working People

One thing has become clear as we end this year. In this country producing something through hard work is no longer valued. Congress has made that very clear through the distribution of the billions of bail out dollars they have appropriated during this economic crises. The banks and insurance company's have asked for help and they got 700 billion with out much debate. However when the auto industry asked for a measly 13 billion they were put through many hoops and in the end turned down. This sent a very clear signal to most of the working people of this country. If you work and actually produce something that's tangible you will not be protected or valued by the people who are responsible for the running of this country.

We have lost our manufacturing base in this country and we could be in trouble if we're forced to go to war with one of the countries that are responsible for providing most of the manufactured items we need to conduct operations of our defense. We have no steel industry in this country and the electronics device manufacturing is largely done by foreign powers. What our legislators should be doing is protecting our meager manufacturing base. Our workers should not have to be paid the small wages that other county's offer their workers. Instead we should protect our higher paid workers and build the middle class. This country has stayed free because of the large middle class and as the "rich" of this country attack the middle class so do they attack our freedoms. 

Fairness Doctrine

The other day I received an email from a conservative friend. In this email the subject of the fairness doctrine was discussed. The email called the possibility of a return to that doctrine instituting censorship. This email startled me because I couldn't understand how fairness translated to censorship in the minds of my friends that are conservative. After all if your airing all sides of an issue aren't you allowing all opinions to be heard and not censoring anything. When you only allow one side of an issue and do not allow diverse opinions isn't that censorship? Lastly, on most talk stations isn't that what we have today? 

The radio and television airwaves are limited resources that are in the hands of a few corporations. Unlike the printed media that is unlimited in scope and can have an infinite number of outlets. The airwaves are finite. Further the airwaves belong to all the people and the government leases these airwaves and  has an obligation to make sure they are of benefit to all the people. The Fairness Doctrine was established by the FCC in 1949 to insure that the fair use of the airwaves were followed. 

The Fairness doctrine was in play until 1987 when the then commissioner Dennis R Patrick ended the regulation. Patrick was a Ronald Reagan lawyer and was newly appointed as FCC commissioner. Since that time more and more time has been devoted to the right wing of society on radio and television following the dictates of the conservative captains of that industry. Today you couldn't find a country run by a dictator that has a more one sided discussion of issues than the United States.  

Personally, I don't understand why the right is so exercised by the re-institution of the fairness doctrine. If your ideas are valid, a free discussion can only enhance the righteousness of your issues. I know personally I have modified my views over the years by hearing what people who have different opinions than mine have to say. In a democracy, the people can only make wise decisions by listening to open discussion of the issues that confront them

To see a fuller discussion of this issue you might follow this link http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0212-03.htm

A Thought about how lower Taxes ruined our economy

So the conventional wisdom about taxes all these year has been lower taxes are better. We've been living with this assumption since Reagan has been president. President Reagan followed the advice of Arthur Laugher and his supply side economics. But since that time we've experienced two phenomenas. 

First is that the middle class seems to be shrinking during this period of time. That also includes a decrease in jobs available to the middle class and a devaluing of the work that the middle class does. While the middle class is shrinking the upper class is not expanding they are simply increasing the gap between them and the classes below them. Our wealth as a country is gathering into fewer and fewer hands. This can be clearly demonstrated by the increase of the compensation of executive salaries while the workers at the middle and bottom of the cooperate salary structure have lost benefits and pay. 

Second, since the upper levels of society has received tax breaks we've experience several periods of boom, bubble and Bust. These periods have resulted in recessions and depressions. We've had the dot com bust, Saving and loan bust, Banking failures and stock market crashes. All of this has lead to an uncertain future for the people of the United States. Today for the first time in our history people feel the their futures aren't as bright as their parents felt their future were. 

So WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS? It seems reasonable to revert back to a time when the upper class had less available money if they chose not to put their money into actual productive use. Raise the tax levels and give incentives to pay less taxes if they invest it in companies that actually provide jobs and value to our economy. This might result in a lesser growth rate, but it will also result in a steadier growth rate and allow all the classes to have a steak in our Countries future. 

The Wrong Way

 So last week the auto bailout failed because of a few Southern Republicans. Strange as it seems, these silly people would rather give 700 billion dollars to groups that really produce nothing than give a few billion to companies that actually produce something. We've lost our steel industry, clothing industry, and most of out consumer appliance industry. the list if manufacturing industries left in the US continues to dwindle. There are very few manufacturing industry's left in our country. 

So what's wrong with this? Our congress and presidents have allowed us to be vulnerable to the whims of foreign governments that have an agenda of protecting their own industries at the expense of ours through the ruse of free trade. While we allow these foreign countries to export goods to the US without any strings attached these countries (such as China, Japan,) put restrictions on our exports. 

We need to protect our industries and the workers in those industries. We need to equalize labor coast by adding tariffs to the imports. If we allow all of these industries to disappear when time of war or pestilence come we'll have no manufacturing base to build to protect us. What does it matter if we have to pay another $2,000 for a Mazda, or Toyota. WE NEED TO PROTECT U.S. WORKERS. We need to make sure our workers have jobs. We need to make sure we have a strong manufacturing base for the good of our country. 

Post election thoughts

So since the election certain things have become clear. 

1) Energy prices have declined at an unprecedented sped. Its my guess that since the next two leaders are no oil people the oil companies don't feel they can do what ever they want as far as pricing goes. Shortly after Bush and Cheney became the leaders of the country gas prices went over $2:00 and have not looked back until now. Perhaps we should try and find out how much was in it for the people in charge. we should know that this was one sign of the looting of America.

2) The war missions are becoming clearer. The Iraqi government has asked us to leave and we should. It would seem just irresponsible to continue to spend 12 billion dollars a month when that money is desperately needed at home. 

3) The kind of candidate that really turns on Republicans are rather happy dumb people. While McCain is a nice guy ...... he definitely isn't the smartest light bulb in the tree. And Palin is just Dumb, Dumb, Dumb. And she is a super star of the republican party.

Real Americans

So in desperation the Republican Party is now trying to instill fear into the population. They're sending out Robo-Calls calling Obama a Terrorist and using his middle name as a means of saying that this man is really not an American. Many of the McCain surrogates are saying those that have a different ideas or religions are not "real Americans." There is one Minnesota Congresswoman who is calling for an investigation of all of the Democrats to see which ones are contrary to and a threat to the real Americans. Sara Palin is calling only small town people and certain parts of the country the Real Americans. This is just one step ahead of saying only certain people are eligible to be counted as real Americans. 

John McCain you are supposed to be an American Hero. How could you let your campaign become so low and reprehensible? You are ruining any legacy you have left. My suggestion is to stop it now before you have no honor left. Real Americans aren't decided by place or religion or class of Birth. Real Americans aren't decided by ones right or left political views. Real Americans are decided by how willing we are to tolerate those who are different than us and how willing we are to compromise our ideas so that we all might be able to live together in peace. 

Leadership

Often I've tried to figure out what makes a leader. I know one when I see one. I know when somebody in a leadership role isn't really a leader. That not only goes for politics, but also sports, work (whatever it is), church, and almost any other endeavor humans engage in. How to define what leadership is in a precise way always alluded me. 

Well, then I got sick and had a major operation. As I was trying to recover from this trauma I started looking for literature that would inspire me. I came across a Book called The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. The author talks about a whole host of subjects concerning life in general and the little book is very inspiring. Right there on page 44 was the complete answer to my question about what makes up a good leader. He was writing about Captain Kirk.

.

........was the distilled essence of the dynamic manager, a guy who knew how to 

delegate, had the passion to inspire, and looked good in what he wore to work. 

He never professed to have skills greater than his subordinates. He acknowledged

that they knew what they were doing in their domains. But he established the vision

the tone. He was in charge of morale.............

 

Now thinking about these requirements for our next president it makes the choice very clear. I don't know how anybody could be inspired by McCain. He's dull, blubbering and rather old. The life he led has been one of privilege. And in my opinion, his service record isn't all he says it is (that might be the subject of another blog later). Obama on the other hand can turn you to tears with his speeches. He makes you want to open you wallet to get him elected. He will surround himself with competent people and allow them to do their job. He is somebody we can be proud the be represented by.

Abortion

During last Saturdays Presidential candidates discussion the subject of abortion rights came. It was clear after both candidates answered the question who had the best answer. Mcbush gave a quick answer that only acknowledged one side of the question. Obama on the other hand gave a thoughtful intelligent answer that acknowledged the fact fact that the question is a very complicate one with many correct answers. He basically said he doesn't like abortion but that he would not end legal abortion because harm it would do to mothers. This has been a view he's held since his second year at Harvard law school according to an article published in Politico. 

Obama takes a very reasonable approach. Nobody, unless you're really cold, wants to have an abortion. but ending legal abortion wouldn't end abortion. Instead of being open it would go back into the back alley's were not only would we loose the baby's anyway but probably the mothers as well. Obama suggest the way to cut down on abortion is through education and giving the potential mothers options that they don't have today. Who can really argue with that. 

The Elitist

I Started to wonder who is the real elitist as the candidate for president. Obama grew up with a single mother and was raised by his grandparents. He lived a very normal life in Hawaii. When he went to collage it was on his personal strength and he had to pay for his own education. He took a job starting at the lowest level. He spent a lot of time working his way to the top. 

Mcbush was born of a rich family and was  sent to school on the government. he grew up in a privileged society. Today he  is worth over $100 million. he believes that middle class is up to 3 million dollars. We've already had eight years of a spoiled child as president and look what he has done to us. 

The question is Can we afford 4 more? 

So the choice is clear

After the televised discussion yesterday the choice seems even more clear than it was before. Mcbush spent the time talking much about war and how he would listen to the generals when it came to policy. I always thought that it was the generals job to listen to the president. When asked to name the worse supreme court justices he named the best of the supreme court and touted the worse. He was asked to tell his interpretation for what it was to be rich. He gave 5 million dollars as a rich level. He answered most of the questions with simple answers no matter how complex the issue was. He spent his  time pandering to the audience and spent his time telling jokes rather than really discussing important issues. He used an old and tired method of inserting stories to illustrate points and most of the time the stories had nothing to do with the point he was making. 

It becomes clear after watching both these candidates that the better choice for president is Obama. He was thoughtful and intelligent in his answers. He demonstrated that he knew both sides of each issue and gave proper respect to those he disagreed. He spoke in a manner that would make me proud as an American to be represented by this man. yes the choice is clear. 

Level Taxes

Recently the idea of a level tax rate has become popular. Many people feel that its the only way to fairly tax the population. I have to admit for a long time I felt the same way. I was able to argue the logic and necessity of such a taxing system. I decided to find another country that uses this system and find out how it works in that country to be able to use as an example of the superiority of  a single rate system. 

Interestingly though, no matter how much I looked I couldn't find such a country. So I began to try and figure out why of all the other countries none had adopted this system that seemed so logical. As I looked into it the logic of our progressive tax became much more understandable. It can be understood by asking and answering two simple questions.  1) Should those that use the most government services pay the most in taxes. 2) Is it fair to treat everybody exactly alike? 

Should Those that use the most services pay the most in taxes?

If you think the answer to this question is no! There is no need to go on the flat tax is for you. The plain fact is that the rich use the majority of our government services. They drive the most cars: They use the airports the most: They demand the attention of the police (an example is the 25000 dollars spent in B. Spears to take her to the court): I'm sure not many public marinas are fashioned for the poor: Public Schools in rich areas are always much better than public school in poor areas: Roads are maintained to higher degree in the upper level areas than the lower levels: I could go on forever but I won't bore you with a gigantic list of things that the government provides for the rich that they don't provide for the poor. The truth is that the rich receive many more government services than do the poor so logic only dictates that the rich should pay much more for the services they receive.

Is it fair to treat everybody exactly alike?

The answer to this is emphatically no! especially in this country where we have such a diverse population: The young have different needs than the old. Farmers have different needs than city folk and Urban areas have different needs than the Suburbs. Business has a whole set of needs that the private citizen doesn't even think of.  All these different needs need different funding.

So in conclusion, people of higher means receive more service and can afford to support our society so they should pay a higher percentage of their income toward it. I know from personal observation that ten dollars means a lot more to many of my friends than it does to me. So if you are in the part of society that pays higher taxes be thankful that you are, because you get more of the blessings this country offers.

Race in the Race

The other day I heard John McCain accuse Obama of inserting race in the race for president. I had to laugh when I heard that. Race has been in political race from the beginning. When he was running against Hilary. It was Bill that was publicly saying those little subtle things. This was going on while the republicans were sending out one racist email after another. You all probably received the "Our First Family" email. Who was the first public figure to start emphasizing Obama's middle name. How many emails have any of you received that states for a fact that Obama is a secret Muslim. No its not the Obama camp inserted race into this Presidential race. Its the same people that called Carrie a coward to the benefit of the two most cowardly people that ever held office. 

Why We Need Medical Reform

I just got the first bill from the illness I'm going through. It was shocking. I was a 25 minute CT test. The Hospital charged over $14,000 for this test. I am lucky! I have health insurance that will pay the bill. But they will not pay the $14,000 that the hospital charged they will pay a little over $600. Now I got to thinking that what would have happened if I didn't have insurance, I could not have been treated. We have well over 40 million Americans that can not for some reason have health insurance. Lets all hope that they don't get sick.

This is something that we as a country have to do something about. I look around at the political landscape and between the two major candidates running I think we only have one choice and that is Obama. McBush will make sure that the health segment of our country will stay as it is leaving out a great segment of our country.

Papa

The Trouble With Military Men

I just finished watching the classic film "The Day The Earth Stood Still." It got me thinking about this election. In the film, a space ship lands in Washington DC and a spaceman comes out of the ship. In the meantime the military surrounds the ship and puts all of its weapons at the ready. The space say "I come in peace" and starts walking toward the leaders of the military men. On his walk toward the men he reaches into his vest and pulls out an object. Before he can explain what the object is, he is  shot by one of the soldiers. As the spaceman is laying on the ground, he explains that the object was a gift that would allow the leaders of Earth to communicate with civilized planets in the universe. Of course now the gift is destroyed and the earth is in danger of being destroyed. I will not bother retelling the rest of the story, this is sufficient to remind me further why a MILITARY MIND will not be an advantage to our country and another reason why electing John McBush president. 

We've already had eight years of a military presidency (even though this president never really served in the military). What has it gotten us? A destroyed economy; the lowest standing in the world since WWII; we are much less secure than we were before 911; Our treasury has been emptied; we are in dept to the same people who have vowed to destroy us. Some how we have to get out of this quagmire of fighting first and not talking to the people that don't agree with us. Truthfully that's all that McBush offers us. Please don't forget the "bomb bomb bomb Iran, and Maybe stay there 100 years." What we are doing is not working lets try something different.

Papa

So We're Just having Illusions

Yesterday the Mcbush campaign told us that the recession we're now in is just mental. It wasn't too long ago that the Mcbush campaign tendered an energy plan. McCain said that drilling would be psychological on the wold market. This was even though it wouldn't do one thing toward lowering gas prices (it would help their rich oil friends get richer). I would think that the reason that they really don't believe that the economy is suffering is because the only people to benefit from the Bush years has been the upper class elite. And guess who is in the upper class.

Well Mcbush...... you don't get it. This is not just our imagination. We are hurting! the price of fuel is too high. Food is too expensive. You might be having trouble truing to figure out how to pay for your children's fancy private collage education, but we're having troubles figuring out how we might pay for food for our family. We're having trouble trying to provide electricity for our family to light our houses. Speaking of houses we're even having trouble keeping our families in one because your rich buddies ran up the prices of housing.

NO!!!!!!!!! this isn't mental ....... Its real

Papa

The new Threat

So Iran tested some missiles today and it didn't take long for the wing nuts to get on the talking heads and try and scares us into voting for McBush in this next election. We were scared into keeping one of the worst presidents in the history of our country. I hope you remember the last election when they upped the terror alert every time the poles started to favor John Carry. This election I guess the threat will be the boogieman Iran.  So it starting to become clear if you want endless war and tons of money wasted on killing you should vote for the republican.

Whats Wrong with Flip Flops?

I've heard so much about Flip Flops in Politics at this early date  in the election season that I started thinking about what this meant. I know that this was a very cute thing to say about John Carry and really nobody ever thought to think about the implications of this cute saying. We've suffered through almost eight years of a president that wouldn't adjust his thinking for anything. He stubbornly stuck to his guns while so many American were being killed for really no reason. He has been philosophically single minded. He has refused to bend and find different solutions for problems that have come up. He also has tended to bend the facts to fit his philosophy. 

I've decided that a president that Flip Flops and changes when a new set of facts come into play isn't a bad idea. Senator Obama if you have flip flopped because you have been presented with a new set of facts, I salute you