Nothing is free
Listening to the car radio yesterday we were given a phone number to call if we were on food stamps or Medicaid so we could receive a free cell phone and 200 minutes a month.
Is that why the politicians are arguing about raising the debt ceiling?
Let The Truth Be Told
The real culprit in the current financial crisis is the current administration and the previous democratic controlled Pelosi-Reid congress. Americans need to understand (and of course with no support or help from the press) that the current debt ceiling is only a trigger on the proverbial “gun”—the gun has been the enormous spending boom of the last three years under the complete control of Obama-Pelosi-Reid. What makes matters worse is that two of the these three players and the press lack the political will to reduce spending in years to come—and are simply doing everything in their power to focus away from spending and instead muddying the water with tax revenue promotion. What a crock!
Spending is the problem and in the last three years the Obama-Pelosi-Reid regime has had an extraordinary blowout. We have not seen anything like it since WWII. Nothing even close—and no, not even during Bush’s second term. The chart below gives a graphical depiction of what we are talking about—and this should be place on every news wire day after day after day until folks can understand what the real problem is.
This chart clearly tracks federal outlays as a share of Gross Domestic Product since 1960. The early peaks represent the Johnson “Great Society” spending and then the high of 23.5% with the recession of 1982 coincident with Reagan’s defense buildup.
From this point, spending declined mostly during the 90’s when Clinton radically cut back defense spending to 3% of GDP in 2000 from Reagan’s peak of 6.2% in 1986. During George W Bush’s years spending bounced back up to roughly 20% of GDP, but no more than 20.7% as recently as 2008!
Then the Obama “blowout” in concert with his team in Congress—Pelosi-Reid! The Democrats basically blew up the national balance sheet, lifting federal spending to 25% in 2009, the highest level since 1945. Though the supposed recession ended in 2009, spending in 2010 stayed high at nearly 24%, and this year, 2011, it is heading back toward 25%.
Federal debt held by the public as a share of GDP is another interesting perspective. In 2008, it was 40.3%, then 53.5% in 2009, 62.2% in 2010 and an estimated 72% this year, and is expected to continue rising in the future—driven of course by ObamaCare. These are heights not seen since the Korean War, and many analysts think the US debt will soon hit 90% or 100% of GDP—-think Greece boys and girls!
Now, Congress, under the leadership of Pelosi-Reid was responsible for the way so much spending was wasted, resulting in little job creation and the slowest economic recovery since 1930s. In the US system however, historically, President’s are supposed to be the fiscal watchdogs. When they fail to do so, the Congress if allowed spends like they are on steroids! This is exactly what has happened.
Now, what is all ironic about this is that all of a sudden, President Obama has got religion, and is claiming to now have found “fiscal virtue.” In fact, what he is really doing is using the debt-ceiling debate as a battering ram not to control spending but to command a tax increase! Why is the press not demanding specifics from Obama on the spending side of the equation! He has provided nothing—that is fact and what little he has said about cuts in spending are negligible. The only things that I have heard is his offer for immediate domestic nondefense discretionary cuts of $2BB—a drop in the proverbial bucket!
As for Obama’s proposed entitlement cuts—nada! His vague suggestions are nibbling around the edges of programs that are growing faster than inflation—and ObamaCare—is untouchable despite its $1 trillion in additional spending over the next several years and growing faster even afterwards!
So, now the showdown over the debt limit which has to be raised to accommodate all of “his” spending. And Obama of course instead of taking responsibility for the spending and focusing on reducing it is blaming the Republicans for being irresponsible because they won’t raise taxes in return for modest future spending restraints. And people are falling for this BS and the media does not have the guts to speak the truth! What a sad state of affairs!
A Night in the Gardens
We DO mean night – as it was 11:15pm when we left the Palm Beach Gardens City Council chamber and there were items yet to be discussed on the agenda,with a hard stop at 11:30 pm.
Our call to action covered two 2012 budget related items and one regarding the Inspector General. Although separated on the agenda, the council decided to take up Ordinance 13, 2011 and Resolution 33, 2011 in sequence.
Ordinance 13, 2011 was a proposal to raise the Local Communications Services Tax from it’s current 1.5% on all telephone, cellphone, cable and internet services, residential and commercial, to 5.22%. The rationale was 3-fold:
1) use this ‘new’ source of revenue in lieu of increasing the millage or taking out of reserves
2) improve the city’s bond rating from AA+ to AAA – as they have been advised a more diversified revenue stream would be advisable.
3) All the other cities do it – so Palm Beach Gardens should too!
Public comment was predominately against raising this tax; about 7 folks – all ‘regulars’ (including Mel Grossman, Fred Scheibl and Iris Scheibl) made it clear that we weren’t impressed by the ‘all the other cities do it’ argument! Only one spoke on behalf of the tax and he was on the Budget Advisory Committee that came up with the solution in the first place.
Vice Mayor Bert Premuroso spoke first and surprised the council by saying that he changed his mind, based on resident comment, and was now against raising the tax at all and wanted to hold millage flat and take the balance from reserves. Council members had expected him to be for the tax and the implication was that he had originally been an advocate for it. The other 4 were strongly for the tax increase. After lengthy debate, the ‘compromise’ was to raise the tax to 3.5% (a 133% increase instead of 248%), hold millage flat and take the remainder from reserves. That was going to mean an extra $800,000 on top of the $1.2 million targetted for capital expenditures or $2 million out of $20 million+ in reserves. The council vote was unanimous in favor of the new proposal. NOTE: while millage rates go up and down – what they voted for was a permanent increase in your communications bills. You still have a chance to overturn this on 2nd reading! We will have another call to action prior to the 2nd reading on August 11th.
Resolution 33, 2011: Discussion was brief since the debate had occurred on the prior item. The resolution was passed 5:0 and the first budget hearing was scheduled for September 8th, 2011.
Ordinance 14, 2011 was to insert definitions of Waste, Fraud, Abuse, Mismanagement and Misconduct into city ordinances. As was described in the call to action – to those involved in the development of the county Inspector General Ordinance – this was the subject of very complex and detailed and arduous debate for the 5 month life of the IG Ordinance Drafting Committee. By now it was after 11pm and very few people remained in the room.
Speaking strongly against the insertion of the definitions were Iris Scheibl, Fred Scheibl, Kevin Easton and Joe Doucette of the Office of the Inspector General. Sheryl Steckler, IG, was in the audience and the Council knew it. Both Iris and Fred referenced the Palm Beach Post editorial in that morning’s paper entitled Cities Committing a Fraud. Andrew Marra, Editor, got the issue exactly in his editorial. Ms. Steckler had also sent a letter to the City Council earlier in the day. While superficially – one can say ‘what is the matter with definitions?’ – those definitions can indeed limit either the Inspector General’s ability to investigate or can hinder the need for any action by those receiving her reports. The reaction to the comment by the Council and staff was enlightening. The Council chose to take the ‘innocent’ stance – definitions can only improve things. City Attorney Lohman was incensed at the public comment and the Inspector General’s letter and called her a liar. City Manager Ferris was spitting mad at the editorial and bashed the Palm Beach Post (which others have been wont to do on occasion ;-)). He said that he’d been managing for over 30 years and that these definitions would help him in implementing improvements and educating the employees. Which begs the question – what did he use for the last 30 years? The council vote 5:0 for passage on first reading.
So – did the public win or lose Tuesday evening. I’d say – we lost. We get the government we deserve. Think about it and next time – ACT!
Town of Jupiter property tax rate
On July 19, 2011 the Jupiter Town Council Approved the preliminary property tax rate for Fiscal Year 2012 that is equal to the current year rate (FY 2011) of 2.5142 mills (dollars per $1,000 of taxable property value).
How Much is a Trillion Dollars?
Video by Val Anderson
UPDATED: America Supports Israel March on August 24th in PB Gardens
Details have been finalized – Note change in venue!
Many members have been looking for ways to show their support for Israel in a non-partisan way on August 24th. Here’s a local opportunity to do your part. Please note: No signs. This is not a political event or a demonstration. Just bring a small American or Israeli flag to wave.
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Call to Action: Cut, Cap, Balance Vote Tomorrow
Hello Friends and Fellow Patriots,
Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 19th, the US House of Representatives will be voting on the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011. Even though President Obama has vowed to veto this bill, it will make a statement to our country that our representatives are ready to take a stand for:
- Substantial cuts in spending
- Enforceable spending caps
- Congressional passage of a Balanced Budge Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that includes a spending limitation an a super-majority vote to raise taxes before the debit ceiling can be raised.
Please contact your Representative today to ask for him to co-sponsor and vote Yes on the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011.
Here are some facts that you can use to support this stance:
- The debt held by the public has more than doubled in just the past five years. Interest paid on the national debt is expected to more than triple over the next ten years.
- Many economists believe the US faces a Greek-style debt crisis within the next five years if we do not get our fiscal house in order very soon.
- The federal government has hit the $14.292 trillion debt limit set in February 2010. Raising the debt ceiling without significant spending cuts is simply a tax increase on future generations.
- Moody’s Investors Services has said the AAA rating of US government bonds is in jeopardy unless Congress passes “a budget that includes long-term deficit reduction.”
- Standard & Poor’s has said it will downgrade US debt if the US doesn’t 1) cut spending substantially and 2) REFORM the way it budgets, to control future spending.
- The Cut Cap and Balance Act (CCB) would meet the tests set forth by Moody’s and S&P, so we never again face this kind of debt problem. In short, “CCB=AAA.”
- The Cut, Cap, and Balance Act is a long-term deficit reduction package that will ensure we get back on the path of fiscal sanity and are not downgraded from our AAA bond rating.
For your convenience, here are the US Congressmen from Palm Beach County and their contact information. To email them directly, just click on the link after their name.
Tom Rooney (R-16)
https://forms.house.gov/rooney/webforms/issue_subscribe.html
Washington Office Tel: (202) 225-5792 Fax: (202) 225-3132
Stuart Office (772) 288-4668 Fax: (772) 288-4631
Ted Deutch (D-19)
https://teddeutch.house.gov/Forms/WriteYourRep/default.aspx
Washington Office Tel: (202) 225-3001 Fax: (202) 225-5974
Boca Raton Office Tel: (561) 988-6302 or (561) 732-4000
Allen West (R-22)
https://forms.house.gov/west/webforms/contact-form.shtml
Washington Office Tel: (202) 225-3026 Fax: (202) 225-8398
West Palm Beach Office Tel: (561) 655-1943 Fax: (561) 655-8018
Alcee Hastings (D-23)
https://forms.house.gov/alceehastings/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
Washington Office Tel: (202) 225-131 Fax: (202) 225-1171
Delray Beach City Hall Tel: (561) 243-7042 Fax: (561) 243-7327
Thank you for taking this action TODAY!
My Father’s Democrats
My father was a staunch democrat. In his day he believed the democrat party was for the working man. He believed in the unions. He believed in protecting the little guy. In his day maybe he was right. I know his values were right. I know he practiced those values in his everyday life. I know he looked for an opportunity to do his “Good Deed” for the day. It could be as simple as helping someone to fix a flat tire to bringing vegetables he grew to a neighbor.
He was a man that was proud of America. He was proud of his party. Today I know he would not only be upset with the whole process, he would be disgusted with the democrats. If he was able to see and read bill S679, Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act of 2011, he would be smart enough to realize this is a path to dictatorship. This bill has passed the senate. He would know both parties that sponsored this bill are NOT constitutionally minded patriots.
I hope everyone goes to govtrack and reads this bill and knows who voted yea and who voted nay.
Please note Marco Rubio voted nay. Thank God we have some freshmen in office who want to protect the American way.
To my Dad RIP, I love you.
Do we have election materials in Spanish to facilitate cheating?
A person must be a U.S. citizen to vote in U.S. elections.
An immigrant must know English to obtain U.S. citizenship.
So if all the eligible voters know English, why do we need the ballot and other election materials in both English and Spanish?
Are people cheating by bringing illegal immigrants to the polls to vote? It is hard to find another explanation for Spanish ballots.
We need to eliminate the Spanish ballots to reduce the cheating and save money.
The County has voted to increase the property tax rate because of a declining tax base and is looking for ways to save money.
How much do they spend on Spanish ballots?
They can reduce spending by eliminating all the Spanish voting materials. And while they are at it they can save more money by firing the people responsible for the un-American cheating-enabling Spanish ballots and firing all the people paid to prepare those materials.
Do you prefer having Spanish ballots or paying lower taxes?
We are spoiled brats
It looks like one reason the Congress is having trouble devising a debt limiting strategy is the electorate is a bunch of spoiled brats.
Almost everyone (especially the liberals, progressives and the half of the citizens who pay no income taxes) has adjusted quite well to the nanny state and has become dependent on all the goodies Uncle Sugar passes out.
When Congress and conservatives try to set spending priorities to reign in the unsustainable national debt, there is an uproar from the portion of the freeloading electorate that would lose some of their favorite booty. Every one of those spoiled brats has their hand in the proverbial cookie jar. We are becoming like a Western European country sliding into an abyss.
Can the slide be stopped or have we already passed the point of no return?
