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That's right. The amount of money that the Federal Government has either spent, lent or guaranteed is $12.8 TRILLION. That is a figure that approaches the total Gross Domestic Product. The 2008 GDP for the entire nation was $14.2 Trillion. That is $42,105 for every man, woman and child in America.
Think of it this way. The Government just put one of those coffee cans at the front desk of every company in the US, with Timothy Geithner's picture on it. Below his sad looking picture are the words, "Can you help poor little Timmy have a productive life? Little Timmy is in dire condition and without your sacrifice, he might not make it". The only difference is that this little "donation can", has a Dr. Evil sized magnet at the bottom of the can. Every single, solitary dollar that is produced by every company in the US is sucked into the Government "donation" can.
The Chicago Tribune's "Clout Street" reports today that minority business owners are against any reform of the bloated Cook County health care system. (story here)
NOTE: Guess the Tribune determined that "minority business" is against it simply because Democrat Cook County Commissioner Robert Maldonado (photo right) was flanked by a few of them during his statement today.
Well, back to the point. Democrat machine member Maldonado's statement was in response to a Health and Hospitals System Board's recommended reform for the bloated and bankrupt system. In response to reform that would save $20 million per year, Maldonado said:
“Is this the kind of economy we want for the people of Cook County?”
That pretty much says it all. Following his statement, Maldonado smiled and then went back to fiddling while the Cook County Health and Hospital System burns.
Like death and taxes, the illegal immigration marches will take place in our very own sanctuary city of Chicago on May 1 - known around the world as International Worker's Day. With Chicagoan Obama in the White House, there's sure to be a good turnout of anarchists looking to celebrate. Perhaps Al Gore's global warming will bring a snow storm.
Thanks to complete Democrat control in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly and every statewide constitutional office, the jobless rate in Illinois is one of the highest in the nation. Of course, Quinn never connects joblessness to food stamps. No Democrat ever does.
While driving to an appointment yesterday (in my black vehicle which demands more energy than its white counterpart), I was lamenting over the news that Rick Wagoner was forced out of General Motors. What struck me was this however. What should I be more upset about? The fact our Government used its power to force a private citizen to resign from his job? Or that millions of Americans will cheer its actions? After all, very few if any feel bad for the rich corporate executive, right?
Thus here lies the challenge. How can Republicans connect to millions of regular folks whom get sucked into the tractor beam-equivalent of class warfare? How can Republicans better articulate the consequences to personal freedom which are under assault from Democrats?
On previous posts that I've made, there have been a couple left-wing zealots who told me I have no idea what I'm talking about. The comments have ranged from esoteric definitions of what socialism is, to criticism that I've overblown things.
Sure - I was wrong. Yeah, that's the ticket.
Turns out Barney Frank didn't know that I was wrong, he's still leading the parade towards socialism. (I'm not sure, but I think the music I hear at Barney's parade is "It's Raining Men", but I could be wrong again). The bill that is winding its way though his committee would regulate all salaries of all employees at all firms that are getting "bailout money".
Ya know that slippery slope you've always heard of? Well, Barney Frank has just dumped a gallon of WD-40 on it.
Chicago, IL – In response to higher taxes and unprecedented levels of government spending ushered in by the Obama White House and his Democratic compatriots in Congress, not to mention the Democratic leadership in Chicago, Cook County, and Springfield, the Chicago Young Republicans (CYRs) are hosting a Chicago Tea Party on Tax Day, April 15th, on Lake Michigan on the largest sailing ship in America.
Since President Obama’s inauguration in January, nothing less than “generational theft” has ensued. This larceny is an $800 billion stimulus package that will cost taxpayers an estimated $2 trillion once interest on projected deficits and new government programs embedded within are made permanent. Instead of extending the Bush tax cuts at a time when relief is needed more than ever, Obama will allow them to expire in 2011, simultaneously hiking taxes on capital gains, and unduly punishing individual initiative and the entrepreneurial spirit of the nation.
John McCain's Generation Y daughter, Meghan McCain, writes a great piece today on her fiercely popular "The Daily Beast" about "The GOP's House Hottie" - IL's own Cong. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria).
At the end of the day, Congressman Schock is only three years older than me. Which means he can relay a message in ways my father never could. His lack of cynicism is refreshing—he offered a different, dare I say more modern, point of view than those who have tried to make me feel unwelcome in the GOP—yet according to the Washington Post he votes 91 percent of the time along party lines, a testament to his dedication to conservative ideals. Schock’s youth allows him to be more attached to my (our) generation, yet he has not oversaturated himself in the media, making him all the more intriguing. With that comes much power; I encourage Schock, and the Republican Party, to embrace his age and his political convictions to continue to communicate conservative ideals to a growing audience.
Although Naperville North cancelled Billy Ayers scheduled appearance (See Superintendent Leis' announcement here) there's another resident radical leftist parents and taxpayers should be aware of: Kermit Eby, III. He's on staff at Naperville North, and is the one who invited Ayers to come in the first place.
A brief "Google" of Naperville North teacher Kermit Eby III, and we find Eby
Teaches advanced placement American History and social studies, and is responsible for inviting Bill Ayers
Opposed multiple choice testing and No Child Left Behind
Advises the school's Spectrum Club and Gay Rights Alliance group
Not only did McHenry County Pro-Lifers spend last mid-Saturday demonstrating outside in the cold on Route 47 in front of Democrat Jack Franks' office, but they gathered somewhere to speak to him and McHenry County Republican State Rep. Mark Beaubien about their co-sponsorship of House Bill 2354.
Some of the messages from constituents were poignant, some were resentful, some were almost mournful, some were demanding, some were threatening. Some were combined with compliments.
The petition was filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. Chairman Jeremy Halbreich said the filing was a difficult decision but essential for the company “to re-establish itself as a self-sustaining, profitable operation. That is worth fighting for.”
The problem for the Sun-Times, like a growing number of liberal mouthpieces, is outstanding tax debt. Unbelievable. How did it reach $608 million in back taxes? Blame Conrad Black... right.
The company has one significant creditor -- the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS has said Sun-Times Media Group owes up to $608 million in back taxes and penalties from past business practices by its former controlling owner, Conrad Black, now imprisoned for theft from corporate coffers.
Where's the community sacrifice and willingness to share the social burden? None of the rest of us could have ignored those IRS letters, could we?
Sunday afternoon at the Cook County GOP Lincoln Day Luncheon, former Chicago Public School CEO Paul Vallas gave one why he left the Democratic Party to become a Republican. He's currently leading the New Orleans public school system through a dramatic overhaul ...
“When you take one financially bankrupt system after another, it forces you to become a fiscal conservative, it forces you to embrace supply side economics. It forces you to realize you will be an abysmal failure if you do not figure out a way to deliver governmental services in the most cost-effective way.”
The other reason is Vallas recognition of the desperate need for educational choice.
Since there's no place for fiscal conservatives and educational freedom advocates in the union-dominated Democratic Party, it makes pretty good sense that Vallas is now a Republican.
Suppose that IR never ran articles about politics, religion, or social and economic issues, but only about sports. Suppose that IR Contributor Joe Tinker wrote an article about why the infield fly rule is a good idea if it applies to everyone evenly.
Here's how the Obama organization would pass out assignments. Recruit at least six very immature Obamaiacs with maybe one semester of junior college and nothing but time on their hands because they don't have a real life. Tell them their "mission" is to disrupt the Cub fans (or Sox fans it does not matter which). Then give them fake names such as "Former Cub Fan from Batavia" or "Umpire's son from Romeoville."
Who can check to call you a liar?. As the famous New Yorker cartoon once said, "No one can tell you are a dog on the Internet." Make sure that the fake names imply the trolls are formerly sympathetic for the Cubs but have sadly had to abandon them because the Cubs have lost their idealism or competitive desire or their will to live or sensitivity or humanity and Wrigley Gum is part of the worldwide conspiracy. Then have one of the trolls attack the infield fly rule as racist, or sexist, or anti-American because only a moron would try to deliberately drop a pop fly ball in order to start a double play. No one would do that in real life of course.
Earth Hour. The hour that we were all supposed to turn off our lights in support of the planet. The AP is touting Earth Hour as a "Big Success". But was it?
One of my favorite blogs. is "Watts Up With That?", by Anthony Watts. This is perhaps one of the best blogs related to global warming. In this post, they show the energy usage from the California grid. While environmental groups trumpet Earth Hour as a success, it is clear that it was only a marketing success, not an actual success for the planet. Even Al Gore must have thought this was a waste of time.
There are numerous ideas out there that will have a significant impact on the amount of energy we use in this country. We should embrace those ideas. We are supposed to be stewards of our planet. However, we need to support ideas that are factually based, well thought out, and are economically feasible, not just feel good ideas. "I turned off my light bulbs for an hour - I care". Right. If you want to pursue this idea, and have a nice cocktail for Earth Hour - I'm in. Just make sure it tastes good. I'm not drinking green swill that tastes like antifreeze just to support the planet.
Illinois native son George Will has another interesting column - this one about the un-constitutionality of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. Will's column can be found here.
