Showing posts with label Economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Economy. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Yet another message to the entrenched Republican establishment

+1 for correct selection of hash-tag.


Back-story here, courtesy of Allen West.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

NOTHING TO CUT: Meet the Multi-Millionaire Who Collected His Dead Mom's Social Security Checks for 23 Years

Guest post by Laura Trueman

The 2014 omnibus bill contains an increase in funding for running the Social Security Administration (SSA). Maybe now they can stop paying Social Security benefits to dead people.

According to a December Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, SSA systems do not accurately note and confirm the deaths of beneficiaries, resulting in payments being made to dead people—sometimes for decades. The flawed system doesn’t just impact Social Security payments, either. Multiple other federal agencies that pay benefits—from federal pensions to payments to farmers and the disabled—rely on SSA’s flawed death data.

Collecting Dead Mother’s Social Security for 23 Years. Raymond O’Dell made news this week when he was sentenced for collecting his dead mother’s Social Security benefits for 23 years. O’Dell collected $188,000 in benefits, while building a successful Taco Bell franchise. His accountant put his net worth at $4 million (including $431,000 in cash). This week, he was sentenced to pay back the benefits, along with a $20,000 fine, and will serve six months in prison.

There, fixed it for you

The painting View of the World from 9th Avenue is the classic New Yorker cover from 1976:


Nearly 40 years later, we need an updated version:

Monday, January 20, 2014

The Relentless Hillary Clinton

Guest post by Alan Caruba


Who said:

• “We’re going to take things from you on behalf of the common good”

• “It’s time for a new beginning, for an end to government of the few, by the few, and for the few…and to replace it with shared responsibility, for shared prosperity”

• “(We) …can just let business as usual go on and that means something has to be taken away from some people.”

• “We have to build a political consensus and that requires people to give up a little bit of their own…in order to create this common ground.”

• “I think it’s time to send a clear message to what has become the most profitable sector in the entire economy that they are being watched.”

• “I certainly think the free market has failed.”

Was it Joseph Stalin? Lenin? Hugo Chavez? Kim Jong II? All reveal a communist philosophy.

It was Hillary Clinton. Over the years, Hillary has made it clear that the redistribution of wealth—communism—is central to her beliefs and that her regard for capitalism and the free market economy of America is nil.

The election of Hillary Clinton would be an extension of the two terms of Barack Obama and, if possible, worse.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

DEMOCRAT LOGIC COMIX: Dude, where's my jobs?

With a tip o' the derby to Liberal Logic 101:



FOOD STAMP FUNNIES: The Hilarious Ripoff of American Taxpayers in Pictures #EBT

If you're not following Biff Spackle on Twitter (@BiffSpackle), you might consider doing so to keep pace with his comic strips.


A simple Google news search yields plenty of results on a daily basis.


GENIUS: House Leaders Prepare to Push Amnesty Though Only 3% of Americans Believe It's a Priority

Guest post by Van Esser

As Speaker John Boehner and House Republicans gear up for an internal debate over whether to address immigration in 2014, a new Gallup poll lends support to those who want to delay consideration. The poll found that only three percent of Americans think immigration is the top problem Congress must tackle this year. This is consistent with rankings in the recent past so why does Boehner consider immigration to be urgent or even a priority?

Of the new poll, Gallup’s Lydia Saad said, “Americans start the new year with a variety of national concerns on their minds. Although none is dominant, the government, at 21%, leads the list of what Americans consider the most important problem facing the country. The economy closely follows at 18%, and then unemployment/jobs and healthcare, each at 16%. No other issue is mentioned by as much as 10% of the public; however, the federal budget deficit or debt comes close, at 8%.” And below that at 3 percent, just above "lack of respect for each other," comes immigration.

There are a variety of reasons why Americans' top priority is the category “dissatisfaction with government/Congress/politicians; poor leadership; corruption; abuse of power.” Anyone who reads or listens to the news knows there have been a string of governmental failures and outrages, including President Obama’s setting aside enforcement of the immigration laws he does not like. Second and third come the economy and unemployment – two matters that Congress has debated for years but failed to address, at least in any effective manner. That in itself is an outrage. Unemployment remains high, especially for less-skilled/educated Americans and young Americans, and long-term unemployment is forcing people to abandon the workforce. The labor participation rate is the lowest it has been in the last 36 years yet politicians find time to address everything but putting Americans back to work.

COMING ATTRACTIONS: Vast Stretches Of Impoverished Appalachia Look Like They Have Been Through A War

Guest post by Michael Snyder

If you want to get an idea of where the rest of America is heading, just take a trip through the western half of West Virginia and the eastern half of Kentucky some time. Once you leave the main highways, you will rapidly encounter poverty on a level that is absolutely staggering. Overall, about 15 percent of the entire nation is under the poverty line, but in some areas of eastern Kentucky, more than 40 percent of the population is living in poverty. Most of the people would work if they could. Over the past couple of decades, locals have witnessed businesses and industries leave the region at a steady pace. When another factory or business shuts down, many of the unemployed do not even realize that their jobs have been shipped overseas. Coal mining still produces jobs that pay a decent wage, but Barack Obama is doing his very best to kill off that entire industry. After decades of decline, vast stretches of impoverished Appalachia look like they have been through a war. Those living in the area know that things are not good, but they just try to do the best that they can with what they have.

In previous articles about areas of the country that are economically depressed, I have typically focused on large cities such as Detroit or Camden, New Jersey. But the economic suffering that is taking place in rural communities in the heartland of America is just as tragic. We just don't hear about it as much.

Most of those that live in the heart of Appalachia are really good "salt of the earth" people that just want to work hard and do what is right for their families. But after decades of increasing poverty, the entire region has been transformed into an economic nightmare that never seems to end. The following is a description of what life is like in Appalachia today that comes from a recent article by Kevin D. Williamson...

Friday, January 17, 2014

We, the Peasants

Guest post by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

As predictable as the rising and setting of the sun, the Republican machine is bent on betraying its base. They will force Amnesty on us in a brutish move that aligns itself with Obama and the other Progressive Marxists. Obama has declared that he will conduct weaponized legislative warfare in the coming year and by the use of pen and phone, he will have his way with illegal immigration and raising the minimum wage. It is a dictatorial move that is breathtaking and basically circumvents and destroys the Constitution — all the while, Progressive Republicans will be assisting and aiding him behind the scenes and out in the open for the world to see, just as they did with Obamacare. This is not to help the downtrodden. This is for the votes and the labor, pure and simple.

 
Brown Shirts of the new Cuba unite:

“We are not just going to be waiting for legislation in order to make sure that we’re providing Americans the kind of help that they need,” President Obama told reporters before a meeting with his Cabinet Tuesday. “I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone.”

The pen, the president said, can be used “to sign executive orders and take executive actions,” while the phone will allow the president to bring together non-profits, businesses, and universities to promote a “unifying theme–making sure that this is a country where if you work hard, you can make it.”

And while Obama plays dictator, John Boehner plays traitor:

“John Boehner is planning to unveil a set of Republican principles for immigration reform before President Obama’s State of the Union address, aiming to show the GOP is not hostile to legislation that might win them Hispanic voters.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

SUPER: Obamacare Official Admits They Have No Earthly Idea Who Has Actually Paid Their Premiums

Unexpectedly, of course. Not to worry: it's only January freaking 16th.

Q: ...whether individuals have paid [their insurance premiums through the Obamacare websites]... does the administration collect this information... do you collect this information?

A: Uh, right now, we're not. But we will be.

Q: When?

A: As soon as that functionality is built. I think I answered some... of those questions earlier. Not all of that functionality is built yet.

Q: Will that mean we have to go back to all of those who have enrolled and find out who has paid, so we're not collecting as it occurs?

A: We ultimately will reconcile to make sure... the tax credits, for example, are not paid to, with respect to, anyone who's not paid their premium. That's a requirement. You pay your premium to get the tax credit.

Q: What department would have this data?

A: It's gonna. It's gonna come to. To my department. My. My. Area.

Q: And who would be the individual in charge of receiving this?

A: That's also Sharon Arnold.

Q: So we don't know how many people have actually paid for coverage?

A: That's right.

This exchange, between Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Medicare official Gary Cohen is, frankly, shocking.

Not only do they have no idea how many people have actually signed up for Obamacare, they don't know who's actually paid their premiums and -- as a bonus -- they're actively encouraging tax fraud as no reconciliation process exists.

These people are the worst of the worst. Dregs. Lowlifes. Miscreants. They need to be ejected from office in November -- with extreme prejudice.


Hat tip: BadBlue News

Monday, January 13, 2014

YEP: Harry Reid Blocks Unemployment Benefits for 5 Million Americans to Protect Tax Credits for Illegal Aliens

Guest post by Kenric Ward

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Bowing to a flurry of cost-cutting amendments on a bill extending unemployment benefits, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he will allow votes on “reasonable” reforms. But he didn’t say when.

Reid’s shuffle comes after Republicans blasted the Nevada Democrat for unilaterally blocking amendments that could yield $70 billion in taxpayer savings.

“I am not surprised that Senator Reid is backtracking,” said David North. The immigration-law expert praised GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., for her amendment to halt IRS child tax-credit refunds going to illegal immigrants.

“Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, you could not fail to be impressed by Sen. Ayotte’s move,” North told Watchdog.org.

The policy analyst with the Center for Immigration Studies, called Ayotte’s gambit “a stroke of genius.”

“It provides money to the unemployed while taking undeserved tax refunds away from illegal aliens,” North said.

Ayotte is among a half-dozen Senate Republicans pressuring Reid and majority Democrats to accept cost-cutting reforms in exchange for their votes to extend relief to up to 5.4 million jobless Americans whose benefits are expiring.

Turning up the heat, U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, assailed Reid for flip-flopping on the IRS’ handling of the child tax-credit program.

“Why does Reid now support allowing illegal immigrants to receive billions in taxpayer dollars? That’s just wrong,” Johnson said.

CHANGE: 2 simple charts illustrate the imminent fiscal destruction of the United States

While low-information voters and progressives never seem to think ahead more than a day at a time, thoughtful and concerned citizens know what's coming.

With all the talk of tapering and expected hikes in interest rates by the Fed, inquiring minds are likely interested in what happens to interest on the national debt if the Fed ever does hike...

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Real #EconomicViolence, Illustrated

Methinks the hash-tag #EconomicViolence didn't work out the way the radical left thought it would.

ACTION NEEDED: IRS writing regs that allow it to suppress the Tea Party and Constitutional Conservatives

Guest post by James Simpson

The IRS got caught with their pants down last year. So now they are writing regulations that will allow them to do legally what they were doing illegally before. Every time you think these people can sink no lower, they go out of their way to prove you wrong. A cabal of leftist groups sued the IRS demanding they adopt these regulations, whereupon the IRS went out of its way to comply. This is a classic set up. It was probably agreed to in advance between the IRS and the plaintiffs. Now that they are complying, the leftists have magically dropped their suit!

Here is how to fight back. The following was written by Cleta Mitchell, one of the best attorneys in this field. Read it, follow the instructions and pass them around. The following is reprinted verbatim with permission:

DON’T LET THE IRS SILENCE YOU!!

COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED IRS REGULATIONS FOR C4 ORGANIZATIONS

ARE DUE NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 27, 2014

Comments can be filed via email:

THE WAGES OF OPEN BORDERS: Experts say Colorado pot shops will be targeted by Mexican drug cartels

It would appear that the Mexican drug cartels -- which operate freely in the United States thanks to Democrats' open borders policies -- are not big fans of the marijuana legalization effort.

Taking over a trade once ruled by drug cartels and turning it into an all-cash business could make pot shops prime targets for extortion, black-market competition and robbery. One veteran border narcotics agent told FoxNews.com Colorado's legal pot industry will find it hard to keep the criminals from horning in on a lucrative business they once controlled.

"Mexico is already in Colorado without the risks," the agent, who requested anonymity, said of the state's heavy pre-existing cartel presence. "Legal businesses will likely see a rise in extortion attempts while law enforcement will see a lot of backdoor deals being made."

"What is quite possible is that cartels will hire straw owners who have clean records who can apply for a license, then sell large quantities both legally and on the black market."
- Denver DEA office spokesman Albert Villasuso
Cartels, especially the Juarez and Sinaloa, who have a strong presence in Colorado, could not have been happy with the estimated $1 million in sales Jan. 1, the first day of legalized retail sales. In 2012 the Mexican Competitiveness Institute issued a report saying that Mexico’s cartels would lose as much as $1.425 billion if Colorado legalized marijuana. The organization also predicted that drug trafficking revenues would fall 20 to 30 percent, and the Sinaloa cartel, which would be the most affected, would lose up to 50 percent.

Faced with such losses, the violent cartels could force their way in as black market wholesalers or simply rob pot dispensaries, which take only cash and have not been able to establish accounts with banks because of lenders' fears of violating federal laws. But the general consensus is that the Mexican cartels will not quietly relinquish the Denver market.

...even if legal stores do face extortion efforts by cartel groups it is unlikely law enforcement will even be made aware of it if merchants are too frightened to come to police. Extortion has proven to be a lucrative ancillary enterprise for cartels in Mexico resulting in thousands of businesses closing rather than pay the quota, as it is called, or the store owners face the threat of death, which too has occurred.

But by all means, let's grant amnesty to millions of illegals who've not had even a cursory background check, are defrauding our welfare, tax and medical systems to the tune of billions of dollars each year, and whose allegiances are completely unknown.


Hat tip: BadBlue News.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

POLITICAL SUICIDE: Bend Over! GOP Prepares to Perform Amnesty Colonoscopy on Conservative Base

I shook the Magic 8-Ball and it read: "Signs point to yes".

In January 2012, the “Immigration Reform” page on the official House website of Representative Bob Goodlatte, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said: “In no event should we grant amnesty to those who have broken our laws and entered the country illegally. Doing so would simply invite more illegal immigration in the future.”

...Now, though, this prohibition has been scrubbed from his “Immigration Reform” page. Instead, this page now talks about how “we can all agree that our nation’s immigration system is broken” and the need to be thoughtful in remaking U.S. immigration policies. Earlier versions of this page had an almost single-minded focus on the need to enforce immigration laws. The notion that our immigration system is “broken” is often a key argument of allies of the White House’s immigration agenda.

According to Politico, Chairman Goodlatte said in a Telemundo interview that is set to air on Sunday that he is very open to legalizing current illegal immigrants...

...Representative Goodlatte’s Telemundo comments come at a time when some in House leadership are trying to revive the fortunes of a big immigration deal or series of deals — on Friday morning on the House floor, Majority Leader Eric Cantor argued that “immigration reform could be an economic boon to this country.”

The insanity of this effort on the part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and GOP Congressional leaders cannot be overstated.

Point 1: In the midst of a horrific, ongoing, five-year long unemployment crisis, the importation of millions of low-skilled, largely illiterate, non-English-speaking aliens will crush the wages of blue-collar American citizens.

Point 2: On the heels of the unfolding Obamacare catastrophe -- with millions of Americans already having lost their health insurance and up to 120 million more poised to lose their insurance next year -- Republicans intend to hand Obama and the entire Democrat Party a huge legislative victory.

Point 3: Such an act would also represent a slap in the face to the vast majority of American people -- and especially the conservative Republican base -- who oppose Amnesty. Republicans would pay a horrific price for such traitorous behavior in the 2014 Midterms.

Point 4: Legalization is certain to result in eventual citizenship for these illegals (as confirmed by Democrat Rep. Luis Gutierrez) and would prove devastating for the GOP in the years to come. Pew Research reports that 88 percent of illegals would vote Democrat if given the chance. And they will be given that chance, if they are legalized.

This is political suicide for the Republican Party. In their zeal for corporate donations, they are abandoning the base and handing the opposition a tremendous political victory.

Should this come to pass, let the record show that John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Mitch McConnell were the architects of the destruction of the Republican Party.


Hat tip: BadBlue News

Friday, January 10, 2014

I, for one, applaud the Democrats' war cry of "income inequality"

Thanks to email pal Jane Dough:


We should embrace income inequality as our rallying cry.

• Obama's $4 million Hawaii vacation.

• Michelle's $500k Hawaii extension.

• The multi-million dollar vaycay-cays to Africa

• The Spanish Riviera

• Her brother in Oregon

• Martha's Vineyard

• Broadway plays, playa

• Taxpayer-funded campaign trips on pretty much a weekly basis

• $1,000-a-plate dinners with rich entertainment f***s.

Eight of the ten wealthiest counties in America surround D.C.

All on King Putt's watch.

So yeah, by all means, let's talk about income inequality. And let's start with the Imperial Presidency and its explosive diarrhea dump on the middle class.


Winston Churchill has a message for each and every progressive

Via Sandy Clark:


Also: "The Failure of 'Progressive' Big Government to Generate Economic Growth in One Easy-to-Read Chart."