2. If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.
– Mark Twain

3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.
– Mark Twain

4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
– Winston Churchill

5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
– George Bernard Shaw

6. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
– G. Gordon Liddy

7. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
– James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

8. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
– Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown
University

9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
– P.J. O’Rourke, Civil Libertarian

10. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
– Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)

11. Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And, if it stops moving, subsidize it.
– Ronald Reagan (1986)

12. I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
– Will Rogers

13. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free!
– P.J. O’Rourke

14. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
– Voltaire (1764)

15. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!
– Pericles (430 B.C.)

16. No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
– Mark Twain (1866)

17. Talk is cheap…except when Congress does it.
– Anonymous

18. The government is like a baby’s alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
– Ronald Reagan

19. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
– Winston Churchill

20. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
– Mark Twain

21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
– Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

22. There is no distinctly native American criminal class…save Congress.
– Mark Twain

23. What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
– Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)

24. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
— Thomas Jefferson

2. How can a country successfully sustain itself by encouraging government dependency and discouraging personal responsibility and opportunity?

3. How can a country successfully sustain itself when its Government becomes too big for even itself?

4. How can a country successfully sustain itself by spending more than it collects?

5. Name a poor politician currently in office.

6. Who would oppose term limits for all elected officials?

TH

First off can we agree that Pork is synonymous for Earmark? Good, but whether any exists in this bill, depends on your definition: http://www.propublica.org/feature/welcome-in-the-stimulus-bill-an-earmark-by-any-other-name That said, here are “earmarks” proposed by the members of the House and Senate, you decide: http://www.propublica.org/special/earmark-creep-in-the-stimulus-package-090202 . Time mag said this http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1883160,00.html and while I take exception to some of this writer’s comments, they are entitled to their view as I am mine.

Not promoting McCain myself, he did post a top 10 list of earmarks. I like this blogger’s thoughts about it: http://www.examiner.com/x-2759-Business-and-Finance-Examiner~y2009m2d28-Top-10-wasteful-earmarks-on-stimulus-bill . This other site takes a while to load, but tries to justify at least 4 of McCain’s top 10: http://thedemocraticdaily.com/2009/02/27/earmarks-john-mccains-top-10except/ . Does it?

So is there any? Based on the purpose of the Stimulus Bill I would have to say yes. The argument could be made that it will benefit (stimulate) some in a targeted area. But shouldn’t congress be more direct in the purpose of this bill for a faster recovery. Which leads to another point outside of pork, why is the allocation timetable beyond the course of two Presidential terms? Hold for another post, but think about it. Back to pork, even though it may be a small amount – millions, it directly goes against what Obama promised during his campaign (the part where he will remove all earmarks). Many will defend these “promise and switch” actions as how politics work, sadly just believe it cause he said it; but honestly I’m sort of tired of it. I don’t do it, and I expect the same from those in Washington he work for me. I also wouldn’t be writing all this if rolling over on my back was an option I could do anymore.

Problem. I think that this bill was hammered through so fast before anyone (with voting power) could read it. Remember the speeches that this bill needed passed because America was in a crisis? Even Bill Clinton, though defending his actions of late, recommended he ease up on the impending doom talk: http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/obama/2009/02/20/former-president-bill-clintons-advice-to-president-barack-obama-lighten-up-about-economy.html. Yes we are experiencing problems that haven’t been seen in decades (some not as bad, not yet). I’m frustrated because as I understand it, the bill did not have time to evolve. No time for a committee to study and amend. No time for debate. No time for open meetings where the public can comment. The financial burden this bill created warranted more care from everyone and it got none. This to me raises flags of caution even beyond earmark spending. Anybody else a little concerned?

But it’s not done yet, it seems the folks in Washington are on a Spending Crusade. You’ve got the $400+ Billion Omnibus Spending bill (a six month budget full of earmarks), great budgeting folks; follow the second link to the spreadsheet listing the appropriations: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/the-top-10-list-of-earmarkers/

http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?category=&type=Project&proj_id=2049&action=Headlines%20By%20TCS . More? Yes! Additional spending proposals on top of the embedded Universal Health care funding in the Stimulus bill and threats of a TARP2. All this within just months of Obama becoming President!

Question: Earmark or not. Justified need or not. Where is all this money coming from to pay for this? Seriously! Forget what the economists are saying, this whole thing lacks any common sense or any fiscal responsibility. We haven’t even asked China if they’ll spot us and so I have to ask my self shouldn’t we more prudent? If the ship is going down, why did congress get a raise in January? If Geithner was not aware of his tax commitments, why is he in charge of the IRS and Sec. of Treasury and not in jail? I see no transparency; I don’t see the “no one is above the law” statement being enforced. Seems like business as usual in Washington thus far. Players on both sides helping themselves (that’s considered “pork” people) courtesy of you and me. If you aren’t slightly “outraged” why not? Please don’t bring up “the last eight years” line; clearly we did not learn anything and that’s what Congress is truly banking on. Beside, Congress was well within the Democrat’s hold for the last two but that’s not the point anymore. The Dems knew exactly what they were inheriting. I don’t think anyone on the election campaign shared any of these plans whether in a budget plan or with campaign promises. Honestly this is not even close to the changed I had hoped for.

Sorry, I guess I can’t just isolate one bill’s problem without mentioning another. I have some basic thoughts on the government, but you’ll have to go to this post to view:
http://nogaggle.wordpress.com/2009/03/08/questions

Last thoughts… http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/26/AR2009022602908.html
Yeah Universal Health Care. I didn’t care for it When Bill and Hilary Clinton were trying to push it through and now that I consider myself a little more educated, I don’t see how the country can support such an entitlement – Yes, it is NOT a Right to have health insurance as well as many other benefits we experience/enjoy/abuse in this great Country. I fear many don’t know when to say “when”, but that may be part 2 of this. TH

“No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.”
-Edmund Burke

Watch Rick’s rant that started it all:
www.youtube.com

CHICAGO TEA PARTY
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CLEVELAND TEA PARTY
Friday, February 27, 2009
12:00pm – 1:00pm
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1. I believe the United States Government is too large. I believe their arms reach out too far into my life, into your life and the choices we make.

2. I believe the members of Congress ought to be more accountable for their decisions and whom they are made for. This includes lobbyist and special interest groups whose agendas cloud their decisions. Congress should have term limits. Once comfort sets in, personal interests and poor judgment seem to follow. I would like to see the members of Congress live and operate within their constituent’s base, not Washington .

3. I believe the citizens of the US are being taxed too much and the bang for buck ratio is entirely askew; and not in our favor. I am taxed for everything. My taxed dollars are taxed multiple times. For what?

4. I believe too many judges, lawyers, congress reps and business execs are abusing the honor and rights of their position.

5. I believe greed exists everywhere. But I also believe opportunity and personal responsibility are stronger character traits. Only through monitoring and accountability can a free market truly be realized or work. And only through a free market can ideas, products and services be tuned competitively and fairly.

6. I believe the citizens of the US are giving a small group of elected officials the power to control more than they are capable of or intended in exchange for social programs and handouts. Will it make life easier or ultimately make you become a slave of the state?

7. I believe the government wants life to be fast, and that information is being dumped upon us in boat loads. Like every generation before us, we focus less on them (the government) and more on keeping up with life. But with technology we now have no excuse not to be informed and heard.

8. I believe everyone has a right to their own opinion about God, drugs, politics and life. And your beliefs are no better than mine. I respect your boundaries and expect the same of you.

9. I believe that I should have the freedom to make my own decisions and take responsibility for my actions.

10. I believe to know success you have to know what failure is. The government is not my mother and should not try to keep me or anyone from failing; or succeeding.

11. I believe any change can be difficult, but if you don’t try you’ll never know if it’s possible.

At this point, this topic is generalized, but I hope to peel the layers and get some truth from it. I’ll leave it here. TH

But getting back to Gitmo. Ok say we send the prisoners back “East”. What do you think they will do? I’m not sure, but I think becoming positive community role models is not going to be on their resume. And I don’t want them here in the states. We have enough leeches and prisoners already. TH

Lastly all my post are my views, Andrea may agree, but not always… TH

Instead, what President Obama did was further alienate himself and the Democratic party from the Republican party. Any President should be working to UNITE the two parties and urge them to work together on this stimulus bill. The Republicans are asking to remove the frivolous, insane spending programs that will not work toward stimulating the economy right now. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask the two parties to COMPROMISE on the bill.

Even some Democrats are concerned about the size of the bill and its contents. The president should heed that concern, not brush it away.

I’m fed up with this hurry-up attitude. If this is such an important, monumental bill, why the rush? Don’t you think it’s wise to get it right before making a hasty mistake?

Stimulate now, create jobs, increase consumer confidence instead of scaring the crap out of everybody. We need HOPE and CHANGE, sure. Where’s the HOPE Obama spoke of during his campaign? Instead, it’s typical political fear mongering. AV