Conservative Opinion

Tax the Wealthy...Just Not Me!

2014-11-16T16:09:00.004-05:00

This is the attitude of the left: rules that should apply to everyone else shouldn't apply to me.

Read "Buffett Uses Tax Dodges as He Calls for Tax Increases on Wealthy" at MoneyNews

Post Office Loses $5.5 Billion

2014-11-15T19:01:00.003-05:00

I would question whether only losing $5.5 billion is a success or a failure. When we have a government that is losing money by the trillions, shouldn't such a large arm only losing this small fraction be a success?

(Now Ending Sarcasm)

Full Article from WND

Quite Possibly the Best Zonation Ever

2014-11-15T18:42:00.001-05:00

George W. Bush and Wackos in Congress

2013-08-06T11:01:00.002-04:00

I just read the news that George W. Bush had heart surgery this morning. While it sounds like it was a routine procedure, heart surgery is never something to take lightly. My prayers go out to him for a quick recovery.

However, I do wonder how long it will be before this gets turned into a promo for Obamacare by one of the left's wackos in Congress. "George Bush had a blockage discovered during a routine physical exam. Now, thanks to Obamacare, you get free preventative care that will help you discover health problems you might have."

Show Your Need, NSA

2013-06-10T11:35:00.000-04:00

In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting, liberals forced gun owners to explain why they needed particular types of weapons (i.e. assault rifles and 30-round magazines). The most famous of these statements was New York Governor Andrew Cuomo screaming, "Forget the extremists! It's simple! No one hunts with an assault rifle! No one needs ten bullets to kill a deer!" (If you missed the clip, you can see it at the beginning of this video.)

Fine!

If we are going to establish need as the necessary factor for obtaining a particular item, I can defend my position on assault rifles much better than the NSA can defend its position on my phone records.

Ladies and gentlemen of the NSA, can you please explain WHY you MUST have my phone records, Google searches, etc. in order to keep me safe?

You claim that it allows quick access to the phone records of those suspected of terrorism. However, I find it hard to believe that, with the authority of the United States Government behind you, you would have a difficult time obtaining these from the company with a specific warrant.

Furthermore, can you please define the word "terrorist", since the number two political official reportedly claimed that the politicians that represent my values were acting like terrorists. Will my phone records be subjected to additional scrutiny because of my political beliefs (like what happened at the IRS)?

If we are going to establish need as the prerequisite for possession, then it is time that liberals be forced to play by their own rules.

The NSA Data Center in Perspective

2013-06-07T19:19:00.000-04:00

According to a Fox News report, the new NSA data center in Utah will be able to store 5 Zettabytes of information. To put that in perspective:

Most hard drives today are measured in Gigabytes, but the Terabyte (approximately 1000 Gigabytes) is becoming more common. Currently, the largest drives are in the range of 2-3 Terabytes.

If you take a 1 Terabyte hard drive:

1 Petabyte would consist of approximately 1000 of these drives.
1 Exabyte would consist of approximately 1000 Petabytes, or 1 million drives.
1 Zettabyte would consist of approximately 1000 Exabytes, or 1 billion drives.

In 2011, Seagate said that the average size of a hard drive that it shipped was 590 GB. If we assume that the average size of a hard drive is probably somewhere in the 700 GB range today, this facility would contain enough storage for 7,142,857,143 average drives. In other words, there will be enough space to hold a hard drive for every person in the world today, with a few left over. (The most recent world population estimate was 7.09 billion.)

Now, what exactly do they plan to store here? Oh, wait...maybe this, this, this, this, and a whole lot more.

May 29 Opinion Roundup

2013-05-29T14:56:00.002-04:00

INCOME INEQUALITY
When the Rich Get Richer, Taxes Go Lower
(Dylan Matthews, Washington Post)
"In a new paper with Facundo Alvaredo and Anthony Atkinson, Piketty and Saez look at how these different countries changed their tax policies as inequality grew. The answer, perhaps unsurprisingly, is that countries where inequality grew the most also saw the biggest cuts in top marginal tax rates for wealthy earners."

GREEN [WASTING] CARS
If Tesla Would Stop Selling Cars, We’d All Save Some Money
(Patrick J. Michaels, CATO Institute)
"The public is still on the hook for Tesla, and will be for the foreseeable future. First, there’s the $7500 taxback bonus that every buyer gets and every taxpayer pays. Then there are generous state subsidies ($2500 in California, $4000 in Illinois—the bluer the state, the more the taxpayers get gouged), all paid to people forking out $63K (plus taxes) for the base version, to roughly $100K for the really quick one. The latest round of Tesla wonderment came when it reported its first quarterly profit earlier this month. TSLA stock darned near doubled in a week. Musk then borrowed $150 million from Goldman Sachs (shocking!) and floated a cool billion in new stock and long-term debt. That’s how we—the taxpayers—were repaid."

SPORTS ON WELFARE
Sports Welfare Dies Hard
(Patrick Hruby, Sports on Earth)
"The NFL's non-profit status -- and Coburn's dead-in-the-water effort to nix it -- is illustrative. The league, its teams and various subsidiaries earn roughly $9 billion in revenue per season. They will collect a guaranteed $27 billion in television money over the next decade. They exist to make money. They are very, very good at their jobs. Under federal law, however, the league office is classified as a tax-exempt 501(c)6 organization - essentially, a nonprofit business league -- just like your local chamber of commerce."

OBAMACARE
The Obamacare Insurance Exchange Train Is Already Coming Off The Rails
(Sally Pipes, Forbes)
"But an Obamacare train wreck isn’t a distant possibility. It’s actively happening. Delays, wasteful spending, and cost overruns have already popped up. And it’s becoming increasingly likely that the exchanges won’t be ready by October 1, when they’re supposed to open for enrollment. Mass confusion and excessive costs will result."

GAS PRICES
Gas Myths
(John Stossel, Townhall)
"Even if gas costs $4 per gallon, we should thank Big Oil. Think what they have to do to bring us gas. Oil must be sucked out of the ground, sometimes from war zones or deep beneath oceans. The drills now bend and dig sideways through as much as 7 miles of earth. What they discover must be pumped through billion-dollar pipelines and often put in monstrously expensive tankers to ship across the ocean. Then it's refined into several types of gasoline, transported in trucks that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Finally, your local gas station must spend a fortune on safety devices to make sure we don't blow ourselves up while filling the tank. And it still costs less per ounce than the bottled water sold at gas stations. If government sold gas, it would cost $40 per gallon. And there would be shortages!"

EDUCATION
How Higher Education Can Be the Worst Investment Ever
(Tara Clarke, Money Morning)
"But nowadays, you would have to be delusional to assume that an investment in higher education will definitely pay off. After spending copious amounts of time and money on a college degree, the graduate unemployment rate is a now staggering 14%. What's more, even those who have gotten a job often settle for work that's hardly commensurate with their newly-minted education. That has helped to create a trillion dollar student loan bubble, with the average debt per student up 70% since 2004. It calls into question whether or not a college degree is worth the investment these days."

QUICK HITS

Small business will be allowed to self-insure

Hezbollah fighting for Assad in Syria

Immigration could spoil Rubio's presidential chances

Americans on disability could form the eighth-largest state

Teacher faces dismissal for teaching bill of rights

Jim Bunning's Revenge

DHS can't locate hundreds of dangerous illegals

IRS spent 11 million on unused electronics

Milwaukee school holds cross-dressing day

How your doctor will tell the government all about you

Licenses for journalists? It could be closer than you think

A Note From Jim

2013-02-19T13:26:00.001-05:00

Greetings, fellow tea-party terrorists!

After much consideration, I have decided to change the focus and use of this blog (again). I have begun the process of starting a new technology business, and I anticipate that the business will take a large portion of my time. Due to the new work that I will be doing, I will no longer be writing large amounts of new content. I will continue to post links to great opinion pieces and news articles as I am able, and I plan to continue some of the daily features I started. Those who subscribe to the nFocus email will receive daily updates of the links I post.

For now, here is my planned post schedule:

6 AM - Morning Media
10 AM - D.C. Daily
8 PM - Newspaper Roundup
Links to opinion pieces will be posted as I find them throughout the day

nFocus: February 12, 2013

2013-02-12T21:00:00.000-05:00

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It Makes a Difference

2013-02-12T20:30:00.000-05:00

While testifying at the Benghazi hearings about three weeks ago, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the incredulous statement, “What difference does it make?” while responding to questioning about the administration's initial claim that the attacks were the result of a protest due to a video. Whether it was a protest due to a video, a few guys taking a walk, or—as we learned when the truth came out—a terrorist attack, makes a huge difference.

First, it makes a difference to the man sitting in prison right now due to the administration's cover-up. While he may have violated the terms of his parole in making the video, the truth is that his actions would most likely have gone unnoticed were it not for the Benghazi attacks. The government did to him what was done to Al Capone: unable to arrest him for the reasons they desired, they found something else that could be used to arrest him. I am sure that this man would like the administration to explain why his video was made the scapegoat for these attacks.

Second, it makes a difference to the families of the dead Americans. If this was a spontaneous protest, then the administration would have been unable to prepare for it, but if this were a coordinated attack that we had knowledge could be coming, then there is no excuse for the lack of security and response. The families of the four Americans killed in Benghazi deserve to know whether or not their loved ones died as a result of the negligence of our government.

Third, it makes a difference to those who desire the truth. Our government lied to us in the days following the attacks. At the same time that the government was claiming that the attacks were the result of the video protest, they had evidence that this was a terrorist attack. If they have lied to us about this, what else have they lied about? Furthermore, why are they answering questions about the attacks with statements like “What difference does it make?” rather than telling the truth? Unanswered questions like these are what cause many to question the government.

How the government portrayed the attacks in Benghazi does make a difference. It makes a difference to one jailed filmmaker, it makes a difference to the families of those killed, and it makes a difference to anyone who wants our government to tell the truth. With responses like these, the Obama administration is stonewalling any attempt to get at the truth about Benghazi. It will be up to us to try and determine why.

nFocus: February 8, 2013

2013-02-08T21:00:00.000-05:00

Immigration Reform: Too Many Unanswered Questions

2013-02-08T20:30:00.000-05:00

Imagine a time when Republicans and Democrats have agreed to an immigration plan that will secure the border, grant legal status to illegal immigrants, and crack down on employers who hire them. If you think this is a current event, you're wrong. I'm talking about the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act passed by the 99th Congress and signed into law by Ronald Reagan. The 1986 reform shows us that the current proposals before Congress will not solve our immigration problems; it will only add to them.

Since the 1986 plan, border security has not improved. In 1986, amnesty was approved with a promise of border security, but no one followed through on the promise. In fact, more illegal immigrants are coming across our border today than in 1986. According to the Office of Immigration Statistics, there was an average of just over 200,000 people coming across the border in 1986; in 2010, that number stood at well over 300,000.

The present “bipartisan” plan also includes a promise of border security, and unlike the 1986 plan, implementation of the amnesty program would supposedly hinge on the border being secure. However, we are left with an unanswered question: what exactly is a secure border? The question would most likely be left to the committee that is supposed to determine when the border has been secured.

This committee raises a second unanswered question: who will be on the committee, and how will they be appointed? It is highly unlikely that Democrats would support a plan that would require Joe Arpaio and Jan Brewer to approve, and it is equally unlikely that Republicans would support a plan requiring the approval of Janet Napolitano and Chuck Schumer. Until we know exactly how this committee will be appointed, it is impossible to know if the committee will actually do its job or serve as a farce to satisfy enough Republicans to pass the bill.

Without securing the border, we are not finding an immigration solution; we are finding a temporary fix. The 1986 bill was supposed to solve our immigration problems, but 27 years later, we are faced with the same problem on a larger scale. Without knowing the specifics of the border enforcement provisions, it is impossible to know if this is a worthwhile bill or another useless congressional can-kicking exercise.

D.C. Daily: February 8, 2013

2013-02-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

Senate

The Senate met yesterday and took the following actions:

Passed H. Con. Res. 11, providing for a joint session of Congress to receive a message from the President.
Passed S. Res. 27, designating the week of February 4 through 8, 2013, as "National School Counseling Week".
Resumed consideration of S. 47, the "Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013". During consideration, the Senate rejected one proposed amendment to the bill.

The Senate will not meet today. The next scheduled meeting of the Senate will be on Monday, February 11.

House of Representatives

The House was not in session yesterday.

The House will meet today at 11:00 AM in a pro forma session.

Morning Media: February 8, 2013

2013-02-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

First, Robert Arial provides a description of exactly what Obama is shooting. View at Townhall

Second, Dr. Benjamin Carson gave this amazing speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. It is almost 30 minutes long, but it is well worth your time to watch. View at YouTube

Next, another longer video (about 17 minutes) shows what the President should have said at his inauguration. View at RightScoop

And finally, adding the cat ruined Monopoly. View at Townhall

D.C. Daily: February 7, 2013

2013-02-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

Senate

The Senate was not in session yesterday.

The Senate will meet today at 9:30 AM. The Senate will resume consideration of S. 47, the "Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013".

House of Representatives

The House met yesterday and passed H.R. 444, the "Require a PLAN Act", by a vote of 253 yeas to 167 nays.

The House will not meet today. The next scheduled meeting of the House will be on Friday, February 8.

Morning Media: February 7, 2013

2013-02-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

First, Chuck Asay shows the problem of anti-gun education. View at Townhall

Next, Robert Ariail shows what happens when Popeye ate some bad spinach. View at Townhall

And finally, CBS in New York City did a report on the growing number of flash mob robberies. View at RightScoop

D.C. Daily: February 6, 2013

2013-02-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

Senate

The Senate was not in session yesterday.

The Senate will not meet today. The next meeting of the Senate will be on Thursday, February 7.

House of Representatives

The House met yesterday and began consideration of H.R. 444, the "Require a PLAN Act", after approving H. Res. 48, the rule providing for consideration of the measure.

The House will meet today at 9:00 AM. The House is expected to resume consideration of H.R. 444, the "Require a PLAN Act", subject to the rule passed yesterday.

Morning Media: February 6, 2013

2013-02-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

First, Henry Payne explains why the groundhog failed to see his shadow. View at Townhall

Second, Steve Kelley shows Obama's hypocrisy on guns and weapons. View at Townhall

Third, Bob Gorrell has an idea on the immigration debate. View at Townhall

And finally, a father of a student at Sandy Hook gave this speech to a board investigating the tragedy. View at RightScoop

nFocus: February 5, 2013

2013-02-05T21:00:00.000-05:00

The Withheld Secret

2013-02-05T20:30:00.000-05:00

A little over one month ago, the government stood in gridlock as politicians once again argued over the current income tax rates. Ironically, only thirty-four days after we came to a solution on the “fiscal cliff”, the tax rates that were the primary source of contention turned one hundred years old. On February 3, 1913, the income tax became a part of our Constitution, and by extension, the life of every American.

The income tax in 1913 was imposed on those making over $20,000 per year ($440,000 in today's money), and it began at a whopping 1%. The highest rate, reserved for those with incomes over $11 million in today's money, was 7%. At the time of its enactment, the tax affected approximately 7% of Americans. However, within thirty years, the higest rate was 94%, and the tax affected all Americans.

How were taxes allowed to get so high so quickly? We barely notice our income tax today because most people never see their income tax money. During World War II, Roosevelt proposed reinstating income tax withholding. (Withholding had been included in the original 1913 tax plan but was dropped three years later.) Under this plan, money to pay our income tax is removed from our paychecks before we see it. At a designated point (currently April 15), we must then submit paperwork to the federal government which shows our income and documents any extra tax we owe or requests a refund for taxes overpaid through withholding.

This system has reduced the awareness most Americans have about the taxes they pay. The Treasury Department, in The History of the U.S. Tax System, states that the income tax “greatly reduced the taxpayer's awareness of the amount of tax being collected.” How much did you actually pay in federal income taxes last year? Most people would have no clue. However, they can usually tell you how much they owed or received as a refund. By creating the withholding system, government has masked the true impact of high taxes.

Even worse, it has created a system where most people actually get excited when they realize that they overpaid the government and will receive that money back. This system can have a huge impact on your finances without you even realizing it. If a person receives a tax refund of $100 per year from age 18-62, that person will have received a total of $4,500 back from the government. However, if the same person took $8.33 per month (which is $100 per year) and invested it with a 6% annual return, that person would have almost $23,000 by the age of 62. For this ficticious person, the income tax comes with a $18,500 cost.

Combined with the complexity of our tax code, income tax withholding has destroyed any knowledge about the actual amount of taxes we pay to the federal government. In fact, despite our President's assertions to the contrary, a poll conducted by The Hill showed that 75% of Americans believe that current tax rates are too high. While other polls showed majority support for Obama's “tax the rich” idea, The Hill asked about specific rates and reported that “precisely 75 percent said the right level for top earners was 30 percent or below.” At the time, tax rates for the highest earners were 35%, and for this year, the rate will be 39.6%.

Americans have no clue how much they or anyone else pays in income taxes. Until we can get Americans to start paying attention to their check stubs and tax statements, they will never understand the true impact of income taxes.

D.C. Daily: February 5, 2013

2013-02-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

Senate

The Senate met yesterday and passed the following measures:

S. 227, the "Embassy Security Funds Transfer Act of 2013".

The Senate also began consideration of S. 47, the "Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013", after agreeing to the motion to proceed by a vote of 85 yeas to 8 nays.

The Senate will not meet today. The next meeting of the Senate will be on Thursday, February 7.

House of Representatives

The House met yesterday and passed the following measures:

H.R. 297, the "Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013".
H.R. 225, the "National Pediatric Research Network Act of 2013

The House will meet today at 10:00 AM. The House is expected to consider H.R. 444, the "Require a PLAN Act", subject to a rule.

Morning Media: February 5, 2012

2013-02-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

First, Gary Varvel shows where the path to citizenship leads. View at Townhall

Second, someone brought the economy to Obama's garage. Will he find the right solution? View at Townhall

Next, this great video explains the entitlement state. View at Conservative Videos

And finally, this commercial for the Dodge Ram was the most-tweeted commercial and has already reached 1 million views. View at YouTube

D.C. Daily: February 4, 2013

2013-02-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

Senate

The Senate was not in session on Friday.

The Senate will meet today at 2:00 PM. The Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 47, the "Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013", with a vote on the motion to occur at 5:30 PM.

House of Representatives

The House met Friday in a pro forma session.

The House will meet today at 2:00 PM. The House is expected to consider three bills under suspension:

H.R. 297, the "Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013".
H.R. 235, the "Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act of 2013".
H.R. 225, the "National Pediatric Research Network Act of 2013

Morning Media: February 4, 2013

2013-02-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

First, Obama's "all of the above" energy policy excludes a few items. View at The Weekly Standard

Second, the President's Jobs Council is looking for a new job. View at Townhall

Third, while immigrants are headed to California, someone else is running out of it. View at Townhall

And finally, Sandra Fluke was attempting to stay relevant by appearing in front of the (small) MSNBC audience to claim that opposing the contraception mandate is the same as opposing leukemia coverage or blood transfusions. View at Conservative Videos

nFocus: February 1, 2013

2013-02-01T20:30:00.001-05:00