Left And Right Politics » Misc

The End Of Ethanol Subsidies

Billy — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:00:01 +0000

In a previous post I wrote about how Congress voted not to keep the ethanol subsidies going. A program that needed assistance when it first started, but now has grown enough to support itself without the taxpayer’s money. Six billion dollars was given to the ethanol industry each year. Congress decided to allow the subsidy to expire to help cut the budget. A plan that when you really look at it, was another political ploy to help the politicians look like their doing their job and following what the American taxpayer wants.

In 2007 President G.W. Bush signed into law a bill that would require oil company refineries to add ethanol into fuel in the United States. So ending the subsidies will not harm the industry when it comes to losing business and causing the ethanol industry to go out of business. In the end, the government has still help pick a winner within the energy industry.

What does that mean for other commodities within the US? Nothing. Corn prices will continue to be within the same range as it has been, as well as other commodities like beef and poultry. Ethanol consumes approximately 25% of the corn grown in the United States. On top of it all, it doesn’t even produce the energy it consumes to create it.

So why is it still being used within the US? I really can’t answer that since I don’t know what is going on behind closed doors in Washington.

Libertarian (Libertarianism) Shirt for Men & Women High Quality T-Shirt

Billy — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:00:29 +0000

Our Libertarian shirt helps make everyone around you feel at ease and pushes the absolutely wonderful idea that everyone has the right to do what they want and be who they want to be as long as those decisions don’t infringe on the freedoms of anyone else.These ideas, along with this shirt, specifically aid in supporting all the hundreds of thousands of people all accross the globe that are being persecuted because their lifestyles differ from what their society deems ‘morally acce (more…)

The Tax Poem

Billy — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 16:50:55 +0000

The Tax Poem.
(this is long but worth the time to read).

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he’s fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won’t be done&nbs p;
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him til
He’s good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he’s laid.

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
‘Taxes drove me
to my doom…’

When he’s gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Airline surcharge tax
Airline Fuel Tax
Airport Maintenance Tax
Building Permit Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Death Tax
Dog License Tax
Drivng Permit Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment (UI)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Gasoline Tax ( too much per litre)
Gross Receipts Tax
Health Tax
Hunting License Tax
Hydro Tax
Inheritance Tax
Interest Tax
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Mortgage Tax
Personal Income Tax
Property Tax
Poverty Tax
Prescription Drug Tax
Property Tax
Provincial Income Tax
Real Estate Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Retail Sales Tax
Service Charge Tax
School Tax
Telephone Federal Tax
Telephone Federal, Provincial and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Water Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation
was one of the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt, had a large middle-class,
and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the hell happened? Can you spell ‘politicians?’

There is just too much government spending to justify all these taxes.

Hurricane Irene Moves Through Calmer Than Expected

Billy — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:21:24 +0000

Hurricane Irene came and went without as much damage as the main stream media and the government hyped it up to be. The storm which has been on the radar for well over a week while it made it’s way across the Atlantic ocean hit into the eastern seaboard of the United States over the weekend.

During the entire week we heard the news reports stated that this is going to hit Florida, then it said it was going to hit the Carolinas. It was estimated that it would be a CAT3 when it made land fall. Irene was over thousand miles from hit land, moving at 15 miles per hour, but the media along with the Obama Administration were issuing statement to batten down the hatches and prepare for the worse storm to hit the area in over fifty years. The estimates being reported in regards to the damages Irene will cause was over $8 billion and as high as $20 billion.

As of Sunday morning we can see that the damages from the storm was minimal, mostly due to flooding. Yes New York City did get hit with a lot of rain, but being a kid from Brooklyn, it wasn’t the first time nor the last.

It’s gotten to the point where people who listen to the newscast, watch the weather reports and pay attention to possible disasters are starting to think that the “power-that-be” have no idea what they are doing when it comes to notifying the public of important information. The truth of the matter is that they do know what they’re doing and it all surrounds ratings.

Even as the storm was downgraded to a CAT1 Friday night, the news channels didn’t push the point too much. Instead they sent reporters out to areas that the town or city are just a few feet above sea level and made it seem that this is what the entire city was dealing with.

Yes there were many areas in the tri-state area that flooded, but if you look at the landscape of the region, you’ll see that most of the area is only feet above the sea level. Have any decent storm move in on the city and the same thing will happen.

So why didn’t the government do the right thing and properly warn citizens about the truth instead of causing the entire east coast to shut down operations? Because after the mishap of this past winter when New York, New Jersey and Washington were buried under feet of snow, Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Christie and President Obama din’t want to show how incompetent they are when it comes to handling issues that need immediate action. So over the past week, the beaches were closed, subway systems shut down and government agencies had a few extra days off.

How are the American people going to take these warnings serious if every single issue is going to be handled like it’s the next Armageddon. News broadcast, newspapers, and the government (all levels) must be honest and precise with the information they release to the public if they expect the public to take them serious. If not, one day there will be a major warning and many people will just shake it off and go about their business. Then what are we to do when there are hundreds of people injured, trapped or even dead because the media and the government cried wolf once too many times.

If I’m A Racist, Then You’re Prejudiced

Billy — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:56:19 +0000

Since Congress is on their undeserved 5 week vacation, there really hasn’t been big issues to talk or blog about. So I figured I’ll go ahead and talk about something that I was thinking about this weekend.

The double standard that goes on within Washington is ridiculous. No matter which political party is in control, the same games are played against the other. Here’s a quote from the then Congresswoman Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

“I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you’re not patriotic. We should stand up and say: We are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration.”
— Hillary Clinton, April 28, 2003

That’s right, these words were spoken by our current Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. She made these comments when the republicans had control of the House and the Senate. Hillary is absolutely correct. We, as Americans have the right, given to us by the Constitution, to have the choice to agree or disagree with our elected officials.

Now years later when the shoe is on the other foot, it’s wrong for Americans to disagree with the Obama Administration. It seems that when any group or another political party go against the current power, they’re considered wrong and will be referred to as “extremist’, “fanatic” or a “racist” Of course let’s not forget the favorite one of the Obama Administration and Democrats alike,… Wait for it…

“terrorists”.

Well let them call me whatever they want and I don’t care about it one bit. As long as this country has been in existence, it’s citizens have had the right to speak up against what our politicians are doing (or not doing) for this country. Since the 2008 election, the TEA Party and other constitutional minded groups have been speaking up and making a difference with the mindset of others who are typically unconcerned with the political BS that goes on. These groups have woken the sleeping giant, which is the patriotic American people. We will save this country from the Socialistic policies of the current administration and bring it back to the smaller, limited government that it was meant to be. It’s just going to take awhile for it to happen since the policies of both parties have been changing this Republic for over 50 years.

Lame Stream Media Is At It Again

Billy — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:28:47 +0000

As a Libertarian, I try to listen to multiple views of the main stream media outlets. This way I get a good feel of what both sides think and feel about the issues. Over the years, especially since the last presidential election in 2008, I noticed how the left is very one-sided and doesn’t give you all the fact (if any at all). It’s gotten to the point that the right-wing media outlets are doing the same now.

If you’re paying attention to the GOP primary, you’ve had to have noticed how FOX News is only looking and talking about the candidates that they want to profile and push forward in the primary. Look at the treatment that they are giving to Senator Ron Paul. Last week he polled the second highest in the Iowa straw poll, only 0.9% behind Michelle Bachmann and FOX hasn’t even given him the respect he deserves from finishing that well.

The Bias media, no matter what view they have should not be conducting themselves in this manner. I understand when it comes to the opinionated shows like Hannity, O’Reilly and Matthews will interject with their thoughts and opinions. That’s OK, but when you have news programs on these same stations doing it also, it wrong. News programs are to give you the facts, all the fact, so you can make you’re own intelligent decision.

It’s gotten to the point where I can’t even watch any of these programs. It started shortly after the last election in 2010. Only a few months after Marco Rubio took office in Washington, he was invited to be interviewed on the Sean Hannity show. When Rubio was introduced, Sean’s first question to him was…”So are you going to run for president in 2012?” Rubio clearly stated that he was just elected to office and for the next six years, he will be dedicated to that job, not running for another. During the entire eight minute interview, the host continued to ask his guest about running for president. We have real issues going on in America and the last thing we should be asking any public official is if they are going to run for another position. Let’s ask them about what they’re doing with the job they already have.

He is another incident where the media is out of control. Rick Perry decided to run for president last Saturday. On Monday, Rush Limbaugh was praising him as the true representative of the Republican party. How is that so? Rush clearly knows Perry’s voting record and should be telling us how he wants to give tuition to illegal immigrants as well as being for amnesty and the DREAM Act. On that information alone, conservatives and republicans shouldn’t even consider Perry in the primary. Why is it that the right wing refuses to see the quality in Senator Ron Paul and Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann? To be that would be the perfect ticket out of the clowns that are currently in the race.
As for the left-leaning media, when are they going to admit that Obama has failed this country and doesn’t deserve to run again. As a matter of fact, Congressman Bernie Sanders (D-Vt) has been pushing to run in a primary against Obama and not one of these Democratic supportive stations won’t even mention it.

Rick Santelli Rants In Defense Of The TEA Party

Billy — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 04:30:34 +0000

This morning, August 8,2001, before the markets even opened, Rick Santelli was asked about what he thought about all the events since last Friday night when Standard and Poors downgraded the credit rating of the U.S. His response as well as his analogies to the current situation is awesome. If you’ve watch CNBC during the trading day on Wall street, you know Rick Santelli for his reports live on the Chicago Board of Trade, where he is also known for his occasional rants. His rants (in my opinion) are so clear and straight to the point, it’s awesome.

Rick Santelli clearly does not agree, condone or accept the lack of leadership in Washington. I have to agree with him myself since I also share that same view. Obama and all the other politicians (both Republicans and Democrats) in Washington (oops I forgot, they’re on five weeks vacation) have shown no leadership skills during the last few months. What happened in the past week is just part of the results.

From Timothy Geithner telling Congress in April, 2011 that he sees no risk at all to the United States losing it’s “AAA” credit rating, to Obama’s lame speech today, we can see the lack of leadership.

If we, the American voter, don’t stand up and tell Congress and the president to do the job we sent them to Washington to do, we as a nation will lose more than we already have.

Here’s the video to Rick Santelli’s rant this morning. I know you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

Government Can Not Work Together

Billy — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 01:52:44 +0000

……unless of course it’s comes to the fact of giving themselves raises or going on vacation.

When it comes to anything other than those two issues, Congress and the Administration can not work together. It’s been going on for over three months (actually longer, but I’m just talking the major push of it all) and still to this day the Obama Administration can’t even come up with their own plan. All they want to do is point fingers at the Republicans coming up with “insane” ideas, and not being cooperative.

It’s gotten to the point where the credit rating company, Standard & Poors is looking to downgrade the U.S. rating on the grounds that they (Federal government) are politically divided. In October, S&P said that the U.S. fiscal issues won’t affect anything in three to five years from now. Then in April, they changed their outlook to being a three to one chance that there will be debt issues within two years. Well now, S&P are looking at a 50% chance of a downgrade since Congress and Obama are too divided to really give confidence to the rating company.

Obama and the Democrats in the Senate have said that they will not pass a bill that won’t allow the federal government to raise the debt ceiling. The Republicans in the House have presented a bill, Cut, Cap and Balance, but the left doesn’t like it. Why? Because they didn’t write it. Well, not really, they feel that they will have to raise the debt ceiling again as well as they’re not too happy about cutting programs that have brought them the votes they’ve wanted in the past. They’re also thinking of the election next year.

That’s what this all comes down to when you really think about it. This whole entire debt ceiling fiasco is all political and nothing more. Why else would Obama use his empty threat last week when he said that he couldn’t guarantee if the Social security checks would go out on August 3rd if the debt ceiling wasn’t raised. I feel that was a low-class act for any president to do. When it comes to cutting programs, it’s always the Fire Department, Police Department and Medicare that are used as pawns to get voter support. The good thing is that more than ever, the American voter is engaged and knowledgeable about the federal government and what their duties are and what is going to come first in entitlement programs and other spending programs.

It time for us to realize that these clowns in Washington are not going to do the right thing ever again in their political careers, so let’s make it easier for them by voting ALL of the out of office when their time has come for re-election .

Free Birth Control In The Health Care Bill

Billy — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:12:33 +0000

With all the talk about getting the health care bill passed last year and Nancy Pelosi’s quote of “we have to pass the bill to find out what’s in it.”, we’re finding out more and more about what’s in it and it’s a complete mess of a bill.

The latest to come out about the bill is the news of nearly all health insurance plans may soon be required to offer women patients free coverage of prescription birth control, breast-pump rentals, counseling for domestic violence, and annual wellness exams and HIV tests. In the health care bill that was passed last year, the law directs the Obama Administration to draw up a list of preventive services for women that will require all new health plans will cover without any deductibles or even co-payments. All this is by the year long review requested by Kathleen Sebilius, Health and Human Services Secretary.

In a statement, Sebelius praised the committee’s work as “historic” and “based on science and existing literature.” she continued, “We are reviewing the report closely and will release the department’s recommendations … very soon.”

While I believe in personal freedoms, I also believe in personal responsibility. If someone wants to be sexually active while not trying to get pregnant, it’s is their responsibility to pony up for the expenses for that activity. How is it that the federal government feels that it has the right to force private industries to pay the costs for the decision for someone else? As we seen in the past, this decision by the Obama Administration will only affect other people who pay for health care and if the federal government is going to subsidize the program. Why is it the responsibility for the American tax payer to foot the bill?

It’s estimated that 41 million Americans are in “new” plans that these rules will apply, along with 98 million other people are “grandfathered” in policies exempt from the rules. Those “grandfathered” will lose that status if they make a host of changes to their coverage and/or payment policies. It’s expected that the number will increase to nearly 47 million more American will be under the new rules. Insurers will need to follow the new guidelines at the start of the next plan year within one year after Sebelius issues them.

As we see as time goes on and we have the opportunity to dissect the bill, we see the federal government’s purpose is to control the industry as they have done to so many other ones (auto, banking, etc.). Either way you look at it, there is no reason for the federal government to be involved in any industry no less the medical industry.

Replying To Partisan Insults

Billy — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:09:32 +0000

Recently, I received a comment from one our many readers and wanted to address a few of this person’s points. The reader Eric, had some choice words after we posted a link to vote in a political poll. The poll was from 2009, but it seems it took Eric a little longer to find it. He commented on June 29, 2011.

Eric’s first sentence in the comment went like this,

All you people do is whine and throw around unguided, random superstitions and wrong information.

All you people??? Eric, we are all Americans and people who make comments like “all you people” want to keep everyone separated. That kind of thinking has been going on too long and it needs stop so we can move forward in this county. And if you really thought all we did was whine and give wrong information you wouldn’t feel so threatened by us. You would have just blown us off as just another misguided political site.

I’d like to hear you guys provide some ideas on the economy, or maybe the least you could is provide a legitimate point.

I’m not quite sure what Eric was talking about because he posted on a poll that is not even open anymore. If “you guys” was directed at Libertarians, then Ron Paul and Alexander Snitker, among other Libertarian minded candidates, had some great ideas, but it fell on deaf ears because these men (especially Mr. Snitker) weren’t taken seriously and given a fair shake in debates. If “you guys” was directed at this site, then your comment proved that you were only here to throw around a few insults because if you would have taken time to actually read some of the posts here, I have provided my ideas and very legitimate points.

You people are delusional. Maybe you’d be happier with Bush who started two wars (that still need to be paid for, under Obama) and turned a budget surplus into a 9 trillion dollar deficit and passed no considerable legislation that did anything besides allowing the Fed. to tap your phone line and check your emails ( oh yeah and he tortured a lot of people). Ya, he’s a good guy, let’s get someone like him.

Partisan and insulting in the same first sentence. I’m not sure if you took the time to notice Eric, but we’re Libertarians. That means we think the Democrats and the Republicans screwed us. Maybe if you read through the site before commenting, you wouldn’t have come across as so misinformed. Eric had a lot to say in these few sentences, so I will address each one separately.

As for being happier having Bush as president. What are my choices? If it’s a toss up between him and Obama, Yes I would want Bush as president. Let’s be for real though, Bush also didn’t do what he needed to when it came to war. Nearly ten years later and I’m still not sure if he had a right to be in Iraq. As for Afghanistan, we should have never been in there. While we’re on the subject, at least Bush did get Congressional approval before entering into these countries. We are now in Libya thanks to Obama decision after listening to the United Nation and NATO. It’s been over 90 days and there is still no justifiable reason from Obama to be there. How come you didn’t mention that Eric?
Lets talk about Eric’s comment about the $9 trillion surplus. There has not been a surplus in the federal government since at least 1969 when the federal government has spent more each year than it had collected in taxes. The so-called surplus was a numbers game for the Democrats. It was a “projected” surplus if Congress and the next President didn’t change a thing. And we all know the neither of them know how to do that.

As for the Patriot Act (if that’s what Eric was referring to since he didn’t mention it by name), The Patriot Act is totally against the Constitution that it should have never been enacted, never mind being renewed by President Obama in 2011(again Eric fail to mention).

So for Eric’s comment of “Ya, he’s a good guy, let’s get someone like him.” NO, let’s not. This country has been taken so far of course from it’s original intent of being a republic, governed by a set of laws, it’s not funny. We need someone who isn’t entrenched in Washington and the good ‘ol boy way of doing business in the Beltway.

One thing we don’t allow here on LeftAndRightPolitics is insults and attacks towards other readers. We want to promote open conversation and dialogue between readers and our authors, but it must be done with respect and not insulting. If you read the comments in the original post, you will notice another reader mentioned using name calling. The comment with the name calling was removed and I apologize for it getting through in the first place.

In response to one of our readers –

You seriously need to CHECK YOUR FACTS. Im pretty sure it was the democrats who passed the CRA. And the Republican Party of Lincoln is not the same Republican party of today. The South was primarily democratic until Civil Rights. You guys sound poor and uneducated, maybe you should consider supporting democrats who are for making progress and taking care of people who aren’t the top 5%, as opposed to the republicans (apart from Ron Paul) who are for “less-government” (who have not allowed Obama a political inch with anything unless it’s banning abortion) and taking care of their rich friends. The president can’t just wave a wand and make all of your lives perfect. This you’d know if you actually used your brain.

Anyone who says “CHECK YOUR FACTS”, without backing up their own just wants to throw out catch phrases. Here is where I laugh at the two major political parties. Neither one of them are for the American people. The Republicans and the Democrats are in it for themselves and their contributors. That is why we need term limits for all political position. If not this will never change.