Chaos

America is living in chaos. Foreign policy, economics and socially we are unstable and uncertain of much of anything.
Is this deliberate or random chaos? I think it is deliberate. I can't believe that the majority of our government supports a deliberate decline of America. I know that there are many in America that would like to see America collapse.
I know of some that subscribe to theory that the more confused people are about their future the more they are susceptible to someone eloquent who offers stability no matter what the price. First tear down society then rebuild it in the image you believe in.
We the people want stable dependable jobs, secure homes and security for our families. Have we been pushed hard enough to accept a new form of government? What form? Who runs it?
Right now people are not sure of their future. Foreign countries are not sure of America's future. Are we a risk for investment? Sure we are, we are spending like drunken sailors and borrowing like there is no tomorrow. Who is doing all this borrowing and spending? Our government. Are we spending into bankruptcy? On purpose?
Long and short term investors here at home are holding back investing in businesses and securities not because those businesses are failing but because investors are uncertain of the future.
America shows uncertainty in foreign policy by disrespecting our long term friends and encouraging current foes. The vast majority of UN members have voted consistently against America on wide majority of issues raised. These same members receive millions from us in foreign aid. The inconsistency of foreign policy leads to doubt about our commitments around the world. We are either committed or we are not. We either have friends or we don't. Why is that such a hard concept to follow through on?
Socially there many daily examples of public elected officials pushing the bounds of honor. We have leaders that lie like it's a natural thing to do. Anyone can have forgivable faults and hidden agenda, but when caught, to lie about it is unforgivable. Lying by public officials is or should be grounds for immediate dismissal. When very public people come out and support a lying public official because the official was good at his job only supports moral decay and acceptance of dishonest behavior. How can he be good at his job when he is caught lying to the public? The line drawn must be clear to all of us, unfortunately there are many that blur it. We do it almost every day. Just listen or watch the news. Our kids are.
We need new leaders that have honor, stability and a positive unblurred direction for American.
Ask yourself this question.
Was America so confused and uncertain just a few short years ago?

Taxes and Power

        1% of the public pays 34% of all federal income taxes. 5% of the public pay 67% of all federal income taxes. 47% of the public pay no federal income taxes at all. The rest, middle and lower upper class pay the rest.
        It is claimed that the 1% of the public that pays the most income taxes controls anywhere from 60 to 90% of the money in this country.
I ask, if the group that earns the most doesn't control what they make or own who should? Of course the liberal answer always comes back that there should be a more even distribution of wealth. That's where the government comes in. They redistribute the wealth. But who, what person,  in government decides who gets what?
       There are two sides to every argument.
       I say, if 47% of the public does not pay any federal income taxes because they, presumably don't earn enough, then they should be incentivized by being asked to pay some token amount, perhaps 1% to 5%, amount in taxes. Imagine how that would go over in and election. This new incentive tax code might inspire them to reach the 35% tax level the very rich pay, and might even allow states to participate in the new found riches.

       So I say, tax the poor and let them rise up and become something.

       If Democrats keep espousing 'tax the rich' 'tax big business' and Republicans keep espousing tax breaks for those the pay taxes, who among the 47% are likely to vote Republican? All those that want something for nothing will vote Democrat because almost half of all the people in this country do not pay income taxes and they like it that way.
       If Democrats espouse free health care and Republicans say we can't afford it who are the poor going to vote for?
       The answers to all the above questions seem obvious to me but in a democratic society the majority rules, usually, and practical solutions to economic questions seldom get practical answers.
   
        Another subject, as Diritives, Reit's, Shorts, Longs, Puts and Calls are all traded on stock markets around the world they all generate profits and loses and are subject to taxes like any other manufactured product. Be it buggy whips, ipods or mortgage bundles, the world is a competitive place and in it are products and services that are bought and sold  at a ridiculous pace. Fifty years ago people would have had no idea of those products today. But they did know of the flawed governmental system we had then and what we have today is just as flawed. It's a system that tries to control wealth and those that earn it.

The Economy and Politics

The battle on Capitol Hill over the 2011 budget and rising debt continues with politics playing a key roll keeping the real issues as muddy as possible. No apparent solution resulting in something good for the general public seems in sight. Polls indicate by 51% that the Republicans don’t have a clue. Polls indicate that Obama’s approval rating is falling but only to slightly less than 50%.

Those figures baffle me. Explain to me why, when Congress and the White House last year were totally Democratic they didn’t vote and complete a budget for the year 2011, nor address a sky rocketing debt. Why has the Congress offered up Continuing Resolutions, totalling six to date to keep the government operating. Why has Obama and Democrats have stood by and watched us sink deeper in debt? The Democratic Congress did not offer any budget cuts until the new Republican majority in the House pressed for them. Since the new Republican House majority began January the last three of those six CR’s have all included cuts in the budget. And the Republicans don’t have a clue? Seems to me that no cuts would have occurred without the public making their feelings known in last fall’s elections by electing as many Republicans as they did.

The newly elected Republican state’s governors and legislatures have also tried to cut budgets and debt with huge resistance from rising health care costs, deeply entrenched unions, liberal institutions and unfunded pensions. The newly elected Republicans are doing their job and insisting that budgets must be smaller and reflect the governments income. How can Democrats ignore what’s right in front of them? Declining income and rising costs cannot be swept under the rug or by using the usual rhetoric of big business and the wealthy not paying enough taxes.

The New 2012 Budget

Paul Ryan’s proposed budget for 2012 contains many cuts, among them is a cut in the Corporate Tax Rate from 35% to 25% paid for by eliminating many federal subsidies and tax loopholes that allow big corporations from paying any tax at all.

I think that included in the new budget should be a two year, 0% tax rate moratorium on the current 35% corporate tax on specific off shore profits. These profits have been estimated to be about two and a half trillion dollars. These profits are sitting in off shore banks held by US Corporations that could be brought back into this country for job creation, investment and expansion here, instead of overseas. It seems a no brainer.