tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61819142379540509062013-05-06T03:42:17.654-04:00William Graftonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-67234099274078063422012-08-03T09:06:00.000-04:002012-08-03T09:06:13.434-04:002012-08-03T09:06:13.434-04:00

Do you remember when grocery stores had baggers floating between a few registers?  They weren't in a hurry, they didn't cram a dozen items in one sack, and they would even help you out to your car.  As a general rule, that job doesn't exist anymore.  Window washers at service stations don't exist anymore. A lot of little niceties of daily life just aren't included anymore.  Most of us think,

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-10652231865334790352012-07-26T10:21:00.002-04:002012-07-26T10:21:58.704-04:002012-07-26T10:21:58.704-04:00

Yesterday, the House of Representatives, in a largely bi-partisan vote, passed HR 459.  This bill, championed by TX Representative Ron Paul for the better part of the last decade asks the non-partisan GAO to conduct an audit of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy. Why is this needed?  The Federal Reserve, despite it's official sounding name and enormous power to shape the economy and the

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-2496258362549657122012-07-16T16:01:00.000-04:002012-07-16T16:01:38.388-04:002012-07-16T16:01:38.388-04:00

Speaking mostly to a group of people who have lived the President's words, Mr. obama laid out his view of the world.  He said: There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me -- because they want to give something back.  They know they didn’t -- look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own.  You didn’t get there on your own.  I’m always struck by people

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-30610815989313591442012-07-05T13:20:00.001-04:002012-07-05T13:20:11.505-04:002012-07-05T13:20:11.505-04:00

The government that rules our nation considers me and those like me a terrorist.  According to a study paid for by the Department of Homeland Security and conducted by the University of Maryland from 2003 to 2008, apparently the most dangerous groups of terrorists in the U.S. are conservatives and libertarians who "revere liberty" more than government.  I am doubly a terrorist by this study in

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-54921493873352155792012-07-04T21:46:00.003-04:002012-07-04T21:46:56.082-04:002012-07-04T21:46:56.082-04:00

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle tehm, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-23333576273812313742012-06-29T14:55:00.000-04:002012-06-29T14:55:31.125-04:002012-06-29T14:55:31.125-04:00

Yesterday was one of the most heart-crushing days I've felt in a long time.  The Supreme Court affirmed the Congress's ability to force virtually any action through punitive taxation.  The Chief Justice short sightedly pointed to the lack of criminal and levying ability of the IRS to enforce the penalties, but should the issue become pressing enough for the Administration or future

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-64042370092937837062012-06-28T10:30:00.002-04:002012-06-28T11:16:00.100-04:002012-06-28T11:16:00.100-04:00

Before you ask, I'm not a waiter.  I'm not a greeter at Wal-Mart.  I'm a citizen of the United States and I've just been told that my government owns me.  They own the right to my work and my wages.  They can force me to buy anything they say to buy.  All they have to do is pretend that it's a Tax.  When my choices impact the cost of health care, I will be forced to make choices approved by my

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-23098599490602492832012-06-27T10:24:00.000-04:002012-06-27T10:25:00.314-04:002012-06-27T10:25:00.314-04:00

To say that I'm pretty disappointed in my fellow Americans is a bit of an understatement.  To say that I'm especially disappointed in the Republican Party is a joke.  I am angry.  It is not the burning anger of youth nor the cold anger of resentment.  It is a simmering rage. Five months ago, I walked away from these pages in disgust.  Everywhere I turned people were proclaiming for Presidential

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-39507802696006568662012-01-20T15:21:00.000-05:002012-01-20T15:21:56.176-05:002012-01-20T15:21:56.176-05:00

It's sickening.  That's the only word I have for this proposal from a group of Democratic Congressmen this week.  Their proposal is to establish a maximum profit level for Energy companies, and impose punishing taxes for any profits over those levels.  The war on profit continues.  Success is punished to pay for those who will never try to succeed.  Do you see the problems with this idea?

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-13413125229959702562012-01-17T12:35:00.000-05:002012-01-17T12:35:59.925-05:002012-01-17T12:35:59.925-05:00

I'm tired.  I'm sick and I'm tired.  I'm sick that our country has devolved politically so far that people have segregated their political views so far from their purported religious views.  The so-called Christian Conservatives, that make up such a large part of the Republican base are turning my stomach.  They go to churches all over the US on Sundays, praising the Prince of Peace.  They praise

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-8049052847416449112012-01-13T10:40:00.000-05:002012-01-13T10:40:04.457-05:002012-01-13T10:40:04.457-05:00

All too often we decry selfishness as being something awful.  We are told that we must think of others, that we must sacrifice for our fellow man.  We are told that there is no I in team and that only through cooperation with others can we succeed.  While there are times and situations where these idioms hold truth, they have begun to be applied to all aspects of life.  The president preaches of

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-74737991809271201732012-01-05T16:27:00.000-05:002012-01-05T16:27:32.951-05:002012-01-05T16:27:32.951-05:00

Over the past few months, president obama has time and again used the tag/applause line We Can't Wait.  What this means is that the country needs help that only the government can provide (a fallacy) and the Republicans in Congress are obstructing this, therefore, he must do what he can to bypass Congress ie, rule by executive decree.  This week he has decided that despite the Senate's refusal

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-8986492965668245202012-01-04T13:37:00.000-05:002012-01-04T13:37:45.714-05:002012-01-04T13:37:45.714-05:00

MORDOR (Potomac) - January 4, 2012 John "Gollum" McCain announced today that he would be giving his "Precious" endorsement to former opponent Mitt[ens] RomneyCare.  Tea Party Hobbitses could not be reached as they were on the slopes of Mount Doom, where they are being held indefinitely as Terrorists due to their propensity to horde food and disrupt the comfortable delusions of the ruling elite.

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-29692908113306976282012-01-04T08:47:00.000-05:002012-01-04T08:47:05.116-05:002012-01-04T08:47:05.116-05:00

I've been a little disappointed with some of my "conservative" and "republican" friends lately.  I'm extremely disappointed with last night's results in Iowa.  Yes, the candidate I support came in a close 3rd place.  Ahead of him, however, was a man supported by the "Evangelical Christians" of that state because he is a stolid opponent of aborting unborn children.  That's great.  Valuing the

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-56708896193894462382011-12-15T14:11:00.000-05:002011-12-15T14:11:30.547-05:002011-12-15T14:11:30.547-05:00

Democrats Voting 'Aye'Rep. Gary Ackerman [D, NY-5] Rep. Jason Altmire [D, PA-4] Rep. Robert Andrews [D, NJ-1] Rep. Joe Baca [D, CA-43] Rep. John Barrow [D, GA-12] Rep. Shelley Berkley [D, NV-1] Rep. Howard Berman [D, CA-28] Rep. Sanford Bishop [D, GA-2] Rep. Timothy Bishop [D, NY-1] Rep. Dan Boren [D, OK-2] Rep. Leonard Boswell [D, IA-3] Rep. Robert Brady [D, PA-1] Rep. Corrine Brown [D, FL-3]

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-15321263053401129112011-12-15T13:39:00.000-05:002011-12-15T13:39:30.659-05:002011-12-15T13:39:30.659-05:00

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle tehm, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-37157267900020728262011-12-13T15:13:00.000-05:002011-12-13T15:13:24.819-05:002011-12-13T15:13:24.819-05:00

Those poor poor Norwegian people, suffering from a harsh and rainy summer that has left their butter producers with a severe shortfall.  Butter is so scarce, supply is so low, that the price of butter has risen to over $500/lb where it can be had at all.  Meanwhile, next door in Sweden, who suffered the same weather conditions and the same domestic shortfall of butter production has enough butter

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-89741268384000638482011-12-12T12:01:00.000-05:002011-12-12T12:01:08.994-05:002011-12-12T12:01:08.994-05:00

We're dangerous, you know.  Thinking that we should be free men and women, that we are slaves to no man, to think that the 13th Amendment should apply not just to private parties, but also to our Government.  That's just nuts!  Here is a summary of a conversation I've had on more than one occasion in the past month: "Taxation is theft," I say. "But, the government says it's legal," goes the

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-80458347567704215012011-12-09T13:51:00.001-05:002011-12-09T13:55:26.360-05:002011-12-09T13:55:26.360-05:00

I've had a number of people tell me in the past 3-4 weeks that they're taking another look at the Republican candidates.  This isn't actually surprising, it seems that we've all been taking a close look at some of the candidates, one by one as they parade to the top of the polls.  First it was a Bachmann surge, then Perry, then Cain and now Gingrich.  It seems like everytime the primary voters

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-13437090625234117502011-12-07T11:42:00.000-05:002011-12-07T11:42:38.591-05:002011-12-07T11:42:38.591-05:00

Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, Op-ed writers for the New York Times, and Americans of all varieties think they know what's best for the American Economy.  So, here's what we're told to do:  CONSUME!  SPEND!  Then pray that that kickstarts the economy.  I have my own ideas too as many of you know. President Bush, after Katrina and after 9/11 told us to do our Patriotic duty and go shopping. 

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-45728414795073116022011-12-06T17:03:00.000-05:002011-12-06T17:03:06.191-05:002011-12-06T17:03:06.191-05:00

Buy the book here!

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-2575649218163512202011-12-05T08:03:00.001-05:002011-12-05T08:52:33.158-05:002011-12-05T08:52:33.158-05:00

So, I'm having this debate with a friend of mine.  He says we should tax "millionaires and billionaires" an extra 3.25% of their income to pay for a payroll tax cut instead of cutting government spending to pay for it.  For the life of me I can't get this stark scene out of my head.  Bear with me as I try to lay the foundation for this: We've all seen in either movies, tv or maybe in real life

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-22165218947884816242011-12-02T16:14:00.001-05:002011-12-03T14:24:53.378-05:002011-12-03T14:24:53.378-05:00

So, this headline was just up on yahoo.com: "Though vital to U.S. security, the topic [of foreign aid] is currently cause for heated debate in the GOP race." Is it really?  If we don't give billions to african warlords then we're going to have security problems in the US?  Talk about slanted "journalism."

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-66401346631294627412011-12-02T15:55:00.000-05:002011-12-02T15:55:46.554-05:002011-12-02T15:55:46.554-05:00

So, we've discussed the Entitlement Society in a variety of ways and I dedicated an entire chapter of my eBook (available on Amazon.com) to the subject.  Today we revisit it, well, because it needs to be discussed. This YouTube video was featured on the DrudgeReport.com yesterday and went viral on facebook and other social media earlier in the week.  I would suggest you watch it for yourself,

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6181914237954050906.post-52490612815018317122011-12-02T08:08:00.000-05:002011-12-02T08:08:21.021-05:002011-12-02T08:08:21.021-05:00

Next November's Presidential Election could be a historic choice between a continuity of the current economic stagnation and attempts at false growth or a new direction based on building an economic foundation that while it might cycle, does not have the perilous booms and busts of the past 100 years. Or, the election next November could be a choice between trimming a little bit around the edges

William Graftonhttps://plus.google.com/114931842006250866220noreply@blogger.com0