Tag: Taxation

Sinister Beyond Belief


Leftist Sgt Schultz Immitation

Understand Photo: Watch Hogan’s Heroes – Vintage TV

 

Intro to Sinister Beyond Belief by Justin Smith

John R. Houk

© May 23, 2013

 

Justin Smith writes about the IRS Scandal and how the Democrats and the Obama Administration has used the IRS as a political tool to harass and disenfranchise Conservatives that have a more traditional and Constitutional Originalist view of America’s future path. Obama’s Administration has exacted oppression on American citizens that the President’s “Change” Agenda as an evil Socialist-Marxist alternative to the values of the Founding Fathers which believed the nascent American culture had a Christian Moral Foundation. YES, even the Founding Fathers that Leftists claim were anti-Christian Deists promoted Christian Morality as the foundation a good rule of law and government.

 

Here is a bit of a spoiler alert. Justin concludes his essay by blaming the 16th Amendment as the blame for the Federal Government to use the IRS as a political tool to enforce Presidential Administrations’ political agenda against their enemies. It is the 16th Amendment that enabled the Federal Government to establish a direct income tax levied according to the whim of Congress. Hence there is now a complicated unwieldy arm of government to force a percentage of American wage earners’ fruit of labor.

 

This is the 16th Amendment as ratified into law in the year 1913:

 

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

 

Here is a centrist view of the 16th Amendment that led its author to believe a Federal Income Tax could have existed without it; however that Income Tax would have to be levied in a less restrictive and oppressive way than the present Income Tax:

 

Many Unhappy Returns—Millions of Them

 

The above article provides an excellent history on how the 16th Amendment came into existence including the fact that the amendment’s ratification result of a political compromise in which its passage in both Houses of Congress was considered doubtful let alone the ratification of the then 36 required States to affirm. Below is an essay from The Patriot Post on the 16th Amendment passage yet with a more Conservative and Originalist view.

 

On the Sixteenth Amendment

 

The essence of The Patriot Post essay is the only way to reform income taxation as exacted by the IRS is by amending the 16th Amendment to restore the efficacy of the Constitution’s Article 1 Section 9:

 

The Constitution afforded citizens this protection in Article I, Section 9, which reads, in part, “No Capitation, or other direct Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.” (Excerpted from above essay)

 

In my opinion repealing the 16th Amendment would better be served with an Amendment that is specific on government limitations on collect taxes from Americans whether it be a Consumption Tax (i.e. Sales Tax of some sort) and/or Income Tax (on however defined whether graduated, flat or whatever income formula).

 

JRH 5/23/13

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Sinister Beyond Belief

 

By Justin O. Smith

Sent: 5/22/2013 10:43 AM

 

The line separating good and evil passes not through states nor between political parties either, but straight through the human heart. -Alexander Solzhenitsyn

One must wonder if they are still living in America, when all Americans are witnessing yet another Obama administration scandal, as this administration has been caught using the IRS as a hammer and sickle against its political opponents in the most egregious and despicable abuse of power in decades. This is the very same crime that was described in Article I of the impeachment brief against President Richard Nixon. If nothing else, the recent revelations from a newly motivated (angry) press corps and testimony before the Congressional Ways and Means Committee regarding this matter will hopefully be the first steps in stopping this out-of-control ideologue/despot Obama, for whom republicanism and the rule of law means nothing!

In some limited scope, Lyndon Johnson, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton also used the IRS against opponents, but they never used it in the broad manner in which the Obama administration has attacked Tea Party and grass roots liberty focused groups. By hampering the ability of these groups to exist as non-profit organizations, Tea Party and other patriotic conservative groups also had their effectiveness and reach into the communities damaged and dampened. Some groups had been blocked for as long as 27 months, while Progressive sounding names and Progressive groups received their tax-exempt status, in some cases, in as little as nine weeks… and this surely had some marked bearing on the 2012 election!

By June 4, 2012, the Inspector General had started a review and an audit of the IRS’s practice of targeting conservatives, which is the primary reason that Lois Lerner, IRS division head on tax-exempt organizations, broke the story in advance of the I.G.’s report. Ms Lerner knew conservatives were being targeted as early as 2010. This practice was not limited to just “two rogue IRS employees” in Cincinnati, since complaints, challenges and lawsuits started coming in from California to New York and even DC. If, as Obama asserts, Obama knew nothing of this until recently, he is either completely incompetent or a liar… I suspect the latter.

Steve Miller, acting IRS commissioner, knew about this matter in March 2012, as did Doug Schulman, the former IRS commissioner. It is inconceivable that all these IRS officials were aware of this IRS policy and that Obama and his staff were not. By sitting on this information, not only are Obama and his staff guilty of obstruction of justice, they are guilty to some degree of any crime that the investigation uncovers, whether they initiated this policy or not.

No fewer than 471 groups were targeted… groups such as Friends of the Constitution, the Coalition for a Conservative Majority and numerous Tea Party chapters, as well as Koch Industries, Karl Rove, Franklin Graham (Rev Billy Graham’s son) and James Dobson from Focus on the Family.

Regarding the National Organization for Marriage, which is led by constitutional law professor John Eastman, information was released to the co-chairman of the Re-elect Obama campaign that showed NOM’s confidential Schedule B tax return section; this information was passed to the Human Rights campaign, a NOM opponent, who published it in March 2012. This is a felony punishable by 5 years in prison and a $5000 fine, and although Mr. Eastman has long since filed a freedom of information and investigation status request, to date the I.G and the IRS have not identified the people responsible.

Some groups have told Representative Darrell Issa that the IRS was seeking lists of donors and many documents. The Clear Lake Tea Party in Texas was asked 19 additional questions, along with requests for a list of speakers, resumes for each board member, a list of questions posed to potential political candidates by the group and a list of who was invited to those events.

During the recent hearings before the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) asked Steve Miller, “Is it illegal, this targeting of groups?” And showing his true statist/Leftist Red colors, Miller answered, “It absolutely is not.”

The lies are flying from Lerner, Miller and Shulman, as highlighted by both Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), while Obama is making Steve Miller the fall guy. But in reality, Miller had very little to do with this policy and he was set to leave in June anyway, so his “forced” resignation amounts to a meaningless effort from the administration and an insignificant act. And, in the meantime, one of the real culprits, Sarah Hall Ingram, is not being held accountable for her criminal acts, since she governed the IRS tax-exempt section for groups between 2009 and 2012; now she has been promoted to head the IRS Affordable Health Care section and 16,000 new employees!

If the IRS can halt someone’s tax-exempt status, they can just as easily intimidate that person with the IRS new controls over health care. Imagine being threatened with financial penalties, your information being shared with political enemies, or depending on the IRS for life and death decisions for yourself or your family members. Imagine that stints are outlawed for anyone over 65 years old; with the Progressive’s post-Constitution mindset; it is not a leap of logic to understand that Leftists will receive such care, no matter their age, and conservatives will not.

Attorney General Eric Holder stated on May 15 that “False-statement violations have been made give, at least what I know at this point,” and the Justice Department will be investigating whether anyone’s civil rights had been violated; however, it is troubling to hear him say, “The FBI is coordinating with the Justice Dept to see IF (my emphasis) any laws were broken in connection with those matters related to the IRS,” when obviously laws were broken. Between Jack Lew, Secretary of Treasury and Obama’s political hack, and Holder’s well documented propensity and proclivity to prejudice and selectively enforce laws depending on the Democrat Party’s agenda and Obama’s whims, there must be an outcry from all Americans for a select independent investigative team, an independent lead investigator and Counsel and a Special Prosecutor!

The targeting of conservatives by the IRS was certainly centrally directed by high level officials within the IRS and quite likely White House staff members and President Obama himself. If they are allowed to get away with this, we have passed from a constitutional government to an authoritarian and illegitimate government.

With way too much untethered power, the IRS has become a Left-wing political operation, as seen through these attacks on conservative groups in order to ensure Obama’s re-election. And this is only one piece in a long pattern of anti-American and unConstitutional conduct from this administration, which has increasingly used its power to intimidate and attack those who oppose its policies. Why is the IRS so fixated on acquiring the names of people whose only “crime” is opposing the Obama administration? Ideology is their weapon and a defense mechanism against information, and it is also their pretext for eluding moral constraints in doing and approving evil, while they tell themselves, “My conscience is clean”. This is sinister beyond belief, and it makes the case for repealing the 16th Amendment and passing a flat tax, as we also cut the IRS to the bare-boned minimal existence; this is absolutely an illegal overreach of government and an absolute outrage for all America: Obama must be impeached!

 

By Justin O. Smith

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Intro to Sinister Beyond Belief by Justin Smith

John R. Houk

© May 23, 2013

____________________

Sinister Beyond Belief

 

© Justin O. Smith

Edited by John R. Houk

Let Everyone Prosper


Justin O. Smith

Here is an economy message from Justin O. Smith.

 

JRH 12/1/12

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Let Everyone Prosper

 

By Justin O. Smith

Sent: 11/27/2012 4:27 PM

 

It is obvious to a vast number of Americans that the divergent gap between the amount paid hourly workers for their labor is far disproportionate to that paid in profit margins and salaries and bonuses to CEOs, however, the answer is not found in higher tax rates, because no matter how high a tax is placed on companies it is always offset by higher consumer prices. If America is to remain a free-market capitalist system, at some point in the near future companies will necessarily have to create a better business model that partners labor in their efforts and presents a more balanced and equitable distribution of the net profits gained across each quarter; and, while I tend to view unions as organizations that price themselves out of competition in free markets, initially this was their mission as they attempted to close that gap.

 

Government can never force the closer of such a gap without completely destroying private businesses, because most businesses will simply shut down if they are not allowed to distribute their profits as they see fit, because it is their capital that started the business…their capital at risk…and since it is their private property, they do have the right to do with it exactly as they see fit; the worker actually risked nothing to start that business.

 

Obama would like to control all private business, and we have seen him too readily attempt to control certain aspects of our business world by picking winners and losers in the energy field as he subsidizes “green energy” technology through already failed companies, such as Solyndra, and works to utterly destroy the coal and oil industries. The only way that government could ever close the gap is by reducing America to a command economy, which sometimes seems to be Obama’s intent, and should this ever occur no one would have any real wealth, as we would all be reduced to the lowest common denominator in poverty, with only the elite ruling class garnering the bulk of the nation’s wealth.

 

Yes, I believe in a compassionate society that helps those who truly cannot do better, but we do not owe lazy people or people of low ambition a better living simply because they do not wish to expend the necessary energy to study harder in school, or try harder once they enter the work force, or because they simply have adopted an entitlement attitude and expect a great paying job to fall out of the sky and into their lap. Far too many in today’s America are now expecting something for nothing!

 

While the gap is vast, the beauty of a truly free market and capitalist society is that each and everyone of us can attain great wealth if we keep pushing through each failure until we achieve that success; usually the people who try, try again have become wealthy, but one also needs a modicum of intelligence and an idea for a business of one’s own combined with a decent level of ambition and the social grace and acumen to make the necessary business contacts. No one has ever said it was easy, but interjecting government to “level the playing field”…to make it easy for everyone…in the end only damages everyone in innumerable ways. Redistribution of the wealth is not a function of government no matter in what manner it is accomplished, and it should never be a final destination for any government that wishes to see a vibrant expanding economy, because history has shown time and time again that it has always failed wherever it was attempted with devastating effects on the society.

 

Hopefully, all America will get their heads together and start utilizing more pragmatic methods towards our nation’s real economic woes, but when Obama effortlessly spends nearly $9 trillion in four years with few results and a failed Stimulus that only distributed 6% back into the economy and Ben Bernanke is printing money at the Fed like there is no tomorrow, we have far more difficulties in this nation than the salary gap, especially when one considers the $100 trillion unfunded debt that has accrued throughout our history.

 

A larger centralized government, which is where Obama and the Progressives are taking us, will only serve to take more of the poor and middle class and even the wealthy’s earned income…their private property…and serve only to eventually further limit individual Freedom through over-regulation, just as we are witnessing through Obamacare; just look at the roaring 20s, when the government was small and regulations had been curbed back to only the barest of necessity and EVERYONE PROSPERED!

 

Even Pravda recently quoted Putin as saying that Obama was going down the path towards socialism.

 

By Justin O. Smith

 

Defending The American Dream


obama-roberts hi 5

I cross posted what Erick Erickson had written about Chief Justice John Roberts joining the Left on SCOTUS in affirming Obamacare is Constitutional legislation. Roberts voted with the Left with the proviso that Obamacare cannot force funding by forcing citizens to pay a penalty to the government for not purchasing a product. The product in the case is government mandated insurance. Roberts’ majority opinion indicates thus Obamacare cannot be based on the Commerce Clause of the Constitution as was the original intention of the Obamacare legislation (Officially known as Affordable Care Act).

 

The only way Obamacare can be Constitutional is as a TAX. Thus, John Roberts attempted to make Obamacare an issue Congress deals with instead of the Courts. At the time I thought Erickson’s analysis of Roberts joining the Leftist Justices was good insight.

 

I was going through my email (I am always behind), I discovered Justin Smith’s take on Chief Justice Roberts joining the Leftist Justices affirming Obamacare. I am now of the opinion that Roberts’ decision had good intentions; HOWEVER by making the penalty for not getting mandated insurance a tax Roberts opened a can of worms that could justify Congressional taxation in future forced penalties the might require Americans to buy a product.

 

Justin Smith has an excellent point.

 

JRH 7/17/12

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The Romney Plan for America


Romney Believe in America

 

John R. Houk

© November 1, 2011

 

I am definitely not in former Governor Mitt Romney’s camp for the GOP nomination for President. I have to own-up to the primary reason for this is Romney is a Mormon and Mormonism is not Christianity yet pretends to be Christianity. As a Christian I have a problem with that. The secondary problem I have with Romney he appears pretty close to being a RINO. Full-on RINOs make no bones about their Liberal leanings. Then there is RINOs like Romney that is Conservative Republicans in some areas but is politically liberal or socially liberal in others.

 

On the other hand if Romney does win the GOP nomination I am definitely voting for him over President Barack Hussein Obama. At the very least Romney does not have an agenda to transform America into a socialistic nation dependent on government entitlements to move the economy and secretly enslave the poor by making the Federal government the poor’s source of livelihood.

 

Romney’s major campaign agenda is his 59 point plan to get America’s economy on track. Just like Rep. Michele Bachmann, the Romney plan has less to do with tax reform and more to do with traditional tax cuts and strategies for jobs growth international trade.

 

Romney’s answer is a 59-point plan, including 10 steps he vows to take his first day as president. “Each proposal is rooted in the conservative premise that government itself cannot create jobs. At best, government can provide a framework in which economic growth can occur. All too often, however, government gets in the way. The past three years of unparalleled government expansion have retaught that lesson all too well,” he wrote. The candidate didn’t go into deep detail about the 59 items on his jobs agenda, but he did offer a shout out to those starting their own companies: “Only the individual initiative of entrepreneurs, workers, investors and inventors enables companies, and our economy as a whole, to flourish.” (ELECTIONEERING; By J. Jennings Moss; Portfolio.com, 9-6-11)

 

With both Cain and Perry now offering dramatic pro-growth tax reform proposals, Romney will either jump on the tax reform bandwagon or be left in the dust (or possibly both).

 

The only pro-growth tax cuts in Romney’s 59-point economic plan are a reduction in the corporate income tax rate to 25% (from 35% today) and the elimination of the death tax.  However, both Perry and Cain are similarly calling for repeal of the death tax.  Also, Perry’s plan would cut the corporate income tax rate to 20%, and Cain’s plan would reduce it to the equivalent of 9%.

 

Romney is advocating eliminating taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gains, but only for people making less than $200,000 a year.  This “cap” would vitiate any benefit to economic growth.  Worse, this element of Romney’s plan implicitly validates Obama’s “class warfare” rhetoric. (Fundamental Tax Reform Is Now Unstoppable; By Louis Woodhill; Forbes, 10/26/2011)

 

Tomorrow, I will introduce a plan consisting of 59 specific proposals — including 10 concrete actions I will take on my first day in office — to turn around America’s economy. Each proposal is rooted in the conservative premise that government itself cannot create jobs. At best, government can provide a framework in which economic growth can occur. All too often, however, government gets in the way. The past three years of unparalleled government expansion have retaught that lesson all too well.

 

Only the individual initiative of entrepreneurs, workers, investors and inventors enables companies, and our economy as a whole, to flourish. We must once again unleash the tremendous economic potential of the American people. The contrast between what the Obama administration has done and what I would do as president could not be starker.

 

…

 

As this catalogue of differences makes clear, our country has arrived at a fork in the road. In one direction lies the heavy hand of the state, indebtedness and decline. In the other direction lies limited government, free enterprise and economic growth. I know which direction is the American way. And I know in which direction lie the millions of jobs we need. (MY PLAN TO TURN AROUND THE U.S. ECONOMY; By Mitt Romney; MittRomney.com, 9-5-11)

 

Q: A Wall Street Journal editorial recently called your 59-point economic plan “surprisingly timid & tactical considering our economic predicament.” Specifically, they had a problem with you picking the $200,000 income threshold for eliminating interest, dividends, and capital gains taxes, writing that you were afraid of “class warfare rhetoric.”

 

ROMNEY: What you have to do is make America the most attractive place in the world for business, and that means our corporate tax rates have to be competitive #2: government and regulators have to be allies of business, not foes.#3: we’ve got to become energy secure in this country. #4: we have to have trade policies that work for us, and crack down on cheaters like China. And my list goes on in my 59 points. I know there are some that say, look, we should lower taxes for the very highest-income people. My view is very simple: The people that have been hurt most by the Obama economy, has been the middle class. That’s why I cut taxes for the middle class.

 

…

 

Q: Do you support the FairTax?

 

ROMNEY: The idea of a national sales tax or a consumption tax has a lot to go for it. One, it would make us more competitive globally, as we send products around the world, because under the provisions of the World Trade Organization, you can reimburse that to an exporter. We can’t reimburse our taxes right now. It also would level the playing field in the country, making sure everybody is paying some part of their fair share. But the way the fair tax has been structured it has a real problem and that is it lowers the burden on the very highest income folks and the very lowest and raises it on middle income people. And the people who have been hurt most by the economy are the middle class. And so my plan is for middle income Americans, no tax on interest, dividends or capital gains. Let people save their money as the way they think is best. We’re taxing too much, we’re spending too much and middle income Americans need a break and I’ll give it to them.

 

…

 

If we want to make more capital available for investment, we will have to lower taxes on saving and investing, either at the corporate or the individual level, or preferably both. A lower corporate tax rate would accomplish all that the myriad special tax breaks do, and improve the incentives for investment and entrepreneurship as well. Personal taxes on dividends, interest, and capital gains for all middle-income families should be completely eliminated.

 

Some people advocate the “FairTax” as a means of boosting savings, a system that would entirely replace income taxes with a consumption tax–a kind of sales tax. FairTax proponents estimate that a tax rate of 23% would be sufficient, but detractors claim that it would be closer to 40%. The enormous amount saved by the wealthiest under the FairTax would be made up by a higher tax burden on the middle class. This is not an outcome that will or should gain traction with the American public. (Mitt Romney on Tax Reform; Q & A On The Issues)

 

Five Bills for Day One

 

The American Competitiveness Act: Reduces the corporate income tax rate to 25 percent

 

The Open Markets Act: Implements the Colombia, Panama, and South Korea Free Trade Agreements

 

The Domestic Energy Act: Directs the Department of the Interior to undertake a comprehensive survey of American energy reserves in partnership with exploration companies and initiates leasing in all areas currently approved for exploration

 

The Retraining Reform Act: Consolidates the sprawl of federal retraining programs and returns funding and responsibility for these programs to the states

 

The Down Payment on Fiscal Sanity Act: Immediately cuts non-security discretionary spending by 5 percent, reducing the annual federal budget by $20 billion

 

Five Executive Orders for Day One

 

An Order to Pave the Way to End Obamacare: Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and all relevant federal officials to return the maximum possible authority to the states to innovate and design health care solutions that work best for them

 

An Order to Cut Red Tape: Directs all agencies to immediately initiate the elimination of Obama-era regulations that unduly burden the economy or job creation, and then caps annual increases in regulatory costs at zero dollars

 

An Order to Boost Domestic Energy Production: Directs the Department of the Interior to implement a process for rapid issuance of drilling permits to developers with established safety records seeking to use pre-approved techniques in pre-approved areas

 

An Order to Sanction China for Unfair Trade Practices: Directs the Department of the Treasury to list China as a currency manipulator in its biannual report and directs the Department of Commerce to assess countervailing duties on Chinese imports if China does not quickly move to float its currency

 

An Order to Empower American Businesses and Workers: Reverses the executive orders issued by President Obama that tilt the playing field in favor of organized labor, including the one encouraging the use of union labor on major government construction projects

 

Mitt Romney’s Plan for Jobs and Economic Growth

 

The book released by the campaign underscores President Obama’s failed approach to each policy area crucial to turning around the economy, and lays out precisely how Mitt Romney will address the issues as president:

 

Tax Policy

 

Mitt Romney will push for a fundamental redesign of our tax system. He recognizes the need to simplify the system. He also recognizes the need both to lower rates and to broaden the tax base so that taxation becomes an instrument for promoting economic growth. As president, Romney will hold the line on individual income tax rates and eliminate taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gains for low- and middle-income taxpayers. He will eliminate the estate tax. And he will pursue a conservative overhaul that applies lower and flatter rates to a broader tax base.

 

Romney will also reform the corporate tax system. He will immediately lower the corporate income tax rate, and then explore opportunities to further lower the marginal rate while broadening the tax base. He will also begin the process of transitioning to a territorial corporate tax system. A territorial system must be designed to encourage multinational companies to bring their profits back into the U.S. and it must avoid the creation of incentives for outsourcing. (Excerpted from FACT SHEET: MITT ROMNEY’S PLAN TO TURN AROUND THE ECONOMY; By Mitt Romney; MittRomney.com, 9-6-11)

 

Like I wrote, I am not voting for Romney in my State Primary but I will probably vote for Romney as the GOP nominee the General Election of November 6, 2012.

 

JRH 11/1/11

The Michele Bachmann Plan


Michele Bachmann

 

John R. Houk

© October 26, 2011

 

I am posting Michele Bachmann’s plan after Herman Cain’s because she was my first favorite GOP Candidate when this race for the GOP nomination began with a list of Candidates (otherwise it would have been Sarah Palin).

 

I love Michele Bachmann as a Candidate primarily because of Social Conservatism. Also Michele Bachmann is huge in the Tea Party Movement (TPM). Bachmann represents Tea Party Congressmen in the House as the leader of the Tea Party Caucus.

 

A Wikipedia article (Not necessarily TPM friendly) describes the TPM thus:

 

It [The TPM] endorses reduced government spending,[8][9] opposition to taxation in varying degrees,[9] reduction of the national debt and federal budget deficit,[8] and adherence to an originalist interpretation of the United States Constitution.[10]

 

Wikipedia describes the Tea Party Caucus thus:

 

The Tea Party Caucus is a caucus of the United States House of Representatives and Senate launched and chaired by Minnesota Congresswoman Bachmann on July 16, 2010.[1] The caucus is dedicated to promoting what it considers fiscal responsibility, adherence to the movement‘s interpretation of the Constitution, and limited government. The idea of a Tea Party Caucus originated from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul when he was campaigning for his current seat.[2]

 

The caucus was approved as an official congressional member organization by the House Administration Committee on July 19, 2010[3] and held its first meeting on July 21. Its first public event was a press conference on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, also on July 21.[4] Four Senators joined the caucus on January 27, 2011.[5]

 

Michele Bachmann’s credentials as a Tea Party Conservative with Conservative Social Values are impeccable. The Bachmann campaign has thus emphasized the economics of job creation, less government and National budget plans (e.g. not raising the budget ceiling).

 

Bachmann’s plan is best summed up on her website:

 

Bachmann Introduces “American Jobs, Right Now” Blueprint for Economic Prosperity and Job Creation

 

Posted on October 11th, 2011

 

Hanover, NH – Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann announced today her blueprint for economic prosperity and job creation titled “American Jobs, Right Now.” With 9.1 percent unemployment, $16.7 trillion in national debt, and a severely weakened U.S. dollar, Bachmann is unveiling her vision for restoring confidence in the our financial system, spurring economic growth, and creating jobs for out of work Americans.

 

“It’s evident that the current trajectory of our country is simply not sustainable and President Obama lacks the understanding of how to return to a position of economic prominence in the world,” Bachmann said. “My blueprint will create an environment which will create real jobs here at home, and return America to a position of economic prominence in the world.”

 

Eleven Points of “American Jobs, Right Now” Blueprint:

 

1.     REPATRIATION. More than 1.2 trillion United States dollars could be brought back to America in days as an immediate “stimulus” if the government would zero out the tax rate on that money until December 31, and then permanently keep it here in the U.S. if taxed at a rate of 5 percent. Foreign earning totaling over $1.2 trillion is more than the President’s failed stimulus and it won’t come out of taxpayer wallets. It would increase the value of the dollar, provide valuable capital for the job creators in this country and pump tremendous amounts of money into our economy.

 

2.     CUT SPENDING AND GOVERNMENT. I have already voted to cut federal spending in the years ahead, every single time I have had the opportunity. In addition, I would phase out quasi-governmental enterprises, such as Fannie and Freddie, and eliminate duplicative government programs and costs. We must decrease government salaries to bring them in line with their private sector counterparts, and we must decrease the number of government employees. Over-spending by the government hurts job creation by devaluing the dollar and stealing capital from the private sector.

 

3.     REPEAL OBAMACARE. Healthcare is one-sixth of the U.S. economy and this unconstitutional takeover of healthcare by the federal government is creating crippling uncertainty for employers across this country. This legislation does nothing to address the true problem with our healthcare system – cost – and will cost states trillions. I believe it is an intentional backstop to imploding healthcare entitlement programs — Medicare and Medicaid — to transition toward a single payer-system. This is the number one hindrance to job creation in the United States (according to a recently released UBS study).

 

4.     CUT TAXES. I’ve demonstrated a firm commitment to cutting spending and balancing the budget. We need to reduce the number of tax brackets, repeal taxes outlined in Obamacare, fix the Alternative Minimum Tax, and eliminate the Death Tax. In addition, we must make the corporate tax code simpler and fairer, and allow U.S. companies that generate earnings overseas to bring back those profits and invest them in American jobs and growth.

 

5.     REPEAL THE JOBS AND HOUSING DESTRUCTION ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS DODD-FRANK. This law tightened regulations on banks, made it harder for Americans to obtain credit, and failed to address the systemic problem that caused the Wall Street collapse — leverage. This 849-page bill calls for 400 new sets of rules that will be written on 6000 Federal Register pages, all written by bureaucrats, many of whom have never worked in the financial services field. The law also creates a potentially intrusive Financial Services Consumer Protection Bureau that is not accountable to Congress and which has but a vague mandate to combat misconduct – so in the wrong hands, it could cause its own kind of misconduct.

 

6.     LEGALIZE AMERICAN ENERGY PRODUCTION AND AMERICA’S NATURAL RESOURCES. This could create 1.4 million jobs, bringing $800 billion of new revenue into the U.S. Treasury, and increasing domestic energy supplies by 50 percent. The price of energy has a direct impact on nearly ever[y] facet of our lives. We have to abandon the parochial and political energy policies of the past and install a comprehensive energy plan that not only reduces our reliance on unfriendly foreign regimes, but also creates millions of American jobs and generates increased tax revenues. According to the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. has more energy potential than any other country in the world. We should use that potential. It is a better policy to create American jobs and explore in an environmentally-sound way, than to rely on foreign dictators who give little regard to the environment. This includes specific strategies like reviving the logging, timber, mining and metals industries, and bringing federal lands back into productive activity by repealing radical environmental laws that kill access to natural resources.

 

7.     REPEAL JOB KILLING REGULATIONS. America’s job creators and small business owners have lost economic liberty under the weight of $1.8 billion annually in compliance costs with government regulations. Together we sent $2.2 trillion in taxes to the federal government this year. By comparison, job creators spend nearly as much annually to comply with bureaucratic mandates. Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, and the string of mandates and rules from the Environmental Protection Agency — as well as other agencies — are creating such incredible uncertainty in the market. The House Republican leadership has identified 219 planned Obama administration regulations, each of which will cost the economy more than $100 million. This red tape rampage must stop.

 

8.     INCREASE EXPORTS. This President has been holding hostage trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South Korea as he tries to negotiate favor for Big Labor. The world needs to know that we are open for business and U.S. Companies need to expand beyond our borders to the 95 percent of people who do not live here.

 

9.     UNLEASH AMERICAN INVESTMENT. By eliminating unnecessary taxes and regulation, and expanding trade, we will create an incentive for investment in America again. We must do whatever it takes to restore our ability to manufacture here in the U.S. We can do this by reforming the tax code, providing incentive for growth, and allowing the private sector to control the market with little government involvement.

 

10. PAVE A PATHWAY FOR INNOVATION. Recent reports indicated that the United States has now slipped to 5th in the competitiveness rankings, and 47th in education. How do we expect to lead the world economically when we are not doing what is needed to inspire and foster innovation here at home? The future of the American economy lies with the innovation of this and future generations.

 

11. ENFORCE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION LAWS. The failure of the federal government to enforce its immigration laws costs federal, state and local governments billions of dollars annually. Our nation was founded on the rule of law, and we must ensure U.S. immigration laws are respected and enforced not only to preserve our national security, but to protect federal, state, and local budgets, and to curb the unfair strain on our country’s job markets.

 

“My solutions are simple. We need to cut government spending, legalize America’s God-given natural resources, and stop taxing investment and productivity,” Bachmann said. “In other words, we need to do what growing economies do.”

 

Everything about Bachmann’s plan to right America is very Tea Party; however it is lacking in detail. The eleven points are good ideas but there is not an actual blue print to implement the plan. I think the lack of detail compared to Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan has lost her support among lower economic scale GOP voters because Republicans like the ability to read something concrete to counter Obama’s big government socializing counter-American Heritage transformation of Change. The lower Middle Class GOP voters represent the largest bloc of Republican voters.

 

It is very surprising that Michele Bachmann does not have a comparable tax plan to Herman Cain and now Rick Perry and Mitt Romney’s 59 points. My surprise is because part of Bachmann’s credentials to run for President is her experience as a tax lawyer.

 

Here is an excerpt on Michele Bachmann’s stand on taxation taken from a somewhat favorable website:

 

Summary

 

Congresswoman Bachmann consistently supports lower taxes for all areas, and has stated that taxes are simply too high. She was a strong supporter for extending the Bush tax cuts, and has repeatedly called for ending the death tax, the AMT, and removing the tax on capital gains.

 

Congresswoman Bachmann has proposed the Taxpayer Bill of Rights to put her views on taxes on the record. This bill of rights includes the rights to expect the government to balance the budget without having their taxes raised, and the right to a simple, fair tax code that they can understand.

 

In addition to calling for a simplification of the tax code, Congresswoman Bachmann has called for an end to the death tax. She stated that the tax was inefficient, a job killer, and discouraged saving.

 

In keeping with the idea of ending some taxes and simplifying the overall tax code, Congresswoman Bachman has proposed the Taxpayer Choice Act. This legislation would end the AMT, make the Bush tax rates on capital gains and dividends permanent, and create a voluntary Simplified Tax that would give individuals the option of paying under a highly simplified income tax system or under the regular income tax as it is structured now.

 

During the 2010 debate over extending the Bush tax cuts, Congresswoman Bachmann noted that higher tax rates do not mean higher tax revenues. She stated that higher rates or the uncertainty of a temporary extension would hamper economic growth.

 

Although she has not proposed a specific tax plan, Congresswoman Bachmann has outlined steps she would take if elected President. The steps proposed included numerous tax measures, including:

 

1.     Make all the Bush tax cuts permanent.

 

2.     Cut the corporate tax rate of 34 percent to “single digits” to spur growth and job creation.

 

3.     Kill capital gains taxes.

 

4.     Zero out the death tax.

 

5.     Cap personal income taxes at 20 percent.

 

(Read the whole page that has Bachmann quotes on taxation.)

 

Recently Bachmann has made statements concerning a tax overhaul; however her statements have the picture of what she wants to do as President and is lacking the actual plan for Republicans to get excited about.

 

Bachmann has recently said she would return the country to a Reagan-era tax code.  Tonight Bachmann seemed to say something slightly different. “I will abolish the United States federal tax code and have a flatter, simpler, fairer income tax,” she said. (Last Paragraph of Bachmann @ IFFC speaks of “flatter, simpler, fairer income tax”; by O. Kay Henderson; 10/22/11)

 

I have not been able to find anything concrete as to what Bachmann means by a “flatter, simple, fairer income tax”. As much as I like Michele Bachmann if she does not come up with a blue print to match her “flatter, simpler, fairer income tax” she will be left behind GOP Candidates who do have a concrete plan. So far the only Candidate with a concrete plan that I like is Herman Cain.

 

JRH 10/26/11

Bust a Union – Support Fiscal Responsibility


Walker v Union Machine

John R. Houk

© March 15, 2011

 

Republican Governor Scott Walker has pushed through a budget cutting measure that was part of his campaign in Wisconsin to bring fiscal responsibility to that State. Unfortunately the Left inside and outside of Wisconsin has teamed up with Big Unions to wage a disinformation campaign against Governor Walker and the State GOP to sidetrack fiscal responsibility in favor of budget busting power that force Wisconsin to raise taxes to keep benefits for government employees.

 

Now that sounds rough if you only listen to the Left and Unions; however the reality is Wisconsin State employees receive benefits that are above the private sector in that State. AND in talking benefits I am talking about perks other than wages. You see Governor Walker and the GOP did nothing that would affect State employee Unions to hamper their ability to bargain for fair wages commensurate to the employee personal income. Walker did not touch Collective Bargaining having to do with wages. Rather Walker on the GOP has taken away the Collective Bargaining for perks that have to do with vacation, insurance and so on. In doing so Walker has reduced the perk benefits to a point that is still better than private industry but less than the budget draining perks that Wisconsin was in.

 

If you listen only to the Democrat Left, Unions and Leftist Mainstream Media you would think that Walker and State Republicans have stolen democracy and pierced the heart of what State employees deserve. THAT IS A DISINFORMATION LIE FROM LEFTISTS AND UNIONS!

 

Amy Kremer of the American Grassroots Coalition has sent out an email that informs Conservatives that we are in a fight for the soul of America. She is correct. America has to choose between the Leftist spread the wealth mentality or government fiscal responsibility that does not cost taxpayers an arm and a leg that supports political interests that hamper free markets, individual responsibility, free choice and responsible taxation. The Left and self-aggrandizing power thug Unions do not responsible taxation and free choice that involves one’s personal livelihood and the spreading of society free choice (as opposed to forcing members of society to spread their earning – called wealth by Leftists – to pay money to undeserving exploitive people living off taxpayer bucks).

 

JRH 3/15/11

******************************

The Battle Is On!

The Battle for the Soul of America!

 

By Amy Kremer

Sent by: American Grassroots Coalition

Sent: March 14, 2011 1:55:28 PM

 

Dear Friends,

 

Last week, Wisconsin Governor Walker signed into law the union reform bill that Senate Democrats have been hiding from over the past several weeks.  On Wednesday evening of last week, the Republicans removed the appropriation language from the bill and pass the union reform measures on their own.  Then on Thursday, the Assembly passed the legislation as well.  Friday morning, it was a done deal!  This is a huge win, not only for the residents of Wisconsin, but for the people across America!

 

We thank Governor Walker and these Republican Senators for standing strong and not succumbing to the pressures of threats and intimidation from these unions.  Over the last few weeks, Governor Walker and these conservatives have been under tremendous attack from the left.  They have had the strength and political willpower to remain strong and stand on principle.  When standing on principle, it is not always the easiest thing to do, but it is always the right thing to do.  This is exactly what “We the People” want to see more of out of our elected officials. 

 

Don’t be fooled!  This battle is far from over, but is only beginning. The public unions still have a strong grip of power and control in Ohio, Indiana and other states.  Rest assured, they are not going to relinquish that grip without the fight of a lifetime.  You see, this grassroots movement is a threat to the public union gravy trains and the golden parachute pension plans that they think they are entitled to at the expense of the taxpayer.   

 

As I have said before, this battle is for the soul of America.  The battle in Wisconsin will now go national and the money is already pouring into the state to recall the Republican  Senators and potentially even the Governor.  This is not a joke, but is very real. 

 

This is the beginning of the 2012 campaign season and President Barack Obama’s campaign arm is very much behind this effort.  You can read here just what the President had to say about the Wisconsin battle. 

 

Moveon.org is fully engaged in the recall effort in Wisconsin and is raising an enormous amount of money.  You can see it for yourself right here. 

 

You want to see just how much money the left is raising for this effort?  Look at this one source and look at the money they are raising. 

 

If you want a recap of the battle in Wisconsin, you can read the good, bad and the ugly in this article posted on Yahoo! News.

 

I know, it is a lot of bad news, but don’t worry, we are not going away! Later this week, I am meeting with some of our coalition partners to see how we can all work together and win this war for America.  I will keep you posted as things move forward and what our next steps are at American Grassroots Coalition.

 

We all must help the Senators and Governor in Wisconsin.  I think it is safe to say that as goes Wisconsin, there goes America, so the fight is on friends.

 

I promise you that American Grassroots Coalition is in this for the long haul.  We will be there to support these guys that are on the front lines being attacked and abused by the public unions, Moveon.org, and the Democratic Parties (State and National) as tough decisions are looming.  We will not back down and we know that you won’t back down either.  Thank you for your support and standing with us.

 

This fight is for the soul of America!  Thank you for fighting for her with us.  Please help us by making the most generous contribution you can afford to the American Grassroots Coalition.  No amount is too small and no amount is too large, but we cannot do this without your help.

 

We need your support now more than ever. Help us fight back against the Obama campaign team, Moveon.org, the Democratic Party, organized public unions and make the most generous contribution you can afford to American Grassroots Coalition.

 

No amount is too small.  Please consider contributing $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or more to continue this fight against the big labor machine that wants to reelect Barack Obama. Yes, as I said, this is the beginning of the Presidential campaign of 2012.

 

Thank you in advance for your contribution.  I know we can always count on our supporters.

 

Please share this email with others in your circle of friends, family, coworkers, etc.

 

God Bless America today and always! Keep up the fight! We are winning!

 

In Liberty,

 

Amy Kremer

Co-Founder American Grassroots Coalition

 

P.S. If you prefer to send a contribution US Mail, please send to:

American Grassroots Coalition
PO Box 71324
Marietta, GA  30007

___________________________

Bust a Union – Support Fiscal Responsibility

John R. Houk

© March 15, 2011

_________________________________

The Battle Is On!

 

American Grassroots Coalition, Inc. operates as a social welfare organization organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code (status pending). Contributions to American Grassroots Coalition, Inc. are not deductible as as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. Charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

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