Incomes for the middle class dropped 3.4%. Home foreclosures are at a all time high in the United states. States and and municipalities are going broke across the United States. Kansas has a $400 million dollar deficit with just 2 months remaining to pay that bill. A budget deficit occurs when government spends more money than it takes in. The opposite of a budget deficit is a budget surplus. States across the nation can no longer fund their entitlement spending and they are attacking the middle class in an attempt to keep the funding alive. We are at a cross roads and the middle class is like a sub compact car in the intersection and the semi truck is about to run us over.
Americans are getting wise to increases in the obvious taxes such as income taxes, property taxes and sales tax. So legislatures across the nation are focus on other forms of taxes such as tanning bed taxes and those criminal smokers and tobacco users. It's estimated that 18% of Kansans are using Tobacco products. Not much money to raise from that group. There is the alcohol users. But it is becoming a joke how often government turns to this source of income by raising taxes on a can of beer or a bottle of Gin. This source of taxation is about tapped out as well. You name it and our county, city, state and federal governments are planning ways to strip you from your hard earned money to pay for government entitlements. Entitlement is a guarantee of access to benefits because of rights or by agreement through law. It also refers, in a more casual sense, to someone's belief that one is deserving of some particular reward or benefit.[1] It is often used pejoratively in common parlance (e.g. a "sense of entitlement").
The real question here is who will pay these taxes? Common sense makes this crystal clear. You the Middle Class American are going to pay both the traditional taxes but also the new and creative taxes such as a trip to the tanning bed. Lets do the math here. We have 5-10% of Americans who are so rich that even the discussion of taxes is comical. But this group pays at least 40% of all federal income tax.
Now there is the "poor and underclass". This group makes up about 47% of the population in the United States who don't pay any federal income tax. This group use the most services but does not pay any federal income tax. I don't suggest we not help the poor and underclass but lets do the math. This group is growing and the middle class is paying their share of taxes.
So where does that put you and me. If the rich pay 40% of all federal income taxes and the poor don't pay any.....than that leave the middle class. You and me are paying 60% of all taxes in the United States. It isn't as easy as that but with that said it is clear where the government see's the middle class. The middle class is the final source of money to pay all those entitlements for the 47% of American society who isn't paying any federal income tax. This cannot continue or very quickly the underclass will become the standard and the middle class will be something we dream about but far fewer will be able to get there. Think about it; we are considering taxing the amount of sugar in a can of coke. Why not sugar in a candy bar or sugar in ice cream or sugar in a sweet role. Why not tax products with salt. If sugar is bad and we tax it why not products with salt. Think of all those new taxes that the middle class will pay. There will be no end to your congressman and senators taxing creativity. But in reality who will pay for most of these taxes? The middle class and that means you. It is time to wake up you Middle Class American. You need to wake up and and take a stand. But it takes time and a willingness to not be intimidated. Don't be afraid to speak out. Let them call you racist, and haters and what ever else they will say to shut you up. I know you and you know me. We are not racists and haters. You must take a stand because the 47% who don't contribute is growing and you are paying their bills. How much longer will you wait before you become a part of the permanent underclass in America?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Darned if I do and darned if I don't
My blog focuses a great deal on my idea of the middle class and the necessity of its survival. I make no apologies for the fact that I am going to align myself with those who understand the need to reduce government influence in our lives to assure the survival of the middle class and its American success story. I prefer those with common sense.
One would think that if you use less water this year compared to last year your bill should go down. Government doesn't see it that way. http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/apr/05/water-bills-go-down-economy-usage-drops/
In Portland, Maine and across the nation communities are using less water. In some cases they are using levels not seen since 1995. The trend is if we use less water we pay more because of increased rates. This is just another example of Middle Class Americans constantly under economic assault. Where is the common sense. On one hand government and environmentalists have hammered us non stop to reduce water usage and waste. They tell us that this will save us money and improve water resources. But in reality if we reduce water usage our government reduces nothing. So if a community reduces water usage by millions of gallons of water the government bureaucracy and its agencies simply raise rates based not on demand but on continued government growth. The middle class simply cannot continue this. We hear government agencies tell us that the increase will only be 50 or 60 dollars a year. Just 50 or 60 dollars. We have layer after layer of organizations and government agencies demanding more in taxes and telling us it will only cost an extras 50 or 60 dollars a year for this cause or that. The middle class will simply shrink as many cannot afford to pay these government taxes and at the same time participate in the middle class. Home ownership, cars, savings and retirement will all be a tall order for the average guy. Many in the middle middle class will fall into the ranks of the underclass asking for those very government handouts we already can't afford.
There is a very strong political movement in America attempting to convince us or scare us into believing that if we get sick or become unemployed or fall down, we can't get through it without those government services to pick us up. If we continue to assure every American that we can save them from any negative event in their lives, we all will simply go broke trying. Not only will we be broke we will be enslaved by our own government. This is not freedom and freedom doesn't come from government but from as much a distance from government we can possibly manage.
One would think that if you use less water this year compared to last year your bill should go down. Government doesn't see it that way. http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/apr/05/water-bills-go-down-economy-usage-drops/
In Portland, Maine and across the nation communities are using less water. In some cases they are using levels not seen since 1995. The trend is if we use less water we pay more because of increased rates. This is just another example of Middle Class Americans constantly under economic assault. Where is the common sense. On one hand government and environmentalists have hammered us non stop to reduce water usage and waste. They tell us that this will save us money and improve water resources. But in reality if we reduce water usage our government reduces nothing. So if a community reduces water usage by millions of gallons of water the government bureaucracy and its agencies simply raise rates based not on demand but on continued government growth. The middle class simply cannot continue this. We hear government agencies tell us that the increase will only be 50 or 60 dollars a year. Just 50 or 60 dollars. We have layer after layer of organizations and government agencies demanding more in taxes and telling us it will only cost an extras 50 or 60 dollars a year for this cause or that. The middle class will simply shrink as many cannot afford to pay these government taxes and at the same time participate in the middle class. Home ownership, cars, savings and retirement will all be a tall order for the average guy. Many in the middle middle class will fall into the ranks of the underclass asking for those very government handouts we already can't afford.
There is a very strong political movement in America attempting to convince us or scare us into believing that if we get sick or become unemployed or fall down, we can't get through it without those government services to pick us up. If we continue to assure every American that we can save them from any negative event in their lives, we all will simply go broke trying. Not only will we be broke we will be enslaved by our own government. This is not freedom and freedom doesn't come from government but from as much a distance from government we can possibly manage.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
What ever happened to hard work?
While at work today, I walked into an interesting discussion. Not a discussion that surprised me but one that had a few others scratching their head and a look on their face like what the hell!
The individuals having the discussion were much like myself, middle class Kansans trying to live the dream. But today there was a realization. The were all preparing to make their payment to the IRS for their back taxes. Middle Class Americans not paying enough taxes by the end of the year so playing a little catch up so to speak. Interestingly these individuals are very hard working individuals who also work an additional job for extra spending money. But in the end they simply paid even more taxes on pay day but also paid more of those back taxes. In the end they realize that hard work is losing it's value. Why bother working so hard when you are simply giving your fruit to the government to redistribute to others.
So think about this and consider something. The next time you hear a politician or anyone else tell you that taxes on the middle class will not go up, please have the common sense and guts to speak up and defend yourself against these insult on your intelligence.
I really think there are many middle class Americans who were caught hook line and sinker in the last last campaign and election. They thought they would have no worries because the government was going to save them. They would pay our mortgages and our utilities, they would pay for our health care. The government would save the car industry. There would be no war and the rest of the world would love us again. But most importantly they said they would not raise taxes on the middle class. Well the campaign is over now and I am not impressed. I'm not a socialist.
The individuals having the discussion were much like myself, middle class Kansans trying to live the dream. But today there was a realization. The were all preparing to make their payment to the IRS for their back taxes. Middle Class Americans not paying enough taxes by the end of the year so playing a little catch up so to speak. Interestingly these individuals are very hard working individuals who also work an additional job for extra spending money. But in the end they simply paid even more taxes on pay day but also paid more of those back taxes. In the end they realize that hard work is losing it's value. Why bother working so hard when you are simply giving your fruit to the government to redistribute to others.
So think about this and consider something. The next time you hear a politician or anyone else tell you that taxes on the middle class will not go up, please have the common sense and guts to speak up and defend yourself against these insult on your intelligence.
I really think there are many middle class Americans who were caught hook line and sinker in the last last campaign and election. They thought they would have no worries because the government was going to save them. They would pay our mortgages and our utilities, they would pay for our health care. The government would save the car industry. There would be no war and the rest of the world would love us again. But most importantly they said they would not raise taxes on the middle class. Well the campaign is over now and I am not impressed. I'm not a socialist.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Pressure From All Directions
I have learned something since paying closer attention to politics. What I have learned is that I pay far more attention to what is going on in Washington DC than our State Capital in Topeka, Kansas.
Look at it like this. The decisions being made in Washington DC are very much the same as the discussions going on in Topeka. So if by chance you are reading this from another state, simply replace Topeka with your own capital city. The issues are no different. So give this some thought. In Washington DC our nation as a whole is at least $1.65 trillion dollars in the red for this year. We have a $1.65 trillion dollar deficit for God sake. For some this number doesn't even register in their Pea Brain's. But for those of us with an old fashion thing called common sense knows this annual deficit is corrupt. No reasonable man or woman who is elected to represent you or me in government would turn a blind eye to this debt. Yet that is exactly what is going on in both Topeka an Washington DC. It is so serious that I think our representatives have to be out of touch. They represent special interest groups and these groups don't include the middle class. To correct this problem will be very difficult. Image you paying off $50 thousand dollars in credit card bills and what you have to give up in the process. Are you willing to give up anything to get our government under control?
On a smaller scale but just as frightening is the deficit of the the state of Kansas. Our deficit is $400 million dollars. This has to be balanced by the end of June 2010. That is the end of our budget year for the state. So here we are just three months until the end of the budget year and our representatives for the first time in a long time, are afraid to raise your taxes to balance the $400 million dollar deficit. For once Topeka is afraid to raise your taxes because they know that the average Kansan simply cant afford to pay another damn dime in taxes. But if they move forward and raise taxes to eliminate the $400 million dollar deficit I for one will not be a happy camper. Where is the common sense here. I want my representative to know that l cannot afford to fund our government at these levels and still make ends meet on the home front.
I want to ask you to please be a part of the debate in both Kansas and Washington DC. You can use this link I have included to navigate the Kansas Sate website. It is very easy to find your state representative and senator. I hope you will call them or email them and demand common sense in reducing our dependence government and it's influence in our lives. If the middle class continues to cling to the bosom of the state and federal government for a sense of security it will only be a matter of time before there will not be a middle class. Ihttp://www.kansas.gov/index.php
I have also included the website for our federal government which will help you locate our federal representative in Washington DC. The message to all should be the same. http://www.usa.gov/
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Democrats find comfort in the Chamber of Commerce
In case you don't recognize this guy, he is the Minority Leader of the Democrat Party in Topeka. (See his state profile below) This week a group of Chamber of Commerce members from 14 cities announced that they support an increase in taxes on Middle Class Kansans. The Democrats in congress including several republicans are looking for some form of cover by groups such as the Kansas Chamber of Commerce as a means to increase taxes. We are suppose to think that if the Kansas Chamber of Commerce is for a tax increase we all need to open our wallets like good little sheep. Obviously they say the tax increase will only effect the rich. The state government will be flush with cash. We are running a $400 million dollar deficit this year, and we had at least a 400 million dollar deficit last year. So if we raise taxes on the middle class, (you and me) and should we have another 400 million dollar deficit next year then what. Will the chamber suggest another tax increase. My friends if your not listening and engaged in the discussion you are going to get picked blind. What is another $40 or $50 bucks a month in taxes for our politicians to spend. But that isn't where it is going to stop. You have local and counties wanting there cut too. There is already a push by local and county governments to raise any tax possible. They are already artificially propping up property values in order to keep the property tax flowing. Who is paying those property taxes. You got it, the middle class. The deal with the Chamber was cut by Paul Davis and the democrat party leaders. He figures that your not listening and therefore don't care that this backroom deal will cost you plenty in new taxes. If your in favor of additional taxes on you and the rest of the middle class in Kansas you are fine. I hope your like me however and wondering what the hell are these people thinking and where is the common sense. My cost of living is changing. I have less discretionary spending then any time in my life and you are going to increase my taxes?
Paul Davis
Kansas House DemocratDistrict 46 (District Map,District Demographics)
First Term: 2003
Minority Leader
1731 Indiana Spouse: Stephanie
Capitol Office
Room: 359-W
Phone: 785-296-7630
Email: paul.davis@house.ks.gov
Committee Membership
Calendar and Printing
Time: On Call
*R.M. Member, Legislative Budget
Time: On Call
Interstate Cooperation
Time: On Call
Insurance
Time: 3:30 p.m. T/R
Room: 152-S
Lawrence 66044
Phone: 785-749-1942
Business Information
Occupation: Attorney
900 Massachusetts, Suite 601
Lawrence 66044
785-331-0300
785-331-0303
Adecco – The Employment People
ALDI, Inc.
Allen Gibbs & Houlik LC
American Eagle Outfitters
American Justice Partnership
Ash Grove Cement
Associated Advertising Agency
Atmos Energy
Auth-Florence Manufacturing
Bayer Construction Company, Inc.
Best Buy Co., Inc.
Black & Veatch
BP America
Board of Public Utilities
Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Burns & McDonnell
Buzzi Unicem USA
Cereal Food Processors Inc.
Children’s Mercy Hospital
Cobalt Boats
Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Mid-America
The Coleman Company
Commerce Bank & Trust
Commerce Bank, N.A.
Crossland Construction Co.,
Dillard’s, Inc.
DLM Foods L.L.C.
Dold Foods, Inc.
Dolese Bros. Company
Duckwall-Alco Stores, Inc.
Emprise Bank
EnerSys
The Fagan Company
Farmers Alliance Companies
Farmland Foods, Inc.
FHLBank Topeka
Fort Hays State University
Fuller Brush Company
GARMIN International, Inc.
General Electric
General Motors Corporation
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
Grandview Products Co., Inc.
Great Plains Manufacturing
Hallmark Cards, Inc.
HCA – Midwest Division
Hinkle Elkouri Law Firm LLC
The Home Depot
Honeywell
Huhtamaki
ICM, Inc.
ITC Great Plains
Jayhawk Plastics, Inc.
Kansas Hospital Association
Kansas Medical Mutual Ins.
Kennedy and Coe, LLC Certified Public Accountants & Consultants
Kwik Shop, Inc.
Lafarge North America
Lake Point Nursing Center
Landoll Corporation
Lathrop & Gage L.C.
Lawrence Memorial Hospital
The Lawrence Paper Company
Liberty Fruit Company
Lowen Corporation
LSI Logic
Lynn Electric & Communications
Macy’s Midwest
Medicalodges, Inc.
MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Midway Wholesale
Midwest Health Services, Inc.
Midwest Minerals, Inc.
Monarch Cement Company
National Cooperative Refinery
Occidental Chemical Corporation
The P & G Manufacturing Co.
Payless ShoeSource
Philips Lighting Company
PhRMA
Pioneer Communications
Polsinelli, Shalton, Flanigan, Suelthaus PC
Professional Eng. Consultants
Protection One
Reynolds American Inc.
Sands Kansas
Sauder Custom Fabricators
Sauer-Danfoss
Schwan’s Food Mfg.
Seaboard Foods
Sears Roebuck & Company
Security Benefit
Shook, Hardy & Bacon
St. Luke’s Health System
Standard Beverage Corp.
Stormont-Vail Health Care
Sunflower Bank
Sunflower Electric Cooperatives
Target Corporation
Time Warner Cable
Tri-State Generation & Transmission Assn.
UMB Bank
Union Pacific Corporation
UnitedHealthcare
University of Kansas Hospital
UPS
US Bank
Vektek Inc.
Waddell & Reed, Inc.
Wenger Manufacturing, Inc.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
I hope my congressman is squirming!
It was reported in the news today that democrat congressmen were receiving threats because of their vote on the health care bill. Certainly we don't want violence toward our law makers but I don't have any problem if they squirm a great deal. Our representatives have had it way to easy for way to long. Americans pretty much checked out of the political debate until now. Things are changing. If a representative or senator is sitting down for dinner at a restaurant they should wonder if an American citizen is going to come up and challenge their voting record. It simply is ridiculous to think that less than 600 individuals in congress think they can pass laws that affect 300 million Americans of which 200 million Americans disagree and not have someone in their face. They do their work behind close doors. These political hacks see the anger of their constituents and use it as an excuse to cancel meetings and hide. The halls of congress have been absent of the middle class American citizen for long enough. The congressional club on the hill is going to be a rough place. Congress needs to be accountable for their vote. I wish them all peace but I don't wish them calm. Lets hope the average American gets some common sense and open and can of whip ass on the clowns on capital hill! I don't want to hear the whining from Washington or Topeka.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Will our next governor of Kansas talk out of both sides of his face also?
Who will be our next governor? This is a pretty important question. For me I want our next governor to understand one issue clearly. I am taxed to the limit and I can't give any more. I can't afford another dime for schools. When it comes to school funding, all other agencies aren't even in the same universe! I can't afford any more taxes for social services. I can't afford another dime in taxes for the fear of losing my middle class status. The Kansas legislature is full of people who have lost all hope of common sense. Did you know that unemployment rose nearly 1% in February 2010 to 7.3% yet a vast number of representatives mostly democrats but including way too many republicans announced a push to raise taxes on those who are lucky enough to have their job . Where is the common sense. More Kansans than ever are out of working. There are thousands more in Kansas who worry about keeping their jobs. Many in Kansas want relief but they don't want to have to sale their soul to the government. The very people we send to Washington and Topeka see raise taxes on Kansans during the worst economic train wreck in modern history as an after thought. Kansans are making do with less but government wants to chug along like there isn't a care in the world. The people we send to Topeka and Washington DC need to get in line and understand that they cannot tax us and expect Kansans to fund government programs at the same level we did over the past 10 years. Sharpen you pens and rewrite the budget because we cannot afford the insanity. The pain isn't going to be only the taxpayer. The recipient of those tax dollars need to hear the message loud and clear.
Yesterday Kansas State Senator and the democratic candidate for Kansas governor Tom Holland lashed out at the republican candidate for governor and our current Senator in Washington DC, Sam Brownback. He stated that "Sam Brownback is out of touch with the needs of the state of Kansas". Senator Brown back voted against a 100 billion dollar spending bill that would provide $130 million dollars to Kansas to fund Medicaid and unemployment. The democrat Holland stated that "Brownback has no concept on how to balance the state budget". "The Washington way of saying no and never offering solutions won't work in Kansas". The republican candidate for governor, Sam Brownback responded "We already have a record deficit of $1.56 trillion dollars this year and this bill would have added over $100 billion, which is grossly unfair to our children and grandchildren." The definition of deficit is: the amount by which government expenditure exceeds income from taxation, customs duties, etc., in any one fiscal year.
Statements by these two candidates need to be interpreted very carefully. In the process take into consideration the definition of deficit.
Kansas has a deficit of about $400 million dollars. Kansas has to have a balanced budget by June 30th, 2010. Why you ask; because our constitution says that the budget has to be balanced at the end of each year. The budget in Kansas starts in July and ends in June. Mr Holland wants the 130 million in new taxes from Washington to help balance the Kansas budget. He wants you to believe that since the money comes from Washington DC it isn't a tax on the Kansas tax payer. Mr. Holland wants to borrow money to pay a debt. So we have another 130 million to spend in Kansas but Kansan's pay another 130 million of additional taxes to Washington DC. Now that is creative not to mention deceitful. Senator Brownback voted against the $100 billion dollar tax increase and therefore attempted to block new federal tax dollars coming to Kansas. So we have a choice to make. Are we going to elect a politician who says getting money from Washington isn't a tax so we can use it to expand government spending in Kansas. Or should we elect a politician who says we can't afford to take out another loan because we are already broke. From a purely common sense point of view who would you prefer handling your checkbook in today's economic environment.
Yesterday Kansas State Senator and the democratic candidate for Kansas governor Tom Holland lashed out at the republican candidate for governor and our current Senator in Washington DC, Sam Brownback. He stated that "Sam Brownback is out of touch with the needs of the state of Kansas". Senator Brown back voted against a 100 billion dollar spending bill that would provide $130 million dollars to Kansas to fund Medicaid and unemployment. The democrat Holland stated that "Brownback has no concept on how to balance the state budget". "The Washington way of saying no and never offering solutions won't work in Kansas". The republican candidate for governor, Sam Brownback responded "We already have a record deficit of $1.56 trillion dollars this year and this bill would have added over $100 billion, which is grossly unfair to our children and grandchildren." The definition of deficit is: the amount by which government expenditure exceeds income from taxation, customs duties, etc., in any one fiscal year.
Statements by these two candidates need to be interpreted very carefully. In the process take into consideration the definition of deficit.
Kansas has a deficit of about $400 million dollars. Kansas has to have a balanced budget by June 30th, 2010. Why you ask; because our constitution says that the budget has to be balanced at the end of each year. The budget in Kansas starts in July and ends in June. Mr Holland wants the 130 million in new taxes from Washington to help balance the Kansas budget. He wants you to believe that since the money comes from Washington DC it isn't a tax on the Kansas tax payer. Mr. Holland wants to borrow money to pay a debt. So we have another 130 million to spend in Kansas but Kansan's pay another 130 million of additional taxes to Washington DC. Now that is creative not to mention deceitful. Senator Brownback voted against the $100 billion dollar tax increase and therefore attempted to block new federal tax dollars coming to Kansas. So we have a choice to make. Are we going to elect a politician who says getting money from Washington isn't a tax so we can use it to expand government spending in Kansas. Or should we elect a politician who says we can't afford to take out another loan because we are already broke. From a purely common sense point of view who would you prefer handling your checkbook in today's economic environment.
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