Immigration Amnesty? What would our ancestors think?

                                                     ELLIS ISLAND

Generations ago immigrants came to this great land for the opportunity to live in a free land and to work hard. They wanted a better life for themselves and their children. Immigrants were proud to be accepted,legally,as an American. It was something to be proud of. They were proud to learn English and be a contributor to their community. We are now in a time where people come to America for the social programs our government provides. Too many find it easier to come illegally than legally. Becoming a "legal" American isn't that important as long as they receive the benefits America has to offer. They would prefer to be a beneficiary instead of a contributor.

Quotes to Ponder

The trouble with the laws these days is that criminals know their rights better than their wrongs. - Author Unknown

We have the best government that money can buy. - Mark Twain

Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility. -Albert Schweitzer

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. - Abraham Lincoln

Support your local lawyer; send your kid to medical school

When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.- Benjamin Disraeli

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead

The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn. ~ John Lubbock

The constitution is not neutral. It was designed to take the government off the backs of people - William O. Douglas

I hate this "crime doesn't pay" stuff. Crime in the United States is perhaps one of the biggest businesses in the world today. –Peter Kirk

Man tends to increase at a greater rate than his means of subsistence. - Charles Darwin

When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. - Mark Twain

There is an old expression about doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Albert Einstein called it “Insanity."

Health Care Tort Reform - Not Worth It?????????

In 2009-2010, a debate raged on concerning the Health Care Bill. It was suggested that a provision be included to limit malpractice claims (tort reform). The administration responded that the projected savings would be around $5 Billion dollars per year. It was not considered a significant amount (only a couple of percentage points), so it wasn’t worth serious consideration. ONLY $5 BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR. Our country will never solve its problems with an attitude that $5 Billion dollars per year is not worth saving. If you are part of the one Million households that could keep $5000 more per year, you probably feel it’s worth saving.
This idea that saving Billions of dollars is insignificant should scare us all.

Extending the Home Buying Tax Credit

Are we enticing the right buyers?

While the incentive programs to help the public by houses helps, it might not reduce the home inventory and provide enough capital into the economy.

In order to get our economy moving at a respectable pace, more consumer spending is needed. Who better to provide that spending then the people that have money? If the goal is to reduce the inventory of unsold houses, let’s give people an incentive to buy a second or third home. Won’t they then buy furniture, pay real estate taxes, employ service workers and add money to the local economy? Even the home buying process employs workers, real estate agents, appraisers, settlement clerks, insurance agents and the list goes on and on.

The wealthy have money, maybe not as much as a few years ago, but they have money. Entice them to purchase a second or third home. Let’s go back in time when home interest was tax deductable, whether it was your primary residence or 4th home you owned. Just require the property purchased be in the United States.

The concern with the current tax credit is that people who can marginally afford a home are the purchasers. Some may even be using the tax credit to make their down payment. They may be facing the same foreclosure problems, in the near future, if the economy does not improve. Hardly a great plan for the future.

If we are to offer incentives, let’s not only incent first time homebuyers; let’s give everyone an incentive to purchase a home. Inventory will be reduced and the economy will benefit.

The economy needs any help it can get. Enticing those that have money to add capital to the economy would be a good place to look.

Changes in America

"With all these blessings, what more is necessary to make us a happy and prosperous people? Still one thing more, fellow citizens -- a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities."-- Thomas Jefferson, from his First Inaugural Address

Americans remember John F. Kennedy saying “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Those words have been forgotten. Many do not want to “do for their country”; they expect the “country to do for them”. To make matters worse our government relishes the role of playing philanthropist. It has gotten past helping those in need. It has become a threat to our well being.

Generations ago immigrants came to this great land for the opportunity to live in a free land and to work hard. They wanted a better life for themselves and their children. They were proud to learn English and be a contributor to their community. We are now in a time where people come to America for the social programs our government provides. They would prefer to be a beneficiary instead of a contributor.

Our parents and grandparents were appalled when the government’s spending and debt were put in numbers as Billions and Tens of Billions. Now our government expects us to accept Trillions as the norm.

Children were sent to school to get an education. They felt safe walking to school, being in the classrooms and playing with their friends. Now we have guards and metal detectors at the school doors. We need special rules to keep weapons out of our schools. Parents are happy to have their children come home safe and sound let alone get an education.

Senator Chuck Schumer, Baggage Handler

Senator Chuck Schumer, Baggage Handler

Senator Chuck Schumer does not like the idea that an airline would charge someone for carrying a bag on a fight. He feels there is an expectation that a passenger would have luggage. Because of this expectation, there should not be a charge to carry on luggage. He does this, not as a citizen, but as a member of congress. It is unlikely that our Founding Fathers ever intended the government to get involved in the pricing of a service. They had more faith in the ability of our citizens to evaluate the total cost of a service and then choose among the various competitors in that industry. The airline industry is not a monopoly. Even if all the airlines charged the exact same fare for a similar flight, which they don’t, what right does the government have to decide how other services, they offer, should be priced? Let the consumer decide with their pocketbooks. Let the consumer choose which airline has the best total value for the total price. The American public has the ability to make an intelligent decision. Our tax dollars should not be used to pay a senator to interfere with pricing in a competitive industry.

What’s next Senator Schumer, shipping and handling charges when someone makes a purchase? After all, when someone makes a purchase from a business that is miles away from their home, shouldn’t they have the expectation that the product needs to be shipped to them? Are you going to waste the tax payer’s money investigating shipping and handling charges? Please tell the American public you have more important things to do.

Medical Device Taxes

A Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers

The tax, a 2.3 percent levy on sales of medical devices starting in 2013, would help fund the expansion of the new health care program. This is a tax on gross sales, not profits. A company might not be profitable and still have to pay the tax. It sometimes takes new companies years before they are profitable. This could be a deterrent to starting a new business. It could also curb hiring. Since employees are a variable cost, medical device companies might limit their payroll in order to be profitable.