Once again we are seeing the reports of a War on Christmas. Most of this stems from the policy in recent years of substituting Holiday for Christmas in public and commercial settings. This is done to avoid offending those who have different beliefs.
I have been on this earth for nearly 56 years now. Only once has someone told me they were offended by my wish of Merry Christmas. I don’t know their reason but apologized for the offense.
Most everyone no matter what their religious beliefs took the greeting in the spirit in which it was offered.
So for all of you who are offended by the words Merry Christmas, Christmas Tree or anything else having to do with Christmas, My wish of a Merry Christmas is my way of wishing you well. If you are offended by that, I am sorry for you.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Off The Fiscal Cliff
On Jan 1, 2013 a host of changes will happen unless the Congress and President get a deal done.
Among those changes:
1. All of the Bush tax cuts expire. This will take tax rates back up to where they were under President Clinton.
2. $100 Billion in automatic spending cuts will be instituted. Half coming from the DoD and the other half from domestic spending.
3. Authorization for extended unemployment benefits (beyond the first 26 weeks) will end.
4. Medicare providers will see a reduction in their payment rates.
5. That 2% point reduction in SS withholding expires.
This is all the result of the debt ceiling/budget deal made last year. The idea was they would do another deal before the end of the year. That hasn’t quite worked out
So here is what to expect if the dum-dums in DC don‘t do a deal.
1. Social Security withholding will go up even if your salary doesn’t.
2. Federal Income tax withholding will go up.
3. If you are on unemployment and have already used your first 26 weeks of benefits, current benefits will stop at the end of your current extension.
4. If you are a school teacher, the annual tax credit for supplies you purchase for your classes will not be available on your 2012 tax return.
5. If you are a Medicare provider, your reimbursement rate will be reduced.
6. If you work in the Defense industry, your job may be at risk.
Have a Happy New Year
Among those changes:
1. All of the Bush tax cuts expire. This will take tax rates back up to where they were under President Clinton.
2. $100 Billion in automatic spending cuts will be instituted. Half coming from the DoD and the other half from domestic spending.
3. Authorization for extended unemployment benefits (beyond the first 26 weeks) will end.
4. Medicare providers will see a reduction in their payment rates.
5. That 2% point reduction in SS withholding expires.
This is all the result of the debt ceiling/budget deal made last year. The idea was they would do another deal before the end of the year. That hasn’t quite worked out
So here is what to expect if the dum-dums in DC don‘t do a deal.
1. Social Security withholding will go up even if your salary doesn’t.
2. Federal Income tax withholding will go up.
3. If you are on unemployment and have already used your first 26 weeks of benefits, current benefits will stop at the end of your current extension.
4. If you are a school teacher, the annual tax credit for supplies you purchase for your classes will not be available on your 2012 tax return.
5. If you are a Medicare provider, your reimbursement rate will be reduced.
6. If you work in the Defense industry, your job may be at risk.
Have a Happy New Year
Thursday, November 15, 2012
The Conflict
I oppose Abortion. The thought of ending an innocent human life offends me in so many ways. I do understand that there are times (very few of them) when it is unavoidable. The majority of cases are simply selfishness. The vast majority of abortions in this country are due to people having sex without taking the precautions to prevent pregnancy. Contraception is widely available and usually covered by insurance. So there is no excuse for not using it.
Over the past 30+ years people in this country have gotten used to having abortion available whenever they want it. Polls show that a vast majority of Americans support abortion on demand in the first trimester. A significant majority support it in the second trimester.
Given this, any attempt to restrict abortion through law is going to meet serious opposition. Add to that, anytime someone talks about restricting abortion, the supporters trot out the rape/incest/life of the mother argument. As several politicians in the last election found out, that is a dangerous minefield. It does not take away from the fact that the vast majority of abortions are due to not using contraception.
So how do we end this nightmare of abortion? We have to start with the children. We have neglected to teach young people personal responsibility. That must change. We must teach young people that if you are going to have sex and do not want children, you need to take precautions.
We have done it with tobacco use, over the past 40 years the number of smokers has been reduced by 70%.
If a similar result could be obtained with abortion, we wouldn’t need to outlaw it?
Over the past 30+ years people in this country have gotten used to having abortion available whenever they want it. Polls show that a vast majority of Americans support abortion on demand in the first trimester. A significant majority support it in the second trimester.
Given this, any attempt to restrict abortion through law is going to meet serious opposition. Add to that, anytime someone talks about restricting abortion, the supporters trot out the rape/incest/life of the mother argument. As several politicians in the last election found out, that is a dangerous minefield. It does not take away from the fact that the vast majority of abortions are due to not using contraception.
So how do we end this nightmare of abortion? We have to start with the children. We have neglected to teach young people personal responsibility. That must change. We must teach young people that if you are going to have sex and do not want children, you need to take precautions.
We have done it with tobacco use, over the past 40 years the number of smokers has been reduced by 70%.
If a similar result could be obtained with abortion, we wouldn’t need to outlaw it?
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Succession - A Dumb Idea
To all of those misguided individuals signing the succession petitions on whitehouse.gov, Grow Up! It isn’t going to happen. I realize you are disappointed that your candidate did not win. Deal with it. The GOP lost because they lost every major demographic except White men over 30 and Evangelical Christians. That won’t cut it any more.
Instead of throwing a tantrum, try getting your party to make peace with all of the groups they managed to drive away overt the past few years. You know, Young people, minorities, women, and non-rich folks.
If you still don’t want to be a US citizen, here is a much quicker route:
1. Find a country that will take you
2. Move there
3. After you get moved in, go to the US consulate in that country. Turn in your US passport and sign the form renouncing US citizenship.
4. Have a happy life.
Instead of throwing a tantrum, try getting your party to make peace with all of the groups they managed to drive away overt the past few years. You know, Young people, minorities, women, and non-rich folks.
If you still don’t want to be a US citizen, here is a much quicker route:
1. Find a country that will take you
2. Move there
3. After you get moved in, go to the US consulate in that country. Turn in your US passport and sign the form renouncing US citizenship.
4. Have a happy life.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
The Election is Over
Overall, a good day if you are a Democrat, a bad day if you are a Republican. If like me you are an Independent, a mixed bag. To those candidates who won, Congratulations, To those who lost, Thank you for trying.
Now, Washington, you have work to do. The fiscal cliff is coming on Jan 1st. It needs to be addressed. Since we have divided legislative control, you will have to work together to fix the problem you all created. After that there are a host of serious issues that you need to deal with. Here are just a few:
The budget - You folks need to get your collective heads out of you’re a$$es and come up with a budget deal that works. This includes reducing the deficit
Tax Reform - Our tax system is a mess. It has been a mess for years. You need to rewrite the entire Federal Tax Code to make it simpler, fair and easy to understand. It’s a big job, but that is why you get the big bucks.
Infrastructure - We need a plan to fix the aging and decaying infrastructure in this country. It’s going to cost, but it has got to be done. Here is a side benefit; this should put a big dent in that unemployment rate! Something you all profess to want to do.
Well that is a start. Now GET TO WORK!!!!!!
Now, Washington, you have work to do. The fiscal cliff is coming on Jan 1st. It needs to be addressed. Since we have divided legislative control, you will have to work together to fix the problem you all created. After that there are a host of serious issues that you need to deal with. Here are just a few:
The budget - You folks need to get your collective heads out of you’re a$$es and come up with a budget deal that works. This includes reducing the deficit
Tax Reform - Our tax system is a mess. It has been a mess for years. You need to rewrite the entire Federal Tax Code to make it simpler, fair and easy to understand. It’s a big job, but that is why you get the big bucks.
Infrastructure - We need a plan to fix the aging and decaying infrastructure in this country. It’s going to cost, but it has got to be done. Here is a side benefit; this should put a big dent in that unemployment rate! Something you all profess to want to do.
Well that is a start. Now GET TO WORK!!!!!!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Random Thoughts
In two days the Presidential election will be decided. My favored candidate, Gary Johnson will not win. I predict that President Obama will be re-elected and nothing will change much over the next 4 years.
The country is so politically polarized that cooperation on solving our problems is highly unlikely. Part of the reason is that between elections we, the voting public let our elected representatives do what they want with no feedback. Without knowing what we want, they act in their own best interests. The best interest for most of them is maintaining the status quo.
This is the system we have built with our collective non-involvement. So if you want change make sure your congressmen, Senators, state legislators, and local elected officials know what your opinions are on the issues and keep in their faces. Also, keep track of how they do and use that as a guide in the next election.
The country is so politically polarized that cooperation on solving our problems is highly unlikely. Part of the reason is that between elections we, the voting public let our elected representatives do what they want with no feedback. Without knowing what we want, they act in their own best interests. The best interest for most of them is maintaining the status quo.
This is the system we have built with our collective non-involvement. So if you want change make sure your congressmen, Senators, state legislators, and local elected officials know what your opinions are on the issues and keep in their faces. Also, keep track of how they do and use that as a guide in the next election.
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