Maybe Obama Finally gets it

Obama Says U.S. Long-Term Debt Load ‘Unsustainable’

May 14 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama, calling current deficit spending “unsustainable,” warned of skyrocketing interest rates for consumers if the U.S. continues to finance government by borrowing from other countries.

“We can’t keep on just borrowing from China,” Obama said at a town-hall meeting in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, outside Albuquerque. “We have to pay interest on that debt, and that means we are mortgaging our children’s future with more and more debt.”

Holders of U.S. debt will eventually “get tired” of buying it, causing interest rates on everything from auto loans to home mortgages to increase, Obama said. “It will have a dampening effect on our economy.”
…………….

Us conservatives have been railing against government spending for many, many years and have been saying it is not long term sustainable and will cause huge inflation and high interest rates.

We will see if he actually does cut government costs significantly (25-50%) or is another lip service politician which says one thing and does another, like add a few trillion more in government spending for universal health insurance for the 3 or 4 million American citizens which do not have insurance for the long term.

Adding the 12 to 15 million uninsured illegal immigrants will bankrupt any government system. The other 12 to 15 million which are already eligible for government insurance (SCHIP or MEDICAID) and do not use those programs. That is 25 to 30 million of the 45 million the Single Payer Health insurance people talk about, then there are 10 million transient people (between insurance coverage) and 5 to 10 million who do not choose to buy health insurance.

Worst Supreme Court Decision Ever

A case nobody has probably ever heard of is one of the most influential to date and controls more of Americans live than anyone can image.

Wickard v. Filburn
link to Wikipedia
link to Conservapedia

This case gives the federal government the ability to regulate someones activity to engage in a act which has no commercial value because it may indirectly influence the commercial activity somewhere else.

I know that sounds far fetched but it is true.

From wikipedia

Roscoe Filburn was a farmer who produced wheat in excess of the amount permitted. Filburn however, argued that because the excess wheat was produced for his private consumption on his own farm, it never entered commerce at all, much less interstate commerce, and therefore was not a proper subject of federal regulation under the Commerce Clause.

[edit] Amount of wheat at issue

In July 1940, pursuant to the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, Filburn’s 1941 allotment was established at 11.1 acres (45,000 m2) and a normal yield of 20.1 bushels of wheat per acre. Filburn was given notice of the allotment in July 1940 before the Fall planting of his 1941 crop of wheat, and again in July 1941, before it was harvested. Despite these notices Filburn planted 23 acres (93,000 m2) and harvested 239 bushels from his 11.9 acres (48,000 m2) of excess area.[1]

……..

The Court’s decision

The intended rationale of the Agricultural Adjustment Act was to stabilize the price of wheat on the national market. The federal government has the power to regulate interstate commerce through the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution. In Filburn the Court unanimously reasoned that the power to regulate the price at which commerce occurs was inherent in the power to regulate commerce.

Filburn argued that since the excess wheat he produced was intended solely for home consumption it could not be regulated through the interstate Commerce Clause. The Supreme Court rejected this argument, reasoning that if Filburn had not used home-grown wheat he would have had to buy wheat on the open market. This effect on interstate commerce, the Court reasoned, may not be substantial from the actions of Filburn alone but through the cumulative actions of thousands of other farmers just like Filburn its effect would certainly become substantial. Therefore Congress could regulate wholly intrastate, non-commercial activity if such activity, viewed in the aggregate, would have a substantial effect on interstate commerce, even if the individual effects are trivial.

This court case precedent will be the centerpiece in the argument between states rights with the Montana and Utah laws on gun rights and commerce recently passed.

An overturning of this case would/could dramatically change how the Federal Government works and put restrictions on the federal government. Anyone who wants a smaller federal government needs to hope that the Supreme court takes up a case which will allow this to be precedent to be overturned. This is more important than any other issue, it if for the continuing existence of states and personal liberty.

HR 1913 – Hate Crime – Perceived intent added to offenses

Text of H.R. 1913: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009

Another redundant unnecessary feel good law passed in the house by democrats that will let the justice department have someone put on trial because a politically appointed lawyer (prosecutor) perceives that the person on trial for committing a crime may have thought something before or during the committing of a crime.

Some excerpts from the law

(1)OFFENSES INVOLVING ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN- Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person–
………………..
(2)OFFENSES INVOLVING ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR DISABILITY-
‘(A) IN GENERAL- Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, in any circumstance described in subparagraph (B), willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerouse weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person–

I am pretty sure is is already against the law for anyone to burn, shot, beat, stab or blow up someone else in America. It should not matter if any perceived prejudice is present just that one individual (or group) tried to harm or succeeding in harming another individual.

Passage of this bill and signing into law will make any crime a hate crime because one can now be prosecuted on the perception of a prejudice.

Under this law any crime in which the attacker can be categorized as different is some way from the victim is now a hate crime.

So much for equal protection under the law, one is only equal to one that the government classifies as the same not everyone. This is a tragedy and a shame that the punishment for all crime is not the same regardless of government classification for the perpetrator and the victim. Everyone will now be unequal under the law.

This is the “thought” police at work. Bring on Big Brother, it is 1984 Mr Orwell.

Economy is OK if the news is NOT AS BAD AS EXPECTED

Recent news which is said to be good since it is not as bad as predicted.

Fed’s Bank Results ‘Reassuring,’ Show No Insolvency

…….
Federal Reserve stress tests on the 19 biggest lenders show Bank of America Corp., Wells Fargo & Co. and Citigroup Inc. together require about $54 billion, said people familiar with the conclusions.
…….
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs yesterday suggested that the Obama
administration may seek management changes at some banks. Officials will want to “ensure that going forward they felt that the management was in place to remedy the situation and ensure long-term viability without continued government assistance,” he said.

Bank of America Chief Executive Officer Kenneth D. Lewis, 62, was ousted as chairman on April 29 ……….

Jobs Report Giving Investors Mixed Picture On US Economy

The pace of layoffs slowed in April when employers cut 539,000 jobs, the fewest in six months. But the unemployment rate climbed to 8.9 percent,………………..

Job losses in February and March turned out to be deeper, according to revised figures. Employers cut 681,000 positions in February, 30,000 more than previously reported.
They cut 699,000 jobs in March, more than the 663,000 first reported. The deepest job cuts of the recession —741,000 came in January.

Jobs: A little less bleak

……………
Wachovia senior economist Mark Vitner and Gilliam both say they’re worried about the impact on jobs in coming reports from the bankruptcy at Chrysler, which will result in a 30-to-60 day shutdown at all of its plants, and the possible bankruptcy at General Motors (GM, Fortune 500). The loss of jobs — not just at those companies but at their dealers and suppliers — will be substantial.

And Vitner said that while Wachovia is projecting that there will be economic growth by the fourth quarter of this year, it’s projecting that unemployment will continue to rise into 2010, topping out at 10.8% in April of that year.

“We are moving in the right direction, but the recession is not over, and even when it’s over that’s not an end of the tough times,” said Vitner.

Wow a bank stress test with an 8.4% unemployment shows the banks will be OK, current unemployment is 8.9% and expected to exceed 10% in the next year.

I wonder if a new stress test will be needed so that the federal government can take over the banks.

GM will move jobs out of US using Taxpayer Money

This is our wonderfully brilliant central government planning that was started by Bush and is being completed by Obama.

Under Restructuring, GM To Build More Cars Overseas

The U.S. government is pouring billions into General Motors in hopes of reviving the domestic economy, but when the automaker completes its restructuring plan, many of the company’s new jobs will be filled by workers overseas.

According to an outline the company has been sharing privately with Washington legislators, the number of cars that GM sells in the United States and builds in Mexico, China and South Korea will roughly double.

The proportion of GM cars sold domestically and manufactured in those low-wage countries will rise from 15 percent to 23 percent over the next five years, according to the figures contained in a 12-page presentation offered to lawmakers in response to their questions about overseas production.
…….

Everyone needs to call their congressman (woman) and tell them thanks for letting the executive branch of the federal government spend out tax dollars to send jobs out of this country.

Just the normal expected result of the government helping out.

Government Energy Policy – Dems & Bush

This should be the expected result of poor centralized planing of the US energy Policy. The democratically controlled congress in 2007 passed its energy bill which Bush signed over the objections of conservatives as a show of bi-partisanship due and all the liberals hate Bush since he would not cooperate. The last 2 years he rubber stamped almost everything that the Dems (Reid, Pelosi) wanted and we are starting to live the consequences of these decisions.

Paper companies get unexpected tax-credit windfall

A law to make the earth a little greener is giving paper mills an unintended multibillion-dollar tax windfall with the help of a little diesel fuel.
…..
The alternative fuel credits were projected to cost the federal government $61 million a year in lost taxes…….
A preliminary estimate being circulated among lawmakers by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation now puts the price tag at $3.3 billion.
…..

This is the result of the government controlling businesses with Tax laws. The businesses are doing exactly what they are supposed to do. Maximize profit for shareholders.

Another reason for a flat consumption tax and eliminate the income and corporate taxes, in the end consumers pay all taxes anyways so why not make it a direct payment and eliminate the trillions of dollars spent on US tax law compliance.

HR 676 – National Universal Health Insurance – Scarily non-specific

Library of Congress site

Actual PDF

only 27 pages, no specifics, lots of generalities which create new Boards, administrators and government employees to run a universal health insurance.

Some excerpts – Bold parts which define non-US citizens are eligible

TITLE I—ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS
SEC. 101. ELIGIBILITY AND REGISTRATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—All individuals residing in the
United States (including any territory of the United
States) are covered under the USNHI Program entitling
them to a universal, best quality standard of care. Each
such individual shall receive a card with a unique number
in the mail. An individual’s social security number shall
not be used for purposes of registration under this section.
(b) REGISTRATION.—Individuals and families shall
receive a United States National Health Insurance Card
in the mail, after filling out a United States National
Health Insurance application form at a health care provider.
Such application form shall be no more than 2 pages
long.
(c) PRESUMPTION.—Individuals who present themselves
for covered services from a participating provider
shall be presumed to be eligible for benefits under this Act,
but shall complete an application for benefits in order to
receive a United States National Health Insurance Card
and have payment made for such benefits.

Congress shall divide the country into regions that will get a heath care pool of money which the regional director spends as that person deems neccessary.

REGIONAL ALLOCATION.—After Congress
appropriates amounts for the annual budget for the
USNHI Program, the Director shall provide the regional
offices with an annual funding allotment to
cover the costs of each region’s expenditures.
Such allotment shall cover global budgets, reimbursements
to clinicians, and capital expenditures. Regional offices
may receive additional funds from the national
program at the discretion of the Director.

Government sets payment level to doctors, hospitals, everyone

FEE FOR SERVICE.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Program shall negotiate a simplified fee schedule that is fair with representatives of physicians and other
clinicians, after close consultation with the National Board
of Universal Quality and Access and regional and State directors. Initially, the current prevailing fees or reimbursement would
be the basis for the fee negotiation for all professional services covered under this Act.

Government will forbid payment outside this system, if a service is covered and the doctor thinks you need it and the government will not pay, you do not get the service.

(E) BILLING.—Under this Act physicians shall submit bills to the regional director on a simple form, or via computer. Interest shall be
paid to providers whose bills are not paid within 30 days of submission.
(F) NO BALANCE BILLING.—Licensed health care clinicians
who accept any payment from the USNHI Program may not bill any
patient for any covered service.

Funded through tax increases on top 5% of wage earners, payroll tax increase and stock & bond transactions. What the tax is not defined, but can be whatever is necessary to fund the act. That is clearly defining the costs.

Subtitle B—Funding
SEC. 211. OVERVIEW: FUNDING THE USNHI PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The USNHI Program is to be
funded as provided in subsections (b) and (c).
(b) ANNUAL APPROPRIATION FOR FUNDING OF
USNHI PROGRAM.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary.
(c) INTENT.—Sums appropriated pursuant to subsection
(b) shall be paid for—
(1) by vastly reducing paperwork;
(2) by requiring a rational bulk procurement of medications;
(3) from existing sources of Federal government revenues for health care;
(4) by increasing personal income taxes on the 25 top 5 percent income earners;
(5) by instituting a modest payroll tax; and
(6) by instituting a small tax on stock and bond transactions.

Who will be on the NATIONAL BOARD OF UNIVERSAL QUALITY AND ACCESS.

(A) Health care professionals.
(B) Representatives of institutional providers of health care.
C) Representatives of health care advocacy groups.
(D) Representatives of labor unions.
(E) Citizen patient advocates.

Why are labor unions reps on this board? Others make sense.

I am terrified of this government action.

1st 100 Days & the future failure of America

I thought after the 1st 50 days that things could only get better, lots of new people making new people mistakes, these people really have pride in America just not reacting to well to the new power and environment.

It has just gotten worse except for the distraction game, the Obama administration has gotten very, very good at distraction while the real agenda of the government take over of a majority of American business marches forward.

Some of the highlights/lowlights
1) The American Apology tour through Europe. I thought only look at how important I am, self-indulgent Hollywood types (Penn, Glover, Bellafonte) and ex-presidents (Carter) went around the world saying America is evil. Now the sitting president is apologizing to the world because American Capitalism over the last century and a half has brought an improved standard of living to a large segment of the world population.

2) Cut 100 million dollars from federal budget, same as a family making $45000 a year taking a $1.22 annual pay cut. I wonder what will be cut in the family budget to make up for the income loss, need to drink water instead of the bottle of soda at today’s lunch. savings achieved, no more cutting needed.

3) Media lapdog to the president – ignores hundreds of thousands of protesters who think that government is overstepping its bounds and government intervention into private society needs to be curtailed.

4) Continue to ignore friends and prop up enemies. (Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea) And listen to them speak while they rant about how evil America is.

5) Politicize the security of America by releasing CIA memos

All of these are a distraction as they push through a universal health insurance and energy cap and trade plan.

Universal health care will result in limiting access, it is the only way to decrease costs is to limit access. See Charles Krauthammer collumn. The government has convinced a majority of the people that the America Health Care industry is broken and can only be “fixed” by the federal government.

The federal government is going to do the same thing with the energy industry under Cap & Trade. Cap & Trade will result in significant 300 to 400% increases in energy prices which will raise the prices for each American household about $3900 dollars more a year. This will result in American’s becoming enraged against energy companies and utilities giving the government the support to price cap and nationalize the energy industry. This will result in less energy for everyone to use.

It is called hidden taxes on business which gives those in power the ability to create a crisis and then solve the crisis by taking more power.

America is on a road to rapid failure and lower standards of living for the good of everyone.

POWER CORRUPTS, ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPT ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Another entertaining column by Mark Steyn.

April 22nd – Lenin’s birthday – is also Earth Day, a day to ponder what we hard-hearted right-wingers regard as the ultimate Milf. It was, oddly enough, thinking about eco-alarmism that got me started on the road to America Alone. This National Post column is from 2002:

In 1968, in his best-selling book The Population Bomb, scientist Paul Ehrlich declared: “In the 1970s the world will undergo famines – hundreds of millions of people are going to starve to death.”

In 1972, in their influential landmark study The Limits to Growth, the Club of Rome announced that the world would run out of gold by 1981, of mercury by 1985, tin by 1987, zinc by 1990, petroleum by 1992, and copper, lead, and gas by 1993.

In 1977, Jimmy Carter, President of the United States incredible as it may seem, confidently predicted that “we could use up all of the proven reserves of oil in the entire world by the end of the next decade.”

Now, in 2002, with enough oil for a century and a half, the planet awash in cut-price minerals, and less global famine, starvation and malnutrition than ever before, the end of the world has had to be rescheduled. The latest estimated time of arrival for the apocalypse is 2032. Last week, the United Nations Global Environmental Outlook predicted “the destruction of 70% of the natural world in 30 years, mass extinction of species, and the collapse of human society in many countries … More than half the world will be afflicted by water shortages, with 95% of people in the Middle East with severe problems … 25% of all species of mammals and 10% of birds will be extinct …” Etc., etc., for 450 pages. But let’s cut to the chase: As The Guardian’s headline writer put it, “Unless We Change Our Ways, The World Faces Disaster.”

Ah, yes. The end of the world’s nighness is endlessly deferred but the blame rests where it always has. With us – with what the UN calls “the current ‘markets first’ approach.” Klaus Toepfer, the UN Environment Program executive director, believes that “under the ‘markets first’ scenario the environment and humans did not fare well.”
………..
I’d like to be an “environmentalist,” really I would. I spend quite a bit of my time in the environment and I’m rather fond of it. But these days “environmentalism” is mostly unrelated to the environment: It’s a cult, and, like most cults, heavy on ostentatious displays of self-denial, perfectly encapsulated by the time-consuming rituals of “recycling,” an activity of no discernible benefit other than as a communal profession of faith.
……..

The higher a countries GDP, the healthier the population and the longer people live. This is a fact which can’t be denied by any open minded un-biased reasonable person. There deniers that free-markets improve peoples lives are dooming the Human race to a much worse way of life than necessary. It is a shame that some people only feel good when destroying others.

I have a previous entry about this Global Warming – Science Consensus Fraud?

It is an easy comparison, from Wikipedia
World GDP

Life expectancy

Tax Day Tea Party – Rochester NY

I went to the Tea Party on today (April 15th) – I would estimate there was about 2000 people in attendance.

here are some pictures

Update : Local media is saying 400 hundred. Sorry the line of people in the march was 2 or 4 wide and at least a 1000 long and took 15 minutes to pass me from start to finish.