Great TARP Infographic

This is a wonderful infographic about TARP funds and where they've gone. I'm not sure we can ever say that this was a successful use of American taxpayer dollars. The infographic provides some sense of scale for the massive bailout for businesses from the Obama administration.

How can we convince them to stop wasting our taxes?

A Congressman in the Right Frame of Mind

Well, it's nice to see that not all Legislators are snowballed into thinking we need to rush to pass the current ObamaCare bill floating in the House or the Senate. In the video, it's obvious the network reporters are avid supporters of the bill. At one point, one reporter talks about giving every American the opportunity to have the same great healthcare the Legislators have. Representative Ryan quickly points out that what they have is the ability to choose from several private healthcare plans.

My favortie quote comes around 4:45, when Representative Ryan states.

"You're using capitalist rhetoric to try and move a plan that is inherantly anti-market." Of course the supporters are using capitalist rheatoric. At heart, almost everyone is a capitalist. Watch the whole thing.

Friday Healthcare Funny

I love this play on prescription drug ads.

I think we can all agree, the side effects are worse than the cure.

Great Video Recap of Nationalized Healthcare Experience

It's interesting that, when the progressive seems to be losing the arguement, his first step is to indulge in ad hominem attacks. Nothing facutal, just throwing around terms like "fear mongerer" and such. Me? I prefer a logical discussion that talks about the real consequences.

The BS Package is Not Working

This article from the Washington Post gives a really good report on the BS Package and why the economy isn't really moving. Of course, the 'BS Package "was mostly a political exercise, designed to claim credit for any recovery, shower benefits on favored constituencies and signal support for fashionable causes." The author mentions the package was "an orgy of politically appealing spending increases and tax breaks." As if we didn't see that coming.

With an open ended spending bill that no one read being rushed through, of course the authors are going to put in a bunch of projects they couldn't fund otherwise. And, of course, there are issues with oversight and fraud in any government program, especially one as large as this. Heck, the bill isn't even creating jobs, as it was intended to do1.

Tell me again why we had to rush passage of this bill?

1 - Notice the date on the articles, February vs. May. Same Network, different news.

More Reasons to Hate Cap and Trade

The Cap and Trade bill keeps looking worse and worse. Not only will it put the brakes on our economy and become a hidden tax, it will limit personal choice and freedom when it comes to our homes. 'How?' you ask. By including regulations in Section 304 of the bill that allow more governmental intrusion, based on requiring more energy effiencies for your house. For a better look at Section 304, review this article from the American Issues Project web site. The tone is a bit alarmist but, based on how laws can be twisted to have unintended consequences, not too much of a stretch.

Tie the problems with Cap and Trade legislation in with the fact that anthropogenic global warming doesn't seem real, and it just looks like the "Environment Police" are going too far. The more I read about Cap and Trade (something already tried in Europe, with no real positive effects), the more I think it's a bad bill. But you already knew that.

Relevant Healthcare Numbers

This article from Hot Air lists some pretty good numbers to keep in mind as we discuss and debate the possibility of "Universal Healthcare."

Some highlights that caught my attention involved the "Health Care Ranking" for the U.S. by the World Health Organization. What was relevant was his statement that "no U.S. citizens travel" to higher ranked countries when they have a life-threatening illness. Especially check out the link on how the ranking system works.

Also of importance is the information on how our current government-run health systems are working out right now. Massive fraud, extremely high costs and no real funding. And they want to expand this? Incredible.

Check out all of the links to see the source for the numbers. A well researched, well put together article.

Why Slow is Better Than Fast

I wish our Congress worked slower. Seriously. It would be much better for the country if Congress went slow instead of fast. Slow is deliberate. Slow is contemplative. Slow is unhurried and just-in-time. Slow allows us to consider the ramifications of the bills (if passed) and determine whether we want to live with the outcome or leave well enough alone.

This article at Reason dares to ask, "What would happen if we do nothing, instead of rushing in?" The author gives some good examples of bills with unintended consequences.

One he only mentions in passing, though, is the BS bill. Remember, this is a bill needed to save America. How are we doing? Not so good, acutally. The unemployment rate is almost 2 percentage points higher than projected with the stimulus package. And, get this, the current unemployment is about 1 percentage point higher than if the stimulus bill had not passed.

Seems like we've discussed before how the BS package has enormous waste and little actual stimulus. Of course, if Congress had actually read the bill before they passed it, they might have noticed this.

The Health Care Bill is not About Choice

The following video is a great summation of why the healthcare discussion currently in Congress is so important. Remember, any 'public option' healthcare program will have "changed [our nation] in damaging ways."



It is obvious the Obama administration is interested in a full single payer system. One thing to keep in mind is that any plan with a public option will not increase choice, but decrease it. It will do this by squeezing out the small companies first, as Democratic Representative Schakowsky from Illinois pointed out.

SO, can the president please explain how attacking smaller businesses and forcing them to close (with a large number of lost jobs) will "help increase competition" in the healthcare insurance market? It won't. Further, he knows it won't. He knows the "public option" plan is just a step towards fully socialized healthcare.

Call your Senators or Representatives and tell them to vote against a "public option" in healthcare.

Hat Tip - Hot Air

A Good Review of Why We Don't Need Government Run Health Care

Reading this Wall Street Journal article about government run health care is a quick review of why our private system is a better alternative. The author gives five reasons a government run health insurance system is a bad idea.

Of course, one strong arguement for individuals who believe in freedom is kept in the introduction. "If Democrats enact a public-option health-insurance program, America is on the way to becoming a European-style welfare state." This thought disturbs me, since America has an incredible system now. Swapping it out for watered down 'freedom' is not my idea of progress.

The author's final warning should be reason enough for all of us to call our Senators and Representatives to block government run healthcare, "Defeating the public option should be a top priority for the GOP this year. Otherwise, our nation will be changed in damaging ways almost impossible to reverse."

Hat Tip - Hot Air

Awesome Friday Funny... Burn!!

I saw this video and knew I had to share.

The sad thing about this video is it pretty accurately portrays what Obama has done with our tax dollars.

The Bail Outs, as Explained by South Park

This is AWESOME!!! I mean, how else can you explain the government mucking about in the economy, throwing away billions of dollars, without any noticable effect?

South Park	Wed 10pm / 9c
Bailout!
comedycentral.com
Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

US Corporate Taxes Explained... Obama, are you listening?

In this debate about making sure the U.S. corporations pay their 'fair share,' let's take a look at the current laws and what Obama proposes to change. 

This video quickly and concisely breaks everything down in a logical manner. And as anyone who chooses to use their brain can tell you, doubling taxes on U.S. companies abroad is not going to help our recession anymore than increasing taxes on U.S. citizens will.

This tax dodge myth is one Obama is trying to use to his advantage. As the article's author states, "Obama sacrificed substance for grandstanding." Sounds about par for the Obama course.  

Hat tip - Hot Air

Obama is Not Really Helping the Economy

This video is scary. Not only are we in tough economic straits, but apparently the tax money give away that started with Bush and went rampant with Obama is not really helping things.

One thing that struck me is the accounting rules that changed recently. Oh my gosh! It appears that, instead of trying to acurately report items, banks and financial institutions (with the help of our Federal Government) said, "Let's just change how we report things to mak eour balance sheets look better."

I also agree with Black about the bogus stress tests. It's a FARCE and a SHAM! And we know this based on the real facts, not the revised accounting numbers. How do we know the tests are a sham? Stress test doesn't test for asset quality. And, as Black states, "How can the banks all pass the stress test if they collectively need $2 Trillion in U.S. Taxpayer money?"

Also, the whole idea that we can simply inject capital into the banks to make them solvent is ILLEGAL! Black states, "The prior administration violated that law and the current administration is violating that law."

I love his almost blunt answer to the question, "Tim Geitner's the Treasurey Seceratary. Doesn't he know what he's doing?" He starts to say, "No," but backs off and gives a more politic answer, although going on to offer MOUNDS of evidence detailing how Geitner is not qualified.

Watch the whole thing to understand just how screwed up things are right now.

Friday Funny... Not So Funny, Actually.

A great image for Friday. Very telling.

Obama's Budget Cut... to Scale

This video describes the Obama budget cuts and provides an understandable scale. Remember, the large Federal budget is being driven by programs President Obama wants.



There is definitely a way to cut more from this budget.

Hat Tip Hot Air.

How Government Funding is Stifling Science

This article about research funding is like a snowball. It starts small, and with little energy. However, as it rolls along, it picks up more momentum. By the end, most right thinking people can easily agree that the funding system outlined by Dr. Miller is indeed flawed and in need of redirection.

Dr. Miller's point throughout the article is the current funding system will not fund scientists who do truly groundbreaking work. Miller states, "Peer review replaces true scientific research by only funding those projects that follow the established path." This the problem is this truly damns real scientific research. Miller backs up his assertation with real examples and includes enough evidence to show the need for a different system.

"In 21st century America, consensus and computer models masquerade as science. They supplant experimental data." I agree with this statement.  The current system "develops established lines of knowledge to perfection." However, major advances in science are not accomplished this way. Instead, we need more research where "long-cherished ideas are replaced wholesale by new ones that lead science in a different direction." These new-thinking projects, however, are not funded because of the orthodoxy of the reviewers, not because the new ideas are not sound science.

Read the whole article and judge for yourself.

Hat Tip Crossfit. 

Stop Giving Away My Money!!!

This article perfectly illustrates my frustration with my government giving away my money to corporations.

The whole idea of the capitalist system is, "You reap what you sow." This means if a company makes bad decisions, the company goes under. Period.

This also means that no company is "too big to fail," contrary to what some in the Obama administration would have you believe. This also means, stop giving them more money when they are failing.

What the Tea Parties are all About

Unless you've been living in a cave with no TV or internet access, you've hear about the recent collection of "Tea Parties" happening all across the country. But what are all of these people saying? What are these protests about? 

This video addresses the root issue, although it comes at the topic from a non-tea party way.

The reason we have so much unrest is because we have such a powerful government that is redistributing our money. People are becoming more and more upset about government intrusion in our lives, both through intrusive laws and high taxation. There is a strong movement against more government.

Call your Senators and Congressman. Tell them that Washington's excessive interferance in our lives is what people are upset about. We want LESS intervention and more reliance on local and individual authority. After all, Amendment IX states, "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." 

This means we, the people hold all of the rights. Our government should work to ensure we can exercise our rights to the utmost.

Santelli Telling It Like It Is

This video is AWESOME!!

Every American should be enraged, outraged and severely PO'd by the Bailouts and the BS package. The bonuses aren't really the issue. The real issue is that we put any money into these businesses at all.



Something to remember, the way our system should work is that businesses should be allowed to fail if they are not profitable. Business bankruptcy is there to allow businesses to liquidate their assets to people who have been better money managers, not to the Federal government.