Cuts: Programs for the poor and taxes of the wealthy
Note: Driftwood area resident and columnist Stern shares his thoughts on Congress' battle royal over the Federal budget. And below a letter from Stern to our State Rep. Jason Isaac about House Bill 1112. The bill has been placed on the General State Calendar. Read the text here, and the bill analysis.
Send your comments and news tips to roundup.editor@gmail.com, to Mr. Stern at pstern@austin.rr.com or click on the "comments" at the bottom of the story
By Peter Stern
Guest Commentary
Many still do not recognize the new Civil War taking place in the U.S. Instead of North vs. South, the battles focus on the Wealthy and the Poorer population.This could become deadly for many of us, as the GOP has increased its legislative majority and clout at the national, state and local levels and the party is now looking to cut and/or privatize many long-time very American programs, especially those programs for the elderly and the poor. The programs include Social Security, Medicare for the elderly and disabled and Medicaid for the poor and/or elderly. This is a bad move for most Americans.
Meanwhile, both Republicans and Democrats continue to look for ways to line the pockets of the wealthy and/or the corporate sector, who will reap huge profits and will get more tax breaks. All this while the majority of Americans are trying to hold on to their, jobs, homes, health and their dignity.
Contact the President, your Senators and House Representatives and elected officials and tell them to stop the new Civil War . . . http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
Tax corporations and the wealthy their true share and cut expenditures in other areas, e.g., providing money, goods and services overseas and slow down the American war machine.
America's government made a commitment to their elderly, disabled and poor. It is time to reaffirm that commitment, NOT destroy it.
_______________________
Dear Rep. Isaac:
HB 1112, a.k.a., perpetual toll taxes
I am writing about the pending HB 1112 that is another attempt at pushing perpetual special interest toll roads and provides a method for Regional Mobility Authorities (MRAs) to borrow borrowed money to assist in developing and regulating more toll roads throughout the state. My family and I are requesting that you use your (our) vote to stop HB 1112 from being approved. For the past decade Texans have fought against these toll roads and we will continue to do so. Please vote against special interests and against toll road profiteering. Texans do NOT want to pay infinite tolls that will be handed-down to our children's grandchildren and beyond. Please vote "NO" on HB 1112.
Sincerely,
Peter Stern, 16700 FM 1826, Driftwood, TX 78619, 512-426-4802
13 comments:
This is in the bill analysis, a back door for taking the heat off the financially strapped TxDOT highway fund and give more toll making power to county commissioners, ie, more sucking up to local road construction special interests at tax payer expense – watch your wallets folks....
The bill establishes that an authority has the same powers and duties as TxDOT, a county toll project entity, and a regional tollway authority with regard to its toll collection and enforcement powers for its turnpike projects or other toll projects developed, financed, constructed, and operated under an agreement with the authority or another entity. The bill requires the appointment of additional directors from a county subsequently added to an authority to be appointed by a process unanimously agreed to by the commissioners courts of all the counties of the authority.
As usual, Peter Stern presents a simple and accurate assessment of what is really happening to our national, state, and local economy under the false premise of budget restraint and "conservative" values - or should I say "elite" values.
We are clearly to the point where party affiliation means almost nothing - since all politicians these days get their political money and crony career guarantees from the same special interest big shots.
As a true conservative, Peter Stern should be congratulated for his common sense and compassionate analysis - which is in dire short supply these days.
Again, I have to wonder what folks expected as they voted for a right wing nut who had (and still has) no grasp of the issues facing the legislature.
Hey jwigginsburns:
Exactly WHICH "right wing nut" are you speaking of??? Perhaps you could narrow it down a bit?
Good point, Anon. There is quite an array. In this case, I was speaking of Mr. Isaac. Sorry for any confusion.
It appears the Rocky and Peter share a common brain. Both are Democrats and Welfare State advocates. I think Peter claims to be a Republican but if so, he would best be called a RINO.
The current cradle to the grave big daddy government must gradually go away if the nation is not to slip into a third world category. It is a cheap populist trick to blame the rich for all of our problems when is they that furnish the jobs, now in such short supply. The rich are in defense mode because of these attacks and the ones from the socialist side of Congress, not to mention Obama and his Chicago mob. Mr. O’s support of the revolutionaries in the Middle East is very dangerous and will ultimately lead to a Muslim Super Theocracy, which will continue their quest to eradicate all but Muslims on earth. The current administration is destroying our so-called economy and encouraging the socialist unions to rise up in revolution against the rich. This entire skullduggery is courtesy of the comfortable idealists in our midst that promote socialism and anarchy.
We will always have poor people and most of them are poor because of bad decisions and a lack of personal responsibility. The “government” and you do-gooders only compound the problem by making it easier to be poor. It is the fashion of the day to include hard working family people in with the poor to encourage them onto the dole as well. Eventually the rich will be missed when some of the fools that pound on them realize that it “was” their wealth that financed their “chicken in every pot” dream. There I said it!
"Most poor people are poor because of bad decisions and a lack of personal responsibility."?
Really?
Government has nothing to do with it?
The corporate dominion has nothing to do with it?
Mr. Stern is a Republican as put forth by the policies and platforms of the older brigade of Republicans, those who believe in a united populations of Americans.
In today's world, Stern may be a RINO, as you stated, but to be a current type of Republican, you need to be without a soul.
But anyway, Anonymous, what is your point. What grand plan do YOU have?
"The rich would be missed."? I don't think so. There are stil too many of them.
It has nothing to do with being "a do-gooder" but it does have to do with common sense.
What happens to our nation when chaos evolves into revolution. What happens then to the rich?
Oh, yes. They will hire their illegals to replace all lower class American citizens to do their bidding. How stupid of me.
We then will be a nation of non-citizens, lost in the universe of their own mutated galazy. How lovely.
The rich are NOT buying any "chickens in a pot" because the wealthy aren't paying their taxes any more.
The rich want to use their money to profit more by stepping on the American mainstream, and they are doing a damn good job.
They are sending jobs overseas and building more manufacturing plants there as well.
They are making money from wars overseas while NOT paying the price for them.
The rich are paying 40 percent fewer taxes than they did 2 years ago.
Let's not worry too much about the poor wealthy, okay?
Stern was talking about Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Now the first two are not handouts.
That is money we have all provided throughout our working lifetime. Both programs ahould continue with some modifications.
Privatization of SS will simply increase the costs for everyone.
Doctors and hospitals will not turn away those who are ill or require emergency treatment.
Who ulitmately will pay the cost for that care?
It seems that the wealthy are recreating the "America" that they now want:
Destruction of the Middle Class and a tribe of illegals to do their bidding without paying much for it.
We're almost there.
Social Security and Medicare are NOT welfare state programs. Medicaid needs to be modified or eliminated. The wealthy are brain damaged.
Our political system is comprised of 2-party misfits and extremists.
That, my friends, is the State of the Union.
I'm not a bleeding heart, but I
don't feel it is a bad thing to
"make it easier to be poor" (Anon, Apr. 21, 6:36 AM). Certainly there
are welfare queens who take advantage of our MINIMAL (in Texas'
case, our ABYSMAL) aid to them.
But I'm sure that most people who
receive assistance would love to
have jobs. I know "some say" that
those welfare recipients have only
their lazy selves to blame, but a
child is not at fault for being
born into a home which may have only one parent present and little
family income, for example.
Every heart should bleed for such
unlucky -- not lazy -- souls. I am
almost daily grateful that I had
the luck -- not the skill or the will -- to have been born into a
family with two parents who were
willing to sacrifice to give me a
good education; I fully realize
that many people are not so fortunate as I.
Amazingly, Anonymous of April 21, 6:26 AM had the temerity to say:
"It is the fashion of the day to include hard working family people in with the poor to encourage them onto the dole as well. Eventually the rich will be missed when some of the fools that pound on them realize that it “was” their wealth that financed their “chicken in every pot” dream."
What hole did this guy crawl out of? He actually believes the rich made America what it is?
Sorry, Mr. rich person brown nose breath, it was hard working immigrants from Europe and the slaves from Africa that made this country what it is - over centuries of labor exploitation and dangerous working conditions.
Anonymous of April 21, 2011 6:26 AM
is simply an old fool who we compassionate and intelligent Americans ignore this ignorance and simply be patient as people like him will simply die off eventually. God's plan is to remove his type of hate and bigotry from the American consciousness. If not, we will all end up living in a fascist corporate state - which is where we are headed now with the new breed of elitist Republican Party robots.
Anonymous of April 21, 6:26 AM: You are the real RINO - because you allow the rich to screw your own conservative working class people. Sadly, you can't even see it.
There is no real reason other than elitist corporate greed that prevents all Americans from benfitting via overall economic progress and profits.
Ever hear of the "trickle-down effect"? It's not happening.
Today, our government and the corporate sector are extremists. The 2 main political parties have extremist platforms.
Instead of looking at improving the American way of life (as did our ancestors), they are looking for increased profiteering at ANY cost, benefitting the few and alienating and destroying the many.
American citizens are secondary citizens. They are caught in a Catch-22 of existence: Fewer American jobs, outsourcing of service jobs and hiring of illegals have hurt Americans.
Educational systems are in jeopardy. Higher costs with lower learning outcomes are hurting American students.
There is a glut in the job sector and housing market. The economy is suffering globally, yet the corporate sector is achieving high profits.
The Social Security System, including Medicare, Medicaid and Disability punishes those who try to work and get ahead, instead of providing incentives to those collecting government income who want to improve themselves and their economic status.
In addition, there are fewer jobs for Americans to apply for. Many unemployed have been so for more than 2 years and are lost in the national numbers of those really unemployed.
Still, very few of us pay income taxes due to so many loopholes in the system.
The wealthy pay 40 percent fewer taxes than they did 2 years ago. Furthermore, the remaining middle class pays much less and the poor still pay relatively nothing in taxes.
That said, our government's total expenditures continue to rise dramatically.
So, as a nation, how do we leave the economic "red" and get into the "black" when we spend more than we have income? How do we move towards improvement when we owe China and India more than we earn?
While the solutions may be intricate, isn't it time to begin to make positive changes in our economic status? Shouldn't we create more jobs for American citizens? Why aren't we ensuring a better learning environment with more positive outcomes? Why aren't Americans (individuals and the corporate sector) paying their fair share of taxes so that we may increase income, cut our costs and reduce our debt?
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