It's broke. Time to fix it. Article #5

It's broke . . .

When it comes to eliminating the nation's debt and balancing the budget there has been nothing but a stalemate in Congress. * Conservatives want cuts without tax increases. Liberals want tax increases without cuts. Both won't give an inch.

Now, as a fiscal-conservative, I have to sympathize with the conservatives here. Both Presidents Reagan and Bush (senior) agreed to a congressional plan to raise taxes $1 for every $3 in cuts. Both Presidents were blasted (and rightfully so) for this move, and they both regretted making it. Why? Because the tax increases took effect immediately, and the cuts were to future spending. None of the cuts have ever come to fruition. Why? Because you can't force a future Congress to abide by budgets set under previous congresses.

The solution is simple: put in a stipulation that states that if the tax cuts do not take place by a certain date, the tax increases are AUTOMATICALLY rescinded, including reimbursement to those affected (including those evil rich people). Make it a hard and fast law that a future Congress can't break.

 

Now THAT'S what you call a compromise we can live with!

. . . time to fix it!

* Generalization - both conservatives AND liberals have not been too keen on spending cuts

© Emittravel 2011

Stuff My Brain Says #25

Forget Social Justice - I'll just stick with REAL justice.

There IS a difference, ya know . . .

© Emittravel 2011

Stuff My Brain Says #24

I just watched a mom wipe down a restaurant high chair with one of those alcohol, sterilization wipes, while holding her precious little one in her other arm.

I know what you are thinking: what a wonderful mother. Me? Not so much.

This same, precious little one spends time crawling around on less-than sterile carpets and floors (thankfully not here at the restaurant), and putting everything those little fingers can grasp in his/her mouth (his/her - I hate neutral colored baby clothes . . . ). And not only that, think of all that time spent sitting in his (I'm dropping the "her" for grammar's sake) own feces between Huggies.

I'm not even going to mention those times when the child is placed on a bedspread at someone's house (or at a hotel). I've seen what that light picks up on episodes of CSI.

Do you honestly think those wipes make THAT much of a difference? Honestly? I think it's more for the parents' peace of mind - and I guess that IS worth one more carry item in that baby bag.

"Hey kid. Stop drooling on that table. The waitress doesn't carry those wipes!"

© Emittravel 2011

Left-Leaning Bias at Cleveland.com? Nothing to See Here - Move Along

The featured story at Cleveland.com today: "Senate Bill 5 repeal sets table for Democrats and President Barack Obama in 2012: Analysis" by Henry J. Gomez (The Plain Dealer). It's funny that repealing Governor Kasich's plan concerning public unions was declared a win for President Obama, but nothing was mentioned about Issue 3: Ohioans soundly announced that they did NOT want mandated health care - which is a resounding DEFEAT to President Obama's 2012 plans. As a matter of fact, I had to do some extra work to even FIND the results to Issue 3 on Cleveland.com.

Yeah . . . Nothing to see here. Move along.

© Emittravel 2011

Press "2" for Polish

I voted today. Yup. Got the sticker and everything. But I walked away confused, because the ballot was in English and Spanish. Now, I have nothing against those who speak Spanish (lovely language), but I’m scratching my head over the ballot.

You see, I live in Seven Hills, OH – which is REALLY close to Parma. One of the benefits to living here is the food! Nothing like ordering a steak and getting a choice of potatoes, rice, or pierogies. That’s right: pierogies. There is a large Eastern European population in my area and the menus reflect it. Funny, the voting ballot – or Lowes for that matter – doesn’t reflect that. The local Lowes home improvement store has signs in both English and Spanish, but I’ve NEVER heard anyone speaking Spanish there. Polish, yes. But Spanish? Ninguno.

I don’t hear the Polish people complaining that they don’t have signs or ballots in their language. Why? Because they ALSO speak English. No disenfranchisement there!

So, would someone explain to me why we pay more to have things printed in two languages?

© Emittravel 2011

Stuff My Brain Says #23

Defense spending is like having insurance. Both are expensive. You hope you never need to use it; but if you do, you sure hope you have enough.

I was stationed on the USS Elrod (FFG-55), and the ship's motto was "War Ready to Preserve Peace". That pretty much sums it up.

© Emittravel 2011