Michael J. Fox had it all and was struck with his illness, his cross to bear, and chose through his ability and resources, to become an advocate for Parkinson’s disease. While most choose to get lost in the unfairness of it all, the loss of an acting career, he as Christopher Reeves chose more productive alternatives.
Listening to them ask for contributions for their specific concern, one would want to exhaustingly say, “Enough already.” But we suddenly realize why these men became afflicted with such a challenge – this is their calling; they had an acting career, but God wanted more of them, and He knew He would get more from the qualities of these two men.
In the late 80’s, the heydays, I left a restaurant carrying my doggie bag because my eyes were bigger than my stomach. A young homeless man asked me for help, so I gave him my food, expecting him to throw it down and be angered that I didn’t give him cash. Instead I got, “Oh man is that food, thank you, thank you.” We were taught they ALL wanted money for alcohol and drugs.
In the early 90’s, a seedy looking woman on 31st street and Lexington, two children in tow, was pleading for money. I passed her by in a hurry, then I thought, it’s Friday night and I’m off to meet friends at a bar; I’ll be drinking while this woman, with tears in her eyes, is crying for help. So I multiplied the number of drinks I thought I was going to have by $5, and felt I should give her something. I handed her $20, hey it was the roaring nineties for some, and rushed off to my destination. My background music was this woman yelling, “God bless, you sir, God bless you, God bless you!” that everyone on Lexington Avenue heard it to the point I was blushing, something I was not prepared to do on a Friday night.
I was taught that once I handed her the money, she would waste no time and make a beeline to her crack dealer, her children just being a ploy. Two hours later she was still there hoping for more money for her children.
Recently I became blessed to witness this cross of life and the contradiction that exists. I applied to day labor, which means you come with a passport and wait in a colorless, makeshift room and sit on folding chairs if lucky, to wait with 100 other “indigent” people in the hopes of being chosen to clean dishes, carry all sorts of junk, or sweep streets. As I sat in this room, I saw all men from the night before who slept in the streets, a hallway, or a shelter if they were lucky, and if they didn’t fear getting beaten, robbed or raped.
Now I was told that they “want to be homeless, and don’t want to work.” Did this information not filter down to these men, men who wanted to make enough money that day so they can sleep peacefully in a SRO motel?
I also have become privy to the welfare system, that government money tree handout, which provides $144 a month in food stamps to a single person, an allotment of $230 towards rent a month, and you get to clean the public highways for about $136 a month. All “benefits” toll, it’s less than minimum wage – way less.
I was told that people easily take advantage of the welfare system to buy jewelry and fancy clothes, yet I saw no signs of this, no one “vogue-ing” through the hallways waiting on endless lines of bureaucratic red tape; no one snickering in the belief they are going to get over on a system that has a maze of paperwork requirements in an effort to trip an applicant up and disqualify them like some perverse “gong show.” The belief of abuse is so indoctrinated that even the welfare personnel asks for your cell phone number, which is an oxymoron considering the requirements to accept benefits.
I am reminded of an episode of MASH where the jeep Hawkeye told Margaret Houlihan “never let it be said I didn’t do the least I can do.” The government will provide “the least that they can do,” certainly not anything life sustaining. Something to think about while obeying our regimen of showering and shaving, dressing for work, eating the appropriate meals, remembering vitamins just to maintain the minimum standard to viable as a human.
We all have our cross to bear at times we all get a cross to bear, and sometimes this cross becomes a calling. It is said that God gives us a cross we can handle, and no more. Ronald Reagan professed in the belief of “tithing,” giving of one-tenth of one’s earnings, a suggestion from the Bible. The fact that we find it impossible to “tithe,” despite having two spouses both working should tell us something about how our economy is these days, and has changed from a few decades ago. It was in the eighties when “laissez faire” and “supply side” were unleashed that created the “decade of greed,” and multiplied the homeless populations tenfold. One can form their own conclusion, but we simply have to listen to the words of our Saint-elect, Holy Father’s words: “Unbridled capitalism with no moral compass is destined for ruination.”
As for everything I was told over the years, I have learned that in most nearly every case people aren’t homeless because they want to be, and not all resort to alcohol and drugs. We hypnotize ourselves with this belief to justify not “doing anything.” As thinking, feeling human beings, we know better. The guilt, like a party crasher, comes with no RSVP required.
I am not naïve to think people don’t use drugs or alcohol, or have become so hopeless, or long term unemployed they no longer see the light at the end of the tunnel. They have forgotten how to work, forgotten what it was like to have structure in their lives, if they ever had it at all. Some have used drugs or alcohol to get to this mess; others have gotten into this mess and resorted to drugs and alcohol for some comfort, a last ditch pain management regimen once hope, a pre-requisite for existence, is lost.
Others are mentally ill, many have suffered from broken homes with no parental guidance or financial support, and others have been sexually or physically abused. Many had their fortunes stolen or conned, construction jobs were closed, and businesses failed, many stretched beyond any unemployment benefits. Some became too old for the work force, had no training, and others became physically ill with no health insurance.
Of the most inane statements that we utter in an effort to diffuse any action on our part is the senseless belief that one needs to “pull themselves up by the bootstraps.” We must encourage people to not quit or lose hope, but if the Mayor of New Orleans can throw in the towel and bail because he lacks resources, what chances do people with no family history, intellectual ability or economic means have? To date I have never heard of a drowning man simultaneously save himself, never heard of someone screaming, “Help, help…oh, never mind.” Bootstraps are pulled up with “a little help from a friend.”
Our job is not to wonder how people got where they did, there are many as I stated, but our goal is compassion. It is at this time of year that we don’t become angered about how hard everything is, or what we don’t have, but take stock and be grateful for what we do have – the other side of that half empty glass. It is at this time that we thank God for our families, our safety nets, and our physical and mental gifts, and utter the phrase, “There but for the Grace of God go I.” Our focus is not ego and pride, but love and understanding, or at least acceptance; when we see a building on fire, we don’t start a debate on how it happened, we run to put out the fire.
The picture isn’t pretty; it’s not supposed to be, just like a natural disaster is devastating, not a major inconvenience. Hate the unfairness or injustice; don’t hate the victims, or the sight of homelessness. It looks the way it does, because it is what it is, and there is no way to make it antiseptic.
God made it easy for us; leave the judgment to Him, our job is compassion and help. While we struggle up Maslow’s pyramid, going from our basic needs to those back rubbing, ego-injecting urges, remember others are so far down on the pyramid they are being buried by it. If we are worried about “where the money goes, or how it is being used,” remember our responsibility ends at the “giving” stage, and a brief reread of the Serenity prayer would help here. Add to this the suggestion that we shouldn’t be so conveniently cynical; this will only lead to unsubstantiated self-justification; and guilt, no matter how we try to deny delivery.
It’s that old totem-pole theory – not to forget others as we climb our way up, keeping in mind that old philosophy of “what goes up, must come down.” Like watching football or baseball games in my 46th year on this earth, I’ve had it with the gifts – the sweaters, shirts, ties, cologne, CD’s – while others need food and clothing, the basics of life.
There is a belief that we should “give till it hurts,” only knowing then how much of a threshold until the giving reaches a substantive point, a real effort. But no such sacrifice is called for here, just a simple act of compassion and charity. While I do not take refuge in the notion that we should feel better about ourselves by witnessing the misery of others, a false value, it does give us some insight in knowing how much we actually do have in our lives; we can put down those daily grievances about not getting that promotion, not getting that girl, not being able to afford that car, live in that house or be physically appealing as we would like, and start to get a little perspective as to what we do have, and start counting those blessings. We would surely come away with the knowledge that we have so much, while others have so little, not even the minimal human requirements, and that should be unacceptable for any rationale, human being.
We will sense a greater fulfillment from knowing our brothers and sisters have a little hope in their lives; people who need people. It will open up a wall of emotions, and I’m sure we will start to sense the frustration Mr. Schindler felt towards the end of that movie, that another watch or ring or chain, or CD or IPOD or DVD could have helped feed and comfort dozens.
The Bowery mission is a good place to start; your local church, synagogue, mosque or community center soup kitchen is another. Holy Cross on 42nd street has the Crossroads Pantry, and there is the Metropolitan Community Church on 36th Street that hands out food 5 days a week, but sometimes just chocolate bars and cheese crackers, and that’s a disgrace in the greatest country on the face of the earth.
Unconditional giving; one will be surprised “what’s in it for them.” And “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Notre Dame: A Pampered Classism
Once again we will observe a college benefiting from name recognition having beaten teams with a combined won lost record (excluding their loss to ND) of 22 and 41, a .350 winning percentage, yet preordained to a bowl game. Would this be true if they were the Indiana Fighting Cardinals?
Of course pride is consumed in their title, having allegiance from American Catholics and those of Irish decent, however their behavior, pelting fellow student players with snowballs was one of a ghetto mentality, certainly not befitting of what is believed to be one of the finest learning institutions in the nation. Is this how members of a “higher value” college act when things don’t go their way, or turn out wrong?
It is time we ended the façade of placing this university, its students and alumnae on a pedestal and let them experience the real world on its merits, starting with a more balanced schedule, and ending with them rewarded bowl games based on their achievements, not their personae.
This year ND benefited by a Michigan team that fumbled seven times, and a San Diego State team that fumbled at the goal line and has been outscored by their opposition 446 to 231.
No other school enjoys a TV Contract to broadcast all its games. In addition to ND’s “bowl game in waiting” status, is this fair, or even honest to every other college that competes on a level playing field?
We have given a ten year contract to a coach who has assembled a few good talent, while the rest remain at division two level at best (can you imagine?). I am sure he will certainly feel the wrath of alumnae that feels there is only one outcome for them, unlike the rest of America.
It must be a bitter pill to swallow, to face challenges like the rest of us without having the luxury of a “fixed” outcome.
David DiBello
Of course pride is consumed in their title, having allegiance from American Catholics and those of Irish decent, however their behavior, pelting fellow student players with snowballs was one of a ghetto mentality, certainly not befitting of what is believed to be one of the finest learning institutions in the nation. Is this how members of a “higher value” college act when things don’t go their way, or turn out wrong?
It is time we ended the façade of placing this university, its students and alumnae on a pedestal and let them experience the real world on its merits, starting with a more balanced schedule, and ending with them rewarded bowl games based on their achievements, not their personae.
This year ND benefited by a Michigan team that fumbled seven times, and a San Diego State team that fumbled at the goal line and has been outscored by their opposition 446 to 231.
No other school enjoys a TV Contract to broadcast all its games. In addition to ND’s “bowl game in waiting” status, is this fair, or even honest to every other college that competes on a level playing field?
We have given a ten year contract to a coach who has assembled a few good talent, while the rest remain at division two level at best (can you imagine?). I am sure he will certainly feel the wrath of alumnae that feels there is only one outcome for them, unlike the rest of America.
It must be a bitter pill to swallow, to face challenges like the rest of us without having the luxury of a “fixed” outcome.
David DiBello
Who's to Blame for Big Three Failure?
Forgive me, but I didn't hear of a rash of hi jackings or kidnappings in the 90's or early 2000's forcing Americans to buy Hummers and gas guzzling SUV's. Thanks to auto leases, even our second car was new, which put us more into debt.
Like with our stock, we bougth with reckless abandon while bowing at the alter of gluttony, giving no consideration to frugality. Where does balme for our current economic condition lie?
Of course the Big Three Auto Manufacturers played on the vulnerabilities and lust of their market, and via collusion with Big Oil, kept producing cars that had mileage rates that dated back to our Oil crisis of the Seventies.
As buyers, we didn't learn a thing. So while we are pointing fingers at GM it is important to remember the words of former Mayor Jimmy Walker who refered to his administration's corruption during his resignation speech: "I'm not the only fool here; you voted for me!"
To quote another famous pundit: "The fault lies not in our stars, but in ourselves."
Like with our stock, we bougth with reckless abandon while bowing at the alter of gluttony, giving no consideration to frugality. Where does balme for our current economic condition lie?
Of course the Big Three Auto Manufacturers played on the vulnerabilities and lust of their market, and via collusion with Big Oil, kept producing cars that had mileage rates that dated back to our Oil crisis of the Seventies.
As buyers, we didn't learn a thing. So while we are pointing fingers at GM it is important to remember the words of former Mayor Jimmy Walker who refered to his administration's corruption during his resignation speech: "I'm not the only fool here; you voted for me!"
To quote another famous pundit: "The fault lies not in our stars, but in ourselves."
Thursday, October 23, 2008
We are now concerned with a Candidate's Clothing Allowance?
Obviously bad decision on the RNC's part to purchase all Sarah's clothes at once, especailly while espousing "brotherhood with Joe," but even "Six Pack" and "the Plumber" know how to dress when attending a wedding, their own or another's.
Have we gone from revealing a candidates tax return to detailing their clothing allowance? How much has Barack, Joe and John spent on their clothes?
Shouldn't we expect a VP candidate to dress the part? Is it that much money given the budgets? If one divides $150,000 by $21 million, the amount Barack has spent on polling, would we blink an eye? The campaign funds are now in the "BBBBBBillion dollar range, so if 1% were allocated to clothing, that would leave a spending allotment of $10 million dollars. $150,000 is 1.5% of that amount.
Even Dave the Accountant spends more money on clothes.
We have a Left Wing attack group led by Chris Matthews high standards of speech Sarah should have hade before second graders (should she have gone into detail about the clouture rule, or fillibusters - any thinking adult would be logically confused).
We have Keith "the sportscaster" Olberman laughing nightly at something only he finds amusing or defines as such, and lectured by Bill "I beat my African American Girlfriend within an inch of her life in a coke induced rage" Maher, regarding right and wrong.
Too bad they both couldn't stick to issues instead of these sophomoric locker room attacks.
A word of warning to Obama: no matter how bad the economy, your surrogates are making it very hard to vote for you.
David DiBello
Have we gone from revealing a candidates tax return to detailing their clothing allowance? How much has Barack, Joe and John spent on their clothes?
Shouldn't we expect a VP candidate to dress the part? Is it that much money given the budgets? If one divides $150,000 by $21 million, the amount Barack has spent on polling, would we blink an eye? The campaign funds are now in the "BBBBBBillion dollar range, so if 1% were allocated to clothing, that would leave a spending allotment of $10 million dollars. $150,000 is 1.5% of that amount.
Even Dave the Accountant spends more money on clothes.
We have a Left Wing attack group led by Chris Matthews high standards of speech Sarah should have hade before second graders (should she have gone into detail about the clouture rule, or fillibusters - any thinking adult would be logically confused).
We have Keith "the sportscaster" Olberman laughing nightly at something only he finds amusing or defines as such, and lectured by Bill "I beat my African American Girlfriend within an inch of her life in a coke induced rage" Maher, regarding right and wrong.
Too bad they both couldn't stick to issues instead of these sophomoric locker room attacks.
A word of warning to Obama: no matter how bad the economy, your surrogates are making it very hard to vote for you.
David DiBello
INCOME REDISTRIBUTION? FIRST END INCOME MONOPOLY
INCOME REDISTRIBUTION? FIRST END INCOME MONOPOLY
The wealthy in America are jumping behind their latest mascot, Joe the Plumber (as if his interest is at their heart), crying foul that Democrats are seeking to tax their hard “accumulated” money and give it to the working class, the source of their profit. This Robin Hood defense skims over the fact pointed out by Robert Reich, former Secretary of Commerce, that since 1980, they have gone from possessing 8% of the total wealth to 20%, while the working class has had their salaries stagnate due to the global competition and threats of outsourcing.
In actuality the working class is questioning how the wealthy got their earnings. O’Reilly bemoans taking “his money” but little is mentioned about working people losing health coverage or the victimization of minimum wage earners working for below poverty wages. We are disturbed with unchecked CEO pay to the ignorance of stockholders. Such is the case with Richard Fuld, CEO of Lehman Brothers, who was on the very same compensation committee that did his hiring and created his contract. Collusion by like kinds?
The wealthy scoff at the notion that paying taxes, or making an additional sacrifice to this country by paying slightly more, as Patriotic. It seems military service and risking one’s life and blood is the only form of sacrifice, but their ilk isn’t doing that either. It’s a win-win; enjoy your money while others do the fighting for you. Their sacrifice is limited to flag lapels and rhetoric, or the canard of capital infusion which that have a personal gain, while McCain talks of “walking the walk.”
The nature of capitalism dictates money makes money, and the “haves” possess the upper hand. Capitalism is like a crap game, where wealthy players risk more, bit have more exposure to winning on every role, while the budget conscience can only contribute a little to risk, and have smaller returns. It is the “rich get richer, poor get poorer” theorem where the wealthy watch their nest eggs grow multiple times faster than those scrimping to save.
The working class is losing defined pension plans while contributing more towards health premiums as employers continue to divest of these previously paid obligations. Our economy is now based on wealth not work, as the working class relies on old money to survive, many times at the expense of their children. We have not only rich versus poor, but generations pitted against one another.
While being the best form of economics, Capitalism is not perfect and needs to be regulated. We eliminated monopolies which inhibited competition and marketplace rules, to the behest of business which approves of unfairness when it benefits them.
The irony is ignorance of working class plight will lead to a boycott by default due to loss of disposable income and consumer confidence, which will eventually discomfort the wealthy. This is the reason for stimulus packages as trivial as their effect. Not keeping enough money in the hands of those who need to spend will have a boomerang effect. Only when Mr. O’Reilly can no longer sell his product will he realize whose money he does have.
If we restored Clinton era taxes I doubt the wealthy will go into austerity mode. Our budget was balanced, the economy was humming and our dollar was worth a dollar. Like the luxury tax during Bush Sr.’s tenure, no wealthy person is going to start brown bagging lunch, or accept “no” as an outcome because there is a 10% surcharge on purchases. Donald Trump will not say no to the purchase of a new Yacht because the adjusted sales price is 10% higher.
And what is McCain suggesting for us “Joe the Plumber types?” An extension of the Bush tax cuts that have widened the divide in classes, more tax cuts for Big Business and further divestiture of employer paid benefits like health care and pensions which create an additional cost for us average Joe’s. Let’s not forget that had our Social Security been backed by the stock market, something supported by McCain, we average folk would be experiencing a Depression now.
Here’s an alternative theory perhaps the wealthy could understand – it’s the working class’ turn, of which the unlicensed “Joe the Plumber” is still one, and would stay that way under McCain.
David DiBello
The wealthy in America are jumping behind their latest mascot, Joe the Plumber (as if his interest is at their heart), crying foul that Democrats are seeking to tax their hard “accumulated” money and give it to the working class, the source of their profit. This Robin Hood defense skims over the fact pointed out by Robert Reich, former Secretary of Commerce, that since 1980, they have gone from possessing 8% of the total wealth to 20%, while the working class has had their salaries stagnate due to the global competition and threats of outsourcing.
In actuality the working class is questioning how the wealthy got their earnings. O’Reilly bemoans taking “his money” but little is mentioned about working people losing health coverage or the victimization of minimum wage earners working for below poverty wages. We are disturbed with unchecked CEO pay to the ignorance of stockholders. Such is the case with Richard Fuld, CEO of Lehman Brothers, who was on the very same compensation committee that did his hiring and created his contract. Collusion by like kinds?
The wealthy scoff at the notion that paying taxes, or making an additional sacrifice to this country by paying slightly more, as Patriotic. It seems military service and risking one’s life and blood is the only form of sacrifice, but their ilk isn’t doing that either. It’s a win-win; enjoy your money while others do the fighting for you. Their sacrifice is limited to flag lapels and rhetoric, or the canard of capital infusion which that have a personal gain, while McCain talks of “walking the walk.”
The nature of capitalism dictates money makes money, and the “haves” possess the upper hand. Capitalism is like a crap game, where wealthy players risk more, bit have more exposure to winning on every role, while the budget conscience can only contribute a little to risk, and have smaller returns. It is the “rich get richer, poor get poorer” theorem where the wealthy watch their nest eggs grow multiple times faster than those scrimping to save.
The working class is losing defined pension plans while contributing more towards health premiums as employers continue to divest of these previously paid obligations. Our economy is now based on wealth not work, as the working class relies on old money to survive, many times at the expense of their children. We have not only rich versus poor, but generations pitted against one another.
While being the best form of economics, Capitalism is not perfect and needs to be regulated. We eliminated monopolies which inhibited competition and marketplace rules, to the behest of business which approves of unfairness when it benefits them.
The irony is ignorance of working class plight will lead to a boycott by default due to loss of disposable income and consumer confidence, which will eventually discomfort the wealthy. This is the reason for stimulus packages as trivial as their effect. Not keeping enough money in the hands of those who need to spend will have a boomerang effect. Only when Mr. O’Reilly can no longer sell his product will he realize whose money he does have.
If we restored Clinton era taxes I doubt the wealthy will go into austerity mode. Our budget was balanced, the economy was humming and our dollar was worth a dollar. Like the luxury tax during Bush Sr.’s tenure, no wealthy person is going to start brown bagging lunch, or accept “no” as an outcome because there is a 10% surcharge on purchases. Donald Trump will not say no to the purchase of a new Yacht because the adjusted sales price is 10% higher.
And what is McCain suggesting for us “Joe the Plumber types?” An extension of the Bush tax cuts that have widened the divide in classes, more tax cuts for Big Business and further divestiture of employer paid benefits like health care and pensions which create an additional cost for us average Joe’s. Let’s not forget that had our Social Security been backed by the stock market, something supported by McCain, we average folk would be experiencing a Depression now.
Here’s an alternative theory perhaps the wealthy could understand – it’s the working class’ turn, of which the unlicensed “Joe the Plumber” is still one, and would stay that way under McCain.
David DiBello
It’s Audacious for Republicans to Complain
The McCain camp and Republicans are now spreading fear that Democrats in control of the Presidency and both houses of Congress is a danger to Americans because they will remain unchecked and shape policy as they see fit. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t that what the Republican Party had for the 6 years from January 2001 to January 2007?
Many also criticize Democrats for not doing anything during the 1 and ½ years they were in charge of the House and Senate (barely) failing to mention that the Veto power remained in a Republican President’s hands stymieing all Democrat efforts, not possessing a super majority to overturn veto’s or overcome the cloture rule in the Senate requiring 60 votes to avoid filibuster.
Isn’t it time for another party to have a chance at running government and getting things done on behalf of the people? Perhaps the Republican Party is subconsciously saying of Democrats what they know true of themselves – unchecked, corruption flourishes. Look at Tom Delay, Denny Hastert, Ted Stevens, Jack Abramoff, Scooter Libby (who fell on his sword at Cheney’s request), Randy “Duke” Cunningham, all of whom served at great sacrifice on behalf of the American people, leveraging their power to personally and financially flourish, making their sacrifice a scam.
Add to it out of control behavior of Bittars, Craig, Foley and Fossella and maybe it is time for a change, placing people in charge who will take the business of the American People seriously and not look at Congress as their own little playground, where they feel above the law and preoccupied with their own gravitas.
A Republican President and Republican Congress have put us in this current economic supply side mess, reversing the Glass-Steagall act led by anti-whiner Phil Gramm, tightening personal bankruptcy laws but overlooking usury of credit institutions, and creating a Medicare prescription drug plan after efforts to block purchases of drugs from overseas failed. This is ironic from a party that believes in the law of supply and demand, and underscores their preoccupation with business and the rich over the good of all Americans.
The Republicans are really afraid that it’s no longer their turn, and they can no longer line their pockets with measures and bills that are pro business, pro wealthy and anti American worker. They must learn to work and play well with others.
David DiBello
RESEARCH FOOTNOTES
cloture - The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.
The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the United States and included banking reforms, some of which were designed to control speculation.[1] Some provisions such as Regulation Q, which allowed the Federal Reserve to regulate interest rates in savings accounts, were repealed by the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980. Provisions that prohibit a bank holding company from owning other financial companies were repealed on November 12, 1999, by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
Many also criticize Democrats for not doing anything during the 1 and ½ years they were in charge of the House and Senate (barely) failing to mention that the Veto power remained in a Republican President’s hands stymieing all Democrat efforts, not possessing a super majority to overturn veto’s or overcome the cloture rule in the Senate requiring 60 votes to avoid filibuster.
Isn’t it time for another party to have a chance at running government and getting things done on behalf of the people? Perhaps the Republican Party is subconsciously saying of Democrats what they know true of themselves – unchecked, corruption flourishes. Look at Tom Delay, Denny Hastert, Ted Stevens, Jack Abramoff, Scooter Libby (who fell on his sword at Cheney’s request), Randy “Duke” Cunningham, all of whom served at great sacrifice on behalf of the American people, leveraging their power to personally and financially flourish, making their sacrifice a scam.
Add to it out of control behavior of Bittars, Craig, Foley and Fossella and maybe it is time for a change, placing people in charge who will take the business of the American People seriously and not look at Congress as their own little playground, where they feel above the law and preoccupied with their own gravitas.
A Republican President and Republican Congress have put us in this current economic supply side mess, reversing the Glass-Steagall act led by anti-whiner Phil Gramm, tightening personal bankruptcy laws but overlooking usury of credit institutions, and creating a Medicare prescription drug plan after efforts to block purchases of drugs from overseas failed. This is ironic from a party that believes in the law of supply and demand, and underscores their preoccupation with business and the rich over the good of all Americans.
The Republicans are really afraid that it’s no longer their turn, and they can no longer line their pockets with measures and bills that are pro business, pro wealthy and anti American worker. They must learn to work and play well with others.
David DiBello
RESEARCH FOOTNOTES
cloture - The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.
The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the United States and included banking reforms, some of which were designed to control speculation.[1] Some provisions such as Regulation Q, which allowed the Federal Reserve to regulate interest rates in savings accounts, were repealed by the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980. Provisions that prohibit a bank holding company from owning other financial companies were repealed on November 12, 1999, by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
SEAN HANNITY – UNIFORMED OR JUST LYING?
SEAN HANNITY – UNIFORMED OR JUST LYING?
I’d be the first to drive Alec Baldwin to the airport next time he has a political tantrum, but the drama graduate might have hit upon something suggesting dual college dropout Sean Hannity spent too much time in Construction and not enough time reading an economics book.
Hannity’s latest pro business propaganda is that small businesses will pass on taxes to the consumer. In other words, owners will say “how dare you tax me, now take this sucker,” to the very market he wishes to attract. Is this cutting your nose to spite your face?
As a Financial Controller in small business for twenty five years, I know something about finances. Small business from its inception pays little to no taxes because it is working off start up investments as costs. A small business owner contributes their own capital, and once a bank is secure with an owner’s equity stake in the company, extends financing and a line of credit to purchase equipment and essentials to conduct business.
Most businesses do not turn a profit in the first few years of its existence, surviving off its startup funds and bank credit. There are no profits, so there are no taxes!
There are enough business deductions, loss carry forwards and ACRS depreciation (Accelerated Cost Recovery System) for those operating under the accrual accounting method to write off capital expenditures faster than its economic life, again allowing for no profits even if shown on their income statement.
However, this isn’t required because businesses are allowed to keep two sets of books – accrual for financial statements and cash basis for taxes, writing off all capital expenditures immediately. This allows a business to keep a bank happy regarding their risk due to profits, and allows more time to a company before paying taxes.
The most important feature of small business is that a majority are “S” Corporations –owners who use the corporate shield as protection against liability but whose profits are passed along to the owner who pays taxes at lower individual rates.
Hannity believes small business will fight any attempt at EVER paying taxes by extortion, inflating the price of their product or service out of the market with a tax pass-along’s once profitable. This is understandable if taxes were a fixed rate regardless of profit, but it is only a percentage of profit, which means an owner will always be ahead, unless greed (not enough profit) is factored into the equation. In that case, my suggestion to business is put your “big boy” pants on and pay your patriotic obligation like all we “average Joe’s.”
Sean further ascribes to the “look at the hand at the end of your arm” belief system in compassionate conservatism when it comes to “hand outs.” While we are all “created equal” in terms of dignity, we deviate as far as IQ and ability. Many come from broken, abusive or poor homes, have no resources and are not blessed with the upbringing of the St Pius X high school graduate Hannity.
My suggestion to Sean is to lose the diatribe and practice some humility; and crack open a business book or two before speaking.
David DiBello
I’d be the first to drive Alec Baldwin to the airport next time he has a political tantrum, but the drama graduate might have hit upon something suggesting dual college dropout Sean Hannity spent too much time in Construction and not enough time reading an economics book.
Hannity’s latest pro business propaganda is that small businesses will pass on taxes to the consumer. In other words, owners will say “how dare you tax me, now take this sucker,” to the very market he wishes to attract. Is this cutting your nose to spite your face?
As a Financial Controller in small business for twenty five years, I know something about finances. Small business from its inception pays little to no taxes because it is working off start up investments as costs. A small business owner contributes their own capital, and once a bank is secure with an owner’s equity stake in the company, extends financing and a line of credit to purchase equipment and essentials to conduct business.
Most businesses do not turn a profit in the first few years of its existence, surviving off its startup funds and bank credit. There are no profits, so there are no taxes!
There are enough business deductions, loss carry forwards and ACRS depreciation (Accelerated Cost Recovery System) for those operating under the accrual accounting method to write off capital expenditures faster than its economic life, again allowing for no profits even if shown on their income statement.
However, this isn’t required because businesses are allowed to keep two sets of books – accrual for financial statements and cash basis for taxes, writing off all capital expenditures immediately. This allows a business to keep a bank happy regarding their risk due to profits, and allows more time to a company before paying taxes.
The most important feature of small business is that a majority are “S” Corporations –owners who use the corporate shield as protection against liability but whose profits are passed along to the owner who pays taxes at lower individual rates.
Hannity believes small business will fight any attempt at EVER paying taxes by extortion, inflating the price of their product or service out of the market with a tax pass-along’s once profitable. This is understandable if taxes were a fixed rate regardless of profit, but it is only a percentage of profit, which means an owner will always be ahead, unless greed (not enough profit) is factored into the equation. In that case, my suggestion to business is put your “big boy” pants on and pay your patriotic obligation like all we “average Joe’s.”
Sean further ascribes to the “look at the hand at the end of your arm” belief system in compassionate conservatism when it comes to “hand outs.” While we are all “created equal” in terms of dignity, we deviate as far as IQ and ability. Many come from broken, abusive or poor homes, have no resources and are not blessed with the upbringing of the St Pius X high school graduate Hannity.
My suggestion to Sean is to lose the diatribe and practice some humility; and crack open a business book or two before speaking.
David DiBello
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