Don't Spread My Wealth

Hoffa, Obama and the National Infrastructure Bank

DSMW Editor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:48:47 +0000

Obama, ever the union man, in one of his most dramatic gestures to business, will propose that companies be allowed to more quickly write off 100% of their new investment in plants and equipment through 2011. And guess what, there is a proposed 50 billion dollar tax credit for the expansion of research and experimentation on roads, railways and runways. Does this sound like more union jobs to you? There is even something in there for Amtrak rail improvements. I don't know about you but I am weary of subsiding light rail.

In addition, Mr. Obama's plan calls for a new "National Infrastructure Bank" to make "low cost" loans for transportation projects directly from the federal government to local governments. All these great ideas were pitched at a union picnic in Milwaukee where it was well received. When I look at pictures of Obama he has begun to look like Jimmy Hoffa.

Mr. President why not make it simple for everyone? Consider meaningful tax cuts for small business (possibly everyone)? Extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. Like so many Americans, who are not wealthy, their business falls in the category you are targeting and get rid of burdensome government control of business. And yes, step aside and let this country flourish again. You are not needed.

Tony Blair Takes on the World

DSMW Editor — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 20:37:04 +0000

" I profoundly disagree with the statist, so-called Keynesian response to the economic crisis; I believe we should be projecting strength and determination abroad, not weakness or uncertainty; I think now is the moment for more government reform, not less; and I am convinced we have a huge opportunity for engagement with the new emerging and emerged powers in the world, particularly China, if we approach that task with confidence, not fear."

The extremism we fear is a strain within Islam. It is wholly contrary to the proper teaching of Islam, but it can't be denied that its practitioners act with reference to their religion. If it is a strain within Islam, the answer lies, in part at the very least, also within Islam. The eradication of that strain can be affected by what we outside Islam do; but it can only be actually eliminated by those within Islam.

My conclusion, strangely, is not that the power of politics is needed to liberate the people; but that the power of people is needed to liberate the politics. Tony Blair - Read Full Article

Obama please read Tony Blair's new book. Have him over for dinner and invite John Boehner. DSMW

Why Islamic Moderates Are So Scarce

DSMW Editor — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:04:05 +0000

As past statements of Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf continue to surface, many Americans have concluded that the would-be builder of a mosque at Ground Zero is lying when he calls himself a “moderate” representative of his faith. The more disturbing possibility, however, is that he’s telling the truth — that Rauf is indeed the voice of mainstream Islam. Read Full Article

Obama vs. The American People: Arizona and the United Nations

DSMW Editor — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:05:59 +0000

Barack Obama has taken yet another step in racheting up the attack on Arizona and the American people. For the first time ever, he is joining current United Nation Council members like Saudi Arabia, China, Cuba, Russia, Egypt, and Kyrgyzstan and other human rights despots to review human rights abuses in Arizona.

The stakes for our national sovereignty have been just raised by the 'voluntary compliance' to the provisions of the United Nations' Human Rights Council."

In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer writes that "the idea of our own American government submitting the duly enacted laws of a state of the United States to 'review' by the United Nations is internationalism run amok and unconstitutional. Human rights as guaranteed by the United States and Arizona Constitutions are expressly protected in S.B. 1070 and defended vigorously by my Administration." Read Full Article

The Folly of Subsidizing Unemployment

DSMW Editor — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:46:45 +0000

Intuitively it seems obvious: if you subsidize unemployment you're going to get more of it! Now the obvious truth has been documented by academia. Robert Barro is an economics professor at Harvard University, and a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.

The simple principle of incentives is what is overlooked, intentionally it must be, by government. If you raise taxes you'll get less revenue reported to the IRS to tax, and more in the underground tax-free economy, including many illegals. If you reward families without fathers, you'll create more families without fathers. If you reward people who work, you'll get more working people.

Incentives matter!!!

If the simple truth were reconized in Washington a lot of our troubles would be over. Read Full Article

DSMW

The Most Fiscally Irresponsible Government in U.S. History

DSMW Editor — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:17:05 +0000

"We have met the enemy and he is us"

Walt Kelly, borrowing heavily from Admiral Perry, eloquently encapsulated the conundrum of being human.

Mort Zuckerman, of US News And World Report, clearly defines our current perilous state, the future ramifications and how we must right our ship now.

Will someone stand up and make the tough choices that must be made?!

Bernanke: "Don't worry, I'll just print more money!"

DSMW Editor — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 19:21:34 +0000

You wouldn't know it from the press reports of Bernanke's speech to world monetary leaders on Friday in Jackson Hole. Filtered through the euphemisms of the Fed, it will be "buying more securities" or "expanding its balance sheet". But the money to do this comes from the Treasury's printing presses! The process is really two simple steps to disguise the actual creation of the money. First, the Treasury sells government bonds for money from investors which the government can spend, then the Fed buys back bonds using money created by the Treasury.

Ironically, they'll try anything except what would actually work: reducing government spending, and cutting the tax rates instead of raising them! This would leave money in the hands of those who would really spend it to stimulate the economy, the taxpayers who earned it in the first place! DSMW

Will The Real Shirley Sherrod Please Stand Up

DSMW Editor — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:34:37 +0000

Shirley Sherrod has gotten a lot of press lately. First, there was the Andrew Breitbart coverage of her speech to the NAACP in March that caused a firestorm and her ultimate firing directed from the White House. When the Breitbart video was watched to the end everyone realized they had jumped to the wrong conclusion and Shirley should be reinstated to her old position in the Agriculture Department. Ms. Sherrod "takes full responsibly for the firing" and decided not to take her old job back when it was offered last week citing mail to read.

At this point in the story, DSMW would like to flesh out Shirley Sherrod; introduce you to her past and her climb in government.

Where has Housing Gone

DSMW Editor — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:55:36 +0000

In 1926 it was not uncommon for borrowers to pay half of the purchase price of a home as a down payment. The reasoning behind this was that it made the homeowner more responsible. Research had shown commitment to home ownership to be an important component to wealth accumulation and economic security. The New Dealers felt it was a way industrial workers could accumulate wealth like other property owners. The portion of the monthly mortgage payment that paid down the mortgage constituted forced savings and it allowed new stability and status. Heck even your children would become better educated as a result.

As with so many things that start off well, things change. Along came better and easier ways for the borrower to finance home ownership without downpayment wealth building savings, and he now could also receive government subsidies as well. Lost forever to the home owner was the status of the American dream, and things went downhill from there. It now was all about debt and capital gains...

Read Christopher Papagianis' fascinating article on the rise and fall of housing and what we should do about it.

Obama vs. The American People

DSMW Editor — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:32:29 +0000

The Obama administration has decided to get tough on illegal immigration enforcement. The Washington Post reports today that Eric Holder is threatening to sue America’s toughest sheriff, Joe Arpaio if the sheriff does not help the administration continue a second frivolous lawsuit against him:

Justice Department officials in Washington have issued a rare threat to sue Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio if he doesn’t cooperate by Tuesday with their investigation into whether he discriminates against Hispanics…a federal grand jury in Phoenix is examining whether Arpaio has used his power to investigate and intimidate political opponents and whether his office misappropriated government funds, sources said

Even the Post couldn’t help but notice the odd timing: “The standoff comes just weeks after the Justice Department sued Arizona and Gov. Jan Brewer (R) over the state’s new immigration law, heightening tensions over the issue ahead of November’s midterm elections.” This is merely a second front in the administration’s crackdown on its own citizens on behalf of non-citizens.