Over and over again courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging one's affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor; and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands: taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere cant
- Learned Hand. New York District Court Jude, Appeals Court Judge, and Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court
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A former Democrat explains why he has become a Republican: Benefits.gov (formerly GovBenefits.gov) was launched in an effort to provide citizens with easy, online access to government benefit and assistance programs. Eight years after its initial launch, GovBenefits.gov underwent a major redesign and became Benefits.gov. However, the program's mission remains the same: reduce the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government while increasing citizen access to government benefit information. In other words, it's a citizen's one-stop-shop for other people's money.
Benefits.gov has what is known as their "Benefits Finder." After answering some questions about yourself, your family, and various other things, you will be given a list of benefits/programs that you may qualify for. I completed this and I qualified for.....get ready.....122 programs. That's right. One hundred and twenty two programs. Most (All?) of them are so absurd and are such a waste. Here is just a few examples of these that I qualify for: American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) Leadership Development Programs- State Dept. The American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) program focuses on international educational exchanges for young political leaders worldwide. American Film Showcase- State Dept. The American Film Showcase is a major touring film program bringing American documentaries, feature films and animated shorts to audiences worldwide. American Music Abroad Program- State Dept. The American Music Abroad program is designed to communicate America's rich musical contributions to a global music scene. The program sends music groups abroad to foster cross-cultural communication with global audiences. Arts Envoy Program- State Dept. The Arts Envoy program is designed to share the best of the U.S. arts community with the world. The program sends American arts professionals-- including performing artists, visual artists, poets, playwrights, theatrical and film directors, curators, and others-- overseas to conduct workshops, give performances, and mentor young people. Capital Construction Fund Program- State Dept. The Capital Construction Fund (CCF) Program enables fishermen to construct, reconstruct, or under limited circumstances, acquire fishing vessels with before-tax, rather than after-tax dollars. DanceMotion USA- State Dept. DanceMotion USASM sends American dance companies overseas to connect with audiences and communities through dance workshops, lecture demonstrations, public performances and other arts education activities. Literature Fellowships- National Endowments for the Arts Fellowships for creative writers are available on a two-year cycle with fellowships in prose available one year and fellowships in poetry available the next. Grants are also available to published translators of literature for projects that involve the specific translation of prose, poetry or drama from other languages into English. Sports Envoys International Exchange Program- State Dept. Sports Envoys are athletes and coaches who travel overseas to lead programs that were developed by U.S. embassies and consulates. These American coaches and athletes hold sports clinics for young people and their coaches, participate in community outreach activities, and engage youth in a dialogue on the importance of leadership and respect for diversity. smARTpower- State Dept. smARTpower sends American visual artists abroad to collaborate with local artists and young people around the world on the creation of community-based art projects. Focusing on direct community engagement that encourages dialogue, experimentation and creativity, this 45-day program is designed to stimulate discourse around local or global social issues including the environment, education, health, girls and women's issues and freedom of expression. Shouldn't the State Department have better things to do than manage programs like this? I mean, it's not like we have anything to worry about with our embassies overseas being attacked or anything. It is the summer of 1776.......
The only thing hotter than the temperature is the passion for freedom and liberty that is burning in the hearts of the Patriots. Men gather together to pledge their life and their treasure to the cause of independence knowing full well that if they fail, they will probably lose one or the other, or both....... Thomas Paine, whose American Crisis papers helped keep up the morale of the Patriots during the Revolution, had this to say just a few months later in December, but no doubt these sentiments were on the minds of the Americans that summer: "Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to tax) but "to bind us in all cases whatsoever" and if being bound in that manner is not slavery, then there is not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious, for so unlimited a power can belong only to God." Let's pretend that you are an observer at a town hall meeting in Boston, 1776. A speaker rises and laments against the taxes that have been levied against the colonies. He makes an impassioned plea for the audience to take up the revolutionary cause. You look around and on one side of the room, you see Jim DeMint, Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, Bobby Jindal and Scott Walker. On the other side of the room, you see Barney Frank, Charlie Rangel, Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid and Barack Obama. Who would have risen up and stood with the speaker? Who would have seconded the speaker's cries for liberty? Would it be the ones who fight for limited government or the ones who support Obamacare, the largest tax increase in American history? Would it be the ones who fight for fiscal restraint or the ones who support the largest tax increase in American history? Would it be the ones who fight for individual liberty or the ones who support the largest tax increase in American history? Would it be the ones who fight for private property rights or the ones who support the largest tax increase in American history? Who would have stood with the colonists who took up arms largely as a result of taxation? The ones who fight to keep taxes low and government small or the ones who support the largest tax increase in American history? Who indeed. These days, all we hear from the Obama administration is about how much the rich should pay their fair share. The buzz words “shared responsibility” are nonsense. A closer look into the reality of the matter in IRS data updated 10/2011 on table #2 , one will learn that the top 1% already pay 38.02 % of the total tax bill. The top 5% pay 58.72%, while the top 10% wage earners pay 69.74% of the total tax bill. Put another way, 90% of tax payers only pay 30.26% of the total tax bill generated by the government.
At what point does this money grab and overspend by the federal government get out of hand? Tell us Mr. Obama, what should the formula be? In my opinion, this whole narrative needs to be changed. The question should be, “ what is the government's fair share of our GDP? I believe the answer is that it is already too high. This insatiable appetite for the peoples wealth is out of control and must be stopped. Equally important is to stop the spending spree which is nothing more than legalized theft of future generations of Americans. What made America great is the individual freedom to pursue one's happiness. The liberals and progressives mistakenly think it is government picking the winners and losers. Time for us to get our heads out of the sand, just say NO ,and change the debate to that what is really at stake ….our way of life. -The Ostrich Doctor |
AuthorConstitutional conservative and free-market defender blogging about national and Tennessee politics Blogroll
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