FairTax.org has officially stated that I and one other individual are the most important constituents in America. Since Congress is considering an overhaul of our tax code, the opinion of FairTax matters. Since I’m the only one of the two most important constituents in America who disagrees with the FairTax taxing governments, I’m naturally the more important of the two. Ask any politician. Constituents are the most important people in any country and politicians always want more votes. So, it stands to reason that I, Jesse Steele, am the most important person in America.

Unfortunately, FairTax doesn’t seem interested in listening to the most important person in America. Well, that also stands to reason. Although I don’t fully agree with FairTax’s claim that I’m the most important person in America, I do know that I’m right. People rarely listen to someone who’s right, even if he’s the most important person in America.

Here’s more of the story…

Glen, a representative of FairTax.org sent the following statement in an email addressed to me and only one other individual:

…You two are the only people from MI-04 to respond to my earlier plea(s) for help. I had hoped for five or more (it would be easier to get started to get started in your congressional district) but so far you 2 are it. We really need to get started if we can.

Of the 435 congressional districts yours is the most important. Not only is your representative a member of the House Ways and Means, he is the chairman of this committee. If possible (and I think it is) we need to so educate the citizens in your district about the FairTax and create such a stir among them that the re-election of your representative in the next election cycle will be in serious jeopardy if he does not openly and enthusiastically endorse the FairTax, This is the only way we can be certain of his eventual support…

I inquired with Glen, from FairTax.org, about whether the FairTax would allow governments to tax each other. This was included in his reply:

… If a federal agency has to pay the tax, it’s going to the federal government anyway. If our state government pays the tax, consider this: The cost of American made goods will decrease by something like 20% due to the removal of the current embedded, up-stream consequences of the income tax. So our states may pay a little more, a few percent, for what they buy but it’s a small price to pay for simplicity, transparency and efficiency of collection.

Only business to business transactions will be untaxed…

Here was my most recent reply, from which I have yet to receive a reply:

Glen,

If these three provisions, either in their current form, or, upon review, are restated to the same effect, in the FairTax, then I would give it my full support…

Since you have said that I am one of two constituents from the district of the most important Congressman, and since I’m shaky only over these issues, FairTax should be willing to add these very agreeable, which are necessary for obvious reasons.

I look forward to receiving information where these provisions have been either cited or added to the FairTax so that I can inform my Congressman, Dave Camp, the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, as soon as possible. Then, we can pass the FairTax and America’s economy can begin it’s recovery.

Sincerely,
Jesse Steele
Most important constituent in the United States, according to implications of statements made by those affiliated with FairTax.org

No “double taxation”

§ 1 No government, of any jurisdiction, shall pay taxes in the United States of America, without full reimbursement from the authorities to which the taxes are paid.

§ 2 No government, of any jurisdiction, shall collect for and/or deliver taxes to governments not within the United States of America.

§ 3 Any taxpayer, corporate, individual, or otherwise, who has paid taxes on personal, corporate, dividend, or other taxes relating to income will pay any taxes to any government within the United States of America on said and previously taxed income, without full reimbursement from every and all respective governments within the United States of America to which said taxes are paid in the case of sales tax, income tax withheld, or other forms of withholding. Any overlapping of jurisdictions between any governments within the United States of America and other foreign States and/or non-domestic taxing authorities shall be considered “double taxation” and the US Department of State and US Department of Treasury, in a manner prescribed by Congress and by personnel appointed by the President and approved by the Senate, and approved staff under them, with respective and applicable approval proceedings, shall be responsible for disputing, deliberating, and/or reconciling any claims made by foreign States and/or non-domestic taxing authorities against taxpayers who have or will pay taxes to governments in the United States of America, that would otherwise result in “double taxation”. If the United States of America determines that taxes shall be paid to the foreign or otherwise non-domestic taxing authority or State in question, then the total monies of any and all taxes paid to the respective governments within the United States, also including any penalties which may have been incurred and owed to the foreign entity or entities in question, shall be given to the tax payer in question and that tax payer shall be expected to submit said taxes. Governments of and/or within the United States of America shall not use international and/or “double tax” situations to collect taxes on behalf of foreign and/or non-domestic States or taxing authorities and no such deliberation shall result in penalties paid by the taxpayer(s) in question. Congress may make laws, respectively, governing amounts of time within or outside of the United States of America, and other laws as they may apply, to simplify the process of preventing “double taxation” for both United States Citizens and/or taxpayers and Aliens visiting the United States of America who may have tax liabilities to other, non-domestic and/or foreign taxing authorities.

In 1984, Mike Bickle claims to have heard the audible voice of the Lord that he was to call Bob Jones. So, he did. At that moment, Bob just had a vision of the dungeon where Joseph was imprisoned. As you may recall the story from Genesis, someone had tried to poison Pharaoh. Both the bread maker and the cup bearer were in prison until the culprit would be found. It turned out to be the bread maker. The bread maker was executed and the cup bearer was set free—and he eventually introduced Joseph to Pharaoh.

There have been two main ministries in the Body of Christ, the “wine” ministry (the work of the cup bearer), which speaks of the Spirit; and the “bread” ministry, which speaks of the Word of God. The Word of God can refer to Scripture, but it can loosely extend to include the words of preachers that help us learn about God and His Word. The Spirit ministry isn’t limited to Charismatic and Pentecostal circles. It also includes worship leaders, musicians, and song writers from nearly every denomination.

All denominational banter aside, there is little motive for Mike to have made up this story. His only conclusion is the message that, somehow, God will remove the “bread” ministry in the Body of Christ, just like the bread maker was found guilty and executed in the story of Joseph. The way Mike tells it, this is more of a warning than it is a reason to give him money.

Mike has not been extremely clear about what this judgment will look like, but he always emphasizes that “poisoned bread” means “teaching the Word of God without developing humility”. By that definition, this isn’t limited to Baptists—and it wouldn’t include all Baptists either. There are many arrogant Bible-know-it-all’s in the Christian world.

I suggest that “removal of the bread ministry” in the Church today means the removal of seminaries that produce clergy.

Does this mean that my own school, the Moody Bible Institute will cease to exist? I don’t think so. Moody has always been unique. While there is an ethos of Pharisaical arrogance on the campus, Moody students gravitate toward seeking truth and are willing to ax their own ideals if Scripture so proves.

More importantly, D. L. Moody founded the school, saying that they needed “gapmen” to stand between the preachers and the laity. Other leaders of the Institute knew that they could not rely on seminaries. Their practical field experience requirements remain unusually high, and their annual missions conference is one of the largest and most-reaching in the world. Moody will most likely last, though they may be shaken up a little. I’m sure they won’t mind, though.

About 18 months ago, Misty Edwards shared a word she received from the Lord along the same lines as Jones, “What’s it to you if I raise up a man, like an ax in my hand, to judge my Church. They lie. They lie about my Deity. They lie about my humanity. They lie about my first coming. They lie about my second coming. What’s it to you if I judge my Church?”

I think this is the same thing Jones had a vision about and that Bickle warned us about.

The Church is about to be shaken to the core. It’s for poisoning the “bread” ministry. And it means the removal of the clerical system once and for all. Then, as the Church, we’ll finally be able to get down to real business—and no longer business as usual.

Jimmy: Jesse’s “95 Theses” could transform the Church. Finally, change… in my generation!

Frank: Of course! The title is beautiful branding. …and good branding is just what the Church is missing.

Frank: Why did they make it V. E. D. A… Vlog Every Day in April? Why not some other month?

Jimmy: Rules of acronyms… Everyone is busy in August and every other month starts with a consonant.

Whether it’s true or not, China appears to the International community as an aggressor. For half a century, Beijing supported the Kim Dynasty of North Korea. Now, that decision is “blowing up” in Beijing’s face, so to speak. Countries are asking, “Why would Communist China support a North Korea that would do this if China truly wants peace?” Is Beijing apologetic? Of course not.

In the context of regional issues, and especially the recent earthquake and other environmental problems, the best optics for China would be to demonstrate wise priorities at home, tone down their activity in the South China sea, make concessions to India, and back of in other regions. But they don’t. Why?

Though pride is always a factor, it’s hard to say what motivates Beijing. But the Communists seem to be overreaching and this is possibly from complex psychology wars waged by the US over the last several years.

The US “upgrades” Taiwan’s Air Force, rather than doubling its size at a lower cost.

The US spends 8-digit figures on a new office in Taipei, but manages to, “coincidentally”, have union problems with the construction… Since when did Obama ever have union problems? But it’s a great excuse to send more military to Taiwan, as if the US doesn’t already have enough excuses.

The US has been shuffling it’s military throughout the region without significant changes, but keeps claiming that “China” is a significant factor.

The US places a new military base in the northern tip of Australia to “watch” China, but only puts 250 soldiers there, announcing an increase to 2,500 personnel over the next ten years. If I were Beijing, I’d be insulted. Knowing the petty pride of all East Asia, it’s possible that the US intended to offend China, forcing Beijing into irrationality.

China recently increased the number of missiles aimed at Taiwan, and now is deploying anti-aircraft carrier DF-21D missiles (see Taipei Times article) to deter US involvement “in case” there is conflict with Taiwan—conflict that could only be brought about by Beijing strategy.

The US hasn’t been the best of friends to Taiwan, especially with the inefficient use of Air Force defense spending.

Ma’s diplomacy seems to have been wasted, both on China and the US. Now, Taiwan is realizing that, whichever political party is in power… Taiwan is on her own.

Things were ostensibly well between Taiwan’s President Ma and China. That’s why Taiwan reelected him. As a Harvard grad, Ma is flouent in both English and international affairs. He doesn’t misspeak. And his rhetoric has been changing.

Before, it was “commerce with China”. Now, he’s considering, “how our military force can effectively intimidate the potential threat… [rather than] whether other countries will be there as our military aid.” That’s a message to both superpowers on the western and eastern sides of Taiwan. “Intimidate”—!? That’s not the same diplomatic Ma who was elected six years ago. It sounds more like Ronald Reagan.

China has been provoked with some of the most subtle psychology the West has ever displayed. DC seems to know Beijing better than Beijing knows itself. What DC doesn’t seem to know is how Taiwan will react. As Tolkien said, “…but his cunning overreached his aim, his words touched too deep, and awoke a fire more fierce than he designed.”

The US has overstretched herself, like butter spread too thin on a slice of bread. A global military, funded nationally, isn’t sustainable, not even with debt owed to China. As the US loses its power, China and India will pick up the slack, but so will Taipei, Japan, and Seoul.

China is moving too fast, too aggressively, but it doesn’t realize this because of the cultural differences between East and West. Beijing BS walks, to some extent, in China. But money talks to both the East and the West. More missiles in the Taiwan Straight, in light of China’s bastard child of North Korea gone awry, will arouse the West, including the Harvard grad leading Taiwan.

Expect a power grab from Taiwan, that DC does not expect, that makes China stand up straighter and makes the US smile with a little more humility.

Taipei Times:

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/04/21/2003560318