It came so early this year, it was easy to miss it.
National Debt Day is the day the government has reached the point of spending all of its revenue for the entire year. This year it was Saturday, April 26. Occurring in August in most recent years, this year it was front-loaded by bailouts and the stimulus package. Revenues are also expected to be down due to the recession.
While the Debt Day is purely symbolic, it ought to be a wake-up call to anyone who isn't outraged yet. Imagine if your teenager was living this way, "but Mom I can't help it. There aren't any jobs and these things I need are so important." Sounds like your representatives, doesn't it?
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Torture and prosecution: is this the government we deserve?
The big item in the news is the release of memos on CIA interrogation methods, and whether anyone involved should be prosecuted. I've felt conflicted on these issues because I don't think I can get enough information to feel fully informed. Our government has to keep secrets from the general public, yet certainly needs checks and balances.
Post 9/11, we asked our government to help keep us safe, and they did. The Bush administration probably had some accomplishments we'll never hear about. This doesn't mean that there weren't abuses. "Interrogation techniques" are always the type of thing that can go too far, and it was time to take a second look at the methods used.
Lately, a lot of people are angry with Bush over the Iraq war or the economy. We're not so scared about the terrorists and we want to prosecute those who might have "went too far" in the name of protecting us. I submit that this proposed prosecution is the same mentality that causes problems like torture to be accepted. It's caused by jumping on today's popular bandwagon to make vicious attacks on others. If we pursue this route, we will get the government we deserve: more partisan politics and millions of dollars spent just to name a few scapegoats.
If interrogation techniques were excessive, the blame belongs to most of us, not just a few. If Obama is truly our leader, he should be able to offer a solution forward. It's time for Obama to show those leadership skills that so many espouse to him, and time for him to make a Lincolnesque statement of unity.
Post 9/11, we asked our government to help keep us safe, and they did. The Bush administration probably had some accomplishments we'll never hear about. This doesn't mean that there weren't abuses. "Interrogation techniques" are always the type of thing that can go too far, and it was time to take a second look at the methods used.
Lately, a lot of people are angry with Bush over the Iraq war or the economy. We're not so scared about the terrorists and we want to prosecute those who might have "went too far" in the name of protecting us. I submit that this proposed prosecution is the same mentality that causes problems like torture to be accepted. It's caused by jumping on today's popular bandwagon to make vicious attacks on others. If we pursue this route, we will get the government we deserve: more partisan politics and millions of dollars spent just to name a few scapegoats.
If interrogation techniques were excessive, the blame belongs to most of us, not just a few. If Obama is truly our leader, he should be able to offer a solution forward. It's time for Obama to show those leadership skills that so many espouse to him, and time for him to make a Lincolnesque statement of unity.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Never Assume Malice when Stupidity will Suffice?
Gun control is a known priority of the Obama administration. I've got no problem with the debate; I do have a problem with misinformation used in the debate.
Last month, Hillary Clinton stated that 90% of the guns recovered by the police in Mexico come from the U.S. This was not true. The fact is that 90% of the guns submitted for tracing come from the U.S. Guns from other sources (Mexico’s other borders) rarely have serial numbers or other traceable markings, so there is no reason to submit them. I gave Secretary Clinton the benefit of the doubt and put her mistake in the “stupid” category rather than the “malice” category.
When President Obama repeated the 90% statistic this month: "More than 90 percent of the guns recovered in Mexico come from the United States?" , I’ll call it an outright lie.
By now, the administration has to be aware of the error, unless the administration's management is completely incompetent. So I call this one either malice or extreme stupidity. I’m voting for malice.
Last month, Hillary Clinton stated that 90% of the guns recovered by the police in Mexico come from the U.S. This was not true. The fact is that 90% of the guns submitted for tracing come from the U.S. Guns from other sources (Mexico’s other borders) rarely have serial numbers or other traceable markings, so there is no reason to submit them. I gave Secretary Clinton the benefit of the doubt and put her mistake in the “stupid” category rather than the “malice” category.
When President Obama repeated the 90% statistic this month: "More than 90 percent of the guns recovered in Mexico come from the United States?" , I’ll call it an outright lie.
By now, the administration has to be aware of the error, unless the administration's management is completely incompetent. So I call this one either malice or extreme stupidity. I’m voting for malice.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Banks slowly nationalized?
Since TARP began in September, there has been debate about whether or not this is nationalization of the banks. Clearly, the original plan was technically a loan. However, politicians who would deny that TARP signalled movement toward socialism would, from the other side of their mouth, say that they owned a portion of institutions. (Barney Frank, on several occasions, said "we own this company in effect" (referencing AIG) ).
Yesterday, the Obama administration and the treasury indicated they would like to convert the government's preferred stock in TARP-participant banks to common stock. This is being touted as a way to allow the banks to increase lending, without committing any additional taxpayer funds.
But, as Thomas Sewell would say, "THEN WHAT?"
First, this dilutes the value of current common stock, which is why the financials and the DOW fell on Monday.
A much larger potential problem: With common stock, the government becomes a voting member of the banks. If nationalization isn't the intention, it may nonetheless be the result.
Yesterday, the Obama administration and the treasury indicated they would like to convert the government's preferred stock in TARP-participant banks to common stock. This is being touted as a way to allow the banks to increase lending, without committing any additional taxpayer funds.
But, as Thomas Sewell would say, "THEN WHAT?"
First, this dilutes the value of current common stock, which is why the financials and the DOW fell on Monday.
A much larger potential problem: With common stock, the government becomes a voting member of the banks. If nationalization isn't the intention, it may nonetheless be the result.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Let's Forget about Deficits
We hear constantly about plans to “reduce the deficit.” It makes an attractive sound bite, but ignores the ever-increasing national debt.
If the Smith family spent $50,000 more than they made in 2008, and spend $40,000 more than they make in 2009, they will reduce their “deficit spending” by $10,000, or by 20%. However, with interest tacked on, the Smiths will double their debt during 2009, from 50K to 100K. This is obvious to anybody who cares enough to read 3 sentences. The problem is, many voters are listening to the sound bites and “deficit reduction” sounds like a good thing. The “debt increase” is rarely discussed.
Here’s a handy web page tracking the national debt where you can compare daily and monthly figures. http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/NPGateway. I used this data to see how my share of the debt is changing. I had some trouble with these numbers at first, because I’m just not used to doing math with this many digits, so I started rounding to the nearest billion (see how quickly it becomes “a billion here, a billion there”).
On April 14, I had a decent day. I went to work and made money. My share of the national debt increased by only $30 (100 million taxpayers, $3 billion increase in debt that day).
April 15 was a bit harder on me: I left my business that day so I could go to a Tea Party. The national debt went up by $460 per taxpayer (46 billion) and I incurred no income. Thankfully, my husband was at work, but didn’t earn enough to cover our household expenses plus our share of that day’s national debt increase ($920 for two taxpayers). In case you want to know, the national debt increase for the past month was about $200 billion ($2000 per taxpayer). So after my family takes care of its household bills AND pays our taxes, we are still going on the hook for another $4K per month, courtesy of those who supposedly represent us.
Today, headlines said Obama has ordered his cabinet to find 100 million in budget cuts.. I’m normally one to applaud ANY spending cut, but that only results in savings of $1 per taxpayer. News that’s fit to print? The only “news” in that announcement is proof that our government knows we’re still not paying attention.
Before most voters are going to get worried about government spending, they need to understand how serious our situation is. Drop the deficit talk and pay attention to the debt.
If the Smith family spent $50,000 more than they made in 2008, and spend $40,000 more than they make in 2009, they will reduce their “deficit spending” by $10,000, or by 20%. However, with interest tacked on, the Smiths will double their debt during 2009, from 50K to 100K. This is obvious to anybody who cares enough to read 3 sentences. The problem is, many voters are listening to the sound bites and “deficit reduction” sounds like a good thing. The “debt increase” is rarely discussed.
Here’s a handy web page tracking the national debt where you can compare daily and monthly figures. http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/NPGateway. I used this data to see how my share of the debt is changing. I had some trouble with these numbers at first, because I’m just not used to doing math with this many digits, so I started rounding to the nearest billion (see how quickly it becomes “a billion here, a billion there”).
On April 14, I had a decent day. I went to work and made money. My share of the national debt increased by only $30 (100 million taxpayers, $3 billion increase in debt that day).
April 15 was a bit harder on me: I left my business that day so I could go to a Tea Party. The national debt went up by $460 per taxpayer (46 billion) and I incurred no income. Thankfully, my husband was at work, but didn’t earn enough to cover our household expenses plus our share of that day’s national debt increase ($920 for two taxpayers). In case you want to know, the national debt increase for the past month was about $200 billion ($2000 per taxpayer). So after my family takes care of its household bills AND pays our taxes, we are still going on the hook for another $4K per month, courtesy of those who supposedly represent us.
Today, headlines said Obama has ordered his cabinet to find 100 million in budget cuts.. I’m normally one to applaud ANY spending cut, but that only results in savings of $1 per taxpayer. News that’s fit to print? The only “news” in that announcement is proof that our government knows we’re still not paying attention.
Before most voters are going to get worried about government spending, they need to understand how serious our situation is. Drop the deficit talk and pay attention to the debt.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Grassroots or Astroturf: My Tea Party story
Many television commentators and politiicans have been questioning the motives of Tea Party participants, including labels of partisanship, racism, and stupidity. Nancy Pelosi declared us "astroturf" apparently contrasting the "grassroots" designation given by supporters. Pelosi claimed our demonstrations were funded by Republican organizations.
I'll tell my own story as a participant and a minor inside organizer.
I've always been annoyed by excess government spending. Starting in September (with TARP) my annoyance moved to painful frustration. TARP started a snowball that has since been rolling rapidly downhill. Washington politicians feel that they have a mandate to "stimulate" and "save" us meanwhile putting us in unbelievable debt and taking more control of our lives.
After a lot of googling, I found a website for an Indianapolis Tea Party. I debated whether I could leave my small business for a few hours on April 15. The decision point for me was meeting the organizers of the Indianapolis event: a local plumber and his wife. I also saw the budget they had personally committed to, including permit fees, security, and insurance policy. I decided if THEY could donate such a large amount of their time and money, the least I could do was contribute a little of each.
My business became a sponsor of the group, and I took some time to hand out flyers, put signs on my vehicle, and notify friends. I hired someone to cover my business on April 15. The kids and I made posters at home.
The Tea Party was peaceful, inspiring, and stayed on the message of "cut government spending and taxation."
Since Tea Party day, I joined a "small group" in my area. We are working to establish concrete goals to affect change.
Grassroots or Astroturf? You decide.
I'll tell my own story as a participant and a minor inside organizer.
I've always been annoyed by excess government spending. Starting in September (with TARP) my annoyance moved to painful frustration. TARP started a snowball that has since been rolling rapidly downhill. Washington politicians feel that they have a mandate to "stimulate" and "save" us meanwhile putting us in unbelievable debt and taking more control of our lives.
After a lot of googling, I found a website for an Indianapolis Tea Party. I debated whether I could leave my small business for a few hours on April 15. The decision point for me was meeting the organizers of the Indianapolis event: a local plumber and his wife. I also saw the budget they had personally committed to, including permit fees, security, and insurance policy. I decided if THEY could donate such a large amount of their time and money, the least I could do was contribute a little of each.
My business became a sponsor of the group, and I took some time to hand out flyers, put signs on my vehicle, and notify friends. I hired someone to cover my business on April 15. The kids and I made posters at home.
The Tea Party was peaceful, inspiring, and stayed on the message of "cut government spending and taxation."
Since Tea Party day, I joined a "small group" in my area. We are working to establish concrete goals to affect change.
Grassroots or Astroturf? You decide.
How bloated is our government
Here's an important story: Chris Dodd's campaign fund for 2010 so far has received 4 contributions from the state of Connecticut, totalling $4250. Senator Dodd has received $604,745 from over 400 out-of-state donors: http://www.connpost.com/ci_12158273
Still relaxed about our big government?
Still relaxed about our big government?
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