Subject: 545 People

[saveliberty]

The voters are to blame. They decide who makes the laws.

A certain amount of truth to that, although you can elect someone who says one thing and does another once in office. Also, at election time, you still are only one vote.

One vote, and one voice leading up to that vote. One voice can be heard by many.

Which is why many of us are here I suspect.

 

[SFC Ollie]

A certain amount of truth to that, although you can elect someone who says one thing and does another once in office. Also, at election time, you still are only one vote.

One vote, and one voice leading up to that vote. One voice can be heard by many.

Which is why many of us are here I suspect.

Unfortunately there are many voices here but few ears.

 

[California Girl]

It took just 56 honest, dedicated, truly great men of vision and integrity to found this nation. 56. Look at what they achieved.

I wish we now had 56 such men now. 56, from both sides, who would step forward and talk to the American people about the corruption in their own parties - without mud slinging at the other 'side'. 56 who would own up to their own complicity in this institutional corruption that we call 'government', and talk about a truly bipartisan way forward.

 

[Gatekeeper]

Great POST!!

One of the best I have seen in my short time in USMB.​

They few will always rule the many, until.........
We could put a stop to it overnight if we just stopped arguing amongst each other and focused of the real issues.

THEY, those 545 have the perfect defense, the population in continual squabling and infighting, it is so evident in every corner of the country as well as right here in USMB by the truckload. It means those 545 can get away with whatever they want, anytime they want, except for a few bumps, THEY WIN.

When this country truly becomes, UNITED, then maybe we can look forward to a better future for ALL.

 

[saveliberty]

Two parties can resolve even the most difficult of issues. Husbands and wives do this frequently. However, when that fails it is often a third party that makes compromise possible.

Clearly returning to a limited government with no social programs will not happen. Nor will rampant socialism be accepted. We either find a compromise through a third party system or face a civil war in the future.

 

[noose4]

Correctly Attributed.

What in the world happened to us? The article below is completely neutral, ...not anti republican or democrat. Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinal has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day.


545 vs. 300,000,000


Charlie Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.

545 PEOPLE By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them..

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.... The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red ..

If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

What you do with this article now that you have read it...is up to you.




This might be funny if it weren't so darned true. Be sure to read all the way to the end:

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid...

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom...'

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax..

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge T ax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Ser vice FeeTax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge=0Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the hell happened? Can you say "politicians?" And I still have to "press 1" for English.

We did not have the largest middle class 100 years ago, the middle class grew greatly after ww2 thanks to the G.I. bill and many of the government programs the right hates, life was pretty rotten for the American workers and poor 100 years ago.

 

[007]

Thankfully this topic was fairly well accepted by those who realize the two party system we've had all these years and the arrogant lying bastards that have said one thing to get elected and then did another upon taking office has SCREWED us all. Only a couple of the usual dunder heads couldn't see past their tall glass of liberal, partisan, kool aide to see the truth and had to either spew some adolescent comment or some other tripe trying to deflect.

I have hope for our country, but I don't see anything getting turned back like stopping the spending or the growth of government short of another revolution or Civil War. One way or the other, peacefully or otherwise, I'm ready to take my country back from these 545 rejects that have fucked it up almost beyond recognition.

 

[Modbert]

One way or the other, peacefully or otherwise, I'm ready to take my country back from these 545 rejects that have fucked it up almost beyond recognition.

Is that so Pale?

 

[antagon]

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the hell happened? Can you say "politicians?" And I still have to "press 1" for English.

We did not have the largest middle class 100 years ago, the middle class grew greatly after ww2 thanks to the G.I. bill and many of the government programs the right hates, life was pretty rotten for the American workers and poor 100 years ago.

roger that.

back to history class: we're coming up on the 100 year anniversery of progressive income tax. NOW we are the most prosperous nation in the world. in 1909 we had debt without a solution, a negligible middle class and mexico's economy eclipsed our own. neocondertal history is amazing. flunkmode.

 

[saveliberty]

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the hell happened? Can you say "politicians?" And I still have to "press 1" for English.

We did not have the largest middle class 100 years ago, the middle class grew greatly after ww2 thanks to the G.I. bill and many of the government programs the right hates, life was pretty rotten for the American workers and poor 100 years ago.

roger that.

back to history class: we're coming up on the 100 year anniversery of progressive income tax. NOW we are the most prosperous nation in the world. in 1909 we had debt without a solution, a negligible middle class and mexico's economy eclipsed our own. neocondertal history is amazing. flunkmode.

Makes me wonder how much faster and farther it would have grown without the government slowing it down. I suppose you two idiots are trying to claim progress was because of taxes. It is dispite of.

 

[Claudette]

Super post Gary.

I agree Cali. What I wouldn't give for 56 guys like the founding Fathers. These guys had drive, guts, determination and common sense.

 

[noose4]

We did not have the largest middle class 100 years ago, the middle class grew greatly after ww2 thanks to the G.I. bill and many of the government programs the right hates, life was pretty rotten for the American workers and poor 100 years ago.

roger that.

back to history class: we're coming up on the 100 year anniversery of progressive income tax. NOW we are the most prosperous nation in the world. in 1909 we had debt without a solution, a negligible middle class and mexico's economy eclipsed our own. neocondertal history is amazing. flunkmode.

Makes me wonder how much faster and farther it would have grown without the government slowing it down. I suppose you two idiots are trying to claim progress was because of taxes. It is dispite of.

The only idiots around here are the morons like yourself who think this nation could have advanced without taxation, I kind of like having paved highways.

 

[antagon]

We did not have the largest middle class 100 years ago, the middle class grew greatly after ww2 thanks to the G.I. bill and many of the government programs the right hates, life was pretty rotten for the American workers and poor 100 years ago.

roger that.

back to history class: we're coming up on the 100 year anniversery of progressive income tax. NOW we are the most prosperous nation in the world. in 1909 we had debt without a solution, a negligible middle class and mexico's economy eclipsed our own. neocondertal history is amazing. flunkmode.

Makes me wonder how much faster and farther it would have grown without the government slowing it down. I suppose you two idiots are trying to claim progress was because of taxes. It is dispite of.

quite specifically my point, yes. i submit that mexico failed to tax progressively and fulfill the obligation as a government to place infrastructure for business and... brace yourself... 'spread it around a little' with regard to wealth.

studying mexico, granted that about 100 years ago, their economy was neck and neck with ours, and granted the par in natural resources like oil which we share, they are your smaller, low-tax government. they have freer enterprise than we do still. quite a bit could be extracted from the divergence of our states, but its the fable of the turtle and the hare that sums up the merits of your 'faster and farther' theory.

many of the developing economies of the world adhere to your model, but that doesnt make them great (far), just fast. could you bring to bare any, any whatsoever, highly conservative country where free-enterprise isnt partenered with government investment via tax? of course i mean countries in the 1st world, not anywhere where donkeys, mules, camels or elephants are considered capital.

*passes the idiot ball back to saveliberty*

 

[midcan5]

We the people....


[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Rhetoric-Reaction-Perversity-Futility-Jeopardy/dp/067476868X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260201733&sr=1-3]Amazon.com: The Rhetoric of Reaction: Perversity, Futility, Jeopardy (9780674768680): Albert O. Hirschman: Books[/ame]

 

[California Girl]

roger that.

back to history class: we're coming up on the 100 year anniversery of progressive income tax. NOW we are the most prosperous nation in the world. in 1909 we had debt without a solution, a negligible middle class and mexico's economy eclipsed our own. neocondertal history is amazing. flunkmode.

Makes me wonder how much faster and farther it would have grown without the government slowing it down. I suppose you two idiots are trying to claim progress was because of taxes. It is dispite of.

The only idiots around here are the morons like yourself who think this nation could have advanced without taxation, I kind of like having paved highways.

Lots of us don't disagree with taxation - as long as it is:

a. Constitutional or, if not,
b. 'We, the People' are consulted prior to an unconstititional bill being passed to raise taxes.

If it is not Constitutional, then, either they ask us or it is theft.

 

[saveliberty]

roger that.

back to history class: we're coming up on the 100 year anniversery of progressive income tax. NOW we are the most prosperous nation in the world. in 1909 we had debt without a solution, a negligible middle class and mexico's economy eclipsed our own. neocondertal history is amazing. flunkmode.

Makes me wonder how much faster and farther it would have grown without the government slowing it down. I suppose you two idiots are trying to claim progress was because of taxes. It is dispite of.

quite specifically my point, yes. i submit that mexico failed to tax progressively and fulfill the obligation as a government to place infrastructure for business and... brace yourself... 'spread it around a little' with regard to wealth.

studying mexico, granted that about 100 years ago, their economy was neck and neck with ours, and granted the par in natural resources like oil which we share, they are your smaller, low-tax government. they have freer enterprise than we do still. quite a bit could be extracted from the divergence of our states, but its the fable of the turtle and the hare that sums up the merits of your 'faster and farther' theory.

many of the developing economies of the world adhere to your model, but that doesnt make them great (far), just fast. could you bring to bare any, any whatsoever, highly conservative country where free-enterprise isnt partenered with government investment via tax? of course i mean countries in the 1st world, not anywhere where donkeys, mules, camels or elephants are considered capital.

*passes the idiot ball back to saveliberty*

The natural resource of America is and was the people. People intent on building a future under liberty and pursuit of happiness. The infrastructure you speak of was built by private industry. Railroads? Government or private? Agriculture was built by farmers, who took risks. Your model is simplistic and without merit.

 

[Dr.Traveler]

The voters are to blame. They decide who makes the laws.

This is the point the article misses. To quote Donald Trump:

"Usually there's a reason a country is run a certain way."

Or as Thomas Carlyle said:

"In the long-run every Government is the exact symbol of its People, with their wisdom and unwisdom; we have to say, Like People like Government."

Or as....

I can use quotes and quotes on the topic, but the age old idea is this: We have the government we deserve.

I'll end with this Shakespearean quote:

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

 

[Foxfyre]

The voters are to blame. They decide who makes the laws.

Responsible voters are at a deep disadvantage right now though. When just under 50% of all households pay little or no Federal taxes at all, and a substantial percentage of those look to government for benefits, subsidies, or their total support, they are going to elect people who promise to keep those benefits, subsidies, and/or total support coming. The only way that the government can keep those benefits, subsidies, and support coming is to confiscate resources/property/wealth from other citizens who then have more and more incentive to extract whatever they can get from the government.

This sad situation is a prescription for more and more corruption in government as elected leaders keep themselves in lucrative positions by keeping the voters happy; i.e. making sure enough folks get paid to ensure their votes. And it is corrupting to the recipients of government benevolence/payoffs/bribes as they have less and less incentive to do what they have to do to provide for themselves.

So, we create a society that is increasingly dependent on government and thus gives increasing power to government to rape the national wealth and chip away at all our freedoms, options, choices, opportunties.

It's a sad and dangerous situation if we don't turn it around soon.

 

[bodecea]

Given that a hundred years ago mos of the stuff on that list did not exist it would have been rather difficult to tax it. And Mr. Reese is like most utterly ignoring the fact that The Dmocrats ave own the congress for roughly 70 of the last 80 years and that Presidents seldom get any let alone all of what they want especially when the other party controls congress as was the case in 8 of the twelve years we had a president named Bush all eight of Reagans All of Nixon's fords, LBJ's, Eisenhower's, Carter's, all but 2 of Truman's and all of Roosevelt's.

I like how it conveniently forgets state and local governments.

 

[antagon]

The natural resource of America is and was the people. People intent on building a future under liberty and pursuit of happiness. The infrastructure you speak of was built by private industry. Railroads? Government or private? Agriculture was built by farmers, who took risks. Your model is simplistic and without merit.

we are a phenomenon in and of ourselves. you and i could argue about history, then go out and flatten our counterpart anywhere else on the planet on productivity. its not just labor, but the overall picture.

back to business, my model is capitalism and the US, specifically. i refute the idea that we'd misstepped and point to the fact we're the only superpower on the planet, foremost, as my arguement's basis. its supported by the fathers of capitalist economics on the basics of it.

where's your laizez-faire idea coming from? please dont put forward a neo-conservative editorialist. where is it remotely in practice, while we're chasing down merit?

infrastructure is certainly public/private. we conquered the country with a public millitary. cities, the king-pin of capitalism, are huge government infrastructure investments where business and government share growth. most of our rails are government funded now, and for the last 100 years. the bond measures needed to put together the infrastructure of eastern seaboard cities, win the civil war, among other manifest desitiny conflicts in the mid-19th century, and build the transcontinental rail system, specifically, mounted the pressure to levy a federal tax.... that's just the infrastructure predating the 1900s.

the government prints the money. tax is part of the resposibility it has to make sure its worth something.

i could talk about econ for a while, but so im not barking up the wrong tree, do you acknowledge a requirement for tax, or did you craft the idiot ball yourself?