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I am one of the folks who has really lost faith in the system.
No, I am not a Tea Party guy. I am just an American guy and I am sick of it. The President says tax the corporate jet owners because they don't pay their fair share. How about your friendly neighborhood drug dealer? Why don't we switch to a flat tax and some sales tax and get rid of the income tax?
The answer is simple. Welfare. We are paying an army of tax preparation services and tax lawyers to help us figure out the tax code. That's welfare. If we scrapped the tax code for a flat tax plus sales tax, an army of IRS people would be out of work (does backflip). That's welfare.
Best of all, there would be no more April 15. There would be no more phoney "refunds." There would be no more class warfare. All Americans would pay some tax at some time. Mr. drug dealer included.
And let's not forget the spending side. We have a system that encourages spending. We cannot account for billions in Iraq and that other sewer. Why? The answer is there is no penalty. Why not? Why shouldn't people who handle our money be accountable for it or go to jail for stealing it? Bankers take note. We bailed them out and not one of them went to jail? Why not? Where is the IRS on this one?
One of my favorite things is a commercial from The Scooter Store. The old bag tells you she didn't have to pay a penny for her scooter. Medicare paid for it. Why? It's a little car. Why should she not have to pay something for her little car? How many obese people are riding around in these things because Medicare sees a disability rather than an exercise issue? If you want to ride around, fine. Pay your fair share.
And right after that commercial, we have a string of commercials from law firms telling you they can get you a Social Security check if Social Security has denied your claim. We have other law firms telling you that they can cut your tax bill down to nothing because they have experienced and former IRS people on staff. What are their records in this area? Where is the Federal Trade Commission? Do you think we may have too many lawyers in this country who are driving the cost of everything right through the roof?
Don't give me the "they protect society from evil corporations" argument. Remember John Edwards? Maybe we should close law schools for ten years and thin out the greedy herd. After all, what other profession gets a third to half of the settlement as a fee? Why do we allow that? Why doesn't the losing side have to pay for the winning side's legal fees like the British do?
My title was "so they got it fixed." Noper. They didn't. But here are some things that will get the ball rolling:
1. Get rid of the tax code and replace it with a flat tax and a national sales tax so even the drug dealer pays.
2. If you have the power to spend the people's money, you have the responsibility to account for it.
3. Medicare should not be in the scooter business.
4. Lawyers should be paid like the rest of us.
5. When it comes to trials, the loser pays.
PS- If you really want to save the country, don't elect any more lawyers to government positions. We need people who can come up with solutions rather than ones who spend the day perfecting political smokescreens.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
The End of America?
I never thought I would ever consider such an idea but I am. Maybe I should just turn off the news and press on but I am still a teenager from the 1960's.
What the hell has happened? Why can't we seem to turn it around? Why can't those fools in Washington see it?
The reason is simple. They don't want to. They are far Left and far right and for most of us, far away. That's what bothers me. They don't see the possibility of a revolution. Yes, I think it is possible.
When you have tons of people getting assistance for doing nothing and the rest of the people paying for it and getting nowhere, there is a problem. Driven people are not interested in being driven down and out. I read an opinion story in our local paper from a tenured professor about how our city doesn't do enough for the homeless. Are you kidding? Before you start spending more of the private sector's money, maybe the do-gooder professor types should leave a key under the mat and write their address on a piece of cardboard and leave it downtown where the homeless hang out?
Us will eventually have enough of them and that's where the revolution will happen. People will reach a point where they are tired of working to pay off people who don't work. We have traded a work ethic for a gimme ethic and that's why we have a problem. It is easier to receive than to give.
There is no way to save the country unless we start to recognize that problem. There are people getting a free ride who are very capable of paying society back. There are people getting a free ride that are causing most of the problems because of drugs and alcohol problems. They need to deal with their CHOICES. We don't need to give them a check so they can go buy more drugs and alcohol. Enough alreay!
There are hard working people who have come here illegally. They need to be identified and a sound path developed to allow them to come and work as long as they are not breaking our laws and not putting a citizen--even a teenage citizen--out of work.
I have been battling the IRS for almost a year. I asked them for an accounting of what they think I owed them, what I have paid them, and what the bottom line is. They keep sending me a form letter that they apologize but they are researching the problem and are very busy. Do you suppose they are busy auditing the drug dealers or the homeless guys at any Wal-Mart who are making tax-free livings?
But we won't get to those main street solutions because we get nothing but political blither from our elected leaders. Most of them are lawyers who are expertly trained in how not to give a straight answer and as long as they can get all of those benefits that we know about, and all of those benefits that we don't know about, we will get what we are getting.
Unless there is a revolution. You still don't think it can happen?
What the hell has happened? Why can't we seem to turn it around? Why can't those fools in Washington see it?
The reason is simple. They don't want to. They are far Left and far right and for most of us, far away. That's what bothers me. They don't see the possibility of a revolution. Yes, I think it is possible.
When you have tons of people getting assistance for doing nothing and the rest of the people paying for it and getting nowhere, there is a problem. Driven people are not interested in being driven down and out. I read an opinion story in our local paper from a tenured professor about how our city doesn't do enough for the homeless. Are you kidding? Before you start spending more of the private sector's money, maybe the do-gooder professor types should leave a key under the mat and write their address on a piece of cardboard and leave it downtown where the homeless hang out?
Us will eventually have enough of them and that's where the revolution will happen. People will reach a point where they are tired of working to pay off people who don't work. We have traded a work ethic for a gimme ethic and that's why we have a problem. It is easier to receive than to give.
There is no way to save the country unless we start to recognize that problem. There are people getting a free ride who are very capable of paying society back. There are people getting a free ride that are causing most of the problems because of drugs and alcohol problems. They need to deal with their CHOICES. We don't need to give them a check so they can go buy more drugs and alcohol. Enough alreay!
There are hard working people who have come here illegally. They need to be identified and a sound path developed to allow them to come and work as long as they are not breaking our laws and not putting a citizen--even a teenage citizen--out of work.
I have been battling the IRS for almost a year. I asked them for an accounting of what they think I owed them, what I have paid them, and what the bottom line is. They keep sending me a form letter that they apologize but they are researching the problem and are very busy. Do you suppose they are busy auditing the drug dealers or the homeless guys at any Wal-Mart who are making tax-free livings?
But we won't get to those main street solutions because we get nothing but political blither from our elected leaders. Most of them are lawyers who are expertly trained in how not to give a straight answer and as long as they can get all of those benefits that we know about, and all of those benefits that we don't know about, we will get what we are getting.
Unless there is a revolution. You still don't think it can happen?
Saturday, February 19, 2011
He didn't want money
That was a first. A guy walked up to me yesterday at MacDonald's. I go there to get a cup of coffee when I am driving. When a young guy approaches you, it is usually for money. He was a young guy about 25 or so. He had "meandering" tattoos which is usually a sign of prison rather than the artsy tattoo parlors on O Street. I was all set for the money hit.
"Hey, are you driving that van outside?" he asked. I was. "There is a sign on it that says you need drivers. Is that true?" he asked. It was. "Well, I am living under a bridge and I need a job. I have a wife a two kids."
They were sitting at a nearby table sharing some fries. We are talking little kids here. One was a baby. I asked him if he knew about the Peoples City Mission a couple of blocks away. He did. The wife and the two kids were staying there but he was banned when he was twenty. So much for forgiveness, huh. He is doing time under a bridge in Nebraska. Thank God the winter is mostly gone.
They key point here is the guy didn't ask me for money. He asked me for a job. I called my boss and put them on the phone together. Maybe they can work something out.
He didn't have a phone. So many people worry that they don't have the latest iPhone and here is a guy, under a bridge in Nebraska, in winter, without as much as a signal.
Clearly, this kid messed up big time when he was a younger boy but now the man is trying to find a way out for his family. I hope my company gives him a chance. The driving job is not the greatest of jobs but hopefully he will get his chance. There are so many people out there trying to go the scam route that I really took notice of this kid. And his worried wife. And the two little kids.
Can you imagine?
"Hey, are you driving that van outside?" he asked. I was. "There is a sign on it that says you need drivers. Is that true?" he asked. It was. "Well, I am living under a bridge and I need a job. I have a wife a two kids."
They were sitting at a nearby table sharing some fries. We are talking little kids here. One was a baby. I asked him if he knew about the Peoples City Mission a couple of blocks away. He did. The wife and the two kids were staying there but he was banned when he was twenty. So much for forgiveness, huh. He is doing time under a bridge in Nebraska. Thank God the winter is mostly gone.
They key point here is the guy didn't ask me for money. He asked me for a job. I called my boss and put them on the phone together. Maybe they can work something out.
He didn't have a phone. So many people worry that they don't have the latest iPhone and here is a guy, under a bridge in Nebraska, in winter, without as much as a signal.
Clearly, this kid messed up big time when he was a younger boy but now the man is trying to find a way out for his family. I hope my company gives him a chance. The driving job is not the greatest of jobs but hopefully he will get his chance. There are so many people out there trying to go the scam route that I really took notice of this kid. And his worried wife. And the two little kids.
Can you imagine?
Friday, December 25, 2009
The Snowstorm on Christmas
Well white Christmas lovers, you got it! The Blizzard of 2009 has arrived in Lincoln and there is plenty of snow, wind, and of course, big drifts.
Now for me, that's a problem. I am "afoot" as it were and frankly, folks just don't scoop their sidewalks like they use to scoop them. My Dad would have nothing to do with this meandering path stuff. He wanted the entire walk scooped so you could see grass on either side. That would mean when it started to melt, it would melt into the grass and not on the walk to re-freeze and put up a nasty hazard for Mrs. Lubeley. (I never understood why he was so worried about her. She never went out except to bring me a freshly baked apple pie for scooping her walks and that was usually a day or so after the storm.)
Well I am not that smart. I was born with cabin fever. (Not to be confused with a manger.) When the storm slows down, I have to get going. That's why I have three cracked ribs right now. Thanks for the lousy job of clearing your walks Bennett Martin Library!
So much for complaining. It's beautiful outside right now. I get the Bing Crosby song today. I am alone, my choice, and have had my morning oatmeal and coffee. We were "Eve" people so Christmas morning was never any big thing unless it snowed or we got something really cool that required the outside environment to use--bunnies beware!
But, I miss it. I miss the dear head with the blinking red nose that mom fashioned from a flashing bulb in a liquor display and a musty old dear head. She was an early recycle fan, don't you know.
Lutefisk? Well I can't say I miss that. Mice, sugar cookies we helped her make; and mint cookies where she could never seem to find "those" mints until the last second; all fond memories. I miss Uncle Bill showing up on Christmas Eve in his best overalls and Dekalb hat. I miss Uncle Jelly and Aunt Rebe coming in from the country. I miss the crowded kitchen full of wonderful smells. I miss the golden brown huge turkey. I miss Penny, our Scottie zooming in and out picking up crumbs and more from young hands under the table. I miss the quiet of the night except for the last pieces of wood crackling in the fireplace downstairs. (The whole house smelled of smoke because some bird forgot to tell Dad he had built a nest in the chimney and the smoke backed up.) I miss that huge tree in the alcove with all of those lights and ornaments. I wonder where all of those things went?
I miss the tink tink tink sound of snow hitting the window pane, just like it did last night. It's a White Christmas after a blustery snowy night. That's neat that God created a memory for so many young boys and girls that someday far in the future, they will sit down and remember...and miss.
Merry Christmas!
Now for me, that's a problem. I am "afoot" as it were and frankly, folks just don't scoop their sidewalks like they use to scoop them. My Dad would have nothing to do with this meandering path stuff. He wanted the entire walk scooped so you could see grass on either side. That would mean when it started to melt, it would melt into the grass and not on the walk to re-freeze and put up a nasty hazard for Mrs. Lubeley. (I never understood why he was so worried about her. She never went out except to bring me a freshly baked apple pie for scooping her walks and that was usually a day or so after the storm.)
Well I am not that smart. I was born with cabin fever. (Not to be confused with a manger.) When the storm slows down, I have to get going. That's why I have three cracked ribs right now. Thanks for the lousy job of clearing your walks Bennett Martin Library!
So much for complaining. It's beautiful outside right now. I get the Bing Crosby song today. I am alone, my choice, and have had my morning oatmeal and coffee. We were "Eve" people so Christmas morning was never any big thing unless it snowed or we got something really cool that required the outside environment to use--bunnies beware!
But, I miss it. I miss the dear head with the blinking red nose that mom fashioned from a flashing bulb in a liquor display and a musty old dear head. She was an early recycle fan, don't you know.
Lutefisk? Well I can't say I miss that. Mice, sugar cookies we helped her make; and mint cookies where she could never seem to find "those" mints until the last second; all fond memories. I miss Uncle Bill showing up on Christmas Eve in his best overalls and Dekalb hat. I miss Uncle Jelly and Aunt Rebe coming in from the country. I miss the crowded kitchen full of wonderful smells. I miss the golden brown huge turkey. I miss Penny, our Scottie zooming in and out picking up crumbs and more from young hands under the table. I miss the quiet of the night except for the last pieces of wood crackling in the fireplace downstairs. (The whole house smelled of smoke because some bird forgot to tell Dad he had built a nest in the chimney and the smoke backed up.) I miss that huge tree in the alcove with all of those lights and ornaments. I wonder where all of those things went?
I miss the tink tink tink sound of snow hitting the window pane, just like it did last night. It's a White Christmas after a blustery snowy night. That's neat that God created a memory for so many young boys and girls that someday far in the future, they will sit down and remember...and miss.
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Science of Economics
I "learned" economics from Campbell McConnell at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Back then, the course was taught on television and was mandatory for first year business students. There were a lot of us and not enough space at UNL so Econ 101 was one of those "eliminator" courses. UNL operated on a 9 point scare-that's ADCD with the plus and minus stuff put in there. Most important, the draft was hanging over the heads of every able-bodied male student. Get below a 3.0 and the letter would soon come..."Greeting...you're going on an extended vacation to sunny Viet Nam."
There were no big screen TV's back then. A 30" screen was a monster. The TV's were mounted on top of metal stands and put in front of the class so you could squint and watch Dr. McConnell go through the science of Economics. He presented a series of graphs as the TV flickered along.
There was also a lab taught by an underling. In my case, a Korean underling. He was very hard to understand and therefore, so was McConnell's course. Tests were impossible.
Micro. Macro. Macroroni and cheese. I really didn't give a damn. This was not why I came to UNL. Next to Statistics, this was the most worthless course I have ever taken. UNL got good money for a bad presentation and that was the bottom line. The economy didn't gain a thing. Only the Army benefited.
As you might guess, I am not a big fan of Economics. I am not a big fan of Economists, either. All I got out of that class was eyestrain; Korean pig English; and a new definition of economics that still works today.
Economics is the science of applying labels to cover theft by the government, banks, and the stock market. Today, we call that kind of theft...bailouts. The Korean might have actually nailed this one...bailrouts.
Back then, the course was taught on television and was mandatory for first year business students. There were a lot of us and not enough space at UNL so Econ 101 was one of those "eliminator" courses. UNL operated on a 9 point scare-that's ADCD with the plus and minus stuff put in there. Most important, the draft was hanging over the heads of every able-bodied male student. Get below a 3.0 and the letter would soon come..."Greeting...you're going on an extended vacation to sunny Viet Nam."
There were no big screen TV's back then. A 30" screen was a monster. The TV's were mounted on top of metal stands and put in front of the class so you could squint and watch Dr. McConnell go through the science of Economics. He presented a series of graphs as the TV flickered along.
There was also a lab taught by an underling. In my case, a Korean underling. He was very hard to understand and therefore, so was McConnell's course. Tests were impossible.
Micro. Macro. Macroroni and cheese. I really didn't give a damn. This was not why I came to UNL. Next to Statistics, this was the most worthless course I have ever taken. UNL got good money for a bad presentation and that was the bottom line. The economy didn't gain a thing. Only the Army benefited.
As you might guess, I am not a big fan of Economics. I am not a big fan of Economists, either. All I got out of that class was eyestrain; Korean pig English; and a new definition of economics that still works today.
Economics is the science of applying labels to cover theft by the government, banks, and the stock market. Today, we call that kind of theft...bailouts. The Korean might have actually nailed this one...bailrouts.
Monday, November 2, 2009
For the Children...
KFAB had an item on it's newscast this morning that caught my attention. Some city government type wants the schools to pony up with some of the money they get from fines and share with the cities. The cities need the money because they are running out of ways to collect it. (The recession has caused cash flow problems and things like the $200,000 payoff to a mayor's mistress are causing problems.)
These folks are going to run into a brick wall.
Schools are never going to give up a dime. Make that a penny. They tell you they are in the business of creating the next generation of great Americans and they are running on a shoestring right now. If you doubt that, walk into Lincoln's Northstar or Southwest high schools. Dumps.
School administrators are suffering through impossible budgets because they are better than the rest of us. Their lives are devoted to making life better...for the children.
Anyone who goes after the school system budget may as well stand up at the NAACP convention and use the "N" word in the greeting. It's for the children. Hands off.
Well, maybe it's time we put that to the test. What is for the children? Unless times have drastically changed since I was there, children still hate going to school. Children hate homework. Children hate cafeteria food. The only folks who appreciate all of the nice stuff that got put into the new school budget at the teachers.
Maybe all of this untouchable money is "for the teachers..."
Administrators will tell you students are more difficult these days and the classroom is out-of-control. What do you expect from people who view success as being a rapper, or a drug dealer, or a pimp driving around all night in a black SUV with dark windows? Who needs an education to do that? Well firearms training maybe.
These are tough times. I don't think they will get much better very soon. At some point in time-probably sooner rather than later-the tax payer will be taxed out and those without children are going to say..."enough of the children."
Schools, you have enough money. You have adequate facilities. You have adequate training. Teach. Show us something for all of that money you get. Teach. Stop bitching that the conditions are deplorable. Teach.
And to parents, if you can't supply a home environment that points children in a positive direction other than dealing drugs and prostitution, take birth control pills.
We could make those free for the asking by diverting some of that fine money. Now that would make a difference.
These folks are going to run into a brick wall.
Schools are never going to give up a dime. Make that a penny. They tell you they are in the business of creating the next generation of great Americans and they are running on a shoestring right now. If you doubt that, walk into Lincoln's Northstar or Southwest high schools. Dumps.
School administrators are suffering through impossible budgets because they are better than the rest of us. Their lives are devoted to making life better...for the children.
Anyone who goes after the school system budget may as well stand up at the NAACP convention and use the "N" word in the greeting. It's for the children. Hands off.
Well, maybe it's time we put that to the test. What is for the children? Unless times have drastically changed since I was there, children still hate going to school. Children hate homework. Children hate cafeteria food. The only folks who appreciate all of the nice stuff that got put into the new school budget at the teachers.
Maybe all of this untouchable money is "for the teachers..."
Administrators will tell you students are more difficult these days and the classroom is out-of-control. What do you expect from people who view success as being a rapper, or a drug dealer, or a pimp driving around all night in a black SUV with dark windows? Who needs an education to do that? Well firearms training maybe.
These are tough times. I don't think they will get much better very soon. At some point in time-probably sooner rather than later-the tax payer will be taxed out and those without children are going to say..."enough of the children."
Schools, you have enough money. You have adequate facilities. You have adequate training. Teach. Show us something for all of that money you get. Teach. Stop bitching that the conditions are deplorable. Teach.
And to parents, if you can't supply a home environment that points children in a positive direction other than dealing drugs and prostitution, take birth control pills.
We could make those free for the asking by diverting some of that fine money. Now that would make a difference.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The Light on Your Path
I am part geek. I like computers and Internet stuff. I do things like Twitter and Facebook.Tech has allowed us to do so much in such and short time. Information is exploding and the flip side, privacy is eroding. Anyone who thinks otherwise is only kidding themselves. There is way too much money on the tech side of things to ever expect the government to do anything to curb the way information is gathered and disseminated.
But that is not my subject today. The look at the past is. And that look comes to me through Facebook. There are some people I found on Facebook that were very important to me a long time ago. One would or could have easily been my bride but things didn't work out and she went a different way. I have always wondered about her path and all of a sudden, along comes Facebook. Not only is her path there, it's a superhighway of links to her children and their children. I am very happy for her and glad life treated her so generously with love.
As for me, my path went a different way, never quite finding another one to share it with. It wasn't in the cards. So my picture album is smaller. The links are fewer.
Am I happy about that? I suppose so. I have done a lot of interesting things with what I have. I have also scratched my way up mountains and fallen all the way down only to find another mountain. That is my life. And, it is certainly a different path from her life. I am content knowing she found her path, lived well, and is surrounded by love.
Thank you Facebook.
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