Monday, December 21, 2009

health care bill- booo

So, the senate is getting pretty close to passing this health care reform bill, and I have to say, as a libertarian and fan of free markets, I am not a fan of a system that mandates insurance. As crazy as it might be, I think its your right to determine whether or not you need to insure your own health. I do not know what the answer is per se, but I do know that the U.S. government administering anything (especially an enterprise of this size) is usually not the best call. Furthermore, there is more pork in that bill than in entire state of Arkansas for that matter, with kickbacks going all over the place.

I realize that this "business as usual" for DC, but I am pretty tired of it. At this stage of the game, I would much rather see the federal government throwing all of its effort into fixing unemployment and education, along with helping small businesses, than meddling around with insurance. What America needs to realize is that the wealthy aren't going to help pay for this plan: most of their income comes from investments, which are immune to payroll taxes; and the lower classes can't pay for it, so the middle class gets stuck, as usual, holding the bag. What a bunch of rubbish. We need to stand up for ourselves.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

some help from the feds

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090304/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_waste

Thanks for chipping in guys..thats only 5% of what you're going to spend

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

First Entry - Mission Statement-Bailout

Hello world-

This is my first attempt at blogging, so bear with me, its been quite a while since I have written anything formal that was not work related.

The reason I started this blog was the growing sense (well, really, the signs are all around), that the American middle class has become a toy for the 2 established political parties. I know this is quite a serious start, but I wanted to get going.

Over the last 8 years, I felt like I had gotten, along with most Americans, less and less of a voice in the workings of American government, and consequently, felt less and less interested. With this past election, it seemed like a new hope, a new era.

Fast forward a couple of months, and all of a sudden, the American middle class is signed up for one of the biggest bills in taxpayer history. Hopefully, we'll benefit from this spending to some degree, but the overarching message as I see it has not changed since I can remember, which is, small, vocal groups (with money) will continue to dominate both parties' agendas for the foreseeable future.

Where is the voice, in all of this economic mess, for the prudent business owner/manager, who didn't take unnecessary risks? Why should he be punished and receive no extra help from the government? What about the homeowner who bought a home he could afford and lived within his means? Why does he not deserve a little extra help with his monthly payment?

Do not get me wrong, we needed the government to step in- but what lesson does this teach (to CEO's or homeowners)? I am more than happy to extend a helping hand to those in need, but I get stretched whenyour situation comes as a result of your own greedy intentions.

I'm writing because I think most people are somewhere in the middle on a lot of issues and share common ground in their thinking socially, economically, and spiritually. Unfortunately, we have only 2 political partieswho try their best to listen to the extremes on each side and divide the middle class against each other.

Regardless of your affiliation, Republican, Democrat, Independent, or other, we (the middle class) are all in this together now, and we should use that as a strength, a lever, to bring some sense back to our government.

Most moderate Repubicans will tell you that they were not proud of the 8 years of W, with good reason, between the lies (mostly the lies), the spending, the Christian right,and the overarching disrespect of the Constitution. Similarly, most moderate Democrats are embarassed by some of the requests and statements by members of their party's far left.

However, many times, it seems to me that the parties listen to those wackos on either side, instead of the soul of America, its hard working middle class.

Tell me I am not alone in thinking this, or anything else you think.

Thanks,

JDF, III