Payroll Tax Break Voted Down 51 FOR; 49 AGAINST (WHAT???)

It has been a while since I have checked in with a commentary, so here is today.

Late last night the U.S. Senate voted on extending, and possibly expanding, the Payroll Tax Holiday, which EVERYONE (economists, Democrats, Republicans, and all of the Millions of People that this will benefit in tough economic times) agrees that this is ESSENTIAL.

But it was voted down.

In fact there were 2 plans proposed, one by the Democrats and one by the Republicans.  The Republican Plan was voted DOWN nearly 80-20.  It was bad, it was designed to pay for the tax cut by putting roughly 200,000 people out of work (WHAT???) and freezing pay of federal workers for 3 years (so a break for ONE year in exchange for stagnant pay for THREE. Again; WHAT???) and deny certain government benefits, like food stamps, to Millionaires (because SO many Millionaires get food stamps; WHAT???).  Ok, so it was BS. And because of that 26 REPUBLICANS voted against it. Thus the BIG vote down.

Ok, So lets move on to the Democrats Plan.  Pay for the Tax Holiday for Working People by adding a 3-4% tax on all income earned OVER Million Dollars (in other words Millionaires DON’T get hit on the FIRST Million, ONLY money OVER that).  Like it or not, the VOTE in the Senate for this was 51 FOR and 49 AGAINST.  So logically it should have passed, right. WRONG (WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?) – See, in this current Senate, SINCE 2010, when the BIG Republican (TEA Party) swing, even though they don’t have the Majority, they CAN and ALWAYS DO threaten to FILIBUSTER. (For those that don’t know, here is Webster’s Definition: ”A: the use of extreme dilatory tactics in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly; B: an instance of this practice”.) So NOTHING CAN GET DONE, because a MAJORITY is not enough anymore to move Legislation forward, they need a 60% or Super Majority, which is designed to only be needed to overturn a Veto and other HARD things.  It is NOT designed to STOP EVERY PIECE of LEGISLATION that the Majority Party puts forward.

The Filibuster was designed so that the Majority cannot do Tyrannical things to the Minority – NOT TO TOTALLY STOP GOVERNMENT FROM FUNCTIONING, ESPECIALLY DURING THE ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT WAS INHERITED FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND LARGELY REPUBLICAN POLICIES.  But that IS how it has been used by the current Republican Minority in the Senate.  We have had THREE SERIOUS THREATS of Government Shutdown, over REDICULOUS thing, like the Debt Ceiling Debate – which was really about whether we would PAY BACK debts WE ALREADY OWED to pay for the Bush Tax Cuts, the Unpaid-for Medicare Part D and the TWO Decades long Wars.

It Boggles my Mind that WORKING CLASS people, a LOT of working class people, can support the Republican Party.  They drove the Economy OFF A CLIFF with THEIR POLICIES and they have done EVERYTHING in their power to SABATOGE the economy from growing so Obama looks bad – they don’t even consider the day-to-day lives that are impacted by their political games.  A Majority should get Legislation passed again – if you want Obama to own the economy, let him get some policies passed so we can see it.  Actually, ever so slowly, the economy is growing stronger, despite the Republican opposition, I hope Obama gets a bit of credit for that come election time.

The importance of VOTING (and a bit of History)

"The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by [people] for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison [people] because they are different from other [people]." 


- President Lyndon B. Johnson when he signed the
 Voting Rights Act of 1965.

That statement is as true today as it was then.  But today it seems fewer and fewer believe it.  Even today as I was relieved at work, I asked the person relieving me if they had voted and the reply was “I never vote, both parties are the same.”  It is a similar belief that seems to permeate the 99%/Occupy movements.  It saddens me. While I admit, as a young man I too was hoodwinked by that terrible fiction, I have since realized my mistake.  There are others that realize that the 2 major parties are not the same but are discouraged because the best choice is only “the lesser of two evils”, and finally there are those that “protest” by boycotting the election, either because they want to “send the candidate a message” or simply because they are disheartened because they could not get as much done as was “promised”.

On the idea that “Both Parties are the Same”.  This simply isn’t true.  While I have my choices as to which is the choice for me, I will not share it here, but I will try to dispel the myth that they are the same.  One Party has CONSISTANTLY cut taxes while overspending on things like unfunded wars.  They fight AGAINST unions and other groups that support WORKING PEOPLE while also fighting to cut .  One side wants to CUT Regulations on the largest businesses in the name of “freedom” while trying to regulate who we marry, and what people share with their doctors and even what happens in the bedroom (how is that Freedom?).  One side has fought to get us Universal Healthcare, and while it did NOT happen, it only didn’t because the OTHER SIDE fought so hard against it.  One side has tried to regulate the banks that collapsed our economy – the other continues to fight against them AND to give MORE tax cuts for the VERY PEOPLE that profited off that thievery, while the rest of us have lost wages and benefits (for those of us “lucky” enough to even have a job).  One side has made proposals on how we might rebuild infrastructure and keep teachers, firefighters and police – the other has only blocked it.  The choices are NEARLY OPPOSITE – One side wants to regulate business and give individuals more freedom, the other wants to regulate individual choice and give businesses more freedom.  They just are not the same.

On “The Lesser of Two Evils”.  This is a little easier to understand.  While the two parties are NOT the same, there can sometimes seem to be a lot of similarities.  So, I researched it and found that one party is SIGNIFIGANTLY better than the other when it comes to HELPING WORKING PEOPLE.  I could almost repeat much of what is above, I wont.  But I will add to it a bit.  One reason why it seems like only a lesser of 2 evils, that is because even the MAJORITY Party has to work WITH the minority.  It has taken us 30 YEARS of bad policy to get us into this mess, slowly chipping away at the foundation of the middle class – it will take time to rebuild; especially when one group is doing EVERYTHING they can to stifle that process.  (Lets remember, the President went to Harvard, NOT HOGWARTS – he cannot simply wave a magic wand and fix things.  And he can only sign the legislation the CONGRESS sends to his desk)

On Boycotting to “Send a Message” or because you are disheartened. Simply put, where Boycotting works on a For-Profit industry (BECAUSE IT CUT INTO PROFITS) it does not work on voting.  Why – because there are ALWAYS some that WILL vote, so by you sitting out YOU ONLY GIVE MORE POWER TO SOMEONE ELSE’S VOTE.  If you don’t like the Republican Party, but are disheartened by the Democrats and decide not to vote – YOU DOUBLE THE POWER OF THE REPUBLICAN THAT VOTES (or vice versa) SO THEY WIN.  The ONLY message you send when you don’t vote is “There is no reason to worry about that groups interests”.  The Tea Party is such a HUGE political force BECAUSE THEY VOTE.  If the 99% want to be also, they MUST turn out to the polls.  In 2010 many Democrats disheartened with Obama stayed home, but the Tea Party did not – and Republicans won the day in not only congress, but also in many State Legislatures and Governorships – so if you are one who stayed home – YOU ARE PARTLY TO BLAME now that they are trying to restrict votes and break unions – AND now that the CONGRESS doesn’t do ANYTHING except threaten to SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT (3 times!!!) to stop Obama from doing anything.

I realize that this wont change many people’s minds, but I would have been remiss if I didn’t say it. The ONLY Political Capital is Votes; I know people think it’s money, but money is only important because money buys advertising – thus getting VOTES! The right to vote was hard fought for, some people LITERALLY DIED for the right to vote, BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT.  Perhaps if my words have not persuaded you, I will end on someone else’s who might.

‎"Voting is the foundation stone for political action. The basic elements so vital to … advancement can only be achieved by seeking redress from government at local, state and Federal levels. To do this the vote is essential."


- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to civil rights demonstrators.

Since when is fulfilling a contract considered an “Entitlement”?

Let me propose a question. If you make a contract with someone, and fulfill your end of the bargain, do you consider the other party’s end to be an entitlement?

Simple answer – NO – it is considered to be an obligation of the other party to fulfill their end.  That is basic contract law, isn’t it?  So why is it when we talk about it in the context of government we refer to them as “Entitlements”?

I pay my taxes, I pay a portion of them to Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid.  So why is it that whenever there is a so-called “Budget Shortfall” the FIRST thing the Republican Party wants to cut are these programs?  These are programs I pay for!!! I am fulfilling MY obligation in the “contract” with the government, but for some reason we (we being the Working Class) are somehow spoken about as feeling “entitled” because we expect to have that contract fulfilled.  WHAT?!?!?!?

In the last 30 years (basically my ENTIRE lifetime) the American Working Class has had their futures chipped away by bad policies that have the WEALTHIEST among us gaining a 275% increase in income – while those of us that actually WORK for a living have only seen a 20% increase (WHICH DOESN’T EVEN KEEP UP WITH COST OF LIVING!).  That’s right – those that make the most (by FAR) and therefore need it least, have also had an increase that is 10 TIMES the increase of us that make the least (and NEED it the MOST!).  But somehow we are the ones who are UNGRATEFUL and feel ENTITLED!

As it stands, I have no savings, and about $600 (not a typo) in my 401K and now I am supposed to look forward to having my Social Security benefits reduced, or if the Republican Party has it’s way – Taken away entirely.  By the way when someone says “Privatize Social Security” (or the “Chilean Model” which is the SAME thing) what they mean is to TAKE AWAY the one guaranteed source of income that people like me will have and give that to Wall Street too!

Does anyone even remember 3 years ago – when Wall Street (and YES IT WAS WALL STREET) tanked the United States Economy, and thousands of people that were closing in on retirement had to totally re-think their futures because their 401K’s were virtually cut in half!  Do we really want that to happen to Social Security as well?

I am so sick of people who get GOVERNMENT pay and GOVERNMENT Pensions and GOVERNMENT Healthcare (i.e. all the Representatives and Senators) talking about how WORKING CLASS people need to make more sacrifices.  And they have the GAUL to continue funding LARGE Government SUBSIDES to businesses that reap ENORMOUS PROFITS while simultaneously claiming Poverty so they can Outsource Jobs and cut the Pensions of Working People – and so the Board Members can retire with “Golden Parachutes” – even if those Board Members tank the company they work for OR the ENTIRE ECONOMY in he process. But WORKING PEOPLE are supposed to suck it up and MAKE SACRIFICES.

It is simply time to change the system so that Working People have a future again and frankly those that have benefitted most from the policies of the Past 30 years need to give something back.  Yes, we need to reform the tax code and remove loopholes, but we also need to make income from actually working worth AT LEAST as much as money gained from investing on Wall Street (in fact if anything Investment Income should probably be taxed at a slightly higher rate) unless that investment Directly (Let me re-peat that DIRCTLY) creates American Jobs and GIVES Back to Society.  But also we NEED to have those that have profited MOST from our currently BROKEN system to be the ones that act a little GRATEFUL for their success – and not expect the rest of us Working People to instead bear the entire burden – which for us; means little to no chance of retirement, a lifetime of debt for things like School and Healthcare, and a Job that doesn’t even pay the Bills anymore.

With regard to the death of Moammar Khadafy.

There has been a lot of talk about the circumstances surrounding Moammar Khadafy’s death.  It seems that the likely story is actually that he was executed by one of the men in the Rebel forces.  There have been many calls for an investigation as to what happened, because the video shows he was captured alive and then he was declared dead.  There are some reports of a firefight, but other stories which have contradicted that.  I personally feel it is ultimately irrelevant whether or not there was and I will explain why.

I want to start by saying that I am generally against the death penalty, also I’m not a person that believes in revenge, I cannot think of a single person that I actually hate, and I consider myself fortunate that I have never personally experienced war, nor had to be in a situation that escalated to a point where I would even need to consider harming, let alone killing someone. But; if I had been in a situation where I, or my family, or friends, had been the victims of a lifetime of tyrannical rule by a despotic dictator and it was me that found him in that hole, I am certain that he would not have left my company alive.

I do not say that because of the anger, and possibly hatred, that I am sure to have felt; instead I think the simple truth is that after such a struggle to overthrow this cruel megalomaniac, I would make certain that there would NEVER be a way for him to come into power again.  If indeed there was a firefight, the first shot I personally would have fired would have been to end Khadafy’s life, because I could not possibly allow him to be rescued, only to re-inspire his troops and possibly continue, or more horrifying, win, the fight.  I would instead end any inspiration his life might stir in his supporters.

That said, I think even if there was no firefight the point remains the same. There was no question of Khadafy’s oppression, so some kind of show trial would actually prove nothing except to show that we are “civilized” when it comes to killing people.  But in the meantime, as we waited for the trial, there would be a re-doubling of efforts to secure Khadafy’s rescue, the fighting would continue.  During the trial Khadafy would undoubtedly say something hateful and inflammatory, at best, and inspirational to his supporters to keep fighting at worst. With Khadafy dead, the rallying point is effectively destroyed and so the opposition is more likely to become disheartened and give up the fight; certainly there would be more people re-examining their support on an individual level.

Frankly, I think his death, or execution if you would rather call it, is totally justified and I support the decision to end his life, regardless of the circumstances.  I view it much like the death of Osama bin Laden or Anwar al-Awlaki, or even Saddam Hussein for that matter.  I do not celebrate their deaths because of a sense of vengeance or retribution; but accept the necessity of their deaths, because Society has a Right to protect itself from monsters that so blatantly wish to harm it.  If only all deaths could be so Justified.

It has become PAINFULLY obvious that the Republican Party doesn’t care one iota about Working Class People

I have to admit this is something I have been reluctant to say outright.  I have been fooling myself into thinking that perhaps it was a difference of opinion, or a disagreement about ideology, but no more.

So I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention to what is actually going on, as opposed to just listening to what they are saying, but yesterday the first part of President Obama’s Jobs Plan was voted on in the Senate, it received a vote of 50/50, so no problem, right, VP Biden just needs to go in and cast the tie breaker and he Bill passes right? WRONG!  The Republicans have decided to ONCE AGAIN Filibuster this vote (i.e. DELAY IT INDEFINITELY) unless 2/3 of the Senate votes to stop it.  Why did they do this again (by again I mean only adding to the MOST filibusters that have EVER happened in the entire HISTORY of our nation since Obama became President)?  Well, they say, Obama’s Jobs plan is not long term.

First, lets pretend their right – and I do mean pretend, because our big problem in the economy right now is DEMAND and in order to generate demand working class people need to have money to spend in the economy.  Ok, so lets pretend their right – what they are saying is “No, I don’t want to give you CPR, because you need a bypass to solve the problem,” “No, I don’t want to put on a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, because you need surgery to close the wound.”  Oh, but there are no plans to actually get you into surgery.

HOW IS THIS GOOD FOR WORKING PEOPLE?!?!?!  How is firing people (and that’s what we’re talking about) going to help the economy?!?!?

But lets be fair, the Republicans do have a jobs proposal.  Cut Regulations to the Banks (you know, the very ones that were implemented after the banks already tanked the economy), Cut the EPA (you know, the agency that protects our air and water, to make sure that big businesses don’t destroy the land where working class people actually live) and to open PUBLIC land for MORE DRILLING, because as they say, we have 300 years of oil and/or natural gas, because THAT’S their LONG TERM PLAN?!?!?!?

HOW DOES ANY OF THAT ACTUALLY GENERATE JOBS RIGHT NOW WHEN ACTUAL PEOPLE NEED THEM?!?!?!?

The fact is, it doesn’t.  They are more than happy to tank the economy (by blocking ANYTHING the President puts forward to actually help), as long as it gets Obama out of office.  Therefore there is no other logical conclusion except that Republicans just don’t care about working people.

Republicans cheer France for their Victory in Libya

With the death of Moammar Khadafy (in addition to Osama bin Laden’s recent demise) and word that the NATO operations in Libya will be coming to a successful close AND the fact that this victory came with a cost of only $2 Billion (as opposed to the roughly $900 Billion in Iraq and counting) AND the fact that not one American Life was lost, oh, AND the fact that this conflict has given the US a good reputation on foreign Policy in the world again AND the fact that the people in Libya are CHEERING our name instead of cursing it; perhaps the Republican Party can finally come together with President Obama to celebrate this indisputable Victory.

Ok, so nobody really believes that’s going to happen, right.  Of Course not – in fact already the Republican Party has been hitting the News circuit congratulating NATO and France (yup – the Party that brought you Freedom Fries is congratulating FRANCE on their Victory but NOT OBAMA?!?!) while criticizing our President for “leading from behind” and “not being forceful enough” in his reaction to the Libyan uprising.  Right, because I’m sure the Libyan People would still be cheering the US if we went stomping in there – Just like the people of Iraq.  Yes, by the way, this is also the same Republican party that criticized him for going into Libya in the first place.

It should be obvious to anyone that actually pays attention, that the Republican Party is NOT Patriotic. Tanking our economy and destroying the Middle Class, and Filibustering (i.e. BLOCKING) any effort the President has made to actually fix it is bad enough - but The Republican cannot even acknowledge a GENUINE Victory by this President because they are so hatefully focused on getting him out of office.  

Columbia University Economist Jeffery Sachs Addresses Occupy Wall St

I was Occupying Wall Street on 10-15-2011 - after cold wind and poor sleep the night before I sat down for a nap - and awoke with Columbia University Economist Jeffery Sachs, one of my favorite Economists (because, yes, I'm the type of person that is a fan of Economists!) about to literally step up on the ledge I was leaning on and start speaking so I ended up with the best seat in the house.

Check out the Video Below of what he said!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5USicF5-cjo