Look: A Conspiracy!

People keep telling me that I'm a conspiracy theorist and not based in reality. To them, reality is what the "news" networks all agree on (except for that one, biased organization: FOX NEWS).

I don't spend a lot of time watching the "talking heads" repeat each other's talking points. Maybe that is my problem. If I did, I too would be unaware of the propaganda (but then again, I'd have that much less to write about). Think I'm kidding? Remember the "We Are the 99%" people? Remember the "evil" 1% that needed to pay their fair share? At what point did that shift from the 1% to the 2%, and the "We Are the 99%" to the "We Are the 98%"? The fiscal cliff talks morphed into an argument over taxing the top 2% folks. Where was the insightful, investigative journalists? I never heard one (and again, I admit I don't spend a LOT of time watching them) ask the question: "When did the 1% become the 2%?" Of course they couldn't do that. If they did, it would focus attention on that sliding scale, where 1% becomes 2%, which becomes 3%, which becomes the top 10%.

Think I'm crazy? Fine. Look up the income tax rate when it was initialized and look at it now. The first, peacetime income tax was established in 1894 with a tax rate of 2% for those making over $4k. Less than 10% of households had to pay income taxes. That was one of the main reasons it was able to be enacted - only a small portion of the populous would be impacted. Have you looked at your paystub lately?

If you don't watch the "talking heads" you may find that your brain will reengage and you too can be labeled a conspiracy theorist! Beats being a lemming.

© Emittravel 2013

We Are the 99%

No, it's not the Tea Party. It's a bunch of individuals who feel compelled to stand around and do nothing, with the hopes that that will change something. You can't mix them up with the Tea Party folks. They are a grass roots organization that had such an impact in the voting booths to turn over the House of Representatives from the Democrats, and literally divide the Republicans into two camps (those that support the spending cuts, low taxes, and small government view of the Tea Party, and those who like spending our money and regulating us into oblivion.)

The part that is funny to me is the "We Are the 99%" signs. Do these folks even have a clue? I don't think so. Last weekend my wife and I walked past a small group (four people) holding these signs in Oxford, OH (home of Miami University). My wife held her breath because she thought I wasn't going to hold mine. The only thing I said was to be careful that the (very strong) wind we were experiencing didn't turn that sign into a para sail.

But what if I did open my mouth? What would I tell them? Simply that they haven't thought this out too much. Their slogan, by grammar alone, states that they are against the 1%. Apparently the 1% are not qualified to be part of the solution. I guess they are unaware that the 1% provide almost HALF of ALL tax revenue. Are the 99% willing to cover that portion? I'd also tell them that just under HALF of the 99% don't pay ANY income tax at all - heck, they even get refunds. Why should YOU be paying for THEM? Shouldn't your signs say, "We Are the 49%"?

Folks it's not capitalism, and it's not the government. It's progressivism. The marriage of the two has brought about the crisis that we are facing. 

"Oh Mr. Government Official, here is some campaign contributions. Now, help me stave off my competition with a regulation or two." And when those very businesses get in trouble it's "Oh Mr. Business Owner, don't you worry. You are too big to fail. Here is free tax money to bail you out. I don't care how you use it, just take it!" 

If they are going to "occupy" places like Wall St. (those EVIL bankers deserve to suffer our wrath of protest) they need to give EQUAL time to the White House (those EVIL politicians deserve to suffer our wrath of protest too!) If they don't they are clearly showing how uninformed they are.

So, in conclusion I would say that the "We Are the 99%" group needs to get a clue and maybe go back to occupying their parents' basements. Folks, the sixties are over. If you are going to protest at least take a page or two from the Tea Party play book and DO something. Oh, and make sure you clean up after yourselves when you're done. Now THAT would be a definite departure from the sixties!

© Emittravel 2011