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Jul 04 2011
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Current Affairs, Government, Liberty, USA

Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness in Under 600 Words

 

Today is the 4th of July. This year it seems to me more people than ever are actually remembering what the 4th of July really is and why we wanted independence from a kingdom.  Since the election of Barack Obama it seems that we’re being sucked into a path back towards a kingdom, a place where a centralized power simply dictates what’s is and what shall be but for now has to do so with only the appearance of following the rules.

When Rick Santelli flew off the cuff in February 2009 about making a Chicago Tea Party he had no idea what he had tapped in to when he spoke those words.  Why did that resonate so much with Americans?  It was because he was genuinely pissed off and so were tens of millions of Americans that were watching their country start down a completely un-American path.  It was (and is) because America promises only three things to those who live here and those that want to come here – Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

That’s it.  That’s all you are promised here and thankfully so.  You have a right to your LIFE.  You have a right to your LIBERTY.  And you have a right to pursue whatever it is that makes you HAPPY as long as it doesn’t interfere with the first two.  Inside liberty I would also put property rights.  Your property is your property.  Period.  There can be no uncertainty here.

The United States signed a Declaration of Independence because it wanted to be free from tyranny of the British Empire.  In fact the exact phrase in this Declaration is:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Think what it took to draft that document in the 1700′s.  Think about the sheer vision that group of people had to have to form such a foundation for a country.  Those men could have easily just taken control of the new USA and made it into their own family business like so many other countries.  Instead, they provided for a way to put the seat of power in the hands of the people being governed.  They provided that a government has any powers whatsoever only by the consent of the governed.

We (Americans) are not entitled to anything else outside of Life, Liberty, the pursuit of Happiness, and property rights.  There are plenty of countries in the world that offer government sponsored health care, education, and social “benefits”.  That’s nice but that’s not the USA, nor should it be.

You are not entitled to health care (because if you were you would have to force somebody to provide it – and that would go against their liberty).  You are not entitled to a home.  You are not entitled to an education.  You are not entitled to anything outside of your Life, your Liberty, and your pursuit of your own Happiness.

There is no reason for us to emulate France, China, Venezuela, or revert back to the way they do things in the UK.  The overwhelming social “benefits” of those countries are doing nothing short of strangling the people in those countries.

On this 4th of July 2011, let us really remember what today represents.  The very foundation of this country was a total and complete rejection of tyranny and of government control over the lives of private individuals.  We are to be free people, not subjects of the state.

 

 

Jun 14 2011
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Current Affairs, Government, Liberty, Politics, Rational Thinking, USA, Voting

Obama and The Waiting Game

We are all just waiting.  Waiting for the clock to run out.  Waiting for people to have a reason to grow their business.  Waiting for employers to have a reason to hire.  Waiting for the time when we can have a President that is not hell bent on destroying the country.  We (mankind) have at least a hundred years of recent history of failed socialistic experiments all over the world that always end up in ruins yet there is a constituency out there that insists that we just haven’t given it enough time.

Two years into Obama’s presidency the President has only two ways to explain the situation the country is in:

1. He inherited a mess from Bush

2. He didn’t realize that the mess he inherited from Bush was as big as it was.

Let’s take the first one.  Obama certainly walked into office at a tough time.  The country was in a real mess for sure.  But there are two key points to make here.  First, regardless of how we were in that situation, why would you double down (and actually quadruple down) on the problem.  Obama didn’t reverse course from where he picked up the ball – on the contrary his policies directly made a real mess into a real big mess.  If you wanted to get America going in a healthy direction, you wouldn’t do ANY of the things President Obama has put in motion.

As for the second one, the reason the USA was in the fiscal mess it was in can be directly tied to the real estate market and directly to the specific people that created the conditions such that we would end up in the situation were in.  Specifically Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and then Senator Obama with the implicit help of a Democratically controlled Congress.  It’s just too easy to say everything is Bush’s fault when in this specific issue in fact the Bush administration explicitly went to Congress to ask them to reign in Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae lending openness.

Watch this video

As far as the people who voted heavily for Obama in 2008, African Americans, Low Income People, and Young Professionals/College Students) their life under Obama not only has not improved, it has become even harder (how could it not with a President who insists are crushing the private sector and discouraging employment).  Check out this article.

According to the website endoftheamericandream.com  from June 6, 2011, here are 20 ways the US Economy has gotten worse since Obama became President (with supporting links to the details).

#1 In January 2009, the official U.S. unemployment rate was 7.6 percent.  Today it is 9.1 percent.

#2 When Barack Obama took office, the number of “long-term unemployed” in the United States was approximately 2.6 million.  Today, that number is up to 6.2 million.

#3 When Barack Obama first became president, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States was $1.83.  Today it is $3.79.  This also affects the price of almost everything else that we buy.

#4 In April 2009, the average U.S. household spent approximately $201 on gasoline.  In April 2011, the average U.S. household spent approximately $369 on gasoline.

#5 According to an article in the Daily Mail, the cost of a Memorial Day cookout was 29 percent higher this year than it was last year.

#6 When Barack Obama was sworn in, there were nearly 32 million Americans on food stamps.  Today, there are more than 44 million on food stamps.

#7 According to the U.S. Census, the number of children living in poverty has gone up by about 2 million in just the past 2 years.

#8 When Barack Obama took office, the U.S. national debt was 10.6 trillion dollars.  Today it is 14.3 trillion dollars.

#9 The federal government has borrowed 29,660 more dollars per household since Barack Obama signed the economic stimulus law two years ago.

#10 During Barack Obama’s first two years in office, the U.S. government added more to the U.S. national debt than the first 100 U.S. Congresses combined.

#11 The combined debt of the major GSEs (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Sallie Mae) has increased from 3.2 trillion in 2008 to 6.4 trillion in 2011.  Thanks to George W. Bush, Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress, U.S. taxpayers are standing behind that debt.

#12 Under Obama, the U.S. trade deficit continues to grow.  The trade deficit was about 33 percent larger in 2010 than it was in 2009, and the 2011 trade deficit is expected to be even bigger.

#13 Only 66.8% of American men had a job last year.  That was the lowest level that has ever been recorded in all of U.S. history.

#14 Just since August, 2 million more Americans have left the labor force.

#15 In 2010, more than a million U.S. families lost their homes to foreclosure for the first time ever, and that number is expected to go even higher in 2011.

#16 The U.S. real estate crisis just continues to get worse.  During the first three months of this year, less new homes were sold in the U.S. than in any three month period ever recorded.

#17 The U.S. dollar has fallen by 17 percent compared to other major national currencies since 2009.

#18 Faith in the U.S. dollar and in U.S. Treasuries is rapidly declining.  The mainstream news is not reporting on it much, but right now the Chinese are rapidly dumping U.S. government debt.  That is not a good sign.

#19 When Barack Obama first took office, an ounce of gold was going for about $850.  Today an ounce of gold costs about $1500.

#20 Americans seem to be more pessimistic about the economy than ever.  According to a brand new poll, 61 percent of Americans believe that they will not return to their “pre-recession” lifestyles until at least 2014.

But don’t you worry because the number of limousines is up 73% in the Obama administration.  You would think that those in the Obama administration would want to move around in a Prius or a Volt – after all, they want you to.

And the above 20 ways didn’t even get into Obama’s Foreign Policy brilliance.

What about Healthcare?  Obama doesn’t even talk about is signature piece of Legislation – Health Care Reform (Deform).  You would think that if this was your absolute signature piece of leadership you’d be all over it.  Why doesn’t he do this?  Maybe because everyone knows it stinks and is unconstitutional to boot.  If it were so good why would 26 states be suing over this legislation and why would there be (so far) 1400 waivers from having to participate in such a system?

 

 

Closing:

The net result is there is a lot of money in the USA in the private sector and it’s not coming out for productive use until and unless Barack Obama is voted out of office in 2012.  The choice before the country is extraordinarily clear – keep this ridiculous and destructive charade of PeeWee’s Big Adventure going or vote this menace out of office – yes menace.

Certainly whomever the Republican nominee will be needs to be sharp because if Obama thinks he inheirited a mess in 2008, it’s going to be nothing compared the mess the Republican nominee is going to walk into in 2013.

At this point I am 100% sure for at least 48,000,000 voting Americans it simply does not matter who the Republican nominee is as long as he or she can be put in the “other” check box – and that 48MM is by now more likely closer to 60MM.

Obama did this to himself (and to the country) and “ironically speaking” thank God Obama won in 2008 otherwise America may have never woken up.

>> I’ll leave you with article from today.  1.9 Million Fewer Americans Have Jobs Today Than When Obama Signed Stimulus.

“Other” is the only choice forward if we are interested in any sort of future for our kids.  I think it’s that serious.

May 16 2011
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Current Affairs, Economics, Government, Liberty, Politics, Taxes, USA, Voting

Half the Country

This week Gallup.com reported that Obama’s approval rating is 48%.  Oddly enough Business Insider reported that 47% of American don’t pay any Federal income tax and think the tax system is just fine.  Who are we kidding in this country?  We have about half the country funding the Federal government and the other half of the country hanging on.  That wouldn’t be so much of a problem if it were not for the fact that those not paying any Federal Taxes have equally as much voting power as those that do pay taxes.

Imagine for a moment company of 300 owners where only 150 of them invested in the company but the other 150 have just as much voting power when it comes to electing the Officers of the company.  You can bet the 150 that are actual investors (paying the bill) would be a bit outraged that the other 150 have as much voting power, with no risk and all the benefit.

Now just take this example from 300 people to 300 million people and instead of calling it a company we call it the USA.  I think you can see why those paying Federal Income tax get mad that when they go to vote for a President their vote counts exactly as much as the person that doesn’t pay Federal Income Tax.

A solution to this could very well be to either make voting harder by having all voters pass a basic civics test, and even better would be to give everyone a vote, but for every say $20,000 in Federal Income Tax one pays he gets an additional vote.

Some solution needs to be found otherwise every year we’re going to run in to this problem and we’re going to keep seeing socialists like Barack Obama magically find themselves in the White House pushing ever more utopian fantasies while sapping the life-blood out of the country.  

The world is more global than ever and if we keep going down the path we’re going we’re going to look like Venezuela where today many of the capable, intelligent, and job producing Venezuelans have simply left the country and are waiting for Chavez to be gone before even considering going back.   There is no good reason for the USA to go down that path when it can be avoided.

Think about the stats in those links again.  Is it really surprising that 48% of Americans approve of Obama and 47% of American do not pay Federal Income Taxes.  Do you really think this is not the exact same group?  When half the country supports the other half and the supported half has the votes to keep it that way, we’re in trouble.

Gallup Poll 48% Approve of Obama

Business Insider 47% do not pay Federal Income Tax

Apr 20 2011
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Politics, Rational Thinking, USA, Voting

Your Fairness or My Fairness?

What is the rational approach to take with Barack Obama and his stunning assault on America?  On April 19th Barack Obama gave a speech to a group of mostly students at North Virginia Community College that was a stunning show of arrogance, platitudes, and deception.

The Arrogance

BO:  ”the amount of taxes you pay shouldn’t depend on whether you can hire a fancy accountant or not“

Anthidote: Go pound sand.  If the taxes were not so punitive and if the tax code did not have so many if-then statements in it maybe less people would have to hire accountants to figure it out.

BO: “And we’ve also gotta end tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans” (applause from the students who of course know what it’s like to have to support themselves).

Anthidote: Why target the most productive punitively?  Barack has asked before “how much is enough”.  The answer is “as much as someone wants and is capable of”.  But that question also applies to taxes paid – Hey Barack, how much is enough?  Just because someone earns a lot of money does that make it right to take more of it?  On what grounds?  Does that person consume more of the government services?  Hardly and on the contrary.  By what edict does Obama think a wealthy person should pay more for living in America.  It’s most likely that person is already doing far more than his or her share not only in the taxes they pay but it is likely they also employ others and/or generate a boatload of other economic activity thanks to their wealth.

BO: “I suspect there’s a lot of people out there in this audience that are going to be wealthy one day and that’s good, we want you to… we want to you be able to go out there and start businesses, create jobs, and put other people to work“

Anthidote:  Yeah right – so we can tax the hell out of you and yell from the top of the mountain how unfair it now is that you’ve succeeded.

BO: “We are going to have to ask everybody to sacrifice“.

Anthidote: Hey BO, we’d like to see the US Government sacrifice.  We do not have a revenue problem, you have a spending problem.  The Treasury takes in $2 Trillion per year and you spend $3 Trillion per year.  Let’s see some leadership on the sacrifice front and offer us (your employers) a plan that shows how you’re going to sacrifice in the area of government spending.

BO: “If community colleges need to sacrifice then we can ask millionaires and billionaires to make a little sacrifice too” (applause)

Anthidote: Do you not already think millionaires and billionaires have made huge sacrifices to get where they are (maybe not the Kennedy’s but most others surely).  What gives you or anyone the right to confiscate more money from those that have earned it simply because they have it?  This is about principle and since we’re looking at what is fair, I don’t think it is fair to steal people’s money even if they can absorb the impact.  If that were the case, why don’t you just post IRS agents at ATMs and demand your cut right there.  Would that be “fair”?  What’s the difference? A shakedown is a shakedown.

BO “We can’t just tell the wealthiest among us you don’t have to do a thing, you just sit there and relax and everybody else we’re gonna solve this problem“

Anthidote: The arrogance now is at DEFCON 5.  ”Sit there and relax!”  You must be talking about WIC mama’s, welfare recipients, and system abusers like those who could be employed but prefer not to because if they get a job the unemployment money runs out.  That’s the crowd that is sitting there and relaxing while the wealthiest among us are either working or providing others with jobs.  Who are you kidding? (beside the students in the hall behind you in this video).

The Platitudes

BO: “And we can reform the tax code so that it’s fair and that it’s simple“

Anthidote: Wow what a generally great idea.  Why hasn’t anyone thought of that.  Moreover why doesn’t it ever get done?  And here’s a good question.  Fair according to whom?  Those that earn the money and support the country with their taxes or those that receive the redistributed payouts?

BO : “We’ve still gotta invest in you” (the middle class)

Anthidote: Oh thank you your highness.  Then cut spending so we have country in a few years.

BO: “I want to live in a society that’s fair“

Anthidote: Us too and you’re not helping.  You vision of fairness involves stealing from the productive to give to the unproductive.  That’s not going to work.  All you’re doing is creating class warfare and stifling private sector growth.

The Deception (deliberate or not)

BO: “The point is that for every dime you earn you’re paying into social security but for Warren Buffet he stops paying at a little over a hundred thousand dollars and the next $50 Billion he’s not paying a dime in social security taxes“.

Anthidote: The law is the same for everyone.  You pay into Social Security up to just a little over a hundred thousand bucks and then you don’t.  The money you’re talking about with Mr. Buffet is not “earned income” but rather capital gains where there is not social security due.  Either stop the deliberate verbal slight of hand with the student audience or get a clue.

2012 and a one term Presidency cannot come soon enough.  The sham is just agonizing to watch, just jaw-dropping. There could be no better message to the country and the world but to overwhelmingly end this man’s presidency with as decisive a victory as possible at the ballot box.

Mar 30 2011
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Current Affairs, Film, Government, Interviews, Liberty, Personalities, Rational Thinking, Rights, USA

An Interview with Harmon Kaslow

 

Q. Mr. Kaslow, thank you for your time today to be interviewed about the long awaited Atlas Shrugged movie.  I first read Atlas Shrugged in 1992 and I can unequivocally say that the book changed my life.  It was as if I discovered what I had always known but up until then never had anyone concretize the thoughts as well as Ayn Rand did in this incredible story.  What was your reaction when you first read the book and do you remember when you first read it?

A.  I’ve always considered myself to be an individualist – even without having any previous substantial exposure to the material. So, this project was really my formal  introduction to Ayn Rand and Atlas. And, what an INCREDIBLE introduction it was. During production, we had some incredible minds on the set. In addition to John Aglialoro, David Kelley and John’s co-screenwriter, Brian O’Toole, provided great insight into the material. So, I was able to listen and participate in a number of philosophical discussions that happened during production. In the process, I learned a lot. On set, Ayn’s philosophy spoke to me loudly, and I feel honored to have been chosen by John for such an important role. It was an amazing experience, and I’ll never forget it.

 

Q. The theme of the book is timeless.  It seems that no matter who you ask, they almost always say that when they were reading Atlas Shrugged they would see in the headlines of the day almost exactly what was going on in the book.  Have you had this same experience and do you think the audience will get this from the movie?

A. This is a movie about NOW.  Look what’s happening right NOW: there is turmoil in the middle east, the price of gasoline is skyrocketing, people are turning towards public forms of transportation … our businesses are being strangled with government regulation.  These very issues were the one’s setting the stage for Atlas Shrugged more than 50 years ago, and now we’re hearing about them on the daily news! The story describes heroes – the kind of heroes who made our nation great – people who, in Ayn’s words, “move the world” – and in the context of Atlas Shrugged these are the people running railroads and producing innovative products such as new metal alloys that create enormous economic benefits.  And, instead of encouraging the people who ARE the lifeblood of our country, government bureaucrats create laws to stymie their achievement – in the delusion that equality is achieved by bringing the top down.  It is the individual against the state. And the heroes of Atlas Shrugged have finally had enough, which is what I think the audience will get from the movie.

 

Q. The book makes it clear that the competent amongst us should be appreciated and that government is far more useless than useful.   Do you think people will ever understand the true unintended consequences of demonizing the achievers in society?

A. You’re correct about the book. What’s interesting is that Atlas Shrugged, first published in 1957, described a world that is the world of TODAY.  The story centers around capitalism being a dirty word, where government power is escalating, individual liberty is being attacked and collectivism is growing.  So, even though this was her vision 50 years ago when she wrote the book, this is the world we hear about every night on the news. I think people are starting to get it and had enough. I look at the Tea Party and I see a movement that is the result of excessive government spending and taxation. They are diligently working to attract, educate, and mobilize Americans who share these values, and they are having an impact.

 

Q. Why do so many people absolutely love this book?  Why do so many people absolutely despise this book?  Do you think the movie can “reach” those that have not read the book with the same full impact?

A. People are inspired by this book and are passionate about its message. I am certain they will wholeheartedly embrace the film. Anyone who embraces our constitution and understands economics could not “despise” the book. More importantly, the movie should be incredibly inspiring to women as the lead character in the movie, Dagny Taggart, is a smart, attractive, and courageous woman working against bureaucrats and lazy businessmen. She gets things done and shows the level of tenacity that’s really needed to be productive and successful. On a bigger scale, this movie should inspire everyone as it shows how hard work and rational self-interest can be guides to greater personal happiness.  This is a powerful message and one that is easily gleaned from the movie.

 

Q. What was perhaps the biggest challenge in getting this movie produced?  Why would a book that sells so many copies each year and has so many fans be so complicated to get made into a movie.  You would have thought this movie would have been made years ago (I’m glad it wasn’t though…)

A. When John Aglialoro, a successful entrepreneur, acquired the rights more than 18 years ago, he had the expectation that a Hollywood studio would jump at the chance to produce a movie based on this popular influential novel.  That didn’t come to fruition despite attaching accomplished producers, directors and actors. So, it’s clear this is not the kind of movie Hollywood would embrace. We can speculate as to all the reasons why Hollywood might not want to produce or see this movie distributed, even though Atlas Shrugged has been read by millions who found inspiration from its timeless message.  Some of these reasons include the fear of the message and politics, the failure to recognize the large number of Americans who would support a movie with such a powerful and smart message, and the absence of the artistic courage required to adapt faithfully such an important piece of literature into a movie accessible to millions of people. So, it’s ironic that even though Atlas Shrugged has been read by millions all over the globe – no studio was willing to produce it.   So in the spirit of true individualism, we produced it ourselves.  It wasn’t easy but John and I had a very talented, committed, and courageous team that work tirelessly on the film under difficult circumstances. But the time was right to produce the movie.

 

Q. My understanding is that unlike the book, the movie takes place in 2016.  I like this idea for the movie.  Do you think that was to keep the context of the book relevant to a younger audience?

A.  No. Dating the movie was heavily debated, and John and I sought advice from scholars and people with a deep understanding of the book and Ayn Rand. I’ve been told that Ayn Rand set her story a “few days into the future.” So, we took the liberty of a “few years into the future.” As it turns out, it was a production necessity because we did not have the time and resources to create a “timeless” movie. After all, nearly all the props in this movie will date the movie. For example, the cell phones, cars, newspapers and magazines change overtime and are included in the movie. We hope is that the future depicted in the movie never comes to be, which can be accomplished by people reading the book, embracing its philosophy and getting this country back to a place envisioned by our founding fathers.

 

Q. Are parts 2 and 3 coming out soon after or do you think we’re looking at years between episodes?

A. We didn’t feel that we could do justice to the magnificence of this 1100 page story in one movie – so we divided the movie into the same 3 parts as the book. I note this is similar to what the producers did with Lord of Rings. As it turns out, Part 1 sets an excellent context and setting for the characters and story so that people not familiar with the book or the slogan “Who’s John Galt” can have an inspiring and entertaining experience. Parts 2 and 3 should follow in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

___

 

Thank you Harmon for your insight into what should be one of the most anticipated movies ever.  I for one am very happy someone finally had the fortitude to make it happen. Can’t wait to see it.

Tony Forcucci

* Harmon Kaslow is the co-producer of Atlas Shrugged Movie

 

Mar 26 2011
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Current Affairs, Ridiculous, Taxes, USA, Voting

Could you use an extra $9 million?

Let’s say you’re 25 years old and make $75,000 a year.

What if I now told you that your share of future Federal spending was $1,900,000 and that your estimated future Federal taxes would amount to $1,300,00 – and that if you were to instead NOT have to pay these taxes and you could get a 6% return on this money (money that YOU earned) it would be worth $9,200,000 when you were older if you lived to 79 years of age.

I have found a cool (and depressing) online tool that can calculate your share of either the entire Federal budget or even break it down into one of 19 diferent Federal programs such as Welfare, Foreign Aid, Social Security etc…

You simply enter your education level, your age, your annual income and it calculates the 3 figures – your share of spending, your future taxes, and what the taxes COULD have earned you at 6%.

Read it and weep.

Read it and vote : The 2012 elections are coming

 

 

 

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