Which ‘Extremists’ Are Forcing a Governmental Shutdown?
by Robert James BidinottoThe media are reporting that if a governmental shutdown occurs, it will affect only “nonessential services and personnel.” Now, call me superficial, but I have a question:
At a time when we face a $1.4 trillion deficit this year alone, why are we funding anything or anyone that is admittedly “nonessential”?
I have been pondering an analogy that ought to be easy for anyone to grasp. Let’s compare the current congressional battle over federal spending with a hypothetical family feud over your own household budget.
Suppose you and your spouse are arguing about your finances. You have discovered, to your horror, that you are spending $1,400 per month over and above your total household income. Terrified, you inform your spouse that this is completely insane and unsustainable, and that it must stop immediately.
Your spouse nods in nominal agreement — but then digs in his or her heels against every single specific spending cut that you propose.
Knowing of your partner’s stubborn, spendthrift ways, you eventually propose just $100 in reduced spending. That would still have you falling behind each month by $1300, but at least it’s a start. However, your spouse is outraged and rejects the figure out of hand; it’s “draconian,” and would undermine the profligate lifestyle to which you’ve become accustomed.
You argue, and argue, and argue. Getting nowhere, and desperate for any point of agreement, you say: “Look, can’t we cut just $61 from our monthly spending? We both know that this won’t even make a dent in our obligations, but at least it might slow our rush toward bankruptcy, if only by a few days.”
Still, your indignant spouse shouts “NO!” — then proclaims that he/she might be willing to cut only about $33 in monthly spending.
Now, it should be clear that, no matter which of you prevail, this would still leave you spending from $1,339 to $1,367 more each month than your total household income. You are still on the fast track to utter financial ruin.
And this is exactly analogous to the current fight in Congress over this year’s federal budget — except only for the position of the decimal points.
A bit of history. House Republicans were elected on their promise to cut $100 billion in spending from this year’s federal budget. That barely would have made a difference, merely reducing our gargantuan $1.4 trillion annual deficit to $1.3 trillion. But after encountering unmoving Democratic resistance, the GOP congressional leadership reduced their proposed spending cuts to around $61 billion.
Still, the Democrats dug in their heels and refused. Eventually, they declared their willingness to cut only about $33 billion. Right now, rumor has it that the negotiations are stalled over whether or not to split the difference at around $40 billion — a $7 billion gap between the two sides. That latter figure is a minuscule one-half of one percent of this year’s whopping deficit.
Even so, the Democrats are deriding even this piddling cut as “extreme,” “radical,” “draconian,” and completely out of the question. And that is what the looming government shutdown is all about.
It is clear that no matter which party “wins” this particular skirmish, we, the taxpayers, will lose, to the tune of over $1.3 trillion in deficit spending this year alone. That represents a gigantic container filled with red ink — to be poured into the already-colossal $14 trillion vat of red ink that represents our total national debt — which, in turn, will be dumped into the inconceivably enormous $100-trillion-plus sea of red ink that constitutes the total future unfunded liabilities of the federal government.
So, let me end with another question:
Who, exactly, are the “extremists” and “radicals” here: those who wish to stop this madness, or those who are determined for it to continue?
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102 Comments
We now find ourselves in such odd times…. Tyranny is freedom, radiation is healthy, and outright lies are truth….. and the shutdown is all a right wing conspiracy and the fault of the republican's.
Yep, and people wonder why I say both sides suck. How does the equation work if millions stop paying taxes in protest?
Money, or the lack of it will be the only way to create affect…..
Can they ALL be suffering from Progressive colleges' education? I am certain that even those schools teach math and income vs. expenditures. Why can they not teach the part where you stop spending in order to meet a budget? We need to send people with demonstrable math and econ skills into that fray..
I would like to see a "shutdown" – wasn't that a song by the Beach Boys? – of the government. Might be easier to tell who is necessary and who isn't. But the dispute over a few billion seems arbitrary and simply inadequate to the real problem as this article addressed. My sister did her budget and discovered she was spending only $125 a month on food. Seems frugal, right? But she failed to include the four nights a week she and her husband ate dinner at restaurants. And the lunches. The total was over nine hundred dollars! [ I think she's running the Department of Family Financial Aid in Massachusetts.] It is a serious problem as the value of my dollar is disappearing faster than an ice cube on the sidewalk in Arizona in July.
these idiots aren't even arguing over rearranging the deck chairs, that would be an improvement. they're still talking about having them refinished and fitted with new cushions…
I wonder if a group could be created to announce cut spending or else we withhold our tax payments, now unlike the TP that is radical and extreme.
In case you have not noticed I am of the mind that problems get solved by action rather screwing around talking about the damn problem. It's in my DNA.
Perfect image, thanks for a smile!
Utter lunacy rules in DC – on both sides of the aisle. These dimwits are going to spend the country into ruin, and we the taxpayers will pay for it as we pay them to make these boneheaded decisions. They say that tragedy and comedy are closely related and what's happening to our country proves that point.
Because this is about tearing down the most profitable country in the world history.
They care not about you, only AGENDA!!!
The R has their agenda, the D has their agenda.
Like the joker said to the camera.
"Money, money, money, who do you trust?!"
I trust not the people responsible for taking away my God given rights to life, liberty AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS!!
And both parties are responsible for that!!
Good one!
Great analogy Robert! Can't we at least cut $100 billion by eliminating the "non-essential" services and personnel?
Maybe its just me, but that picture of Schumer reminds me of Gargamel on the Smurfs.
"At a time when we face a $1.4 trillion deficit this year alone, why are we funding anything or anyone that is admittedly “nonessential”?"
Can I have an AMEN???!!!
The photo of Schumer above with his finger to the wind says it all. The face of the nanny state left.
I wonder if the Dems know that they're not gonna benifit from this for 2012?
Am I married to your sister? This story sounds all too familiar
If the government does shut down I am pretty sure they will still pay everyone they told not to come to work because we are out of money.
The Democrats had control of both houses of Congress with huge majorities, yet they could not pass a budget.
Now, the government is being funded by continuing resolutions. But in the meantime, the 2008 election changed the political landscape. The House is in the hands of the Republicans. Why should they have to go along with Democrat spending plans. They had their opportunity. They need to get the best deal they can.
If there is a shutdown, it will be the fault of the Democrats.
Excellent! The Titanic has hit the ice berg and there are still people polishing the silverware.
Kelly Ayotte of NH framed it in a similar tone. The deficit was $230 B in February alone and they are argueing about cutting $60B over several months. My Labrador Retreiver is smarter than your congressman (mine too).
Wednesday! Thursday! Friday!
I buy your description as well but,……..
"want to be loved by the MSM",……….
maybe RINOS,…????
Here's a cartoon that makes a similar point as this article: http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/assets_c/20...
All this shutdown talk is squabbling over crumbs. The actual problem is enormously larger.
Harry Reid just said that they are very close with the numbers but,…….
the main difference that is preventing a deal is,………. "ideology"
ohhhhh is that all,…..geeez,… Boehner,…
you want to shut down the government because you want to,………
maintain the same ideology we've had since 1776…..
what are you thinking,……???????
Solve the deficit: Charge money to bitch-slap that smile off Schumer's face.
Exceptional way of making something almost inconceivable to the basic American simple. I have one thing to add. The dems had the majority of both the House and the Senate and a democrat president in the White House in 2010. It was THEIR responsibility to formulate, introduce and pass the fiscal year 2011 budget. THEY (the dems) FAILED to do so. They failed in their Constitutional responsibility to fund this government and Obama was nowhere to be seen. This is THEIR mess that they handed off to the Republicans. And now they want to dig in and say what is or isn't acceptable. Harry Reid said yesterday that it's "time to go to work." No, the time to go to work was last year before Oct 1st. This government shutdown scenario has been designed and purposely crafted by the dems to try and make the Republicans look bad for the 2012 elections. The dems are purposely putting their party and their politics first, above and beyond Americans' and the country's best interests. They are a despicable and loathsome group of people who have no business holding elected office.
Washington politics at its finest. Create a mess. Hide it from view until you can hand it off to your political opponent. Call it "their mess", then use it as an election ploy.
Like you said, Democrats did not even pass a budget last year! If we had a press, that would have been a public outrage by itself. Now that Repubs own the House, Dems try to punish them for any responsible behavior.
This ship is headed down fast.
You are asking if the heroin addict can do without his fix……. No chance of that ever occurring.
This is what I ask every regressive that comes here.
Why do you support a multi-trillion dollar debt and deficit? It goes universally unanswered.
December 4, 2010
Dear Chuck Schumer,
Before I write this letter. Is there any truth to the rumor that you have pistol range in one of your homes? Does it comply with all of the indoor air quality standards set forth by the EPA? Just wondering.
Recently, I saw you on C-span playing the economic class card. I had thought a fellow like you, and the rest of the Socialist Democrats had run out of cards from that deck. Maybe you can borrow a few from the race deck? Regardless, you really need to get out of the DC Bubble. We don’t care that George Soros has money that you can’t have. We don’t care the Bill Gates, Rush Limbaugh, and millions of other wealthy Americans have money you can’t have. It is their money. They earned it. If I want some of it I have two choices. Create a product they want to buy, or ask them for it for some purpose that they think is worthy. Some of them gambled and won. Some of them get up every day pledge allegiance to the flag, and defend it every day with every syllable they utter, and get paid because people like me listen to it. By the way, if you really want to put those people out of business start listening to them. The more you try to shut them down and shut them up the more we want to hear what they have to say. Frankly, sir, I’d rather die defending someone saying something the government disagrees with then die for a government doing everything on Gods green earth to enslave me.
But I digress. We must have a broader tax base that continually expands as our economy grows instead of a federal government that humps those, like Elliot Spitzer, in the form of a federal tax collector. Speaking of Elliot Spitzer, did he pay sales tax for all the hookers? I wonder what is the penalty for that? You see, Mr. Schumer, wealth generation in the form of the free market is the largest problem solver this nation, any nation, has ever created. Sure it is messy, a little wasteful, even dangerous. But like my father taught me, while prudence may be the better part of valor; the greatest risk in life is not taking one.
So you keep talking Mr. Schumer. With every syllable and idiotic sign you create for the cameras that you seem never to get your fill of; you and those of your ilk only strengthen my position. By the way, if your way works so well, why is The United States of America trillions in debt and deficit and in the toilet economically? Why are we still fighting for one side of the same muslim/arab coin? Why have we been attacked again and again by those same muslim/arabs during Mr. Obama’s presidency? I’ll tell you why. You liberal Democrats in Congress are morons. You wouldn’t know the right thing to do if it jumped up and crawled in your rectum and did algebra on your colon walls; while Obama stood there with a colon scope to purloin the solution.
Take that, you dipstick.
Joe Doakes
The ones I talk to close their minds to simple mathematical truths, and cling to the class-warfare notion that somehow or other (they prefer to avoid specifics), it's all attributable to some rich people somewhere. Nothing some extra taxes could not solve.
The Left would point out a few obvious solutions to the argument between the husband and wife:
1) They can run down to the basement, crank up their printing press, and counterfeit a bunch of new money.
2) They can go into the crappy part of town and borrow some cash from a Chinese loan shark.
3) They can go next door and tell their hard-working, responsible neighbor that he needs to chip in and help pay his "fair share" of their budget.
Amen, and a thumbs up!
Good call Stan, the only ones really worried about this are the ones that either need the gov't to survive or the ones that need these "programs" to influence the voter base, i.e. Demoncrats.
Great point about the media. The MSM have definitely failed in their duty and responsibility to hold politicians accountable for their actions and behavior.
Anyone who isn't preparing for hyperinflation is asking to be led to ruin…and those he loves, with him.
Chuck You Schumer is so dumb. How dumb is is Chuky the Clown? He's so dumb he doesn't even know which finger to use for the one finger salute, although the intention is clear.
(see picture above for clarification.)
I may be off-base, but the way I see it is they (the People) only care about what is going on right now. The dems are trying to scare Americans with what these "draconian" cuts are going to do to "the children" and "the elderly," and "the poor," which is right out of their tried and true democrat playbook. The problem is, what happens when the country can no longer meet its obligations because we've gone bankrupt (thanks to the democrats who only know how to do one thing: spend!)? When there's no money left in America, who will pay for free school breakfasts and lunches then? Who will pay for medical care for the poor and elderly (and illegal immigrants) then? We simply can't just live for today, we've got to think about tomorrow or there won't be a tomorrow for our children and grandchildren.
The marriage analogy is very apt:
Obama: "Either I get to spend, or you will spend more. But if we both get to spend we will both be happy!"
Michelle: "Who will work?"
Obama: "The children!"
Michelle: "Grab that federal visa card and let's go shopping!"
They still think that they can operate from a 1/3 position and tell the other 2/3's of us what to do.
Not anymore. George Soros all the rest of the commies can kiss my ass.
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Even if the government were to start confiscating every penny of our earnings and put everyone on government ration cards to purchase things we need, they still wouldn't have enough money to pay for everything they've promised.
At some point, we have to take away the credit card and do some painful paring down of spending until we know what we can and cannot sustain. Yes, it will hurt and hurt everyone, but better that then a complete and total collapse of all government services.
"Can they ALL be suffering from Progressive colleges' education?"
Yes Red, much of the blame can be laid at the doorstep of the madrassa school system, that teaches little of practical value, reinforced by a 4th Estate that has no intellectual curiosity or common sense.
This propaganda driven combination does not make for smart, logical, or practical voters…only childlike takers who believe in the tooth fairy and money trees.
"Which ‘Extremists’ Are Forcing a Governmental Shutdown?"
—————————————————————————–
Hmm, well since the House WILL write a check to fund the Gov through the end of the current fiscal year, only the Den Senate or Obumbler can shut down the gov.
Let's see….
2010… With Dems owning both houses and the White House?…. NO BUDGET.
2011… Dems owning the Senate and the White House, Republicans owning the House?…. Still…. NO BUDGET!
Actually… it is going to be blamed on the Tea Party. Which, in the analogy in this article, would be like blaming it on the kids.
Problem is… it's the adults that are in the front seat that are acting like children riding in the back seat. "Make him stop looking at me.", "I have to go to the bathroom.", "I'm hungry.", and the inevitable…. "Are we there yet?".
Ironically… the parts of our Government that really should be shut down are the ones that come up with the budget in the first place.
It would have to be algebra.
Their minds cannot comprehend Calculus or any advanced math.
Come to think of it they cannot add or subtract well either.
Right on Wesley! You would think they would act as adults, but I see that would be asking for to much.
In the best case, merely severe inflation — much worse than now.
The handwriting is on the wall. People should prepare.
Twelve (12) reasons why people voted for a Democrat in the past:
http://visiontoamerica.org/story/top-12-reasons-w...
THE OBAMA DECEPTION…VIEW IT AND GET THE TRUTH OF WHAT REALLY ‘IS…IS’…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw
~~~
I know of only one such extremist group…the Democratzi 'loons' of which Chuckie "the doll" Schumer is a chief henchmen!
When they had control of the Congress…just last year…they refused to pass a budget…and that got us into this mess. They are also responsible for putting us in deep, deep debt to COMMUNIST China…only the deaf, dumb and blind of our society and the inner city plantation slaves don't know that…but 'real' Americans do and will hold them accountable! We just started in November of 2010 to clean house of these cockroaches and we are not done yet…but they are!
~~~
WHY IS IT NO ONE IS INVESTIGATING WHY THE PUPPET OF THE BILDERBERG…OBAMA THE BUSH IS USING A CT SS# NUMBER WHEN HE HAS NEVER, EVER LIVED IN CT?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oLIUT16ko0
Twelve (12) reasons why people voted for a Democrat in the past:
http://visiontoamerica.org/story/top-12-reasons-w...
Twelve (12) reasons why people voted for a Democrat in the past:
http://visiontoamerica.org/story/top-12-reasons-w...
Twelve (12) reasons why people voted for a Democrat in the past:
http://visiontoamerica.org/story/top-12-reasons-w...
If you were a democrat in congress would you want to publicly publish the official numbers from last year's spending? I sure wouldn't.
I believe the government banks the cash and then pays it in full when the government officially starts back up.
That picture of Schummer reminds to ask myself the question – yet again – why haven't I moved out of NY by now?
I liked your analogy except that you stopped short of providing the Dem's motivation. Are they narcissistic, entitled, cant' see past the next paycheck, sticks their head in the sand method of solving problems, illogical, can't do math…….yeah, yeah, yeah.
But, I submit that they have another motivation. They do NOT WANT the country to recover economically under evil capitalism. They want it to fail. They want conditions to get so bad that people will be dependent on them for everything. And, they want to be able to blame someone else for the failure……clever.
Their entire world view is at stake here ……….and it isn't a free capitalistic society.
I'll toss in $5.
We have a saying in New York. The most dangerous place in Washington is between Schummer and a camera.
"At a time when we face a $1.4 trillion deficit this year alone, why are we funding anything or anyone that is admittedly “nonessential”?
THAT's the $1.4 trillion dollar question.
As a Nation, shouldn't we all be more than pissed off about our elected officials selling us into Chinese slavery??
SOMEBODY PLEASE PUT THIS ON THE AIR. Everyone is talking about how a govt shutdown will affect this or that. What about how many billions will be saved? What is the dollar amount saved for 1 day, or even 1 hour of govt shutdown? How long would it have to remain shutdown to eliminate this years deficit? I think some people would view this differently if they saw it in terms of dollars saved.
a recent favorite:
Q) What's the difference between Democrats & passengers on the Titanic?
A) The passengers on the Titanic didn't vote to ram the iceberg.
i'll send money, but somebody else can take my swing- i hate waiting in long lines…
Titanic, meet Iceberg.
Dick Durbin just got snappish saying it is TEA partiers to blame.
No Mr. Durbin. It is the TEA party taking CREDIT for forcing YOU to stand down YOUR ideological SPENDING that you are trying so hard to hold onto and are willing to shut the entire government down in order to hang onto.
YOUR suicide bomber tactic will fail you as badly as it does HAMAS, Mr. Durbin.
See, if these things are so trivial, then let them go!
Which is more important to you Mr. Durbin? PLanned Parenthood or Military members paychcks? Hmmmm?
Proof is in the pudding, homeboy.
Blogs Search Engine…
Blogs Search Engine…
Sir, that is the exact analogy that should spread around America. It's exactly the one I have been using. It's like losing your job, not having enough income, needing to cut back and deciding that you'll just cut out that one trip you make to Starbucks each week. Instead of maybe, selling your home (if you can) and renting?
Drastic times call for drastic measures.
I just don't understand how the "shutdown" is that big a deal if the only thing shutting down is "nonessentials". People will still get their SS checks and from what I understand, the military will still be paid (I seriously doubt that they are listed as "nonessential").
So shut the damn thing down!
Other than our resident leftist trolls, I can't imagine any other Americans who are watching this go down would think that the Republicans are at fault if the gov't shuts down.
And the GOP needs to "message" better, btw. Why are they still a bunch of meely-mouthed wusses? Didn't the last 2 1/2 years mean anything to them? Are they that clueless?
Because if they are, then I say we disband that party and start over. They have run their course.
You been in a cave for the past 50 years? Your question insinuates that the system has been working. It works as long as you keep getting new players to join – like a gigantic Ponzi scheme. All Washington has been doing for five years or more is printing more money backed by NOTHING. The dollar is about to lose its status as the world's reserve currency because it's lost so much of its value. If that happens, you will see soon enough how the system hasn't been working – it'll be just like a household that's had it's credit card accounts all closed and it actually has to pay real money for its overspending.
With all the bad stuff going on in the country, including having a state re-elect Gov. Moonbeam, reminds me to ask myself – why the hell did I move to California? Oh, yeah, because in my youth, "climate" was more important than anything else.
Which explains a lot about the trouble I've been going through lately.
Ramirez is awesome with his cartoons. I think he's the most powerful political cartoonist out there. He says it all with just one picture.
I would absolutely wait in the longest line in history to bitch-slap that smug bastard. I'll dig for change in my couch if I have to.
It really does boil down to the education. I stay on top of it with our kids. My FOURTH grade son brought home a book from the gifted reader's program. It was all about how wonderful Cesar Chavez was. No mention of the family farms forced out of business and the agribusiness mechanizing and destroying jobs as a result. (I am not against that, but that was a major result of his unionization). Farmers lost and migrants lost. The story is sad. They also nicely whitewashed all the beatings, saying he didn't really do those, and didn't know about them. My poor kid did not know what hit him when I saw that book.
Communists as heroes…spit.
They are taught personal responsibility and what human dignity is. That will slow down the indoctrination, if not stopping it completely.
[...] Robert James Bidinotto explains at Big Government what is really happening. His story goes roughly something like this. [...]
True, and most of them don't believe that the top 1% pay 40% of all taxes, even when linked to the IRS web site. Willful ignorance.
I agree, but the response from the republicans SHOULD be to tell them how bad things will be when we go bankrupt as a nation. That scenario is FAR scarier than anything the libs can trot out. as for the elderly, keep hammering home that if we go broke as a nation, they get NO Medicare, NO social insecurity, AND they will have ruined their kids and grand kids' futures.
This is a NO BRAINER !
Excellent list, Tater. Thanks.
That is why it looks like a win-win situation to me. All the Republicans have to tell the Democrats is: Look, you have two choices: 1) Accept all of our budget cuts, 2) Close down the government and cut all non-essential spending. We win either way. It is the non-essential services that we want eliminated anyway!
Best regards,
Gail S http://www.backyardfence.wordpress.com
In short, it's about power! It's about them securing, keeping and weilding power over the American people. They were shocked to lose the House. They were shocked to lose seats in the Senate. They were shocked to lose state governorships and state legislatures. This was supposed to be the beginning of the 50 – 100 year period of democrat rule. So, they go back to their old ways and start lying to the American people about how Republicans want to starve children and kill the poor and elderly by withholding medical care. I can only hope and pray that we, the People, have gotten wise to their ways. Time will tell.
And Reid and a microphone?
When ever I see that picture of Chuck the Shmuck wagging his finger at us, I have a urge to break it off! Momma told me never to wag my finger at anyone! It's time Chuck learned that lesson!
I suggest that one should start with their minimum number and make it very clear that this is the lowest reduction you will accept. Then when the other side comes back with a miniscule amount, your response should be an increase in your minimum number. Every time they come back with a lower number, your number increases. IOW, instead of negotiating between the two numbers, you are negotiating an increase, yet you are still negotiating.
Another simple analogy that everyone should understand. The family (USA) budget proposed by the President using thousands instead of trillions for one year:
Budget (White House)………$37,000….100%………..3.70Trillion
Income (US revenue)……….$22,000…….60%………..2.20Trillion
Loans (US debt)………………$15,000…….40%……….1.50Trillion
Republican cuts this year………$600………0.016%….0.06Trillion
Democrat cuts this year…………$300………0.008%….0.03Trillion
People are currently serving prison sentences for this type of budgeting process.
Yep. Their useful idiots are dumb, they are not. We should NEVER underestimate them.
Yes and the means justify the ends. They don't care what the interim consequences are as long as they achieve their goal. They are very clever, but predictable. They've been doing this for more than 70 years.
This is strange. Your reply to me never showed in my inbox. I only knew that you did because Imconservative' s reply did show up. ?? ID must being going nuts again.
Now that is exactly what they should be saying every time a microphone is nearby or they are asked for a response to the Dem accusations.
The problem is that after the last shutdown, the Congress included paying those personnel who were furloughed. IOW there was no savings from that shutdown.
On the bright side even the Dem Governor of NY understands the need for cuts.
BTW are you up-state? Used to live in the Adirondacks.
The Republicans have proposed an extension with $12 billion in cuts with the military funded for the rest of fiscal 2011. They would drop their rides dealing with the EPA, Planned Parenthood and ObamaCare. This time I believe Obama is saying no. Go figure. Do as I say, but I'll do what the hell I want.
That is what occurred after the last shutdown. The furloughed personnel essentially had a paid three week vacation.
The analogy is not analogous. Perhaps a better analogy would be a husband and wife who were spending $1400 per month more than they made, and the wife was to say "Not only will I not go to work to provide more revenue for our household, I insist that you eliminate all of our spending on food and shelter for our family, so I can increase my spending on high-heeled fighter jets, and give extra money to the guy who pumps my gas for me. And while we're at it, I need to give my banker significantly more in monthly fees because he's hired my lazy brother for a no-show job. And not only should you not ask for the raise you deserve, you should tell your boss to pay you even less, so that he can afford to buy that Ferrari he's had his eye on.
So, unless the Republican Party is willing to discuss an end to Agriculture subsidies, sweetheart deals for oil companies, wasteful defense spending, and also consider taxing hedge fund managers 8-figure salaries at income tax rates rather than at much lower capital gains rates (like everyone else), I'm not so sure the American people are going to get behind them.
Upstate, just over the Pa. border. It's been tempting to move 20 miles south just to avoid the taxes, but it now appears Pa. is in a race to catch up to NY with irresponsible spending and taxing.
The Adirondacks are gorgeous. Used to drive through them on my way back to Vermont when I lived there years ago.
I don't know a whole lot about about Caesar Chavez, but I do remember him to be pretty meek, in the mode of Ghandi or MLK. I also remember many strikes and boycotts of lettuce and grapes.
He did found the UFW in the '70's, and that is where the trouble and violence started. He was for sure a confused socialist, who did not appreciate the capitalist system that gave his "workers" jobs…a way to support their families.
When you are poor, unskilled, and 3rd world, doing the hard, back-breaking work of picking California crops is about as good as it gets.
Back in Mexico, there would be nothing, so the Calif situation was a blessing.
But unions, strikes, boycotts and threats of violence are his legacy to me.
(I would have rather seen Ronald Reagan or Geo. Washington held up as a role model. But good luck with that.)
No one is perfect here. and the struggle goes on..for all.
Ann
unions in general. Unnecessary, unimportant, and counter productive to a growing economy
Yep, you're both right. Republicans need to do a lot better at the PR side of things.
And, unfortunately, they've been very, very successful at it.
Excellent advice.
Yes it is. There were some posts missing of mine.
I even had one deleted by the administrator but there was nothing bad about it.
Ah, technology.
It's about as reliable as a voting machine in a Democrat precinct. Did you hear about the Wis. Supreme Court election?
LOL!
Yes, I heard that Prosser lost but not by much. I haven't heard yet if there will be a recount. I hope so.
Sounds fishy to me; but then everything Democrats do is fishy.
They discovered a computer glitch (cough) that didn't count a whole bunch of votes for Prosser……….He won by 40 votes!!!! No wait, it was more than that, it keeps changing. WHOA………bring out the lost ballot boxes out of some union goon's trunk!
Yeah, I'm a little slow today . . . I just went to Big Government and saw that.
That's frickin' AWESOME!
Yeah, glitch (cough).
I was easily outpicked by the children of migrant workers who were a couple years younger than I in the fields. It was back-breaking and hot. The outhouses were SO stinky. But that was the 70s and life was quite different in rural America. The day laborers were much more the heroes than Chavez. They could take their earnings back to Mexico and live well.
I've always thought it would be character building for teenagers, from all over the country, to work the fields in the CA Central Valley, for minimum wage or less, work experience and an appreciation for the pretty good life ( in most cases), they enjoy.
They may pay more attention in school and find hard work does indeed build character.
Ann
Ronald Reagan-type character, that is..
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