Who's to blame now for the uncertainty in raising the Debt Ceiling by Aug. 2nd?

Okay, this is the bottom line on who's to blame in this Debt Ceiling crisis. Senator Mitch McConnell, the same Mitch McConnell who said his number one priority is to ensure President Obama is a one term President, yesterday told the American people he and Senate Republicans were going to require 60 votes to pass Senator Harry Reid's plan to raise the debt ceiling! McConnell decided to Fillibuster instead of compromise! That's who's to blame! Remember, if we can't get the debt ceiling raised by August 2nd, and we default, you know who you should blame.

The House plan by Speaker Boehner only needed a simple majority to pass. They just got 218 votes for his plan. 24 Republicans voted against it and no Democrats voted for it.

GDP: Are we in decline and, if so, who's to blame?

I have wondered, as many of my readers have, about the apparent decline of our economy in recent years. Many, especially the far right in the Republican Party, have blamed President Obama for this and many on the left have blamed George Bush for this. Are these points of view true? Let's look at the facts over time. The fact is that our economy has been in decline now for many years. The first chart below shows GDP for the period of 1960 to 2011. I have drawn red lines at the top GDP levels after eliminating the highest value for each line segment. So for the period of 1960 to 1979, I did not draw the line at the one highest point of 15%, but rather of the several lower ones at 10%. Imagine that, a several quarters of 10% GDP or greater. back then we were just like China today!

You can see from the 3 red lines that we have steadily dropped in GDP and that the years from 2000 to 2011 are the lowest GDP periods in the past 50 years. In fact the lower GDP period has mostly been for all of the years of the Presidency of George W. Bush and the years with President Obama. The facts are still unknown whether President Obama will be any better or worse than President George Bush was. Right now they look the same to me, but there isn't enough data to be conclusive. Let's look a little closer at the years from 2000 to 2011 and see more closely where we are. The next chart below shows this period. I'll let you interpret what you are observing here. But before you look, be aware that your point of view will determine what you see! Be honest with yourself here, as it is a great learning point.

What have you learned? Can you be honest with yourself and be an objective observer or are you biased to your original point of view. I say this to both Republicans and Democrats. Dare to make a comment on your learning? I invite you to make a comment below. But let us know if you are a Republican or Democrat in those comments. It makes the comment so much richer and interesting.

One last chart. below, I just had to post and this one is of GDP since 1947. It is similar to the chart from 1960. Charts constructed from data fromTradingEconomics.com.

Thanks! And while you are at it, take my Mini poll on the right margin.

545 People

This was sent to me this morning via email and I thought so much about the message I had to post it here. Please read it all the way to the end. Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

545 PEOPLE
By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme
Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes..

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget.. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to..

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

What you do with this article now that you have read it.......... Is up to you.

This might be funny if it weren't so darned true. Be sure to read all the way to the end:

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.


Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to
think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him
till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom...'

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
It’s time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75
cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges/IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage
Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility
Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the
world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.


What in the hell happened? Can you spell 'politicians?' And I still have to 'press 1' for English!?

I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!!

GO AHEAD - - - BE AN AMERICAN!!!
Attack life! It's going to kill you anyway.

"It's Your World, Pay Attention"

Georgia/Russian conflict discussion

I came across a Blog today which had commented a few days ago about the conflict. It was titled, "The American Portrait" and read Ryan's post about the conflict and then added my comment. Here it is and my comments:

MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2008
The Puppet Master

If you're one of the few people who still thinks Dmitri Medvedev is calling the shots in Russia, you'd better think again. When Russia invaded Georgia, President Bush (and rightfully so) issued the United States' response to the move, calling it "unacceptable". Condi Rice has played her role as Secretary of State (almost like a prime minister) by doing most of the "behind the scenes" work during the negotiations.

When Russia gives its response to the United States, Vladimir Putin of all people is the one to give it. He criticized the United States for portraying Georgia as the victim and for airlifting Georginan troops from Iraq. Shouldn't Medvedev have given that response? A prime minister in a secondary leadership role giving the official public response to the leader of another nation? Sounds fishy to me.

Europe and the United States need to learn that Russia's steady ascent to increased aggression over the last decade is due solely to Putin, an old school KGB man. Putin in some regards is a full blown dictator without an official title. As the world is prepared to give Russia a good 'ole slap on the wrist, this just seems a little too 1939ish for me.

My Response and Comment:

Ryan, I think you are missing some history here. Since the Bush 41 Presidency, the U.S. has been embarking on a policy of cozying up to former Soviet Countries and wooing them to be a part of NATO. Russia has objected and we have kept pushing.

I don't know if you are old enough but do you remember when Russia did a similar thing in Cuba during the JFK Presidency and how we felt?

I am not a friend of Russia but I am not their enemy either. We have created this mess and it is playing out as predicted given our previous provocative actions. One of the things I am disappointed about is American's immaturity arrogance and lack of accountability when it comes to the consequences of U.S. actions around the world.

It’s never about one person like Putin. All countries share in the accountability for allowing these conditions to be created in the first place.

Just for the record, I am not Russian, nor Georgian, I am American by birth, Italian by decent and a citizen of the World in my spirit. I am a social liberal and fiscal conservative and I voted for Sen. Biden in the Primary.

Charles Amico

Pakistan at a critical moment with Bhutto assassination

Bhutto has been assassinated. "Who is to blame?" is the comment most heard after the first report of this tragedy. The real question is, "Does it matter?" I guess first of all, she is, as she didn't head the warnings that were very clear that told her not to go back to Pakistan. So in one way she is accountable. In another way, Pakistan President Musharraf and his military forces are as they are charged with the responsibility of protecting her and it is obvious from early reports that they failed to adequately secure the scene of the assassination. And I guess humanity is also accountable that we have grown into societies and a species that kills its own kind and not for food like other animals but out of rage. We have not tamed the beast within us and until we do as a species we will not evolve but may instead devolve.

Who loses the most with her death? Possibly the people of Pakistan have the biggest loss. Possibly the United States loses the most as she was seen as an ally of the U.S. Possibly Musharraf has the most to lose, as he will certainly be blamed and Bhutto's people may consider him responsible and want to payback his forces and Musharraf himself. But the real loser here is Civilization, as we have not become more civilized apparently over 2000 plus years.

UPDATE: They say after a suicide bomber blew himself up near her, that she was shot in the neck with a bullet in her car. The question I have was the shot fired from within the car or from outside the car. It is not clear amid the confusion in reports from the area.