"This is the business we've chosen"

"This is the business we've chosen"...Hyman Roth, "Godfather II", 1974

On Thursday, House Republicans and President Trump celebrated taking

the first step to repeal/replace Obamacare.

But, what the public was not told is that the Democrat's government health

care system was being replaced with a Republican version.

As Roth said, "This is the business we've chosen" and its name is 
health care!

The looming question is one the public never was asked, "do you want a

government health care system?"

If the answer is yes, so be it, only make it work!  If the answer is no, 
than the Republicans have failed just as the Democrats did!

Consider how government got into the health care "business".  

It began with a 1965 amendment to Social Security, creating Medicaid

that provided matching funds to states for medical assistance to residents

who were eligible.  Medicaid targeted the most economically stressed

citizens.

Not so for senior citizens when mandatory government run health care,

Medicare,  went into effect in 1976, using contracted private insurers 
to administer. Seniors had not chose!

In 2010 the Affordable Care Act that required every citizen to have health 

care was born and the 'three legs" to run national health care was complete!  

Whether President Trump or any Republican admits it, the government
is now in "the business they have chosen".

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Government healthcare, its here to stay!

When I engage conservative friends about replacing Obamacare
on more than one occasion the response is often, "Govt should
not fund health care".

On the surface this is understandable based on the limits our
Founders placed on our national government.

But, that was then and this is now, and as our Founders accepted
the desires of the times, including slavery, we conservatives must
also accept the desires of the American people, many having little
understanding of the limits the men who designed our government
placed on it.

This is why the national government has so many agencies delving
into areas beyond the imagination of Adams, Jefferson, Madison
and Hamilton, the country's primary architects.

As for health care, no matter what 'strict Constitutionalists' might
think.....we got it!

And, since we got it, we need to make certain legislation is crafted
to provide a level of protection, efficiently managed, with premiums
based on 'risk' as other insurance premiums are.

As much as it would be considered "unfair" to price out any group,
it is equally unfair to overburden any group that provides less risk
than other groups, namely the insured without 'preexisting conditions'.

'Preexisting conditions' has been the most divisive of anything
mandated in Obamacare because its inclusion redefines what the
word "insurance" means, and how insurers must price the cost
placed on the insured.

And since govt, either directly or through federal mandates,
is now an insurer it must bare any loses, which it will pass
on to taxpayers, something private insurers can't do!

Whether Obamacare survives or is replaced by Ryan-Trump
care, many of the mandates will remain. It will be up for
Congress to infuse free market influences to keep the cost
in line with affordability!





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Those "Dastardly" Tax Cuts for the Rich?

I wrote the following after receiving a recent commentary by Thomas
Sowell on 'tax cuts for the rich' which follows.                     

 

Every time you hear 'tax cuts for the rich', tune out whatever else is coming. 
This nonsensical political rhetoric lacks substance and used to undermine 
any effort to reduce all tax rates, under the guise of only going after highest taxpayers!

It is also a ruse used most often by politicians who legislate tax rates only
after their deep healed donors give them the green light, that 'flashes' once 
the IRS provides necessary code to protect them.

This is the 'rigged' game the public is not aware of and determines the amount 
of money the people are allowed to keep.

Nor, should you even ponder what "the rich" think about the attacks. They 
don't, they ignore them. Its the Kabuki dance between those in and out of
politics to ensure the "great unwashed" are never cleansed of stain this
compliant corruption applies.

How can any reduction in tax rates be defended against attacks of the
"tax cuts for the rich" crowd? This is a question tax cut proponents find
impossible to answer.

But, there are a couple of ways, the first which I do not agree with for 
it goes against my belief no group should be obligated to pay what others
do not. 

To counter the 'anti-rich' rhetoric suggest a "wealth tax" on the richest
such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and even President Trump who is well 
down the ladder of wealthy Americans. Watch their response.

They would never suggest a wealth tax, for that is the last thing wealthiest Americans want. And the wealthiest Americans are the people who like the
tax code just as it is, off limits to their fortunes!

The second, I would demonstrate what happens within a state when IRS
tax rates are cut, a defense which surprisingly is never presented to counter 
'tax the rich' rhetoric.

Consider the state which sent the most money to Washington in 2015, 
California. The amount was $450 billion! Let's say tax rates are cut by 
20%, and translates to $80 billion "remaining in the hands of California 
taxpayers".

Ask yourselves, what would this mean to the economy of California? 
How many new jobs will be created? How much a stronger economy
would increase the amount collected in state revenue?

Granted, less taxes going to Washington could also mean less federal 
money returns to the states. But, the trade-off is negligible as both
citizens and states will have more money in their hands rather than
be dependent on Washington to return, on average, 30% less than
the amount most states send.

Tax cuts are meant to benefit all taxpayers, not to creates a divide between
Americans, pitting the wealthiest against the majority of taxpayers.

We should not accept this fraudulent attempt to persuade us politicians
want to lower our taxes. If they did they would not continue to spend 30%
more than we send to Washington each year. 

It is the rare politicians who desire to cut off the "oxygen" supply to Washington,
the money which runs the country and the lives of the American people!

Monday, May 01, 2017

One of the painful realities of our times is how long a political lie can survive, even after having been disproved years ago, or even generations ago.

A classic example is the phrase "tax cuts for the rich," which is loudly proclaimed by opponents, whenever there is a proposal to reduce tax rates. The current proposal to reduce federal tax rates has revived this phrase, which was disproved by facts, as far back as the 1920s -- and by now should be called "tax lies for the gullible."

How is the claim of "tax cuts for the rich" false? Let me count the ways. More important, you can easily check out the facts for yourself with a simple visit to your local public library or, for those more computer-minded, on the Internet.

One of the key arguments of those who oppose what they call "tax cuts for the rich" is that the Reagan administration tax cuts led to huge federal government deficits, contrary to "supply side economics" which said that lower tax rates would lead to higher tax revenues.

This reduces the whole issue to a question about facts -- and the hard facts are available in many places, including a local public library or on the Internet.

The hardest of these hard facts is that the revenues collected from federal income taxes during every year of the Reagan administration were higher than the revenues collected from federal income taxes during any year of any previous administration.

How can that be? Because tax RATES and tax REVENUES are two different things. Tax rates and tax revenues can move in either the same direction or in opposite directions, depending on how the economy responds.

But why should you take my word for it that federal income tax revenues were higher than before during the Reagan administration? Check it out.

Official statistics are available in many places. The easiest way to find those statistics is to go look at a copy of the annual "Economic Report of the President." It doesn't have to be the latest Report under President Trump. It can be a Report from any administration, from the Obama administration all the way back to the administration of the elder George Bush.

Each annual "Economic Report of the President" has the history of federal revenues and expenditures, going back for decades. And that is just one of the places where you can get this data. The truth is readily available, if you want it. But, if you are satisfied with political rhetoric, so be it.

Before we turn to the question of "the rich," let's first understand the implications of higher income tax revenues after income tax rates were cut during the Reagan administration.

That should have put an end to the talk about how lower tax rates reduce government revenues and therefore tax cuts need to be "paid for" or else there will be rising deficits. There were in fact rising deficits in the 1980s, but that was due to spending that outran even the rising tax revenues.

Congress does the spending, and there is no amount of money that Congress cannot outspend.

As for "the rich," higher-income taxpayers paid more -- repeat, MORE tax revenues into the federal treasury under the lower tax rates than they had under the previous higher tax rates.

That happened not only during the Reagan administration, but also during the Coolidge administration and the Kennedy administration before Reagan, and under the G.W. Bush administration after Reagan. All these administrations cut tax rates and received higher tax revenues than before.

More than that, "the rich" not only paid higher total tax revenues after the so-called "tax cuts for the rich," they also paid a higher percentage of all tax revenues afterwards. Data on this can be found in a number of places, including documented sources listed in my monograph titled "'Trickle Down' Theory and 'Tax Cuts for the Rich.'"

As a source more congenial to some, a front-page story in the New York Times on July 9, 2006 -- during the Bush 43 administration -- reported, "An unexpectedly steep rise in tax revenues from corporations and the wealthy is driving down the projected budget deficit this year." Expectations, of course, are in the eye of the beholder.

Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is www.tsowell.com. To find out more about Thomas Sowell and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

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"I'd Rather be in Harrisburg"

President Trump held a  rally for his supporters in Harrisburg, PA rather than
attend the annual White House Correspondents Dinner, a self-congratulatory
event, to reinforce the fraud of  'serious, objective journalism' the public finally recognized as an attempt to undermine any political leader who dares not pursue
policies they agree with.

President Trump was typical Trump. He was no different than he has been for
the past two years. He was the same "guy" he has been. Just a regular billionaire
telling the American people exactly how the 'sausage' is made in Washington!

He went after the 'journalists', calling them out for what they are, an unapologetic
arm of the Democrat Party determined to destroy the Trump presidency, by
misreporting what is being done to strengthen our nation.

As Sean Hannity has said often reminded his audience, "Journalism is Dead",
a sentiment which reminded me of what is written on WC Fields grave, "I'd
rather be in Philadelphia".

As President Trump said at the rally, "I'd rather be in Harrisburg".

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He should have spent more time with his kids.....

When John Boehner stepped down as the Republican leader in the House, giving 

up his speaker-ship, Paul Ryan became the logical choice for this most powerful

position.

In the world of politics most would jump at the chance, but not Ryan. He played

'hard to get'. Ryan said he would run for the position only after getting assurances

it would not cut into his family time, being able to take weekends off.

Many felt Ryan showed he was a politician who had his priorities in order. How 

could anyone criticize Ryan's conditions to being the next Speaker?

Well, if you read through history what Ryan refused to sacrifice for his country

Thomas Jefferson did time and again.  The death of several children, the long

lingering illness of his wife haunted him as he worked on the creation of our

nation and serving as the governor of Virginia. It did  not deter him from his

duty to our country.

Immediate communications was non-existent and lengthy delays were standard

in an age when it took two days to travel fifty miles!

Aside from a 'then and now' comparison, consider what a position in Congress 

affords its members, living expenses for families to join members in Washington

and extensive breaks to go home!

But, lets consider the immediate measurement, Ryan's performance as speaker.

By any reasonable measure of a Republican, Ryan has failed. His two budgets 

included 25% of additional debt and each was late, requiring the absurdity of

'continuing resolutions' by a Congress which knows well in advance of what 

is expected and when it should occur. Yet, Ryan would do neither!

Even with the benefit of having a Republican president to work with has not

kept Ryan from being as inept now as he was when Obama was president.

He could have offered health care bill, or forward a tax bill, even muster up

one billion to begin the wall that Congress approved a decade earlier!

Ryan's records 'earns' him the dismal approval rating he deserves!

I have no confidence Ryan will ever be a Speaker who will rise to the occasion

and lead, just another politician who will offer excuses when Congress fails to
do its jobs.

Speaker Ryan gave us a clue before he even took the job, he could not fully

commit to the country at the expense of 'family time'.

The Congress should have never voted him speaker! 

Story on Ryan's "conditions for the job":

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paul-ryan-speaker-family_us_5626e133e4b08589ef49a6f7

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Failure to report does not mean failure!

This best describes the 'journalism' applied during the first 100 days
of the Trump presidency.

Rather than review the entirety of what occurred the media ignored
what was achieved, and cherry picked failures without mentioning
that in the political world it takes two willing partners, leaving ,
President Trump to 'dance' by himself.

But, for moment put aside the 'never Trump' Democrats refusal
to work with him and the Republicans who are more consumed
with proving they 'matter', than having legislative successes.

Look at what President Trump did with the stroke of a pen,
nearly forty executive orders or memos, commitments to his
campaign promises of helping American workers, defending
our nation and ending Washington's counter-productive abuse
of its power.

1. A major promise was to get out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership
trade deal. Trump submitted the notice we will begin withdrawing,
even as Congress remains anxious to continue globalist desires.

2. Another major campaign promise, completion of the Keystone
and Dakota pipelines, both dormant for more than a decade, one
of Trump's first Executive Orders. This step led the pipeline
contractor to cancel its $15 billion lawsuit against the United States
that was never reported!

Additionally, the Commerce Dept. was directed to maximize the
use of American steel on the project.

3. Addressing the newest entry in America's drug epidemic, Trump
issued an order creating a commission to combat Opioid addiction.

4. Executive orders to establish three DOJ task forces to fight drug
cartels, reduce violent crime and attacks against police.

Again, campaign promises fulfilled.

5. An order directing the Treasury secretary to review the 2010
Dodd-Frank regulatory law which has plagued financial institutions
since enacted.

6. Trump issued memorandum directing Secy of Defense to present
a plan within thirty days to defeat ISIS....his major security campaign
promise.

7. Also on security Trump authored two orders on borders security and
immigration enforcement: authorizing a border wall, ending funding to
sanctuary cities, adding 5000 more Border Patrol agents, ending 'catch-
release' policies of illegals, reinstating state-local enforcement partnerships.

As someone who spent his life in business President Trump saw what most
former presidents did not see or felt they could not effectively address.

Here are steps he has taken:

8. Order requiring every agency to establish a 'Regulatory Reform Task
Force' to evaluate regulations, and recommend rules for repeal or modification.

9. An order requiring two regulations to be abolished for each one introduced.

10. An order directing a "top-to-bottom" audit of the Executive Branch.

11. Memo to restructure the National Security Council and Homeland
Security Council.

12. An order revoking Obama-era executive orders on federal contracting.

13. Order to lengthen ban on administration officials working as lobbyists,
and lifetime ban on working for foreign govt.

14. Memorandum issued calling for 30-day review of military readiness.

15. Order imposing a hiring freeze to shrink size of govt, excluding the
military.

More on American workers:

16. Memo to order investigation on whether foreign steel is hurting
national security.

17. Order directing federal agencies to review H-1B visa programs,

18. Two orders on trade, one Commerce Dept. should report on
factors behind trade deficit and another increasing collection of
duties on imports.

19. Order for review of Clean Power Plan that restricts greenhouse
gas emissions at coal fired power plants.

20. Another campaign promise, reinstatement of ban on federal funds
to intl. groups that perform abortions or lobby to promote, and end
Planned Parenthood funding if it continues to perform abortions.

21.  Order to direct federal agencies to ease regulatory burdens of
Obamacare by waiving, deferring, exempting the is a fiscal burden
on states, individuals, health providers, recipients, etc.

22. Order to more Black college and university offices back to White
House from the Dept. of Education.

There were about one dozen more, but this demonstrates what President
Trump was able do with the authority of the presidency.

Next time you read how little President Trump has achieved, keep in
mind what the media does not consider achievements, preferring to
point to setbacks and polling numbers.





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The questions you'd ask your senator.....

After attending a luncheon with my senator I queried others asking what

they would ask, given the opportunity to do so.

Here are the replies I want to share with you. With minimal editing, these 
are the submissions, which I will also send to select US senators. These
replies from people living in different states.

Thanks for your participation,

Tony

Here's assuming one gets an honest answer:

1. Is there a reason why you don't answer your phone?
2. Is there a reason why all your calls are diverted to assistants who then decide what to do with the message?
3. How much money do I have to donate to your reelection campaign in order to be able to talk to you?
4. What's the "Real" reason you decided to run for office?
5. What do YOU believe you were hired to do?
6. Do you ever really give a damn about the issues a constituent puts before you, or do you just wait for them 

    to finish talking and then carry out the promises you made to the lobbyist that paid you?
7. What is the determining factor for you to carry a bill?
8. Do you realize how unmitigatingly arrogant you really are?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When will they stick to their conservative principles
and stop compromising with Liberals, who never compromise 
with conservatives.  We don't want RINO's. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How much do 59 Tomahawk missiles cost? Spend that money on a toll free 540. No toll
roads in NC. Spend US taxpayer dollars on USA infrastructure not bombing a Syrian airport.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why won't you cooperate with Republicans?  And why do you move in lock step with your
party leaders  instead of thinking for yourselves.

However, I would not cross the street to see any of the Hawaii delegation.  I am thoroughly 
disgusted with what they are doing and with state and city politicians too.  Our state legislative
body has 3 Republicans in the house and no Senate Republicans.  Our mayor just thinks of
more ways to spend money and thinks nothing of how he will pay for his bright ideas. I have 
hope for the country but no hope for Hawaii unless people wake up and dump the whole lot
of our politicians locally.

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Tom Cotton of Arkansas  

Why didn’t you smack Schumer upside his​ head 
when he  challenged you on the Senate floor?

John McCain

I very much respect and honor your service. I used to like you. 
 I want to like you.  But you broke my heart sucking up to the 
media and going rogue, then losing to Obama and not supporting 
this president.  What’s  up with you?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mu question: What efforts are being made to cut back waste, fraud and abuse and balance
the Federal budget as oppose to just re​-​position​ing​ the deck chairs?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why are you pressing for amnesty for illegal immigrants and more legal immigrant work visas
when our US Bureau of Labor Statistics U-6 unemployment rate is at 9% and even higher for
low-skilled citizens.

Have you studied the Constitution and all the Laws emanating from it?  If so why does the 
Senate have so many Rules that are not truly spelled out in the Constitution?  Is the Senate 
able to function solely without all the Rules and use the Constitution as its guide?  Finally, is 
the Constitution not a complete document?

Why don't Republicans have a healthcare plan ready to replace Obama Care?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When are you and the rest of the senators going to stop playing politics and start doing
something for America and not just for your party or personal gain?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Below are a few questions I might ask:

 "I know there are various groups within the Republican Party from very conservative to not 
so conservative.  However, WHY won't the Republican Party Senate and House unite behind
our Republican President???"

"Why can't you stand up for what is RIGHT for America and NOT only what is right for the
Republican Party???

"Do you believe November election was a mandate to the Republican Party?  If not, why not???"

"A  lot of whiney, snowflake Democrats need to be told to go suck an egg. Do you have the gumption
to tell them that??"

"What is more important to you???  This country, or your job??"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Why do you want to coddle the Democrats by reaching across the aisle?  The Dems didn't vote
for you, nor will they ever vote for you.  They rarely, if ever, reached across the aisle to you when 
they were in the majority.  Plus, you've already given in to them far too often.  If nothing else, this
 last election the PEOPLE told you we don't like the Dem way.  DID YOU LISTEN??  

Do you have the intestinal fortitude to tell the Dems to get on board or get out of the way??"

As you can tell, I'm not too pleased with our two Senators.  I believe they are in bed with special
interests and only come out to play when they wish to be re-elected.  I believe them both to be 
RINO's who talk a good game, but don't play the game they talk.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tough one.  It would be how’s it hanging or why don’t you use credible efficiency experts to actually
evaluate what the value of the department is vis a vis its charter to the taxpayer.  Also I would, from
a budgetary perspective, vet the $ in a given budget and if they are value added. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Screw the questions.  I want to tell them to repeal the Fascist monstrosity called Obamacare and
replace it with market based  solutions that allow anybody to purchase health insurance across state
lines and that allows insurance to be portable.

Free the health care industry from the shackles of intrusive government. That said, if there is a question
it would be "Why the hell not do it?"

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"why is it you campaigned on  getting rid of obamacare, yet have done NOTHING to achieve that. 

Why are we paying you a salary? Perhaps to just sit "there"....twideling your thumbs!!!  Or perhaps 
to enhance you financial portfolio due to "insider trading"!!!

Will you do as you promised, and FINALLY leave. You have accomplished absolutely ZILCH for
citizens of NC in 20 years, yet we have PAID for your 11 trips to Europe, and we didn't even get 
a post card!!! Talk about GOVERNMENT WASTE!!!

blunt, to the point, but DOUBT either if these jackasses has a clue how despised they are....you
won by name recognition  ONLY!!! now you want to run for governor, sure, he'd be perfect "matching 
book end" for the mentally challenged guy we are stuck with now!!!!

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The same thing I already him.  That I spent a large part of my military career defending 
the sovereignty  of nations (including combat missions) that hate us; Saudi Arabia, 

Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and I wonder why the  anointed in Washington DC will not
lift a finger to defend our own sovereignty. 

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