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Name: 42jeff
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Will Atlas shrug?

Posted by 42jeff on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 3:44:14 PM
Will Atlas Shrug?
 
What are businessmen to think if a substantial tax hike is put on them at the same time the low income bracket is given a large tax reduction? What if those driving forces in our country that worked hard to be successful suddenly realize they’ve had enough of being taken advantage of and close their doors?
 
What then?
 
 Redistribution of wealth is not what this country was founded on. “Socialism” is defined as “the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.” It needs to be understood that it’s the big companies that decide whether or not to build a new store or factory. If they are suddenly burdened by a heavier tax load to “spread the wealth”, won’t they just lay people off or increase prices rather than see diminished profits? Some goods will get more expensive meanwhile there are more people out of work. How does this help the economy? How is this “patriotic”?
 
 Another candidate says he wants across the board tax cuts and is criticized for giving larger breaks to the rich. Only that’s fair, see? An evenly applied tax break will benefit the more wealthy because they’re already paying a larger share of the tax load.
 
I saw a story once about six men who dined regularly at a restaurant and divided the bill up proportionately by income. The one making the least ate free while the wealthiest paid the most. One day the waiter gave the men a 10% refund for their faithful business. The men decided to split up the discount by the same ratio that they paid by. The next poorest wound up eating free while the one paying the most got the largest refund. The other men were angered at their smaller refunds and the one eating free to begin with was upset because he got nothing.
 
 If the wealthier in America do finally decide they’ve had it and either leave the country or close their doors, the economic downturn we’ve experienced the past few months will be nothing in comparison. The jolt the nation will feel when Atlas does finally shrug will resound around the planet and for years to come.
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Isn't pork supposed to be healthy?

Posted by 42jeff on Monday, October 20, 2008 8:10:13 AM

I thought pork was supposed to be healthy? How is it then that with all the pork the American taxpayer has been forced to swallow for several years, our economy is as unhealthy as ever? Look at the Economy Rescue Bill that passed last week with the bloated "extras" included to "convince" some senators to give their support. I've been trying to figure it out, but how exactly does a Mental Health Initiative, subsidies to wooden arrow manufacturers and wool research have to do with bailing out failed banking institutions? How exactly do tax incentives to rum manufacturers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands fix the collapsing stock market?
 
 I know these senators and representatives need to keep their posts somehow. Where else can you get $170,000 per year, an excellent health plan, and work nine months out of the year if you aren't a pro athlete? That doesn't include the perks. It seems that maybe saving the taxpayers - our country - several billion dollars a year would go further toward job security-and maybe even help out national security.
 
 I realize a lot of things are accomplished by cramming that junk onto the tail ends of these bills. I tried my hardest to read the whole bailout bill and wound up getting so frustrated, I had to quit and get some Motrin. President Clinton removed several items he saw as "excessive for the short time he had the Line Item Veto. How much money could be saved every year if our legislators didn't waste time and effort shoving all kinds of extras onto everything that's passed? How much more informed would the average American be if everything that Congress voted on was made public rather than as paragraph b of subsection 14, line 19, item number 7b of Section III?
 
Alas, until our legislature decides to treat their jobs with the respect and responsibility their positions deserve, we will have to pay millions of dollars every time a bill is signed to get enough "Yea"s. Either way, we should be glad they're at least making a decision and doing more than just being "Present."
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Where's my bailout?

Posted by 42jeff on Monday, October 20, 2008 7:54:01 AM
Where's my bailout? Hey, Congress! Hey, House! Where's mine? I am your typical American. I hold a job. I got in debt providing a good life for my family and renovating my house. I have a mortgage on that house, kids, pets, and a big screen TV. Where's my bailout?
 
Only, you see, I know where my bailout is. It comes every two weeks when my paycheck comes in. Most Americans have to work for our bailouts. Most of us live day to day being pretty happy with ourselves for making our bills. Most of us have taken the foresight and consideration for our own well being to not get into a mortgage that we know we cannot afford. So. For those of us responsible enough to take care of our own financial well-being, why should our tax dollars be spent getting those who didn't out of trouble? Why should our tax-dollars go to paying CEOs off for screwing up our economy? Why not let those who screwed up learn their lesson? Why make everybody else pay for it? I think the "Crap Sandwich" that us responsible American's are being forced to swallow should be on the ballot this November. Let those of us that are going to be paying for it have sort of say.
 
I know a few people who might have issue with that though. There will be no "Present" on the ballot this November.
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Thanks for nothing...

Posted by 42jeff on Monday, October 20, 2008 7:35:10 AM
After several years of just being pissed off and bitching to anybody who'd listen to me for a minute, I finally decided to do something about it.  Though it is "just Minot" I started in the letters to the Editor column and just started here.  I'll post my first three letters just for posterity's sake.
Thanks for nothing Congress. In a glaring display of why the 2006 elected Democratic congress has the lowest approval record ever, they have decided to bow out of trying to do anything to right the financial emergencies being experienced on Wall Street this week. It's good to see that even after taking a summer break and finally coming back to work, that you're hard at work figuring out when to quit working.

Thanks for nothing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for letting your Congress continue to do nothing besides declare another day in recognition of left-handed, redheaded taxi drivers named "John." Since you took over nothing has gotten accomplished besides a lot of finger pointing and screaming for the heads of our current administration.

Thank God the elections are only a few weeks away. With any luck we'll get people in there again who will work for the country rather than on opportunities not to. By the way...to any left-handed, redheaded taxi drivers named "John," no offense intended.
 
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