Hello Blog World

Old man winter is here! We have had cold rain and snow flurries for the past three days...the front of the winter storm that has brought much of the North eastern part of the USA to a standstill. We are still moving about...but it is the kind of weather where a self respecting Polar bear is huddled near a fire, heh.
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I have been following the tax debate in the states wondering if any politician really has the guts to do anything about a tax code that is totally fucked up! Face it people...taxes are a necessity. The government has to have revenue to provide the infrastructure for business and the public. However, the American government's problem is not so much a lack of revenue as it is politicians spending money like a drunk in a whore house with his company American Express Corporate Card. I have come to the conclusion that it is the special interest groups from big business/bankers to enviro-nuts and others that are running the country via politicians they have bought. And I may have a solution....or at least a partial solution...

How about taxing political contributors at 100 percent of the contribution as well as taxing campaign funds at the rate that top earners are taxed? And while we are at it change the tax code to tax ALL foundations, religion incomes, and charities at the same rate as the highest tax bracket. People, this would bring in a lot of revenue. Moreover, if it makes politicians more expensive to buy maybe fewer would be bought.

My late sister's husband used to say about government cutting back on the spending...everyone knows an ox needs to be slaughtered but the disagreement is over whose ox will see the knife. Yep, whose ox will get gored. And as it is now damn few programs will get cut because no politician is willing to take a chance of offending his/her special interest group and thus losing the campaign funds.

Do I sound cynical? Yeah I am...the USA is headed for one hell of a crash and neither the republicans nor democrats have the guts to do what has to be done...and that is raising taxes across the board and cutting spending to no more than the previous years rate of inflation.

The republicans are against any tax hikes...and for good reason. Congress always spends what it has plus all it can borrow. They see with good reason that the democrats only want to soak the wealthy for the sole purpose of income redistribution. The democrats want to raise taxes but only on the wealthy and the only cut in spending they will agree to is the defense budget. Now I have no doubt that the defense budget can stand some scrutiny but so can damn near every other government program. But which politician is going to stand up and tell the others that 'I will agree to tank my special interest group if you will tank yours? My bet is none of them.
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All is well here in St John's NL excepting the weather which is chilling my old bones at times. But my angel keeps me warm enough and I have found that the very best jumpstart in the world is sold here. Friends, if you have not tried Tim Horton's coffee you just don't know what you are missing. And, although the price of cackleberries is about double of that in most parts of the states I manage to have a couple when I want them. Yes boy! A cackleberry and a bowl of grits chased by the best jumpstart ever is a great way to start the day...right after my angel kisses me good morning and tells me she loves me. Y'all come, heah??

Winter is coming

We had snow flurries yesterday pushed sideways by a 2 degree 40mph wind. I reckon that means winter is on the way and it is time to dig out the cold weather gear. It has been a enjoyable summer and fall but now it is time to start snuggling in and staying warm.

I am getting an appointment next week to get the old Madza ready for winter...tune up and anti-freeze checked and probably change the oil to 5W10. The car already has all season tires on it so I am not going to get studded snow tires unless I really need them. But I don't think I will....a front wheel drive does well in snow although they do handle different in an ice skid than a rear wheel drive.

We have enjoyed having the car. The first year I was here we spent enough on bus fare and taxi fares to have bought it. And now with my angel working we need it to get her back and forth to work. (I tell people I am a gopher...I take 'er to work and gopher.) The car also gives us the mobility to see the town and the sites.

Hope to get the disciple to start writing again...about all I am doing right now is comments on the NY Slimes articles once in a while of which maybe one in six get published. The Times doesn't take criticism very good! BAWAHAHAHAHAHA Y'all come, heah?

Is Democracy Obsolete?

I have never been a fan of democracy...break the word down...demo, short for demonstration and cracy, well, to me it means crazy...democracy just means demonstrating being crazy. And it is crazy to support a system that allows the public to vote themselves a free lunch. No, not a free lunch but a lunch paid for by the sweat of others.

I was scanning the European news when I run across this article in Spiegel. It pretty well sums up what is wrong with both true democracy and representative governments today.

Is there an answer? Yeah, but not one most people want to hear. The public has to understand that government does not have the solutions for those who refuse to accept personal responsibility for their actions. Government of civilized societies has a responsibility to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves because of physical or mental problems. Moreover, temporary assistance for those who need help because of loss of employment or medical should be provided. But providing a living for those who refuse to care for themselves will eventually bankrupt a society. Those who are doing the providing will soon realize the 'law of diminishing returns' and either quit producing an excess that can be voted to feed the looters or else quit and join the looters.

Sunday Morning Coming Down

Hurricane Irene, now Tropical Storm Irene has been on every TV station for the past few days. One would think that with that much warning that there was one hell of a storm headed their everyone would look for some place safe. Evidently not...I just heard a few minutes ago that at least eleven deaths are attributed to 'Irene'. Although the specifics of the deaths were not included in the report I just have to assume that at least part were due to Darwin's ideas about survival of the fittest...and some of those who dies just didn't have sense enough to get out of the way. I feel for their families and loved ones but just can't generate much sympathy for any who died because they were too damn stupid to leave an area when told to evacuate...if in fact that was the case.

I have been through some hurricanes...one in the South Pacific where they are called typhoons and a couple in Florida. The howling 'freight train' type noise for hours on end are enough to drive one nuts. And couple that with driving rain and then days without electrical power....well, my friends it makes one appreciate the modern luxuries of life.

Hurricanes and tornadoes and other natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and
volcanic activity are just a part of nature on this sphere we call earth. I think Darwin was right...the fittest adapt and survive. Humans as a whole are a resilient bunch, heh?

We shall see just how resilent the good people are in NY City where the flood damage is horrific and a half a million or so have no power. Will they be as those in New Orleans? Blaming the government for their own stupidity? Or will they do as the strong willed folks in South Western Louisanna did and immediately start to work on their own to rebuild? I hope it is the latter.
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It is finally summer here in St John's Newfoundland. The air is a pleasant ( or it is to me) 73F degrees and just enough breeze to make it comfortable. The sun seems some hotter here though...I have as deep of a tan on my arms and face as I ever did down south in Florida.

My angel and I had some plans for this warm weather but looks like they will have to be put on hold for later. She started a new job a couple of weeks ago and we will not have the time to do the traveling about the island...maybe next summer when she gets her 'holiday'...(vacation to you who are not familiar with Newfie talk).

Enough for now. I have had my ration of jumpstart and now need me grits and cackleberries. Life is good my friends. My angel kissed me good morning and told me she loved me...made my day once again. Y'all come back, heah?

And I Said, WTF

I took some time this beautiful Sunday morning to scan the NY Times and run across this bit that caused me to read out loud and say WHAT THE FXXX?

"The ailing economy, barely growing at the same pace as the population, has swept all other political issues to the sidelines. Twenty-five million Americans could not find full-time jobs last month. Millions of families cannot afford to live in their homes. And the contentious debate over raising the federal debt ceiling — which Mr. Obama achieved only after striking a compromise with Republicans that included a plan for at least $2.1 trillion in spending cuts over 10 years — has further shaken economic confidence."

People, what is going on in the American government? How hard is it for the president and congress to understand that it is business, not government that provides jobs? What do we the people have to do to get those who make the laws to understand that it is governments duty to provide the infrastructure and climate for business to succeed...not to make laws that hinder business success.

Yes, taxes at all government levels from municipalities to the federal level are necessary. But to tell business and the world that "sharing the wealth" is the goal damn sure does not inspire business to invest more capital.
The Tea Party republicans are dead set on any new taxes...I tend to agree unless any new taxes are coupled with a limit on spending. Seems to me that the government needs to take a look at spending as I have had to do with my personal funds many times and differentiate between 'WANT' and 'NEED' and only spend on need until such time as there are funds for want. The Tea Party understands congress better than congress understands itself...the party knows that congress will spend every dime it can get whether it be tax dollars or borrowed funds. How else can they get re-elected without taking the bacon home to the voters. And the voters? Seems the majority believes in the "free lunch" else why do they vote for the porkers?
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When NATO first became involved in Libya I wrote here that it was a mistake. I have no doubt that Qaddafi is a murdering thug. But, at least he is was only murdering Libyans after Reagan put the fear of Allah and F-111s in him. Now, if he is in fact overthrown who will replace him? MORE MURDERING THUGS!

I think it is time for the USA and Canada to tell the Libyans that if they want to overthrow Qaddafi to do it by themselves...give them the resources to do it but tell them they have to do it without putting American and Canadian forces in harms way. Time to pull up our pants and come home.
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Not Perfect But Better Than Nothing

So, the bill passed the house and senate and Emperor Obama was brought down off his throne. And now he bitches: “Voters may have chosen divided government,” he said, “but they sure didn’t vote for dysfunctional government.”

Well, I agree with him there. But which party is dysfunctional? I crown both as being self centered and worried more about the 2112 elections than they are about the fiscal welfare of the country.

Some in congress are scared no doubt. The Tea Party has already targeted some more of the 'republicans in name only' and I figure some will be retiring after the 2112 elections. I also have an idea that the independent voters are sick of a lot of the democrats and will retire them also.

But what will we get in return? A congress that can get the fiscal house in order? I have my doubts unless we can get a congress who understands that government has to have money to operate and taxes are a necessity.

I don't believe that the government should 'soak the rich' but I do believe that taxes are going to have to be raised across the board in order for the country to get out of the mess it is in. I suggest a solution:

1. Do away with the cap on payroll taxes (social security taxes). I don't give a damn if a person makes a million a year tax that person on 100 per cent just as the 50 grand a year person is taxed at 100 percent.

2. I never believed business could be taxed...taxes are a part of doing business and the costs of such taxes are passed on to the consumer. But, that said I believe that the tax loopholes congress wrote to pay for campaign funds should be WELDED SHUT! Big business should have to play by the same rules as the small businessman. One example is corporations bringing money earned offshore home tax free.

3. The progressive income tax is nothing more than legalized extortion! The only way the American public has stood still for it has been the deductions for dependents and such deductions as interest on home loans. You want a 'fair tax'? Two ways of doing it...either or both will serve the country very well: A FLAT RATE TAX and/or A VALUE ADDED TAX ON ALL PURCHASES. However, although such would raise the revenue the country needs without a strong curb on spending congress would just blow it as they have in the past. All spending bills that increase spending more than the inflation rate of the past year should require a two thirds majority of both houses.

4. The playing field between business and labor needs to be leveled. Right now the laws are in favor of labor. I believe that a National Right to Work law would entice business to bring back the production from offshore to the USA. This would not only provide more jobs but would also increase the revenue for the government.

So much for my soapbox rant.
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It is a chilly 40F in St John's as I write this. It is near dark and the fog is rolling in off the Atlantic and the air is wet...not raining but wet. But the weather quacks allow sunshine tomorrow...hope so...got things to do and places to go.
Life is good my friends when you are loved with a passion. Y'all come, heah?

Sunday Morning Coming Down

My angel and I are sitting at the kitchen table at times listening to the radio on this foggy St John's NL Sunday morning. I get a kick out of the station, VOCM, ( it is on line if ya wanna Google it )thirty minutes of oldies music alternated with thirty minutes of bible thumping by various hard core shamans. My angel is on her laptops...yeah she is using two...working on her Facebook Frontierville games and I have been reading the NY Times which as always gets me on a soapbox.......


This article in today's NY Times says that the best way for the USA to get its fiscal house in order is to grow its way out of debt. Yep, certainly agree...more people working and business making money means more taxes and on paper it looks good. The writer in the Times refers us back to the Clinton era when although Clinton raised taxes the national debt was being paid off and there was a budget surplus...(well, yeah sorta kinda a surplus but how can you have a surplus when you still owe trillions).

I remember those days. Bill Clinton was getting a hummer in the oval office while talking to a senator on the phone...and taking credit for a booming economy that started when Reagan cut taxes. But in any event, the writer in the Times in 'on the money' about the money. The country can grow itself out of debt; but not with a democratic administration and senate. And I have my doubts that it can with the current crop of republicans who are more 'RINO' than fiscal conservatives.

Look people, why should anyone venture capital in the USA today when they know that if they make a profit either labor unions or government is going to fight for the profit?

I say again, a national right to work law coupled with a fixed tax rate good for at least twenty years (unless congress approves a raise of taxes by a two thirds majority) would give business an incentive to expand and hire. Moreover, if the tax loopholes that allow business to bring money back home without paying taxes were closed it might give them an incentive to start producing in the USA again. Yeah, damn right and that would mean more jobs and more taxes for the government.

But I am pessimistic that it will ever happen. The American people need a rude fiscal awakening to get them to understand that there is no free lunch. They demand more and more from government and those in government for the most part provide it regardless the cost so they can get reelected.
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The jumpstart this morning tastes a little different...a brand of coffee I had not tried before. But it is strong and hot and has a kick...and that is why I drink the stuff. Life is good my friends...my angel kissed me good morning and told me she loved me. And that makes my day. Y'all come, heah?

I Am Ashamed of the American Government

I am an American. I have always supported my country; at one time to the point in serving in the USAF for over 22 years. I have always believed that the representative constitutional republic that governs the USA is the best of all possible governments because of three facts. One is that the constitution protects the minority from tyranny from the majority. Second is that the election process allows for an orderly transfer of power from one political party to another as well as the orderly transfer of administrative power from on president to the new one. And finally, the USA under its Constitution has offered more freedom and liberty to more of its people than any government during the history of this earth. That said let me say this... our current president and congress seems to care more about their power than they do about the economic welfare of the USA and its people. And for the first time in my life I am ashamed of the American government.

I fully agree with the those in congress who want a drastic cut in spending. Moreover, I am a realist who also understands the need to raise more income via taxes...even if it means taxing me more every month. But, the right wingers are adamant about no new taxes and the left wingers are adamant about just taxing the wealthy...BOTH ARE WRONG!

People, the American people got themselves into this economic crises as a whole...they elected the ones who promised a free lunch and now they are finding out that someone has to pay. It will take ALL Americans working together and tightening their belts to get the country out of the mess they have created.

But before that can happen congress is going to have to come to an agreement to increase the borrowing ceiling...and then work to cut spending and find more revenue.

There are a lot of places to find the dollars...close the tax loopholes that encourage big business to move off shore for one. Others include a value added tax or maybe a flat tax that hits everyone. One thing for damn sure, the graduated income tax only encourages the wealthy to pay congress to put loopholes in the tax code!

Most of you know I am living in Newfoundland, Canada now with my wife of three months who is the love of my life. I plan to stay here with her for the rest of my life providing Canada will let me. But in any event, I am still an American and my allegiance is to the country of my birth.

Hello Blog World

The weather has been beautiful here for the past three days...very similar to central Florida west coast winters with a low at night in the 40sF and in the 70s during the day. But rain is predicted for today and the next two days so we took advantage of the nice evening and took a walk in a local park with playgrounds. There were some youngsters knocking a softball around on the ball diamond and some others on the tennis court. The flora is beautiful here this time of year...the wild flowers and many shades of color reminds me of the Fairbanks Alaska area. The pictures are in no particular order...just some we took overlooking the park and of the flowers. One is a shot of a wild blueberry plant in bloom.











I hope the rain leaves us and we have some nice weather for the Regatta festival at Quidi Vidi Lake in St John's. This is the biggest event of the year in St John's and it appears that the entire city will turn out to watch their favorite crews race. The lake shores will be lined with food vendors...I am looking forward to a hot dawg and fries, heh.

Speaking of food...I have had my ration of jumpstart but ain't got my grits and cackleberries yet...thanks again for the grits, Josie. Like if good my friends when you share it with someone who loves you with such a passion. Y'all come, heah?

Hello Blog World

We got to the Mount Pearl,
Newfoundland Festival grounds early yesterday so we could find a parking place...heh..only had to walk a few blocks carrying our borrowed folding chairs. But the walk was well worth the effort! Sunday is always the final and 'biggest' day of the festival. There were all kinds of games of chance...you know, the kind that rip you off and if you win ya get a China made 25 cent stuffed toy. There was a lot of over priced food concessions as well. Only Ziggy's that has the best fries I have ever ate is worth the cost....



Ziggy's prepares fresh spuds fro the deep fry instead of using the frozen Micky D kind that taste like rubber when the start getting cold. Four bucks buys a big container full..enough for the two of us. Another stand had hotdawgs for three bucks...and the fries and dawgs was supper.

We stayed through all but two of the bands...the last two were no doubt the best but after sun down a strong wet wind made the 40F degree air was just two cold for us to enjoy the music. But it was one enjoyable day and we are looking forward to attending next year.

Next month is some more free entertainment in St John's. The Royal St John's Regatta is scheduled for August 3 weather permitting. The Regatta is the oldest organized sporting event...not counting those by the native Americans...in North America. We missed it last year but this year it is definitely on our "TO DO" list. There is a possibility that Shanneyganock will perform there this year...they are the best of the best of the traditional Newfoundland groups and can liven a crowd like no other can do. We had the great pleasure of seeing the group at the Mount Pearl Days fest last year and I would sit in the cold wind to see them once again.

I enjoyed the "Celtic Connection". They played some Irish jigs as well as a lot of the traditional Newfoundland sounds.




This is "Fully Completely" a rock band that I just could not appreciate although the young people in the crowd seemed to like them...we left the grounds for a break while they were on.




http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif"Ennis" has toured with the Nittygritty Dirt band as well as others and is well known in Canada.




This band is Siochana a great sound from a local band



I reckon today is just a kick back and rest day. We slept in this morning...unusual for me. I fixed me some jumpstart and grits and read the news...but I just feel too good to let the New Times and Emperor Obama spoil my day. Life is great my friends...best to enjoy everyday of it. Y'all come, heah?