amanners521's Xanga

5 Solutions to Fix The Economy

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:40:25 GMT

I want to offer five points that I believe will offer a shot of adrenaline to our American economy. Of course, I realize it would be much easier to sit back and watch the Obama administration steer the country off the cliff (leading to Republican victories in 2010 and 2012). I just can’t do that—I care too deeply about the country. In this mindset, five things I know will fix the economy:

1. Repeal President Obama’s stimulus plan from early 2009. This plan has done little to nothing to help actually stimulate the economy, despite drastically increasing the deficit (not to mention doing nothing to halt rising unemployment). Racking up massive government spending in the midst of a recession is insane. Imagine…if you lose your job, do you go out and max out all of your credit cards? Why does the government?

2. Eliminate federal tax withholding permanently, establish a three-month tax holiday, and then enact the FairTax into legislation. Eliminating withholding will automatically pump more money into the economy, especially with a holiday for taxation. This will also lead to the creation of more jobs (as we free up money for the job-creating segments of our society—especially small-business owners), which in turn creates more individuals with income to be paid in tax. The three-month tax holiday will be paid for primarily with the money that is not allotted to the repealed stimulus package. Finally, the implementation of the FairTax (a 22% nationalized income/consumption tax combined with federal “prebates” to cover the purchase of basic necessities) will allow Americans to enjoy more of their paycheck, and with the elimination of the Capital Gains Tax, businesses’ profits will soar.

3. Enact real health care reform. First, mandate that employers release the amount of money they currently pay for health insurance to employees. Second, allow the public to save this money (or have it directly debited into) tax-free Health Savings Accounts to be used towards purchasing of individual insurance. Third, allow individuals to purchase insurance from anywhere in the country (allowing for increased competition and competitive prices). Fourth, eliminate health insurers ability to decline coverage for “preexisting conditions” through a congressional mandate. Even though, under the FairTax plan, health care would be taxed as a normal purchase, the savings accrued through competitive pricing would far outweigh any taxation on the purchase of said insurance. I also should mention that a necessary first step to combat rising health care costs must be tort reform--seeking to place limits on compensation to civil lawyers in suits against medical practitioners (which will discourage lawyers from taking the more frivolous lawsuits on contingency).

4. Enact a future freeze on increases in federal spending until the time when income dictates an increase in spending (and, above all, try to keep a balanced budget).

5. Keep the federal government out of private enterprise—whether it is in the form of ownership in the auto industry or health care. Repeal the so-called “café” standards, and renegotiate contracts with the unions for lesser wages (I’m not saying they have to work for nothing, but certainly less than they currently do). The American car makers have to be able to make quality cars that will compete with foreign auto makers, and they can’t do that with out-of-control labor costs.

These five points will spur economic growth. We need money back in our hands, back to hard-working Americans. We have survived recessions in the past, and with these much-needed shots in the arm, we will do so again—becoming the foremost worldwide economic leader in the process. I believe in the spirit of the American people, and believe that we need to work together to fix our current economic mess.

John McCain For President

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:51:46 GMT

I know I haven’t always been in favor of John McCain. I voted for Governor Mitt Romney in Missouri’s Presidential Primary, and was disappointed to see Senator McCain win the nomination. That being said, I am ready to give my endorsement for President to Senator John McCain. Following are five reasons to not elect Senator Obama and five reasons we should support Senator McCain:

5 Reasons Not To Elect Obama:

1. He’s the wrong person to lead us through the current economic crisis. Anyone who would raise taxes on any segment of society in the midst of economic chaos doesn’t deserve your vote. We’ll get to why I think class warfare and tax relief for middle class workers at the expense of the wealthy is bad in a moment, but this specific point deserves merit of its own. The wealthy are the people who create jobs, fuel the investment community, and in general drive the economy. Taking money out of their hands is a bad idea right from the start. At the end of the day, Senator Obama is a big-spending liberal—not what we need over the next four years of uncertain economic times.

2. We should be above class warfare. My Bible tells me not to covet what my neighbor has. By raising taxes solely on the rich, Democrats feed a feeling that we should stick it to those who have what we don’t. Simply because certain individuals have worked hard and made money for themselves doesn’t mean they should be forced to support the rest of us. When Senator Obama talks about his tax cuts only applying to those who make above $250,000 annually (or $200,000, or $125,000, depending on who is speaking), he is invoking class warfare. Don’t fall for it.

3. Socialism (redistribution of wealth) doesn’t work because there’s no reason to better oneself as a result of it. Conservatives have long been accused of being cold for not allowing government to hand out money to the poor (I actually think this job is best in the hands of churches and charitable organizations and not the government). What, however, is truly cold? Conservatives forgo welfare checks in favor of other measures to stir the economy. We believe in creating opportunities for all to become better off financially. In the long run, this is far better for the individual. Liberals, on the other hand, favor taking from the rich and giving to the poor—spreading the wealth around. That may be fine now, but what exactly does this accomplish? It teaches us that the reward for doing nothing is a government paycheck. As a teacher, I try not to reward bad behavior. I certainly take into account circumstances for the bad behavior, but if I reward it, it doesn’t correct itself. Instead, I try to foster growth by accentuating positives and giving students a chance to succeed. I think the same principles apply to society. Americans are some of the best and brightest in the world, and I trust them with more of their own money.

4. We can’t afford to negate the progress we have made in Iraq by untimely withdrawal. Under General Petraeus, we have made visible progress in Iraq. We could begin to withdraw some of our forces next year, but a full withdrawal could allow the country to devolve into chaos. We need Iraq to be a stable democracy in the region (especially with a possibly nuclear Iran in the near future), and it should be a high priority for the next president.

5. Senator Obama supports abortion rights. I don’t think I could ever support a candidate who favors the killing of babies. It’s wrong, and I hope I don’t need to go any further on this.

5 Reasons to Elect Senator McCain:

1. Despite what Senator Obama thinks, the economic policies of the past eight years have been mostly successful. Shortly after President Bush took office, the county had one of the most horrific events in our nation’s history, which immediately propelled the economy into a recession. Under the guidance of President Bush, however, the recession was short lived, and we have experienced mainly economic growth during the rest of his presidency. I firmly believe that the current economic crisis is not a result of President Bush’s policies (and might have more to do with the Congress, which has been run by Democrats the last two years). It has been repeatedly proven that universal tax cuts grow the economy—and so we must make these tax cuts a continued reality. Senator McCain favors this, Senator Obama doesn’t.

2. Senator McCain has forgotten more about foreign policy than Senator Obama (or Senator Biden) will ever know. McCain was right about the surge in Iraq. He understands what it takes to win, and he won’t quit until we have done so. We need Iraq to be a stable ally in the region, and it will hopefully spark a new democratic domino effect in the region (thereby encouraging other Arab states to become westernized democracies. Freedom is a noble thing to spread, and hopefully we will do so in the future.

3. Senator McCain is right on the social issues. When Senator Obama was asked when life begins, he said it was above his pay grade. We need a man in the Oval Office who doesn’t have such qualms about moral issues—and that man is Senator McCain.

4. Senator McCain will bring needed reform to Washington. I haven’t always agreed with Senator McCain on issues, but he stands his ground when he believes he’s right (whether or not his party agrees with him). That will help him with reform in Washington. One of his top priorities is eliminating exorbitant spending from Washington’s budgets that come in the form of outrageous spending perks for the constituencies of members of Congress. It takes courage to enact such reform, and Senator McCain is the man with said courage.

5. Senator McCain will be ready to lead from his first day in office. We don’t need someone with no experience and a paper thin résume to be Commander in Chief of the greatest country in the history of the world. We can’t afford a learning curve and we certainly don’t need someone who will invite testing by the powers in the world (in the sentiment of Senator Biden).

The time is coming. Do we want an inexperienced, wrong leader like Senator Obama, or a proven patriot like Senator John McCain? I hope you’ll join me in voting for John McCain to become the 44^th President of the United States.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:15:45 GMT

It's rare that I find myself in agreement with both the editorial boards from The Kansas City Star and the St. Louis Post-Disptach, but this is the case with the vote on Missouri's Proposition A. When gambling was established in the state of Missouri some years ago through the form of riverboat gambling, a $500 loss limit was adopted as a safeguard for the individual gambler. Proposition A seeks to eliminate this loss limit, which in turn would increase profits for the casino industry in Missouri. The casino industry has worked hard to frame this into an education issue for public schools in the state. Proposition A would seek to increase the tax rate the casinos pay (which allegedly goes directly to schools) from 20 to 21%. Let me be clear: this is not an education issue. This is purely an issue of greed on behalf of the casino industry, which has included a modest tax increase as a way to improve the chances that this ballot measure would pass. Missouri's schools could use more funding--but we should find a way to divert other state spending to pay for it.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:15:36 GMT

"He is the most intellectually inconsistent politician in the history of politics," Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said of former Massachusetts Gov. Romney. "I have never seen anyone so completely without any commitment to any particular principle and so willing to say whatever he thinks will help him win the next election."

Awesome...Maybe he should check his own party's presidential nominee.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:13:29 GMT

Wow...two posts in one week. Lifted directly from an e-mail I received from the company which provides the major networks to me through satellite:

"Are services are non-refundable, and non-cancelable, Im sorry Mr Manners their will be no refund.

Thanks"

I know we're all not grammar Nazis, but is it too much to expect at least decent grammar?

Monday, June 23, 2008

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:21:07 GMT

Awesome (especially the map):

http://www.kansascityisinmissouri.com/

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:41:49 GMT

10 Companies I Recommend...

I just feel the need to advertise for them after their quality and service--two things I value highly.

(In no particular order):

1. DHL

2. Dell

3. Dish Network

4. US Bank

5. Google

6. Hy-Vee (grocery)

7. Holiday Inn Express

8. Progressive

9. Best Buy

10. PayPal

...And my 10 Hall of Shame Companies...companies who really grind my gears (again, in no particular order)

1. Hotwire (travel site)

2. Capital One

3. Privacyguard (credit monitoring service)

4. AT&T

5. Samsung

6. Circuit City

7. McDonalds

8. United States Postal Service

9. Microsoft (specifically for Word)

10. Coda Make Music (for Finale)

Friday, April 18, 2008

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:47:59 GMT

Happy Friday to you all! La Plata is finally finished with MAP Testing, and after an afternoon dodgeball tournament/karaoke monitering session, I'm ready for the weekend. I'm going to see a large group of music kids in the spring play tomorrow night, and have a (rare) free weekend to which I hope to enjoy.

I've become a fan of American Idol. With the strike knocking out originals of the various shows that I watch this spring (including the entire season of 24), I've at long last become a viewer of FOX's mega-hit. At this point, I'm rooting for Blue Springs South graduate and former Central Missouri Mule David Cook to win. It's not really about him being from Blue Springs though--I really admire his musical talent and taste. His arrangements have been consistently good, and he challenges himself week to week to not become stale (as is the case with the other frontrunner, David Archuleta, who performs the same song every week). Maybe our musical tastes are pretty much the same, but I enjoy his performances almost every week without fail.

To keep on with the television theme, I'm totally stoked to become a Nielsen household for May sweeps. I know this reveals just how much of a television nerd I am, but I jumped at the opportunity to record my viewing habits in a Nielsen diary for one week in May. They're paying me $30 to do it, but I honestly would have done it for free.

How great are the Kansas City Royals? I'm really enjoying watching them this season (especially in HD!), and I think the future looks bright. I really don't see them contending for a division title, but the top of the rotation, the bullpen, and the defense look great. If we can develop hitting beyond Billy Butler and Ross Gload, I'm convinced we will compete for a wild card or division title next season. In the very least, it's refreshing compared to this.

24 School Days to Go (and 11 until the Spring Concert)...

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:22:58 GMT

Just in time for Easter and Holy Week, a little John Daker singing that song that's popular nowadays, "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today" (and a little "Amore" too):

http://pop.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi8beYR1iBQ

Monday, February 04, 2008

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:48:13 GMT

A happy Monday to you all (you have to love Missouri weather--65 degrees today, and five inches of snow by Wednesday evening--there's nothing like it!).

I'm writing to encourage you to vote in Tuesday's Missouri presidential primary. In the days since my candidate (Fred Thompson) dropped out of the race, I've struggled with the notion of the candidate that would receive my vote. I've finally come to a conclusion.

In addition to simply voting, I'm encouraging you to vote for Governor Mitt Romney. Governor Romney was a successful businessman in the private sector, turned around a scandal-ridden Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, and led a wholly Democratic state as a Republican governor--and he therefore has a decent degree of executive branch experience, something uncommon among the major candidates for President (save Mike Huckabee). I'm convinced he would make a great president for several reasons. First, with the country facing an uncertain economic future, Governor Romney has a great degree of economic expertise. He wouldn't panic when facing an economic crisis (real or imagined), and understands that increasing taxes limits the growth of the economy. Senator McCain voted against President Bush's remarkable tax cuts that rebounded a shaky economy following 9/11. Second, Governor Romney understands the serious threat we face from radical Islam. I am absolutely convinced that neither of the two major Democratic candidates take that threat seriously. Borrowing from Rudy Giuliani, I believe that Romney understands that the best way to prevent another attack by al-Qaeda is to extend the Bush Doctrine by keeping us on offense in the global War on Terror. This obviously not only means committing to the successful surge in Iraq, but also in securing and closing our borders physically, and cracking down on rogue terrorist states such as Syria and Iran. Finally, I believe that Governor Romney believes in the people of this country. I firmly believe that this is the greatest country in the world, and I believe Romney shares that Reagan-esque view--that America is a shining city on a hill. We don't need to apologize for the success we have--we should aspire to share it with the rest of the world. It's true that when running for governor of Massachusetts, he had different social positions, but he says he is pro-life, is pro-traditional values, and is faithful to his religion (even if that is Mormonism). I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt on social issues, and believe he would nominate strict constructionists to the Supreme Court. His convenient social positions not withstanding, I believe Mitt Romney to be the best choice for President of the United States. I encourage you to vote for Governor Romney tomorrow.