Election Eve

Ran across this article which gives a preview of the lawyers who may run America--gives a breakdown of high level officials who may serve depending on who gets elected tomorrow.

Thoughts On The Final Weekend Before The Election

Here's some food for thought as we go into the final weekend prior to the presidential election.  This piece is full of insights and predictions---the wonks will love it, others may be bored but I'm posting it anyway.  

Also, here's a video link from a veteran supporting McCain---good stuff.

I still think it is unlikely that McCain will win---many are saying it will take a perfect storm.  The McCain folks do not see a path to victory unless he carries Virginia and it's leaning toward Obama at present.  In order to pull this thing off, he has to move Virginia and either Colorado or New Mexico back into his column and I'm just not sure it can be done.

Tune in today for our last show prior to the the election on The Friday Afternoon Political Fix on Talk 92.1 this afternoon from 2 - 3 pm.

Tips for Tough Economic Time/Obama Infomercial

In tough times, tips like these are helpful.  To continue to be profitable in an economic downturn, you have to be creative and in many cases also return to the basics at the same time.

In case you missed it, Obama's infomercial last night was well produced and had some substantial content.  Only problem is, he's slipping in the polls every day as we get closer to the election.  Perhaps all the hype will not sustain him to victory??

Lasting Consequences of an Obama Presidency

Here's a great article of what we can expect in terms of judicial appointments if Obama is elected.  Scary---the federal judiciary is at stake.

Obama is Carter

Great article comparing this year's election to 1975.  Obama is Carter---good read.

Bar Stool Economics

A friend of mine sent this to me and it was too good not to share.  It's a bit lengthy but the message makes it worth the read.  Vote YES for the FAIR TAX. Enjoy.

Bar Stool Economics

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.

The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until on day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20."Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still want ed to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were uneffected . They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtract ed that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man. He point ed to the tenth man," but he got $10!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"

"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics
University of Georgia

For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

MAKE APRIL 15 JUST ANOTHER DAY

flfairtax-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

http://www.fairtax.org

 

Lumpkin County Schools, Berrien Candidate Forum, The Presidential Campaign and more

Over the weekend, while in Dahlonega, I had an opportunity to visit an elementary school in Lumpkin County where one of my college buddies serves as a technology guru.  It was impressive.  The elementary school (K-5) had an impressive computer lab.  iMac computers, about 25-30 lined up for the little ones to use.  They are working with software applications, word,  power point, etc. that I didn't learn to use until 12th grade.  Most of their technology budget comes from SPLOST (special local option sales tax).  Most all of their classroom are equipped with smartboards, which the students love.  All teachers have laptops.  And as an aside, their new high school stadium has about $750,000 worth of astroturf---donated by local businessmen.

Tonight, there will be a Candidate Forum at the Berrien County Administrative Building in the courtroom from 6 pm to 7:30 pm.  We will broadcast interviews with candidates from 5 pm to 6 pm on Talk 92.1 FM.  If you live outside our listening area, you can listen to the broadcast online at www.talk921.com.  Unfortunately, we will not be able to air the forum itself due to a conflict.

Cool parenting quote:  "Parenting is not an intellectual endeavor.  It does not emanate from the head.  If it did, the smartest people would be the best parents, and I have never noticed that.  Good parenting is a matter of how rooted you are in the steady soil of common sense.  The heart and the gut are what make a good parent, not the head." -- John Rosemond 

Yesterday's post regarding the Powell endorsement  generated some buzz.  Many conservatives still think this thing is winnable but I'm not sure it is---it'll take something big to turn it around.  

Wheels Come Off The McCain Campaign

On Friday afternoon, I was finally starting to feel just a little bit better about the presidential election.  The traction McCain was getting off "Joe the Plumber" was beginning to take hold and the gap in the polling was getting closer.

All that went out the window when Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama on Meet the Depressed...I mean Meet the Press on Sunday morning.  Powell's endorsement was the final nail in the coffin for McCain's campaign--it's over, see ya...the tidal wave of support that Powell's endorsement will generate makes a victory for McCain unattainable.

Unfortunately, Powell's assessment that Sarah Palin is not qualified and that the negative tone of the Republican campaign is the same old same old will strike a cord with many voters.

Some say it took us four years of Jimmy Carter for us to get Ronald Reagan.  Maybe four years of Barack Obama will have the same result.  Only time will tell.

How McCain Wins, Etc....

Here's my map that shows how McCain can still win the presidency--long shot at this point, maybe, still possible--yes.  And remember, the magic number is 270 electoral votes to win.

Also, tune in today to the Friday Afternoon Political Fix at 2 pm on Talk 92.1 FM or online at www.talk921.com.  We'll be interviewing Greg Voyles, candidate for judge of the Southern Judicial Circuit.  We'll also be discussing the presidential election.  Sure to be a good show.  Call in number is 229-259-9210. 

After bailout, AIG sent executives to spa...

Can you believe this? According to this article, "Less than a week after the federal government had to bail out American International Group Inc. (AIG), the company sent executives on a $440,000 retreat to a posh California resort." This is the type of excess and greed that got us into this mess---and it continues, to no avail. Fire them all.

How John McCain Lost the 2nd Debate--And Perhaps the Presidency

John McCain had to deliver in tonight's debate--and he did not. Slipping in the national polls and behind substantially in the electoral college count, he needed to hit it out of the park.

Once again, Senator McCain did not forcefully differentiate himself from President Bush. Obama tied McCain to President Bush on foreign policy, economic policy, and energy policy. It was imperative for Senator McCain to communicate to the American people that he is the candidate of change because that's what we want--to be taken in a different direction.

And for goodness sakes, the next time Senator Obama places our economic woes on the back of President Bush and "eight failed years of Bush's economic policies," perhaps Senator McCain should remind everyone of the cards that President Bush was dealt eight months after being sworn in. September the 11th was the most catastrophic terroristic event in the history of our country. It struck at the heart of our economic, transportation, and military infrastructures. As a result we have spent billions of dollars and shed much blood in the course of fighting a war on two fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Sure, big mistakes were made and we have lost faith with the current administration. But give credit where credit is due--George W. Bush has protected the homeland by preventing another attack. It has come at a cost and we need to be reminded of what is at stake.

Unfortunately, Senator McCain didn't make the necessary contrast between he and President Bush nor did he explain how we got into the mess we are in and how we get out of it. Obama claims the mantel of change and Americans are thirsty for it. We better be careful what we ask for because he's untested and does not have a track record of success like John McCain.

It's not too late for Senator McCain to win this election but the climb became harder tonight.

No, say it ain't so Gwen? VP Debate Tainted Before it Begins

This is absolutely ridiculous.  On the eve of the vice presidential debate, word has come that the moderator of the debate, Gwen Ifill is in the process of writing a book entitled, "Breakthrough:  Politics and Race In the Age of Obama" which is set to be released on inauguration day.

I thought Gwen Ifill was masterful and balanced in moderating the 2004 VP debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards.  I have an extremely high opinion of her and know that she will probably be fair during this year's debate.  However, in such a high level debate and with the stakes so high, the blatant appearance of impropriety present here should prompt her immediate recusal from moderating this year's debate.  And if the shoe was on the other foot and the selected moderator was a conservative (like that would really happen in the first place) who was writing a book entitled, "Shattering the Glass Ceiling:  Sarah Palin Paves Path for Future Women," the liberal media would be howling at the moon.  

Government Bailout

Given all the effort taking place in Washington, D.C. to bailout Wallstreet, wanted to share this article by Paul Johnson.  His approach--let economies cure themselves.

In the article he states, "There are three things a government must handle, for no one else can:  external defense, internal order and maintaining an honest currency."  He goes on to state, "What should government do when the economy moves into recession?  The lesson history seems to teach is that government should do as little as possible."

Interesting thoughts.

Productivity Tools Worth Considering

Tim Feriss is author of the wildly popular book, The 4 Hour Work Week.  I've read his book but still haven't been able to reduce my work down to four hours a week.  Nonetheless, his post How To Never Forget Anything Again, offers some cool tools you might find useful.

I've just started using Evernote and find it extremely helpful for organizing notes, webpages, etc.

And while I haven't started using JOTT yet, I've signed up for it and think it will be great!

College Daze

I found this interesting article in the September 1, 2008 edition of Forbes magazine regarding how college is (or isn't) preparing graduates for the real world.  Found at  http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/0901/032.html.  

Premise of the article is that instead of helping high school grads grow up, colleges prolong childhood. Whatdo you think?

Obama's Tax Plan Punishes Success

by Paul W. Hamilton

Going to law school was my path to financial security--I didn't become an attorney to become wealthy but I knew doing so would provide me and my family a comfortable life. In total, I've spent over twenty-one years in school learning. I served in the Georgia National Guard and Active Duty Army to help pay for college.  When I made the decision to go to law school, government and private loans were the only financing options available and I availed myself of them and continue to pay them today. 

Don't get me wrong, I've been blessed.  Three and half-years after opening a law firm in my hometown, we are still going strong and growing every day, even in during tough economic times.  Senator Obama's plan to raise taxes on those making over $250,000 is nonsensical.  I'm not yet in that group--but I will be someday.  Why is it that those at the top of the income stream should have to pay more than those at the middle or lower income stream?  The message this sends is to work hard, educate yourself in the classroom and in the real world, have the intestinal fortitude to jump off the proverbial cliff of starting a small business that may or may not survive, be innovative and industrious, create jobs in your community....and after doing all that, PAY MORE.  In short, his plan to increase taxes punishes success.  

And Senator Obama's response is, "You can afford to pay more."  Remarkably, Obama's running mate, Senator Joe Biden recently said it was, "patriotic" to pay more taxes.  

What we need in our tax code is fairness.  A system that is straight forward and easy to manage.  The administrative burden of complying with our current tax code costs more than $200 billion for individuals, small businesses and corporations each year.  We should implement a flat, across the board tax for all wage earners.  Better yet, implement the fair tax as proposed by Georgia Congressman John Linder which proposes replacing the federal income tax with a national retail sales tax on goods and provides for a rebate for the cost of necessities such as groceries and medical expenses up to the poverty level.  Such a system would capture the lost taxes on illegal activity, such as the drug trade, and under the table wages to illegal immigrants throughout this country.  

Obama claims to be the candidate of change but his policy is the same old thing--this country deserves a tax policy better than what this candidate offers.