Friday, October 14, 2011

Herman Cain and his regressive 9-9-9 tax plan

Herman Cain and his regressive 9-9-9 tax plan
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POTUS wannabe Herman Cain seems to be gaining support among the GOP activists; and among those planning to vote in the caucuses/primaries.

As Gov. Perry’s numbers have declined, Cain’s have risen.

The tea partiers and evangelicals are shopping around; kicking the candidates' tires.
Bachmann is perceived as a non-winner in Nov. 2012.
Ron Paul has his libertarian army, a fervent group. But he will not get the GOP nomination.
Gingrich,Santorum, and Huntsman have not caught fire.

Mitt Romney leads the wannabes, but his Mormonism has again become an issue.
To a large percentage of the GOP activist base, his religion is a cult; not really a Christian theology.

That brings us to Cain.
He has the black minister’s evangelical persona.
He is a non-politician in a non-political age.
He is an unapologic capitalist.

He is also very conservative; extreme rightwing in his economic beliefs.

Focusing on his now famous, infamous 9-9-9 plan.
One humorist used Cain’s background as the CEO of Godfather’s Pizza and suggested 9-9-9 meant a pizza at $9.99, and delivered in 9 minutes.

But going to his website, Cain’s real proposal is outlined for scruity.
It supposedly combines a fair tax, with a flat tax.
“Achieves the broadest possible tax base along with the lowest possible rate of 9%.
• It ends the Payroll Tax completely – a permanent holiday!
• Zero capital gains tax
• Ends the Death Tax.
• Eliminates double taxation of dividends
• Business Flat Tax – 9%
o Gross income less all investments, all purchases from other businesses and all dividends paid to shareholders.
o Empowerment Zones will offer additional deductions for payroll employed in the zone.
• Individual Flat Tax – 9%.
o Gross income less charitable deductions.
o Empowerment Zones will offer additional deductions for those living and/or working in the zone.
• National Sales Tax – 9%.
o This gets the Fair Tax off the sidelines and into the game.”

http://www.hermancain.com/999plan

The very wealthy, the top 5% in income/wealth, will like the flat 9%.
That’s attractive, even with eliminating most of the deductions and credits that have been encrusted into the tax code, like barnacles on a ship.

The 9% sales tax is a user tax, a value added tax.
It's a regressive idea that will be passed straight through to consumers.

And these empowerment zones.
We have been there, done that; with very little success in the urban centers.

Rupert Murdoch, the Fox's Roger Ailes, and House GOP Rep. Darrell Issa need to take the USACoffee Party pledge.

Rupert Murdoch, the Fox's Roger Ailes, and House GOP Rep. Darrell Issa need to take the USACoffee Party pledge.
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It's always good to keep tabs on the most rancid outbursts from the rightwing in our country.

The NY Post has vilified the Occupy Wall Street protesters...painting them as dirty,hippy Woodstock scum.
In today's Post, in a seeming objective press story, one reads:

"..Zuccotti Park smelled like an open sewer -- with people urinating and defecating in public.

And some couples have taken advantage of the free condoms distributed by organizers to do the nasty in full view of other protesters..."
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manha...

I assume the "urinating and defecating" in Zuccotti Park is a Murdoch hyperbole..a common debating tactic to personally attack the protesters, while ignoring the issues they are protesting.

And just what does "doing the nasty.." mean?
I suppose it depends on where sex takes place, but with consenting adults,in proper settings, it's not nasty. It's a puritan joke to describe sex as nasty.

And in the same NY Post, the rancid rightwing lady, Andrea Peyser, laments the freeing of Amanda Knox, claiming both AK and Casey Anthony were too attractive to be considered murderers by the "liberal" press.
Shame, shame on you, Peyser...such a cheap, sleezy column.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/ga...

And House GOP Rep. Darrell Issa is moving his investigations into the Attorney General's and WH offices.
Issa is a wealthy Joe McCarthy.
His goal is to ramp up the investigations to use in the 2012 elections.
The Fast and Furious issue certainly needs review.
But Issa's goal is to bring down Eric Holder, and in turn, Obama.
http://thehill.com/homenews/administrati...

May I humbly suggest that the rightwing fear mongers, like Peyser,Murdoch, and the Fox's Roger Ailes join the CoffeePartyUSA; and take its' pledge of civility.

http://www.coffeepartyusa.com/

Ohio's Gov. John Kasich, and the state's GOP are in for the kill against two major progressives.

Ohio's Gov. John Kasich, and the state's GOP are in for the kill against two major progressives.


Ohio is an important state in Presidential politics; and in the mid-west battle between progressive and tea party politics.

The new governor,John Kasich, is a former House budget cmt. chair;Fox talkinghead; and a fervent rightwing bomb thrower.

Ohio also has two of the most effective,and long serving, progessives in the House: Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur.

Through very partisan re-districting machinations, Kucinich's and Kaptur's districts have been fused together.
Unless Kucinich or Kaptur decide to retire, they will be forced to primary each other.
The result will produce a loss of a good,effective progressive.

The Ohio GOP machine is also promoting Joe the Plumber to run against Kucinich or Kaptur in the new 10th district.

This same machine is actively working to suppress the Dem. vote in 2012 through voter id. laws;cutting the days allowed for early voting; and moving to disallow college students to vote in their Ohio college districts.

Politics ain't beanbag;not a Sunday school picnic.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcy_Kaptu...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Kuci...

We buy too much Chinese made stuff!!

We buy too much Chinese made stuff!!
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Below is an interesting email I just received.
Whenever I go into Wal-mart, and have to return stuff, I tell the clerk to return it to China:

Email:

"Well over 50 yrs ago I knew a lady who would not buy Christmas gifts if they were
made in China. Her daughter will recognize her in the following.

Did y'all see Diane Sawyer's special report? They removed ALL items from a
typical, middle class family's home that were not made in the USA or CANADA.

There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the
special they showed truckloads of items - USA and CANADIAN made - being brought in
to replace everything and talked about how to find these items and the difference in price etc..

It was interesting that Diane said if every American OR Canada spent just $64
more than normal on USA OR Canadian made items this year, it would create something
like 200,000 new jobs!

I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WALMART
and ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA '

FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE
MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA '

I WAS SHOCKED SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT
THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF.

Are we Americans and Canadians as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do
not think. The Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even
toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American and Canadians markets.

70% of Americans and Canadians believe that the trading privileges afforded to
the Chinese should be suspended.

Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?
DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA and CANADA.!!

Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China '
or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong), simply choose another product, or none
at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and
you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.

Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter?
If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some Canadian or American
farmer. Easter is just an example. The point is do not wait for the government to
act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.

THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans and Canadians each refuse to buy just $20
of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor ... fast!!

Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on
implementing this on sept. 1st and continue it until OCT. 1st. That is only
one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total,
or 8%, of their American and Canadian exports. Then they might have to ask
themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.

Remember, OCT. 1st to Nov 1st !!!!!!
START NOW.

Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and
Canadians and NOBODY can take us for granted.

If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE
DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

Pass it on, America and Canada ...

Well instead of doing it for just 1 month why not try to do it all the time..."

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Gov. Chris Christie will announce his POTUS run decision by Monday. Is this a joke?

Gov. Chris Christie will announce his POTUS run decision by Monday. Is this a joke?
*****

NJ Governor Chris Christie will announce by Monday whether he will become a GOP POTUS candidate.
His speech at the Reagan Library Tuesday nite is a hit on YouTube. Link 1
The rightwing NY Post has a second editorial urging him to run. Link 2.
Heavy hitters like Nancy Reagan, Henry Kissinger and G.W. Bush are pushing him to enter.
Hidden money men are behind the curtain, like David Koch, of Koch Industries.
Koch is the power behind many rightwing, libertarian crusades throughout the country.

This big mo for Christie seems to reflect GOP establishment discontent with the existing GOP lineup.
Perry’s Marboro macho image has been tarnished.
Romney is too moderate, too embedded in the NE Rockefeller money nexis.

And Herman Cain has shot up into the top 3, top tier of the announced candidates.
Is the country ready for his 9-9-9 plan of economic survival? His Chileization (sp?) of Social Security?

Christie would be a terrible candidate, and a weak one to boot.
The man failed his Dale Carnegie's “How to win friends and influence people” introductory course.
The State of New Jersey has a Snookie reputation.
He is Catholic. No Catholic has ever been nominated by the GOP.
He is mean spirited, and seems to lack empathy.
And he is very overweight..a bad image among the influencial millennials.

As a progressive liberal, I would not support Christie under any scenario.
I would even go so far as support a boycott of Koch Industries’ products. Link 3.
I get my paper goods at the local dollar store.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN-ishUQw...

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/chris...

http://www.substancenews.net/articles.ph...

In addition to Christie, another,more important decision will come down Monday.

In addition to Christie, another,more important decision will come down Monday.


In addition to Christie, another,more important decision will come down Monday.
It will be the day that Amanda Knox is set free from prison in Perugia, Italy.

The appeal decision in the Knox case is expected to be announced late Monday, Italian time.

Knox will be allowed to speak, in her own defense, and she will speak in Italian ( a positive approach to the jury and judges).

And the reports are that the decision will come shortly after, later Monday.

The fact that the decision will come so quickly appears to be a positive sign for Knox..that the two judges and the jurers do not need to ponder the evidence, and the prosecutors case, in detail.

But who really knows for sure.

As I have followed this case, read details of the murder scene, and read a few books on the case, I believe it is clear that Knox is innocent.
This has been a trumped up, miscarriage of justice that has served the corrupt prosecutors’ office in Perugia.
In this appeal trial, the prosecution has vilified Knox in very negative, personal terms.
It is strong evidence that they feel the forensic evidence is now very weak.

Let us pray for Knox’s release, and when proper justice is served on Monday, welcome her home to the State of Washington.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/2...

After midnight negative affect Twitters are full of distress, fear, anger, guilt, and disgust. It's because of Christie.

After midnight negative affect Twitters are full of distress, fear, anger, guilt, and disgust. It's because of Christie.
*****

A story today reports on a Cornell U. study of millions of Tweets,by millions, over a 3 year period.
The positive Tweets are in the early morning, and the negative affect tweets are after midnight.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/internation...

These after midnight negatives are what I feel as the Chris Christie POTUS nonsense continues.

Christie will announce his decision by Monday.
You can feel the tension, from Trenton,NJ; through the Holland Tunnel (which he won’t financially support); to Murdoch’s NY Post Manhattan building; to the doorstep of the Koch Industries corp. hq.

To have Christie as a serious POTUS wannabe is a tragic commentary on the role of the uber-wealthy elite in the US, and the media-virtual conglomerates they control.

Christie’s persona has been imprinted by millions of views on Google’s YouTube. It is a pushy,confrontational, in-your-face local prosecutor’s persona. It is a hot style for the hot virtual community of millennials.

Murdoch’s NY Post is yelling “run,Christie, run.”
Uber-rich Mayor Bloomberg wants him to jump in.
Politicians like former NY Gov. George Pataki, Sen. D’Amato, etc. are urging him to enter.
Billionaire David Koch is pulling the strings in the Christie bloomlet.

We have reached a systemic crisis in our country.

Christie is a bull-in-a-china shop; a pushy, anti-intellectual; an inexperienced, former local prosecutor presiding over a corrupt state.

We are in trouble; and I fear for my country.
And after midnight, my tweets reek of distress, fear, anger, guilt and disgust.

Amanda Knox, Kafka's The Trial and Camus's The Rebel

Franz Kafka's The Trial is a metaphorical novel of a man caught in a bureaucratic maze of a totalitarian criminal justice system.

It's an old metaphore on bureaucracies, and how these impersonal, top-down organizations smother the human spirit.

Albert Camus's The Rebel is an existiential essay on what forces a man to revolt; to proclaim his humanity in the midst of total subservience to the state, or state bureaucracies.

As the appeal trial of Amanda Knox winds down by Monday, the Kafka and Camus writings bear reflection.

A young British student, Meredith Kercher, was murdered. That is a tragedy.

And an American attending college in Italy, Amanda Knox, was accused, and sentenced to 25 years for the murder.

In a surreal Kafka-like tale, Knox was accused of being a sex-obessed, drug-addled murderer.
The Peruiga prosecutor, Minini(?), is a character out of Kafka's bureaucractic nighmare.
He needed to find the killers, or killer, and he focused in on Knox and her boyfriend.

Under normal circumstances, Amanda Knox should have revolted, Camus-like, as she faced this ordeal.
Instead, the past 3 years in the Italian prison has shown her to be the opposite of the prosecutor's protrait of a femme fatale, a she-devil.

How many of us would have reacted in such a calm manner?

The appeal decision is expected Monday.
The odds seem to be more than 50% that Knox will be found not guilty; and allowed to return home to the State of Washington.

That would be a victory for the human spirit; and a defeat for the deary, dark bureaucracies that make up our lives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rebel_(book)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trial