GOP: Afraid of Voters

The California GOP prides itself on representing many of the voters of California. They believe in discovering and carrying out the will of the people.

They are ardent in wanting to balance the budget. They reuse to raise taxes and extend existing ones. Yet they are not willing to put the tax extension proposals to the people.

They may find many people want to help balance the budget by paying more taxes. Reasonable people should be able to discuss and compromise.

I can only assume the GOP has abandoned reason in favor of pleasing a minority

Tax Problem? Read this.

A stark example of the fundamental unfairness that is now so widespread was in The New York Times on Friday under the headline: "G.E.’s Strategies Let It Avoid Taxes Altogether." Despite profits of $14.2 billion, General Electric did not have to pay any U.S. Taxes last year. G.E. Is the nation’s largest corporation. Its chief executive, Jeffrey Immelt, is the leader of President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. You can understand how ordinary workers might look at this cozy corporate-government arrangement and conclude that it is not fully committed to the best interests of working people.

LIBYA

I can only resort to whimsy to ward off despair.

"What’s all the fuss about? Send Kadhafy all the money he’ll ever need, send him to a place where he will be safe and rule over his household and whatever followers he wants to bring along. Maybe the Utah wilderness, Texas, Arizona or New Mexico would welcome him in. Look at the money we’d save. Think of the lives not lost American British, French and Libyan."

Moral dilemma all over again. Kadhafy is a ruthless leader and killer. He kills his own citizens who disagree with him and especially those who revolt against his rule. Obama sends in the planes along with the British and French. What about the Arab states? Again we invade yet another country. Will it stop with just planes? Troops soon?

We should not use killing to stop killing.

Just mulling.

TAXES ARE A BLESSING

Taxes are a Blessing

Taxes- it is an honor and privilege to pay taxes. They are necessary for our health and safety. Taxes pay for police, meat inspectors and medical research. We must stop thinking of taxes as evil. They make civil society work. Pay the least you have to and pay the rest with thanksgiving.

I wrote this on my Facebook group page. I have written about this before and the piece was published in the SF Chronicle several years ago.

The hysteria abut balanced budgets discount increasing taxes as part of the solution. I am sure taxes will not solve all of he problems. I was impressed to read that the top one percent of the richest Americans pay 38% of the federal tax. So we are not in the unbalanced budget debacle because the rich do not pay their taxes. Of course some smarmy people rich, poor and middle class find ways not to pay any taxes.

I note politicians do not want to question the cost of the war in Afghanistan. Ending that war will go a long way toward paying down the deficit. The pols also have trouble piercing the balloon of the massive money going to support the military and defense budgets.

The easy targets for cutting costs are programs for the poor, sick, homeless and needy on the local, state and national level. As a simple minded, old fashioned Bible reading Christian, as many of our Tea-party and politicians say they are, I note that the clearest teachings in the Old and New testaments are concerned with caring for those people that are poor, distressed and at the bottom of the economic ladder.

RWC

US Muslims Investigated

Congressional investigations of Muslims are pure and simple racism and anti-religion. Lets find lots of ways to show these congress members as ridiculous. Demand that Episcopalians be investigated for pro-Muslim sympathies. Demand Billy Graham be investigated for calling for loving members of Islam. Let lots of men show up in full Muslim womens' full dress dress chadour and burkah.