Issue 31.09

Now President Obama says he never envisioned that his stimulus package would afford quick relief to the American economy, but would do so only after it had run its two-year course.  Earlier Obama sang a different tune, demanding its enactment to speed relief to a sagging economy and to “create or save” 600,000 jobs.  Now, even as the economy loses 450,000 jobs monthly, he pretends that the stimulus will soon kick in.

He justifies the stimulus package by saying it was adopted to prevent the “collapse” of the economy and the banking systems.  But it was really the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), first passed under President Bush, that kept the banks afloat.  At the time of the enactment of the stimulus package, Obama never mentioned it was supposed to save the banks.

But Obama will pay for betting on his stimulus package.  Because of it, the Bush recession is becoming the Obama recession much faster than it would have had he adopted a more gradual approach to solving economic problems.  By jumping in immediately, in order to increase government spending and pass eight years of Democratic dreams in one day, he made the public expect a solution.

Now that the deficit has soared to 12 percent of the gross domestic product, everyone realizes that taxes must go up to pass healthcare “reform,” making its adoption even less likely.  House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) has passed $550 billion of tax increases, but everyone knows that at least $1 trillion is required.  And, in the current environment, Congress will not vote to add the balance to the deficit, even if Charlie wants to “charge it.”

He has laid a trap for himself.  Just as the economy is coming out of its recession — in 2010 and 2011 — he will face massive inflation.  The money supply has more than tripled since October of as the Fed buys Treasury bills and other securities to “monetize the debt.”  With each new infusion of cash, the problem of avoiding inflation becomes particularly severe.  Obama could well lose the elections of 2012 because of the inflation his deficit has created.

If the recession doesn’t doom Obama to a single term, the inflation will.  And if the inflation doesn’t get him, the subsequent recession will.

He was doomed to lose the game right after he received the first kickoff.

Issue 27.09

Last week U.S. House of Representatives approved one of the most crushing tax increases to American consumers in history.  Hidden behind the title of “Cap and Trade.”  The purpose of this bill, according to an editorial in The Wall Street Journal, is to enact a “cap on [the] total amount of carbon that can be emitted nationally.  Companies then buy or sell permits to emit CO2.  The cap gets cranked down over time to reduce total carbon emissions.”  Its fundamental purpose is to impose higher costs on electricity and gasoline so that American consumers use less. 

The importance of maintaining a safe and clean environment is one of the few issues most Americans agree upon.  The Democrats who have super-charged this bill through the House prey upon the uninformed and uneducated as they tout this bill as saving our natural resources.  They understand that most Americans can’t afford or don’t want to pay any additional taxes.  Thus, their leadership rushed this bill through the House, repeating the mantra that cap and trade legislation will cost the average American about the price of a single postage stamp per day—a small price to pay to clean up our air.  They are liars and scoundrels.

This isn’t a new idea — it’s been tried elsewhere in the world but the effects have been the same:  consumer prices rise and jobs are lost. 

Fact:  Members of Congress have repeatedly downplayed the true cost of cap and trade legislation.  When the tougher restrictions outlined in this legislation become effective in 2020, it will dramatically increase the price of gas and electricity in America. 

Fact: Regressive energy taxes like this one hurt senior citizens, the poor and the unemployed the most.  Experts on energy policy that have followed this legislation have issued dire warnings about the dramatic loss of personal income that climate change schemes like this will have. The economic loss will be felt through the loss of manufacturing jobs and increased costs associated with utilities.  

Fact: Cap and Trade sponsors, Congressmen Henry Waxman and Edward Markey and the leadership in the House want to pass this bill quickly.  The longer the delay, the more consumers will learn about its devastating effects on our struggling economy.  The President and his henchmen have vowed to pass this bill no matter how detrimental to the America people.  They are so desperate in D.C., in fact, that they defeated amendments to this bill that would have suspended the law should gasoline surpass $5 per gallon or electric rates rise 10.  It isn’t about protecting the environment – it’s a tax!  And one of the largest tax increases ever imposed on Americans.

Issue 23.09

I recently was privileged to have an open, frank and honest discussion with our Representative, Speaker of the House, David Clark.  He responded to an e-mail sent to him, with a personal phone call and asked simply, “How can I be of help.” 

We discussed several topics, which will appear in this publication over the coming weeks.  I am impressed with Mr. Clark’s willingness to discuss issues, dispel myth, and offer constructive input as to how we can make the changes necessary within our government.

Our discussion started with the financial fiasco that our President has implemented; the “TARP” funds.  Here, in part, is some of the discussion and viewpoints of Mr. Clark.

These TARP monies, in the beginning, had a purpose.  That purpose was to buy the ‘toxic’ assets of banks and financial institutions.  In lay terms, our president’s goal was to buy up bad loans and investment portfolios from those who had made questionable or risky business decisions in order to maximize profits.

Greedy mortgage lending practices, adopted and utilized to produce as much revenue for the writers of the mortgages, brokers, and lenders of the monies as possible, while ‘white washing’ the practical and sensible considerations as to credit worthiness and re-payment abilities that were used successfully in the past.  Why buy bad loans?

President Obama, steps in to save us.  Save?  Consider this.  As Mr. Clark stated, there was no option for taking, or, not taking these funds.  Even banks with no financial trouble, who tried to ‘gracefully’ pass on the offer were told, ‘…you will take the money.’

How does that affect you and me?  The banks cannot afford to lend at a rate lower than the cost to them.  So now we face higher rates on money, we may borrow, for homes, cars or business!

Can unlock of these governmental golden handcuffs?  Not easily, because, the government doesn’t want the money back! 

You see, it is not a matter of money.  It would make sense for the government to take back the money and pay down the debt, but that is not the intent.  It is a matter of power and control. 

Unlike a regular contractual arrangement, this relationship with the government has no rules.  The stipulations and requirements for repayment are in a constant state of change.  Our government wants control of corporations and institutions.  Example, a position on the board of directors as part of the ‘terms of re-payment.’

We no longer have the invisible hand of the free market place.  We feel the heavy hand of government.  In a word, socialism.

Is this a harsh analysis?  Join us next week, as we explore further, “Government Control of Banking and Business”.

Issue 22.09

As we continue our series of articles on the state of our country’s political climate, we feel it quite appropriate to begin with addressing, what seems to be the most pressing and most often asked question, “What can we do about all this?”

Here is a proposed plan.  We cannot claim authorship of this plan, as many nationally syndicated political analysts have proposed it.  We simply restate it for those who have missed the National media.

Simply put.  Enforce the 10^th amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  It reads:

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”  If we tell the federal government, through our State Legislators, that we do not want specific authority given to them, we retain that authority to ourselves at the State, county and city levels!

More specifically, what we want taught, or not taught in our schools.  What goods and services produced in Utah may or may not be regulated by the federal government. 

We will take control of illegal aliens, and the inequities placed on our communities, due to their use of the welfare rolls, tuition payments, and most importantly in the working world.  An employer who hires illegal workers and doesn’t pay Social Security, Federal or State withholding taxes, has an unfair advantage over those who hire and pay according to the law.

It was disturbing to hear, in a recent radio call in show, County Commissioner Denny Drake, offer no answer to a local contractor, who had this very concern, other than the statement of “the Federal Government has assumed responsibility for the illegal worker problem and there is nothing we can do at a county level.”

That just simply is not true.

1-   Our commissioners, once recognizing the problem exists, should pressure our state legislators for action.

2-  Our state legislators should contact our Federal Representatives and notify them that we are retaining the right to police this problem locally.

It is the duty of those in office and who took and oath to uphold the Constitutions of Utah and the United States to administer those laws and deal with those abuses.  We don’t need to and should not pass off our responsibilities and the rights that go with them, to govern at the state level and to deal with the problems that our citizens bring to the attention of those who have the authority to deal with them.

Let’s unite and require accountability from our elected officials.  Not only make them aware of the authority they have, but that they should use it!  Enforce the 10^th amendment through the election of representatives that will actually do, not just be.

As we watch the news, today, we should ask ourselves two questions.  First, “what is going on in our country …,” and secondly, “What can I do about it?”  The second question often arises from that helpless feeling that so many of us have, as we watch government, spend uncontrollably, try to manage our companies and intrude into the money markets.  Sequel that with stories of corruption, through earmarks, kick backs, payoffs, vote fixing and bailouts.

We seem to be drowning is an ever rising tide of government interference, mismanagement and immorality.

As I watch these travesties unfold, it begs the question, “What would the founding fathers of this great nation say if they could speak to us today?”

I fully believe it would be a dialog of disbelief, on their parts, that we have allowed this great country, which they, and so many others, sacrificed so much for, to descend to the state of politics, corruption and irresponsibility that it has.  A country, a republic, founded on a Constitution that was, and is the envy of the free world.  Envied for our spirit of freedom, self sufficiency and morality.

Many of the people with whom I have spoken, lived and fought in World War II & the Korean war.  Many lost friends, classmates and family members in the defense of the freedom and liberty that our constitution was designed to give the citizens of the great country.  They now ask, “What did we fight and die for?  Is this what we wanted for our children and grandchildren?  NO!”

Over the next few weeks, I will be writing a series of articles that will explore our Constitution, and the freedom, liberties and governmental limitations it was designed to give us.  The goal: simply to awaken and educate the descendants of those who made those sacrifices.  Join us as we expose and discuss the events and activities of those who would rob us of our Constitutional Freedom through the use of “The Wedge of Socialism”.  It may sound harsh, Socialism, but it is a very real and looming threat to our current way of life.  Let’s teach our children and grandchildren, what the Constitution is, what it means, what if offers us, and how to defend it, just like our forefathers did.

Let’s us join to make the sacrifices of countless thousands, meaningful, in their lives today.

Rick Neilsonwas born and raised in St. George. He graduated Weber State University BS Business Administration /Finance . Served in US Army National Guard. Self employed for the last 30 years. Writing on behalf of Citizens of Washington County, that are tired dishonest and inept government.  Uniting people to bring needed changes in government.  Helping them to identify and elect those who will honestly represent them.