Obama Stress Head

Image by Thais Silvestre via FlickSometimes when I am feeling particularly stressed out, I pick up a pair of Chinese exercise balls, also known as Baoding Iron balls.  There is something therapeutic in rolling the balls in my hand and hearing their distinctive chime as you perform the exercises.  I have a couple of pairs of baoding balls, including a really nice set that is painted with a dragon design.

I also have a lot of those cheap little stress balls that you can sometimes find for free as promotional items.  I have some that are shaped like different sports balls like footballs.  Once I got one from a dairy company that was shaped like a cow.  I received one from an airline shaped like a plane. 

All of them take quite a beating from me as I squeeze them tightly to take the stress off.  This weekend, I found one online that I would love to get my hands on.  The Weekly Standard has available on their website The Barack Obama Stress Head.  I can just imagine having it in my hands the next time he gives one of his speeches.  In addition to the Obama Stress Head, they have the Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi Stress Heads.  I do have to warn you though, the Pelosi one is pretty scary looking.

Taxes and Political Gamesmanship

I have to say, that while my own political views are definitely right of center on most issues, I am really getting fed up with the political posturing of both sides of the aisle.  All you have to do is take a look at what is going on in regards to extending the current tax rates as established under the Bush tax cuts.  Their actions show that all they are concerned with is their own political power and not the negative impact the higher tax rates will have on those that can least afford them.

My personal opinion is that the government does not have a tax revenue problem, but rather a spending problem.  Consequently, my personal preference would be that all of the current tax rates be extended for everybody.  Yes, even for those evil rich folk.  After all, I have never gotten a job from a poor person.

Both sides seem to be digging in their heals on the issue of taxes.  The Democrats insist on raising taxes on those that make $250k a year or more.  The Republicans don't want anybody to have to pay the higher tax rates.  Unfortunately, right now, the Democrats still have control of both Houses of Congress.  Today, Nancy Pelosi held a vote to extend the tax rates for those making less than $250k.  Most believe that it will never make it out of the Senate.

While I fundamentally agree with the Republican position, we are getting dangerously close to not resolving this issue, at least not before January 1st.  Eventually, I think the Bush tax rates will be extended, at least temporarily, for all earners.  If a compromise isn't reached, it will have a negative impact on the people that both sides say they want to help. 

For example, a person making between $58-68k per year could see their tax rate rise from 15% to 28% if the rates aren't extended by January 1st.  I like what I heard Congressman Paul Ryan say tonight on Hannity.  He said if the rates do not get extended before January 1st, when the GOP take control of the House in January, they will introduce legislation to reinstate all the current rates back to January 1st.  That is all well and good, but that person making $60k per year will have a harder time absorbing even a temporary increase in withholding compared to the person making $250k.

I have to decide by the end of next week what I want to do with my open enrollment for health care.  As I said previously, my share of my current insurance is going up 23%. The decision on whether or not to stay with my current health plan could be greatly influenced by the status of the tax rates.  If the rates stay the same, it would be tough, but I might be able to absorb the increased insurance premiums for a couple months until my annual review when I would be scheduled to get a pay increase.

If the tax situation is not resolved, I figure that my withholding would increase by at least $100 per pay period.  I know that I could not absorb both an increase in insurance premiums and an increase in taxes, even for one pay period.  However, if I had to switch to a lesser health insurance plan, I would run the risk of further financial hardship if anybody in my family would happen to get sick or need any tests.  These people are fucking with the financial well being of myself and others like me, and it is pissing me off.

Related articles

• What Happens If the Bush Tax Cuts Expire (politics.usnews.com)z
• Reason #31,988 to lower taxes: Tax Revenues = 19% of GDP, Regardless of Tax Rates (theblogprof.blogspot.com)
• Delaying Tax Vote Could Crash Stock Market (politics.usnews.com)
• Tax Cut Rorschach (bigthink.com)
• UPDATE 1-US House takes symbolic vote on taxes, talks go on (reuters.com)

Scott Brown:Senator Elect Massachusetts

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

It is about 9:15 as I begin writing this. I am watching the election results coming in on FOX and it is looking more and more likely that the Republican, Scott Brown will defeat the Democrat, Martha (Marcia) Coakley. One would think that the Democratic leadership would take this at a sign that the people in general are unhappy with the direction that the Democrat leadership; Pelosi, Reid, and Obama are taking the country.

Instead, in an amazing show of how arrogant and out of touch the leadership is, my Congressman, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has an unbelievable quote.  According to The Hill, Hoyer is quoted as saying that "I think what the public is angry about is they see, first of all, an opposition for opposition's sake."

Are you fucking kidding me??!!  Massachusetts, a state where Democrats have a 3-1 edge in registered voters and has not had a Republican Senator since 1972 has elected a man who will break the Democrats fillibuster proof margin in the Senate.  This will make it harder for the Democrats to further their far left agenda and Hoyer actually can make a statement like that with a straight face?

So now we have a Republican win a Senate race in a heavily Democrat state like Massachusetts.  This comes after a Republican won the gubernatorial race in New Jersey, another heavily Democrat state, and a landslide Republican gubernatorial win in Virginia.  Somehow the Dems don't seem to get that the people are angry.  It will be interesting to see what types of shenanigans that the Democrat leadership will come up with now to force through an agenda that the people don't want.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Hoyer: Senate Bill 'Better Than Nothing' (businessweek.com)
• Massachusetts election could unhinge health care (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Listen up Democrats (tech.bl0x.info)
• House may be considering passing unamended Senate health care measure (cnn.com)

Pelosi's Health Care Bill and Vending Machines

Image via Wikipedia

Seriously.  Is there any end to the nanny state mentality of idiots like Nancy Pelosi?  I don't think there is anybody who does not think some reform of the health care system is needed.  You keep hearing how premiums are too high, people turned down for pre-existing conditions, and such.  Those are the types of things that one would expect to see addressed in any type of reform.  However, would you expect to see regulation of an industry not associated with health insurance or health care?

Pelosi's monstrosity of a bill (HR 3962) has a provision in it that will regulate the vending machine industry.  Section 2572 of the bill states:

“In the case of an article of food sold from a vending machine that – (I) does not permit a prospective purchaser to examine the Nutritional Facts Panel before purchasing the article or does not otherwise provide visible nutrition information at the point of purchase; and (II) is operated by a person who is engaged in the business of owning or operating 20 or more vending machines, “the vending machine operator shall provide a sign in close proximity to each article of food or the selection button that includes a clear and conspicuous statement disclosing the number of calories contained in the article.” (See page 1,515 of H.R. 3962 Section 2572 (H) (viii).

The Congressional Budget Office has yet to determine what this provision of the health care bill will cost the vending machine industry, but the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) has provided the CBO with an estimate of the cost for their members.  NAMA estimates that in the first year, the regulation will cost over $56 million.

The industry itself has seen their same store sales drop 17% in the past year, so the business is already suffering.  These provisions will negatively impact the industry even further.  Most vending machine operators are small businessman who own their individual sales routes.  Pelosi and company stand to drive more small businesses out of business, adding to our current 10.2% unemployment rate.  Not to mention what the other provisions in the bill will do to small business in this country.

Why is this regulation needed, and more importantly, why does it need to be in a health care bill?  Show of hands everybody, how many people when standing at a vending machine are concerned with the nutritional value of that Snickers bar they are about to buy?  Don't most people buying a snack from a vending machine already have an idea of how nutritious an item is?  I already know that the candy bar or bag of chips I am buying out of that machine isn't the most healthy choice I can make. 

Related articles by Zemanta

• FACT CHECK: Health insurer profits not so fat (sfgate.com)
• Battling Pelosicare (michellemalkin.com)
• AP sources: House health bill totals $1.2 trillion (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Pelosi Wants to Raise Taxes on EVERYTHING

Yesterday, I gave Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi a small bit of praise for honoring the Dalai Lama for his humanitarian efforts.  Today, I am reminded of why I can't stand the woman.

In an interview on the Charlie Rose Show, he asks her about the possibility of implementing a Value Added Tax.  Pelosi looks positively giddy (or dare I say it, aroused) in saying that the VAT tax should be on the table.  She, like most Democrats, never met a tax increase they didn't like.

A VAT tax adds a tax at every stage of the manufacturing process where "value" is added to the item.  This tax is in addition to personal income taxes and corporate income taxes.  The chief problem with such a tax is that all of the burden for all these additional taxes falls on the final consumer, and is highly regressive as it impacts the lower and middle income folks the most. 

Take a look at this video and just watch how her eyes light up at the prospect of raising taxes.  Also, listen to the example she uses of the automobile industry.  Does she make any sense at all?

Related articles by Zemanta

• Mrs. Pelosi's VAT (online.wsj.com)
• Pelosi Says: Let's Even The Tax Playing Field (usnews.com)
• VAT Tax Burden Could be Next (myventurepad.com)

Obama To Address Joint Session of Congress

President Obama has decided to address a joint session of Congress next week to lay out what he wants to see in a health care bill. I can hardly wait. During the State of the Union Speech in January during the last address to both houses of Congress, we were treated to this display from Speaker Pelosi.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Whatever, Obama (horsesass.org)
• 'New season' for Obama on health care (cnn.com)
• Obama to Begin New Health Care Push as Approval Ratings Slide (abcnews.go.com)

Democrats, The Media, and The Health Care Debate

Image by genetew via Flickr

President Obama and his fellow Democrat leaders, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, et al are quick to declare that the Republican Party are absent in the health care reform debate. According to them, they are the "party of no" or they bring no ideas to the table. The mainstream news media, which can no longer be referred to as "journalists," continue to sound forth the propaganda.

This morning, on my commute into the office, RNC Chairman Michael Steele was on the Grandy and Andy show on WMAL radio. Chairman Steele pointed out that Republicans had proposed some 800 amendments to the various bills working their way through the House and Senate. Not one has come close to being approved, including my personal favorite proposal that would require any member of the House or Senate to go on the government run health plan if it was part of the bill.

In addition to the proposed ammendments, there have been at least three Republican bills that have been presented. In May, a group of House and Senate Republicans presented the "Patients Choice Act of 2009. Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina presented the Health Care Freedom Plan in June. Lastly, Representative Tom Price of Georgia proposed the Empowering Patients First Act in July. Price just happens to also be a practicing physician, so he actually has some experience in the arena.

Among the various provisions in these proposals are investing in preventative care, reducing fraud in Medicare and Medicaid, tax credits for purchasing private insurance, and tort reform. Yet the Democrats say there are no ideas on the Republican side. The problem isn't a lack of ideas from the GOP, but the fact that they aren't the ideas the Democrats want. The other problem is that the media no longer reports the facts, but pushes the liberal agenda.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Harry Reid is "on the ropes" (michellemalkin.com)