be are slim at best. The choice is ours. It always has been. The quest for power and control has so corrupted our sense of nationalism and humanity that contrary to all logic, we seem willing to allow this nation to sink into the chaos that is infecting so much of the world now.
Special interests of the Military Industrial Complex, Religious groups, the medical and drug industry and of course the media and its pundits relentless tactic of keeping everyone in battle mode, combined with the money at stake threaten the very union that so much blood has been shed for during past generations. A main problem is that both sides of the political aisle "talk" of having the best interests of the United States of America as their platform while refusing to "act" (in any manner) to secure those interests. Everything comes down to opinion and compromise is not an option. In the end, unless we find a way to stop the mindless bickering, America will become a tragic footnote in the history of failed nations. Of course, America may very well become a nation completely controlled by corporations (we're on that road now) and then the pretense of liberty and freedom will be lost as well. Based on current observations it appears that not enough of our citizens are willing to work together to unite their country.
IT IS; TIME TO THINK AGAIN!!!
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