Hey guys!
Another Saturday has rolled around which means: Kids Talk Politics Show!
You can listen to the show by clicking here at 2PM Eastern time. For instructions on how to listen and chat, click here.
The Election Results and What They Mean.
Hope you can join us!
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Showing posts with label the washington critique. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the washington critique. Show all posts
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
What's Wrong With America?
In case you hadn't noticed, America is in shambles. Almost one out of every ten people you will meet will be out of a job, the economy and stocks are plummeting, the housing market is dire, our morals are so bad that we legally kill three thousand five hundred children a day, we have people who are married to others of their own sex, just turn on the news for Chicago, New York, or L.A. if you want to know about the crime rate, and a public so uneducated that they visit a wallstreet protest one day and blame Republicans for unemployment the next. Of course, I could go on about our various shortcomings, but they all are a result of a common thing: our culture.
So what's wrong with us? Why is the unemployment rate at eight point two percent? Why is their abortion, gay marraige, and crime? What is it about our culture that generates these things?
First of all, we have a culture based off of rights. "I have the right to..." is becoming a refrain for the American people. In a way, this is a good thing. I people never fought for their rights, the pilgrims never would have started America so that they could worship God freely without interuption. But the pilgrims understood something that the American people have missed horribly. That is the idea of rights with responsibility. Our culture has skipped over this priceless truth, and we have paid dearly.
It isn't hard to draw the paths between our shortcomings and the lack of responsibility. Abortion, for example, is a woman taking her rights to control her own body (and her baby's body) because she does not want to take the responsibility to raise a child. Also, she believes she has the right to have sex, but won't take the responsibility that comes with it, raising a child. With Walstreet prostests, people believe that they have the right to money, but will not take the responsibility of working hard.
Another result of the lack of this right and responsibility concept in America is the entitlement culture. This is very closely tied into the rights problem, but it deserves its own topic because it is the ultimate root to so many of our problems.
Mull on this: if you had the choice between someone giving you a dollar because you are a person, or working hard for the same dollar, which would you choose? Obviously, America has chosen to take the free dollar. Now, what if you were really hungry and there was a hotdog for one dollar. You are about to take the free dollar, but a Republican walks up to the character (aka the gov't) holding that free dollor and convinces him not to. You would get pretty mad, but you still have to eat. So, you slothfully do the work, get the dollar, and buy the hotdog. A jobs crisis, a poverty crisis, and a government debt crisis solved by one action by that mean old Republican.
Of course, we have a much larger scale that we are dealing with in America, but the principle is the same: if you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. If you stop giving him a fish, he'll fish for himself every day.
The solution is obvious: take away entitlements and cut down on welfare programs. Restore the principle of Bradford: If a man (not a woman, working is the man's job, she has enough on her hands at home) does not work, he does not eat. Problem solved.
This is not only a job stopper, entitlements lead to all sorts of laziness. This mentality leads to Occupy Walstreet, which leads to poverty, which leads to crime, etc. A downward cycle, that won't end until the source dies: entitlements.
Isaiah Taylor
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
So what's wrong with us? Why is the unemployment rate at eight point two percent? Why is their abortion, gay marraige, and crime? What is it about our culture that generates these things?
First of all, we have a culture based off of rights. "I have the right to..." is becoming a refrain for the American people. In a way, this is a good thing. I people never fought for their rights, the pilgrims never would have started America so that they could worship God freely without interuption. But the pilgrims understood something that the American people have missed horribly. That is the idea of rights with responsibility. Our culture has skipped over this priceless truth, and we have paid dearly.
It isn't hard to draw the paths between our shortcomings and the lack of responsibility. Abortion, for example, is a woman taking her rights to control her own body (and her baby's body) because she does not want to take the responsibility to raise a child. Also, she believes she has the right to have sex, but won't take the responsibility that comes with it, raising a child. With Walstreet prostests, people believe that they have the right to money, but will not take the responsibility of working hard.
Another result of the lack of this right and responsibility concept in America is the entitlement culture. This is very closely tied into the rights problem, but it deserves its own topic because it is the ultimate root to so many of our problems.
Mull on this: if you had the choice between someone giving you a dollar because you are a person, or working hard for the same dollar, which would you choose? Obviously, America has chosen to take the free dollar. Now, what if you were really hungry and there was a hotdog for one dollar. You are about to take the free dollar, but a Republican walks up to the character (aka the gov't) holding that free dollor and convinces him not to. You would get pretty mad, but you still have to eat. So, you slothfully do the work, get the dollar, and buy the hotdog. A jobs crisis, a poverty crisis, and a government debt crisis solved by one action by that mean old Republican.
Of course, we have a much larger scale that we are dealing with in America, but the principle is the same: if you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. If you stop giving him a fish, he'll fish for himself every day.
The solution is obvious: take away entitlements and cut down on welfare programs. Restore the principle of Bradford: If a man (not a woman, working is the man's job, she has enough on her hands at home) does not work, he does not eat. Problem solved.
This is not only a job stopper, entitlements lead to all sorts of laziness. This mentality leads to Occupy Walstreet, which leads to poverty, which leads to crime, etc. A downward cycle, that won't end until the source dies: entitlements.
Isaiah Taylor
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Daily Qoute
"The most terrifying words in
the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to
help."
-Ronald Reagan
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
-Ronald Reagan
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
What Happened to Hope, Change, and More Jobs?
Question: What do you get when you cross the government with
the economy? Answer: A jobs crisis.
This most recent jobs report was, no matter how much people
try to cover it up or redirect it into something good, awful.
But why? I thought that Obama’s jobs plan was supposed to
solve the whole thing! At least, most of America did. What went wrong? What made a program intended
to help people in need of a job into this:
First of all, people need to understand a basic principle of Capitalism: the private sector knows best. It's as simple as that. The private sector takes care of its own problems. There are tons of examples throughout history of this principle, and examples of the disastrous consequnces of choosing to disregard the principle.
One of these examples happened in the late 1940's. It was right after WWII, and all the soldiers were flooding back into the country, especially large cities. The wise mayors of these cities decided that the private sector would be completely overwhelmed, and unable to handle the sitution. So, they instated rent control, making it illegal for apartments or rental houses to charge over a certain price. Bad choice. As soon as the controls were in place, all the students living with roomates decided that this was the best time to get a place of their own, now that prices were so low. Now, with these students taking up all the spaces intended for Army men, the situation was much worse. On top of that, apartment companies, because of the forced low pricing, had no money to complete apartments that were being built, or to build new ones. There were 12 unfurnished or incomplete apartments per homeless person.
There are hundreds of cases like this where the government comes in to help, and ends up mercilessly destroying.
So where is the solution to this mess? Less government intervention. Repeal restrictions on businesses, which will let them get bigger, opening more jobs. It's common sense: kill the company, kill the jobs. And the way to kill a company is through government restrictions. Also, we need to get rid of alot of welfare programs for people without jobs. And while we're at it, take out all the entitlements programs. That's the church's job.
Hope that helps.
Isaiah Taylor
"Aren't you a little young to being doing
this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Friday, July 6, 2012
Daily Quote
"Charity is injurious unless it helps the recipient to become independent of it."
John D. Rockefeller
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
John D. Rockefeller
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Daily Quote
"Charity which is forced upon the donator only creates resentment for it.
One man's money being used by another man will never be well spent."
-Riley Dunn
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
One man's money being used by another man will never be well spent."
-Riley Dunn
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Happy Fourth of July
Independence Day, July 4 1776, was a day America will never forget. It was
the day America became its own independent nation. It proved to the world that
the power of the love of God is stronger than any nation. They proved that free
speech and freedom of religion is a possibility, even a necessity for all
countries. A few years later, in 1787-88, the Federalist papers were created as
non-legal guidelines for understanding how the founding fathers wanted the
country to go. Leaving behind this gold mine of wisdom would certainly keep
this country from going astray.
At the same time, the Constitution was ratified. Surely, with this amazing safeguard against big government in place, America would never have to be subject to the terrors of kingly decrees and tyranny.
A year later, George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States and was offered a crown. Symbolically, he tossed the crown aside proclaiming he was not a King.
Also in 1789, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution, yet another safeguard to stop big government.
23 years later, in 1812, America won its first real war as a full nation.
In 1816, the BUS, the equivalent to an American central bank, was founded, and then repealed in 1837.
Apart from a few setbacks, America was prospering and growing quickly. Now an (almost) entirely Christian nation, it flourished morally and economically. It built for itself many principles to live by, such as a good work ethic, a hatred for evil, which was defined by the bible, and the understanding that family is the base, the supporting ground for a country, and that all families must be run by God to be successful. They also had a good understanding of responsibility with their work, money, children, and lives.
Fast forward to the Civil War. God is still there, but he is beginning to be pushed a bit. People are felling less responsible for their actions. America is losing its reputation for having people that are not attached two unshakeable ideologies that, no matter what evidence is shown, will not think about letting go. As the government slowly gains power, people begin to stop thinking for themselves about pressing issues like, "Does your skin color affect your thinking capacity?"
Forward to the early 1900's. Roosevelt begins the conservation of forests. Woodrow Wilson inaugurated, and a version of the BUS is enacted, the Federal Reserve, the largest step into socialism America had made yet. The eighteenth amendment to the Constitution was made, banning alcohol. It was the first time the Constitution was used against itself, to bar the citizen instead of the government. Shortly after, in 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt created the new deal, starting the movement that is accountable for almost all our problems, including the recession, insane debt, lack of financial responsibility, neglecting families, drugs, and hippies. In 1961, a terrible revolution developed as a result of the New Deal's encouragement for lack of responsibility. The beginning of this movement was making birth control pills legal.
Again, another result revealed itself. Labor unions. In 1955, the AFLCIO was formed, firmly instating a concept in the mind of a common worker that tells him to work as little as possible for more money. This was the beginning of the large want for mass government services.
Then, another huge blow. In 1973, the Supreme Court decided to make it legal for women to kill their unwanted children, destroying the final shred of a sense of responsibility for actions the American people once had.
Let's rewind real quick to early America, and see how far we've come since then. Apart from a few setbacks, America was prospering and growing quickly. Now an (almost) entirely Christian nation, it flourished morally and economically. It built for itself many principles to live by, such as a good work ethic, a hatred for evil, which was defined by the bible, and the understanding that family is the base, the supporting ground for a country, and that all families must be run by God to be successful. They also had a good understanding of responsibility with their work, money, children, and lives.
Fast forward to the present. We live in the age of information and freedom. We are so enlightened, we don't know right from wrong. We know better than to think there is one set of morals that everyone should follow. If it works for you, cool. Except for God. I find him offensive, so shut up or I'll sue. But don't search Muslims extra in an airport, that’s racist.
It's Independence Day. Today, people will set off fire crackers (nothing real, it's illegal because of fire), and they will celebrate with their friends by drinking and smoking. Some will visit family; others will turn their phone off when they see their in-laws calling. But mostly, we'll sit in front of TV's and complain about a bad signal instead of remembering how this country came to be.
It's Independence Day. Today, we have a president in office who was elected because of the color of his skin. Those who voted based on performance were chastised for being racist. Maybe, today, he'll issue another decree violating a U.S. law. But that will have fly because if you protest, you're racist.
It's Independence Day. Today, a bill is waiting for its enactment due date. This bill forces all citizens to accept Socialized Health Care, on threat of tax. Today, 3500 children will be killed legally under the Government of the United States of America, where all are allowed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not because of their actions, but the careless actions of two irresponsible people who are unwilling to admit their mistake and accept the penalty. Tomorrow, another thirty five hundred innocent children will be taken to the anvil.
Happy Fourth of July.
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
At the same time, the Constitution was ratified. Surely, with this amazing safeguard against big government in place, America would never have to be subject to the terrors of kingly decrees and tyranny.
A year later, George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States and was offered a crown. Symbolically, he tossed the crown aside proclaiming he was not a King.
Also in 1789, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution, yet another safeguard to stop big government.
23 years later, in 1812, America won its first real war as a full nation.
In 1816, the BUS, the equivalent to an American central bank, was founded, and then repealed in 1837.
Apart from a few setbacks, America was prospering and growing quickly. Now an (almost) entirely Christian nation, it flourished morally and economically. It built for itself many principles to live by, such as a good work ethic, a hatred for evil, which was defined by the bible, and the understanding that family is the base, the supporting ground for a country, and that all families must be run by God to be successful. They also had a good understanding of responsibility with their work, money, children, and lives.
Fast forward to the Civil War. God is still there, but he is beginning to be pushed a bit. People are felling less responsible for their actions. America is losing its reputation for having people that are not attached two unshakeable ideologies that, no matter what evidence is shown, will not think about letting go. As the government slowly gains power, people begin to stop thinking for themselves about pressing issues like, "Does your skin color affect your thinking capacity?"
Forward to the early 1900's. Roosevelt begins the conservation of forests. Woodrow Wilson inaugurated, and a version of the BUS is enacted, the Federal Reserve, the largest step into socialism America had made yet. The eighteenth amendment to the Constitution was made, banning alcohol. It was the first time the Constitution was used against itself, to bar the citizen instead of the government. Shortly after, in 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt created the new deal, starting the movement that is accountable for almost all our problems, including the recession, insane debt, lack of financial responsibility, neglecting families, drugs, and hippies. In 1961, a terrible revolution developed as a result of the New Deal's encouragement for lack of responsibility. The beginning of this movement was making birth control pills legal.
Again, another result revealed itself. Labor unions. In 1955, the AFLCIO was formed, firmly instating a concept in the mind of a common worker that tells him to work as little as possible for more money. This was the beginning of the large want for mass government services.
Then, another huge blow. In 1973, the Supreme Court decided to make it legal for women to kill their unwanted children, destroying the final shred of a sense of responsibility for actions the American people once had.
Let's rewind real quick to early America, and see how far we've come since then. Apart from a few setbacks, America was prospering and growing quickly. Now an (almost) entirely Christian nation, it flourished morally and economically. It built for itself many principles to live by, such as a good work ethic, a hatred for evil, which was defined by the bible, and the understanding that family is the base, the supporting ground for a country, and that all families must be run by God to be successful. They also had a good understanding of responsibility with their work, money, children, and lives.
Fast forward to the present. We live in the age of information and freedom. We are so enlightened, we don't know right from wrong. We know better than to think there is one set of morals that everyone should follow. If it works for you, cool. Except for God. I find him offensive, so shut up or I'll sue. But don't search Muslims extra in an airport, that’s racist.
It's Independence Day. Today, people will set off fire crackers (nothing real, it's illegal because of fire), and they will celebrate with their friends by drinking and smoking. Some will visit family; others will turn their phone off when they see their in-laws calling. But mostly, we'll sit in front of TV's and complain about a bad signal instead of remembering how this country came to be.
It's Independence Day. Today, we have a president in office who was elected because of the color of his skin. Those who voted based on performance were chastised for being racist. Maybe, today, he'll issue another decree violating a U.S. law. But that will have fly because if you protest, you're racist.
It's Independence Day. Today, a bill is waiting for its enactment due date. This bill forces all citizens to accept Socialized Health Care, on threat of tax. Today, 3500 children will be killed legally under the Government of the United States of America, where all are allowed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not because of their actions, but the careless actions of two irresponsible people who are unwilling to admit their mistake and accept the penalty. Tomorrow, another thirty five hundred innocent children will be taken to the anvil.
Happy Fourth of July.
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Who to blame for the ACA? The Church.
This article shows how degrading churches degrades America.
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Heartless Republicans
It is a common misconception that Republicans are all war and guns, but they don't care about you or what you are interested at all. They think that the Democrats are the nice ones who care about you, who like you, and are trying to help you by paying for your college, your healthcare, whether you want it or not, letting you do anything you want, even get married to someone of your own sex or murder your own baby.
The Republicans, on the other hand, they have alot of dirt on their hands. For one thing, they... Well, they are against entitlements and they make us work for money, and... Well, you don't hear alot about what Republicans are doing. At least you don't hear about the benefits they're making.
Why? Because Republicans believe that keeping their nose out of your business is the best benefit the government can provide. You hear all this stuff about guns and Republicans because liberals are taking it away, and we are getting it back. Then why do we try to stop abortion? Because murder is already against the law.
When it all boils down, we are left with two ideologies. The first is wanting money, but hating work. The second is wanting money, but embracing work, like the Founding Fathers wanted. A government based on the first will end up paying for your cars, your college, your healthcare, etc., and the economy will plummet because no one want to work. But a government based on the second will be small, non-restrictive, concerned (mostly) only with the defense of the nation. The economy will show the effects, not only of the ideology, but of the government. Without many government restrictions, and with a "hard work" mindset, the economy will flourish. It's just common sense.
Unfortunately, America appears to be running low on common sense. That, or they are running high on laziness. Whatever it is, it's not working. Republicans are trying to change it, but it isn't so easy with all these accusations of about the "Heartless Republicans."
So the next time you hear about some rich millionaire and you get jealous and feel like protesting, just remember how he got there. The next time you hear about a Republican trying to take away an entitlement, just remember what they are trying to do: save America from the downward spiral of laziness leading to government help, leading to more laziness, leading to more goverment, and then despotism.
Isaiah P. Taylor
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
The Republicans, on the other hand, they have alot of dirt on their hands. For one thing, they... Well, they are against entitlements and they make us work for money, and... Well, you don't hear alot about what Republicans are doing. At least you don't hear about the benefits they're making.
Why? Because Republicans believe that keeping their nose out of your business is the best benefit the government can provide. You hear all this stuff about guns and Republicans because liberals are taking it away, and we are getting it back. Then why do we try to stop abortion? Because murder is already against the law.
When it all boils down, we are left with two ideologies. The first is wanting money, but hating work. The second is wanting money, but embracing work, like the Founding Fathers wanted. A government based on the first will end up paying for your cars, your college, your healthcare, etc., and the economy will plummet because no one want to work. But a government based on the second will be small, non-restrictive, concerned (mostly) only with the defense of the nation. The economy will show the effects, not only of the ideology, but of the government. Without many government restrictions, and with a "hard work" mindset, the economy will flourish. It's just common sense.
Unfortunately, America appears to be running low on common sense. That, or they are running high on laziness. Whatever it is, it's not working. Republicans are trying to change it, but it isn't so easy with all these accusations of about the "Heartless Republicans."
So the next time you hear about some rich millionaire and you get jealous and feel like protesting, just remember how he got there. The next time you hear about a Republican trying to take away an entitlement, just remember what they are trying to do: save America from the downward spiral of laziness leading to government help, leading to more laziness, leading to more goverment, and then despotism.
Isaiah P. Taylor
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Why vote Romney?
I hear a lot of Republicans complaining about Mitt Romney. They ask why they should vote him because, "He isn't any better than Bush" and "He made RomneyCare" and anything else they can scrounge up about him. They just decide not to vote because he is so moderate.
Well, guess what. For every one thing you can find on Romney, I'm sure you could find ten on Obama. And don't tell me that's why your not voting, because by not voting for Romney, it's almost voting for Obama.
Here's a way to think about it. There are two countries in battle, and one is lead by Obama, and one by Romney. The armies are the enlisted, or registered, voters, and the citizens of the town which they are fighting in are unregistered potential voters.
Now you are in the ranks, marching through political rants from the other side when you decide to just desert. One less soldier for Freedom.
Now you haven't joined Obama, but you have gone half way there. If the other side cheers when you decide to do something, you know it isn't good.
So there is no truly middle ground unless this is your first time around. Someone out there is counting on you, and no matter what you do, you're striking a blow for one side or the other. Freedom or Socialism? It's your choice, your right, and your duty. Which side will you strike for?
Isaiah P. Taylor
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Well, guess what. For every one thing you can find on Romney, I'm sure you could find ten on Obama. And don't tell me that's why your not voting, because by not voting for Romney, it's almost voting for Obama.
Here's a way to think about it. There are two countries in battle, and one is lead by Obama, and one by Romney. The armies are the enlisted, or registered, voters, and the citizens of the town which they are fighting in are unregistered potential voters.
Now you are in the ranks, marching through political rants from the other side when you decide to just desert. One less soldier for Freedom.
Now you haven't joined Obama, but you have gone half way there. If the other side cheers when you decide to do something, you know it isn't good.
So there is no truly middle ground unless this is your first time around. Someone out there is counting on you, and no matter what you do, you're striking a blow for one side or the other. Freedom or Socialism? It's your choice, your right, and your duty. Which side will you strike for?
Isaiah P. Taylor
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Daily Quote
"Just be glad you don't get as much government as you pay for."
Douglas Wilson
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Douglas Wilson
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Monday, July 2, 2012
Daily Quote
"Jealousy is always the cause of Socialism.
Ambition is always the cause of Capitalism.
The resentment of being controlled by an imposing force comes from men who wish to keep their own dignity.
The men who wish not to control the outcome of their own life comes only from their own stupidity."
Riley Dunn
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Riley Dunn
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Saturday, June 30, 2012
The Roberts Dilemma
Oh man, where to start.
Just so we are clear, I did read Robert's entire opinion top to bottom, and took notes, for the entire fifty nine pages of some of the most meaningful and very frightening arguments of this millennium.
I was watching the SCOTUS Blog (scotusblog.com) live when the Supreme Court issued the opinions.
My first reaction, as many of you saw, was to send down the email chain my heartfelt (and noisy) regrets of Robert's decision. However, as I sat thinking once I had recovered from the primary shock, if one ever does, I decided that I should at least look at what Roberts had to say for himself.
Well, that's just what I've been doing the last few days: analyzing his complicated yet understandable opinions. It's taken days, but I believe I have enough to form a conclusion.
Roberts starts out reminding us that his job, and the jobs of the 8 people next to him, is not to decipher bad policy from good policy, but constitutionality from unconstitutionality. Some of course, may say that they would rather be unfaithful to their job in order to save America and strike it down without considering the matter, but I wonder how we would like it if liberal ideologs started acting like that.
No, Roberts thought it through long and hard. And in doing so, he destroyed an amazing potent possibility for government tyranny.
Roberts must have had a lot of fun with the first part of his report. He must have felt like a tornado in a trailer park, crashing and smashing every aspect of the commerce clause argument. Seriously, that was pretty fun to read. And I've never seen someone reference the federalist papers so much. When he was done and began his second part, the commerce clause argument and the Necessary and Proper Clause looked pretty pathetic. This is of course a substantial victory for conservatives because, it being a precedent, his statements make sure that never again can congress use the Commerce Clause in this way.
So what was up with the second part? How could he suddenly go liberal on us? He didn't.
In fact, I believe that we can thank Roberts for his decision. I do not only say this because dubbing Obama's prize pig as a tax will get Obama out of office, but because it gives us an important wake up call.
Isn't it stunning that the individual mandate is constitutional? Isn't it stunning that Congress can force you to do whatever you want? Well, fortunately, they can't, but they can tax you for doing what they said not to, or for not doing what they say. For instance, if Congress passed a bill today that says that everyone who does not own a Chevy Volt has to get their income tax increased to seventy-five percent, it would be constitutional. Roberts has shown us this major flaw in our tax code.
The solution? Flat tax for every citizen. That way, the government cannot tax certain groups of people just because. How would we feel if Congress just passed a bill with an extra tax on African American females. It would be constitutional, but I wonder how America would react.
Of course, I found other issues that I didn't respect Roberts very much for in his 59 pages opinions paper, such as saying it's not a tax for the Anti-Injuction Act, but is a tax for constitutionality (post a comment if you want an article on this), and labelling ObamaTax as a sales tax (a tax on what? Post a comment if you want an article on this).
Then there's the whole thing about a tax having to originate in the House not the Senate, so it looks like the whole thing is going back to court.
Any way, you hate him for it, but after a while, when the tax reforms are in place, Romney's in office, and America is on it's way to being back on track, you'll thank him.
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Just so we are clear, I did read Robert's entire opinion top to bottom, and took notes, for the entire fifty nine pages of some of the most meaningful and very frightening arguments of this millennium.
I was watching the SCOTUS Blog (scotusblog.com) live when the Supreme Court issued the opinions.
My first reaction, as many of you saw, was to send down the email chain my heartfelt (and noisy) regrets of Robert's decision. However, as I sat thinking once I had recovered from the primary shock, if one ever does, I decided that I should at least look at what Roberts had to say for himself.
Well, that's just what I've been doing the last few days: analyzing his complicated yet understandable opinions. It's taken days, but I believe I have enough to form a conclusion.
Roberts starts out reminding us that his job, and the jobs of the 8 people next to him, is not to decipher bad policy from good policy, but constitutionality from unconstitutionality. Some of course, may say that they would rather be unfaithful to their job in order to save America and strike it down without considering the matter, but I wonder how we would like it if liberal ideologs started acting like that.
No, Roberts thought it through long and hard. And in doing so, he destroyed an amazing potent possibility for government tyranny.
Roberts must have had a lot of fun with the first part of his report. He must have felt like a tornado in a trailer park, crashing and smashing every aspect of the commerce clause argument. Seriously, that was pretty fun to read. And I've never seen someone reference the federalist papers so much. When he was done and began his second part, the commerce clause argument and the Necessary and Proper Clause looked pretty pathetic. This is of course a substantial victory for conservatives because, it being a precedent, his statements make sure that never again can congress use the Commerce Clause in this way.
So what was up with the second part? How could he suddenly go liberal on us? He didn't.
In fact, I believe that we can thank Roberts for his decision. I do not only say this because dubbing Obama's prize pig as a tax will get Obama out of office, but because it gives us an important wake up call.
Isn't it stunning that the individual mandate is constitutional? Isn't it stunning that Congress can force you to do whatever you want? Well, fortunately, they can't, but they can tax you for doing what they said not to, or for not doing what they say. For instance, if Congress passed a bill today that says that everyone who does not own a Chevy Volt has to get their income tax increased to seventy-five percent, it would be constitutional. Roberts has shown us this major flaw in our tax code.
The solution? Flat tax for every citizen. That way, the government cannot tax certain groups of people just because. How would we feel if Congress just passed a bill with an extra tax on African American females. It would be constitutional, but I wonder how America would react.
Of course, I found other issues that I didn't respect Roberts very much for in his 59 pages opinions paper, such as saying it's not a tax for the Anti-Injuction Act, but is a tax for constitutionality (post a comment if you want an article on this), and labelling ObamaTax as a sales tax (a tax on what? Post a comment if you want an article on this).
Then there's the whole thing about a tax having to originate in the House not the Senate, so it looks like the whole thing is going back to court.
Any way, you hate him for it, but after a while, when the tax reforms are in place, Romney's in office, and America is on it's way to being back on track, you'll thank him.
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Thursday, June 28, 2012
ACA Update
Recap from SCOTUSBlog:
"Essentially, a majority of the Court has accepted the Administration's backup argument that, as Roberts put it, "the mandate can be regarded as establishing a condition -- not owning health insurance -- that triggers a tax -- the required payment to IRS." Actually, this was the Administration's second backup argument: first argument was Commerce Clause, second was Necessary and Proper Clause, and third was as a tax. The third argument won."
"The rejection of the Commerce Clause and Nec. and Proper Clause should be understood as a major blow to Congress's authority to pass social welfare laws. Using the tax code -- especially in the current political environment -- to promote social welfare is going to be a very chancy proposition. "
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
"Essentially, a majority of the Court has accepted the Administration's backup argument that, as Roberts put it, "the mandate can be regarded as establishing a condition -- not owning health insurance -- that triggers a tax -- the required payment to IRS." Actually, this was the Administration's second backup argument: first argument was Commerce Clause, second was Necessary and Proper Clause, and third was as a tax. The third argument won."
"The rejection of the Commerce Clause and Nec. and Proper Clause should be understood as a major blow to Congress's authority to pass social welfare laws. Using the tax code -- especially in the current political environment -- to promote social welfare is going to be a very chancy proposition. "
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
ACA descision
The official descision is now online: Here is the opinion in the health care cases: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf
Since this paper is 193 pages long, people will be creating summaries in the next few days (including me)
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Since this paper is 193 pages long, people will be creating summaries in the next few days (including me)
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
ACA
So here's what's up: Roberts, for some strange reason, went democrat all the sudden and voted with the bill. Everything is upheld except for the government's right to take away medicare from uncomplying states. Here are some exerps from on scene analyzers at http://www.scotusblog.com/cover-it-live/:
"The bottom line: the entire ACA is upheld, with the exception that the federal government's power to terminate states' Medicaid funds is narrowly read."
"Chief Justice Roberts' vote saved the ACA. "
"The money quote from the section on the mandate: Our precedent demonstrates that Congress had the power to impose the exaction in Section 5000A under the taxing power, and that Section 5000A need not be read to do more than impose a tax. This is sufficient to sustain it."
"On the Medicaid issue, a majority of the Court holds that the Medicaid expansion is constitutional but that it w/b unconstitutional for the federal government to withhold Medicaid funds for non-compliance with the expansion provisions. "
"The key comment on salvaging the Medicaid expansion is this (from Roberts): "Nothing in our opinion precludes Congress from offering funds under the ACA to expand the availability of health care, and requiring that states accepting such funds comply with the conditions on their use. What Congress is not free to do is to penalize States that choose not to participate in that new program by taking away their existing Medicaid funding." (p. 55) "
"Another way to think about Medicaid: the Constitution requires that states have a choice about whether to participate in the expansion of eligibility; if they decide not to, they can continue to receive funds for the rest of the program. "
"The Court holds that the mandate violates the Commerce Clause, but that doesn't matter b/c there are five votes for the mandate to be constitutional under the taxing power."
"In opening his statement in dissent, Kennedy says: "In our view, the entire Act before us is invalid in its entirety."
And now for the whole Shazam in English:
"In Plain English: The Affordable Care Act, including its individual mandate that virtually all Americans buy health insurance, is constitutional. There were not five votes to uphold it on the ground that Congress could use its power to regulate commerce between the states to require everyone to buy health insurance. However, five Justices agreed that the penalty that someone must pay if he refuses to buy insurance is a kind of tax that Congress can impose using its taxing power. That is all that matters. Because the mandate survives, the Court did not need to decide what other parts of the statute were constitutional, except for a provision that required states to comply with new eligibility requirements for Medicaid or risk losing their funding. On that question, the Court held that the provision is constitutional as long as states would only lose new funds if they didn't comply with the new requirements, rather than all of their funding."
I will post more as it comes in!
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
"The bottom line: the entire ACA is upheld, with the exception that the federal government's power to terminate states' Medicaid funds is narrowly read."
"Chief Justice Roberts' vote saved the ACA. "
"The money quote from the section on the mandate: Our precedent demonstrates that Congress had the power to impose the exaction in Section 5000A under the taxing power, and that Section 5000A need not be read to do more than impose a tax. This is sufficient to sustain it."
"On the Medicaid issue, a majority of the Court holds that the Medicaid expansion is constitutional but that it w/b unconstitutional for the federal government to withhold Medicaid funds for non-compliance with the expansion provisions. "
"The key comment on salvaging the Medicaid expansion is this (from Roberts): "Nothing in our opinion precludes Congress from offering funds under the ACA to expand the availability of health care, and requiring that states accepting such funds comply with the conditions on their use. What Congress is not free to do is to penalize States that choose not to participate in that new program by taking away their existing Medicaid funding." (p. 55) "
"Another way to think about Medicaid: the Constitution requires that states have a choice about whether to participate in the expansion of eligibility; if they decide not to, they can continue to receive funds for the rest of the program. "
"The Court holds that the mandate violates the Commerce Clause, but that doesn't matter b/c there are five votes for the mandate to be constitutional under the taxing power."
"In opening his statement in dissent, Kennedy says: "In our view, the entire Act before us is invalid in its entirety."
And now for the whole Shazam in English:
"In Plain English: The Affordable Care Act, including its individual mandate that virtually all Americans buy health insurance, is constitutional. There were not five votes to uphold it on the ground that Congress could use its power to regulate commerce between the states to require everyone to buy health insurance. However, five Justices agreed that the penalty that someone must pay if he refuses to buy insurance is a kind of tax that Congress can impose using its taxing power. That is all that matters. Because the mandate survives, the Court did not need to decide what other parts of the statute were constitutional, except for a provision that required states to comply with new eligibility requirements for Medicaid or risk losing their funding. On that question, the Court held that the provision is constitutional as long as states would only lose new funds if they didn't comply with the new requirements, rather than all of their funding."
I will post more as it comes in!
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Friday, May 4, 2012
a carefree culture
Disgusted, I skated over to him after hearing him shout endless threats at his DS the whole skaterball tournament. He had played with us for about five minutes, and then gave in to his digital idol. Out of curiosity, I asked him in a casual manner, “Hey, what job do you see yourself as having when you’re twenty?” Still looking at the small console, he told me, amidst more shouts of victory and “I’ll get you yet"s, that he would work at GameStop. He did not respond when I informed him that he needed proficient grades for just about every job. “I like video games,” was his answer when questioned why they would hire him. Then the climax, accurately representing the majority of America’s youth, including young adults, “I’ll just live here and play games and watch TV while my parents pay the bills.” There was more, and it was just as hopeless. In this report, we will review the great gulf of differences between Mr. Bowditch and today’s youth in three areas: work, school, and recreation.
“I’m going to work at GameStop.” Why would they let him? “’Cause I like video games.” Again, the ideology of our youth: let’s see what the least work I can possibly do while keeping a roof over my head. That is not excellence! The modern conception of a good worker is someone who usually comes on time and barely meets the job description. In Nat’s time, a good worker was someone who excelled. As a teenager, Nat was a hard worker at the chandlery, working from sun up to sun down every day except Sunday, even though he would rather be studying for Harvard. As an indentured servant, labor was not a decision, but it was Nat’s choice to work hard. If most teenagers today found they were indentured for nine years, they would go into depression, drugs, alcohol, and maybe suicide. Cowards! Clearly, Nat was a much more diligent worker.
Unfortunately, my statement to him about having to get good grades was only sort of true. Many jobs these days don’t require good grades. The national average is a C. On the other hand, Nat, as a teenager, learned two languages and became a major mathematician. In America, school is not viewed as a privilege, but as a punishment. Unfortunately, todays parents are often still under many of the false assumptions created in the hippy movement, and do not teach their kids that education is what propels a person through life. Follow your heart! Even if that means ruining your life by failing education. In Nat’s day, education was a great privilege. Therefore, most students put valiant efforts into making their education successful. Early America had much better ideas on how education was to be treated.
The topic with the most contrast between our groups is recreation. It is a common misconception that Americans have been getting less and less free time. We’ve actually been getting more. The misconception comes from the fact that it seems shorter. Why? Television and video games. The average adult spends two and a half hours a day in front of the TV. It’s even more with teens. Today’s culture is so aggressively lazy, it’s scary. Nat, however, spent all his free time on learning, his entire education being developed in free time. His whole teenage life was spent on working and learning and he never had a shred of regret. As you can see, Nat Bowditch is a huge contrast to today’s youth.
I have shown in many ways the utter differences, but the major reason for these differences is a culture that is not motivated to contribute. Today’s youth are unmotivated to do well in school, get a good job, etc. because they fail to see how the benefits outweigh the work. But that isn’t the correct attitude at all. Instead of trying to see what he could get out of it, Nat did all that he did for others. He could’ve just been an angry wretch his whole indenture, but he made the choice not to. With today’s carefree culture, they just don’t care what happens to other people. If they do once in a while, it’s not enough to do anything, especially if it involves work. This is an evil culture.
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Occupy Laziness (wait that's us)
I saw a political cartoon the other day that just about summed up my feelings about Occupy Wall Street.
It's amazing to me that these people can just sit around protesting the people who are going to work to create jobs for them! "Tax the rich and their corporations!" one sign reads. It's those corporations that are keeping us out of a major depression! And besides, they're already paying a higher tax rate! Instead of sitting on your bum waiting for the 1% to give you 50% of their hardearned money, why don't you 99% start making some of your own? You can't just depend on the big bad "1%" to keep the economy going.
I saw another cartoon.
Who the heck cares!? Why does making the rich poorer make you happier? If you aren't dying of starvation or out on the street, just be thankfully for what you've got and work toward getting more by going to work instead of sitting on your bum! You want money? Power? So did they; but they didn't get it from the 1% of their time, they got it from getting an education and then a job. Stop saying give us money! Get some for yourself or be quiet because you're making a fool of yourself!
I'm done. That's my view. There will probably be plenty to come out tomorrow.
From my blog, The Washington Critique, watching Washington, Wall Street, and the World
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
It's amazing to me that these people can just sit around protesting the people who are going to work to create jobs for them! "Tax the rich and their corporations!" one sign reads. It's those corporations that are keeping us out of a major depression! And besides, they're already paying a higher tax rate! Instead of sitting on your bum waiting for the 1% to give you 50% of their hardearned money, why don't you 99% start making some of your own? You can't just depend on the big bad "1%" to keep the economy going.
I saw another cartoon.
Who the heck cares!? Why does making the rich poorer make you happier? If you aren't dying of starvation or out on the street, just be thankfully for what you've got and work toward getting more by going to work instead of sitting on your bum! You want money? Power? So did they; but they didn't get it from the 1% of their time, they got it from getting an education and then a job. Stop saying give us money! Get some for yourself or be quiet because you're making a fool of yourself!
I'm done. That's my view. There will probably be plenty to come out tomorrow.
From my blog, The Washington Critique, watching Washington, Wall Street, and the World
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Daily Qoute
Tim Bayly in response to hubbub of the government shut down:
"It could be worse, the government could be starting back up"
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
"It could be worse, the government could be starting back up"
"Aren't you a little young to being doing this?"
"Yes, yes I am"
-Phineas and Ferb
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