Congressman, whats your email address

It's time to get back in touch with your congressman and senator. To effectively communicate with either you need two things. Their email address and phone number. Lets face it, for the most part the days of putting your pen to paper and writing them a letter is pretty much over. Since my trust level of congress is at an all time low, I know one thing for sure. My email may not always get their attention but it does get to them. You mail a letter and who knows. My project this week is to go to the Kansas State official website and begin the process of copying the entire house of representatives and the senate names, emails and profiles to my computer contacts. This allows me easy access to who they are, what party they are with and the committees they sit on. This takes time but this allows me to better express my concerns to my congressman and senator when I hear about some of the legislation being proposed. If it lacks common sense they are going to hear about it. By having these emails available I can also forward them to others.

One of the big reasons the middle class American doesn't get involved in government is because they have been told for years that the issues are to complex. So some including myself pretty much checked out of the debate. The republican and democrat parties both are guilty of promoting this notion. This needs to change now! I just know that it doesn't take an masters degree, a law degree, or a Harvard degree to be a congressman or senator in Topeka or Washington. This is evident by the current bunch in congress. What it does take is common sense. A farmer, teacher, X-ray technologist, lab tech, a mother or father of four, an engineer, car mechanic, a floor clerk at Sears or whoever can be a senator or a representative. It just takes common sense and a love for our country, it values and a sincere belief in limited government established by our founding fathers. How can a car mechanic making $35,0000.00 a year ever stack up against a good lawyer or millionaire. They will be made a fool of in any campaign. I completely disagree. I say that common sense trumps stupidity every time. The harder we work toward a congress that represents middle class common sense America the more common sense we will see in all aspects of our government. A middle class people living in a society of limited government and a free market will be happier and more productive in all aspects of their lives and work. Banking, business, regulations, foreign relations, military strategy, heathcare, you name it will all function better when middle class America is a large part of the discussion and limited government is the goal. Don't sale yourself short. Speak your mind. Clearly government is necessary but government should also be the last resort to societies problems. Your silence is costing you your freedom. The silence is deafening and because you are silent you have stopped demanding common sense. Wake up.

It has been nearly a year since the last time I posted to my blog. I had the intention to express my views and the views of many in a common sense manner. My goal is to get Kansans to realize that they need to stay in touch with what our government is doing, the policies they are promoting and the laws they are writing. My attention span got the best of me and things come up and before long I stopped writing. So here I go again. I hope today is the start of a good thing. This is my attempt to convince the good people of Kansas that you better wake up and pay attention to what is going on around you. You need to be a part of government. We need to put some common sense back into our policies. We need to protect and defend our constitutional right to free speech. We have been silent for so long that our representatives in government take offense to us expressing our opinions as it relates to so many decisions that lack any form of common sense. I hope you will join me in a fresh start. Lets call this "Government 101".

A hidden treasure chest; of your tax dollars not at work

At a time when you are doing with far less, when your bank accounts and 401k accounts have been cleaned out of your retirement and at a time that Topeka and Washington DC are leaving no stone unturned in search of more of your taxes dollars, it was just reported by the Flinthills Center for Public Policy http://www.flinthills.org/ the the public schools in Kansas have amassed about 1.3 billion dollars in their saving accounts.

At the same time Kansas public schools are demanding more of your tax dollars at a time when every single individual in our state are struggling just to stay afloat. We know that all of that tax money being demanded by the schools is "for the kids" but at the same time Kansans are simply trying to keep their jobs and food on the table for their kids as well. So why when everybody else in the state is broke is the schools awash in your tax dollars that they are not spending, yet demanding more. I will leave it up the the Flinthills Center for Public policy http://www.flinthills.org/ to articulate to you what is going on. Please go to their link to get all the details and please bookmark this organizations website so that you can be better informed about your state government. I hope that you will also take the time to read through my blog and leave your thoughts behind. Get involved because I can assure you that at the rate our government is taking away other individual liberties, it will only be a matter of time before they get yours.

I want to give you a few other sites to visit that are working hard to provide you honest reporting on our state and our nation. Join the fight to protect the fundamental successes of our state and nation. Freedom, liberty and free market idea's.

http://wichitaliberty.org/

http://kansasmeadowlark.com/

http://www.americansforprosperity.org/kansas

http://www.americanmajority.org/

Department of Education couldn't care less. After all it's for the kids stupid

If you happened to read your local paper today you probably noticed the doom and gloom as it relates to the Kansas State budget. After all unemployment is up, tax collections are down and the sky is falling. I mean we have been hearing about it now for months and we all are worried about our personal situations. I have already witnessed neighbors in financial trouble. One neighbor lost his house and had to move. There were nearly a dozen bankruptcies in the Lawrence Journal World today and nearly a dozen in each week prior since the beginning of 2009. http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/apr/26/bankruptcies/ The front page of the community section of the LJ World was a photo of the County Manager warning of cuts to services and asking county employee's to provide ideas on how to cut the budget. Seems a little late to be asking. You were not saving a dime during the good times and you were not asking for our opinions then.

Mysteriously not mentioned in any discussions about budget cuts is the Department of Education. In case you didn't know, with all of the taxes collected in the State of Kansas, somewhere in the neighborhood of 53% goes to our public schools. Trust me I have heard it time and time again. "It's for the kids." I simply want you to think about something. If you were paying 53% of your income to your mortgage alone you would find yourself out on the street. You got it, bankrupt. Why do you think so many homeowners are going broke. Why do you think the State of Kansas is broke and unable to properly budget for other government agencies? Why, because at least 6.7 billion dollars of our 13 billion state budget goes to just one agency. Common sense would be to cut into the Department of Educations budget and force them to make decisions that are "good for the kids of Kansas." If this doesn't happen than we are going to see other agencies cut jobs and services that are equally as important to our kids. If we don't take our state budget serious and cut spending immediately you can be assured that the state and your town are going to raise your taxes. Which one of you can afford paying another dime of taxes to the government. Oh I forgot, it's only those who make over $250,000.00 a year who pay taxes. If you keep believing this you too may be looking out your window pretty soon as the moving van appears at your own driveway.

If your interested in knowing your school districts budget please use the link I have provided here. http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=3347

What to find the name and number for your senator and representative in Topeka? Just click here. http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-legisportal/index.do

Have you ever thought about getting involved or wanting info about what is happening in Topeka and Washington DC? Click here. http://americansforprosperity.org/kansas

Tax Protesters or Terrorists; Just ask King George

This was one of many messages on display at the Tea Party gathering at the Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas. I like a few thousand other Kansas Faithful attended the Tea Party in Overland Park. What a great feeling to be around so many Kansans seeking and demanding common sense to taxation in Kansas and the rest of our nation. I was blown away by the number of young people there. I mean the 14 to 30 crowd. It seems clear that many at this rally were motivated by the lack of common sense coming from Washington DC since the beginning of our new presidents administration. I for one don't dump our lack of awareness and sudden awakening on President Obama. As a conservative I will be the first to tell you that common sense doesn't rest only in the red states and on just one side of the isle in the halls of congress. States and the federal governments are making decisions at the expense of the taxpayers. Because we are not paying attention the common sense is lacking. But when government stupidity rises to a level that you get smacked in the face with it, it can gets ones attention. The tea parties are simply the first acknowledgment by the middle class to our government that our representatives are out of touch with not only common sense but reality. Let just name a few items that simply defy common sense.
1. Unemployment is at a record high in most all states but congress has done nothing to stop the flow of illegal aliens from entering our country and competing for our jobs.

2. Your elected representatives and senators in Topeka continues to support in state tuition for illegal immigrants while high school students from Missouri and Oklahoma for example who wish to attend KU or KSU must pay out of state tuition.

3. The Obama administration wants to increase spending (your tax dollars) at a rate never seen in our nation and during a time when our economy is in shambles. But your suppose to believe that if you make less than $250.000.00 dollars a year you won't be taxed.

4. The Congress of the United States of America are taking over banks and businesses that have failed because of lousy business practices. The same congress is taxing the middle class for billions upon billions of dollars to keep these businesses afloat. Your congressman hasn't read 0ne page of their own legislation yet they want you to believe that our government can run a business better than the free market. Granted huge mistakes and complete fraud and greed has been a problem in big business but the real fraud is our own government. Has any congressman or senator lost their job for government stupidity, greed, or corruption? NO

5. The American middle class was cleaned out of nearly 1/2 of their wealth because of laws passed by our congress that allows banks to loan to people who have no ability to pay the loans back. No credit check needed, no down payment required, nothing. You have been robbed of 1/2 of your retirement after the banks and businesses your hard earned money was invested in collapsed because of these business practices mandated by our government and now you are required to pay billions more in taxes to bail out these businesses, state and local governments and individuals who cannot manage their own money. Where is the common sense?

If there is any doubt that your government has lost it's mind it came in an announcement this past week that the Department of Homeland Defense and the Obama Administrations determination that those who protest taxes, those who support pro life and the rights of the unborn, returning soldiers from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are all a right wing threat to the security of the United States. Men and women, young adults remember why you you were at that tea party. Give honor and glory to those middle class colonists of 1773. http://www.bostonteapartyship.com/history.asp These brave colonists had all they could take of British taxes being imposed on them and they resisted. They confronted the much more powerful British Government and they said enough is enough. You know the rest of the story because WE won. Take up your signs, lift up your voice of liberty and lift up your darn cell phone and call your congressman and tell each of them that enough is enough. If those fools want to label you and me as a threat to this nation you let them know that the only thing they have to fear is their re-election. Remember your heritage.

Please click on and view these links for yourself. See what hollywood and Washington DC think of you now. Ask yourselves, where is the common sense?

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/04/16/garofalo-tea-partiers-are-all-racists-who-hate-black-president

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/19/axelrod-suggests-tea-party-movement-is-unhealthy/

http://www.pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2009/04/14/tea-party-derangement-syndrome-its-here/

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/14/federal-agency-warns-of-radicals-on-right/

Is it to late for a Tea Party?

Are you over taxed? I happen to think so. I decided to to list as may taxes and and fees that I can think of. I hope if I miss any you an remind me. I am not going argue the point as to whether or not these taxes are appropriate or not. So here I go. Please comment to the blog if you thing of more taxes I missed.

1. Property tax, for property owners this is a big one paid out to several government agencies. My property tax is $2950.00 a year.
   
2. Sales tax in Lawrence Kansas is 7.30%. Taxpayer pays $7.30 for every $100.00 you spend.
3. State Income Tax. It's on your check stub. Collected by the state on every dollar you make. Some pay less and some pay more. But those making $33,000.00 or more in the state of Kansas paying pay about $1450.00 up front and then 6.45% on every dollar over $33,000.00 Remember how we were told that we wont be taxed as much as those making $250,000.00 or more. What they didn't tell you is that if you make 33,000.00 a year you are going to be in the same tax bracket as those make $250,000.00 and more in Kansas.
4. Federal Income Tax. Look for yourself and do the math
5. Social Security Tax
6. Medicare Tax
7. Utility Bill Taxes. Take a look and add them up. The government hopes you are not paying attention. You probably aren't.
8. Cable bill tax
9. Water bill tax
10. Tax on the gas to heat your house
11. Telephone or Cell phone tax
12. 911 Tax
13. Gasoline Tax
14. User fees, fishing license, hunting license, Deer permit, Turkey permit, Duck stamp, etc.
15. Camping fee's
16. Hospitality tax. Check it out the next time you stay in a hotel on top of sales tax
17. Annual taxes for the tags on your car
    

Okay this is what I came up with just from memory. Now ladies and gentlemen after all this is paid out of your $33,000.00 - $50,000.00 dollar a year job, start adding up the necessities with what is left after you paid the taxes.

1. Health Insurance
2. Rent
3. Gasoline
4. Food
5. Car payment
6. Diapers
7. Baby food
8. Birthday parties
9. Christmas Gifts
10. Vacation
11. Broken Air Conditioner
12. And on and on and on
13. Kids College Tuition
14. Retirement
    

I simply ask you to think about this with common sense. When you add up your taxes that you are going to pay (I assure you I didn't name them all) and then subtract necessities, what do you have left? Common sense should tell you that you should have a lot more income left than taxes paid.

How do you want it? The government can take only as much as you are willing to let them. But the bigger government gets the more powerful the government becomes over your life. Why you ask, because they have all of your money! How secure do you feel when your broke?

Do you really believe that all of your tax dollars are going to a good cause? Is this what your common sense is telling you?

I for one think we are at a crossroads. We are very close to the point where there is nothing left after our hard work. We have given so much of it to the government and the remainder to pay our necessities at which point we simply don't have anything left. This now puts us at the mercy of our government. We listed several areas of taxation. Does knowing the government took all of this money from you make you feel safer?

Are you willing to pay more taxes or have you paid enough? I for one cannot think of one more thing the government needs to pay for that in any way will benefit the middle class in the United States. If you agree than you better speak up. Have you ever called your congressman to tell him or her when you see a lack of common sense? Men and women, if you don't start getting involved in your government, that government is going to continue taxing you and therefore controlling more and more of your life. If you don't exercise your God given right to speak up and remind your elected government officials that you are seeing a serious lack of common sense in the size and growth of government we are going to be at a point where your government won't care what you have to say.

Politicians: Raising our taxes, cheat on theirs

I am sure at times my blogs seem to long for those who want the story in two sentences or less. I hope you stay with this. This past winter of 2008 my wife was notified that she was being audited by the Kansas Department of Revenue. When you get a letter such as this your first reaction is; what did I do wrong? Knowing that my wife is not a tax cheat she began the process of gathering the paperwork the state requested. The first request was for two years of supposed missing tax returns around 2003 and 2004. This information was provided to the "Revenue Agent" and all seemed well. I asked my wife to stay on top of this issue. I am not sure if we missed another letter from the state but about December we were served a warrant for back taxes of $12,500.00 dollars. Needless to say this got our attention. At the same time this seemed pretty amusing to us since my wife only made about $25,000.00 dollars during any one of the years of interest. We were not married then and she was single with two high school students living at home. Sometime in January 2009 I got a phone call from a very nice lady at Capital Federal Savings trying to track down my wife to let her know that the Kansas Revenue Agent just faxed them a letter to freeze our checking account. She warned us that if we had outstanding checks or payments they would bounce unless we quickly put additional cash into our checking account. We were effectively locked out of our bank account the moment the bank receives the fax. The bank is required to wire this money to Topeka at the end of the day that the actual certified notice reaches them by mail. In a panic my wife called the revenue agent again and he told her that he needed two more years of taxes that the state seemed to have misplaced. To make a long story short we complied and the revenue agent was nice enough to release our checking account before the funds were sent. He grabbed $250.00 for his trouble however. After reviewing 4 years of taxes on a single woman with two children still living at home making maybe $25,000.00 a year working for SRS, the revenue agent found an error my wife made on her KAPERS in one of the returns. Final back taxes owed with interest and penalty was $91.00. We were given no explanation for why the Department of Revenue seemed to have misplaced four years of tax returns. Now for our governor. Please read on. Put yourself in our shoes and think about where I am going with this. The media in Kansas and Washington DC want you to believe that the tax problems of our Governor and HHS nominee is just a simple mistake that we should overlook during her senate nomination hearings coming in the next week or so. My point of view is this. There was no innocent mistake at all.

Kansans may not be aware of the fact that Governor Kathleen Sebelius has been nominated by President Obama to be the next Health and Human Services Director. This is a cabinet post which means this is a political appointment and answers directly to the president. The Kansas Governor like all nominations had to turn over her tax returns for review. After all the president doesn't want a tax cheat working for him. It seems she made a few innocent mistakes on her tax return and her confirmation hearings in the United States Senate has been delayed. Governor Sebelius took $7,000.00 in deductions she wasn't entitled to. Sebelius and the Obama Adminstration wants us to believe that her mistakes were innocent. Sebelius took deductions that even a bad accountant would have know better. Unlike myself and thousands of others threatened by the Revenue Department of Kansas, Governor Sebelius errors would have never been reviewed had it not been for the fact that she, in her own words had to scrub her tax returns in order to get through the confirmation hearings. Governor Sebelius is one of many appointments by this president who has cheated on their taxes. It is amazing how these politicians who want to raise our taxes cheat on their own. But for them it was Turbo Tax that made the mistake and they had no idea. But for any other citizen of Kansas it means a tax warrant and a letter to your bank to cleaning out our checking and savings accounts.

The most amazing thing about events such as the Governors simple tax mistake is the number of Kansans who don't care. After all it was just $7,000 dollars and the governor is only human. I for one don't buy it. For those who don't care and see this as just a simple human mistake be clear about one thing. If you make that same simple error, I assure you that nobody in the Kansas Department of Revenue will consider you human.