Post Scripts

Posted by Tina

A storm recently ravaged communities in Utah around Bountiful. The estimate for damage and clean up was around $1 to $2 million but the taxpayers were saved a lot of money by the quick response of the community:

BOUNTIFUL — The Davis County wind storm cleanup was completed Friday and thanks to volunteers and neighbors helping neighbors, the cost came in way below the estimate.

After the Dec. 1 wind storm tore through Davis County and caused more than $100 million in damages. At the time, the cleanup of debris alone was expected to cost about $2 million. But the final price tag was just $300,000.

County leaders say that quick, almost overwhelming response is what helped the cleanup effort come in so far under budget.

“They all realized that the happiest day you have is the day you spend helping somebody else,” said John Petroff of the Davis County Commission.

In the end, federal contractors were left with only the heavy work: clearing large trees to keep them from ending up downstream.

“Really all they left us were the huge diameter trees that were anything where you needed professional contractors to come in,” said State Conservation Engineer Bronson Smart.

“I think it’s just a testament to the volunteerism in Utah, and the things we can do when we all work together.”

Meanwhile…

The press won’t cover it but four weeks after Sandy things aren’t so rosy! Despite warm and fuzzy presidential photo ops, complete with promises that government is on the job, residents there are angry and frustrated as they are told to clean up debris themselves!

It took less than two weeks to confirm what we suspected: Much of the money from the Proposition 30 tax increases approved by voters is not going to go to schools, as advertised, but to teachers’ pensions. (14 billion will go to pay for bad stock investments by the UC Regents..Facebook being one of them.)

According to CalPensions.com, “More money for the underfunded California State Teachers Retirement System may be considered by the Legislature next year, thanks to new attention from lawmakers and a state budget deficit narrowed by a voter-approved tax increase this month.”

We talked to David Crane, lecturer in the Public Policy program at Stanford University and president of Govern California. A Democrat, he has advised officials from both parties on pensions. “I’ve always thought the tax increase would create the money for them to fund the deeply underfunded CalSTRS pensions system,” he told us. He said Gov. Jerry Brown, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, and Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, “wanted to keep quiet about CalSTRS’ problems during the election. Now they’re not being so quiet.”

Mr. Crane pointed to his own writings, collected on his website, DavidGCrane.org. On Bloomberg.com in July, he warned that Prop. 30 wouldn’t help the state budget without major spending reform. Rather, “Solving California’s budget woes requires addressing five root causes: unfunded health care promises to retired employees, excessive incarceration rates, a boom-and-bust revenue system, underfunded pension commitments and fast-growing spending on Medicaid.”

READ MORE HERE.

by Jack Lee

Despite Obama’s dismal leadership, despite the fact that he sank the nation deeper in debt (16 trillion) and pushed us to the edge of the economic cliff; Despite the fact that he grew government and issued countless presidential orders that were an unprecedented abuse of power; and despite his extravagance in spending our tax dollars on himself and his family, (1.2 billion in 2011) the people, by a significant majority re-elected him. That belies a problem with the populist movement, but that’s not why I am writing. I’ll have to save that one for another time.

My gripe is with the Republican Party’s counter to the left-wing assault on our traditional, founding values . It’s been timid and wholly ineffective. This party can’t seem deliver our conservative message or even follow through when we’ve given them the power. Remember when the GOP was majority in Congress, the Senate and we held the White House? What happened?! No reform, no follow through and we blew one of the greatest opportunities in GOP history!

More recently the President has been lobbying both voters at large and the GOP Washington to move off gridlock and make a compromise on increased taxation in exchange with some limited budget cutting. The odds favor Obama. If he gets his way this will be another major setback to the Party and conservatives everywhere.

On the left coast, Californians are so swayed by the democrat message that promises more entitlements, the Democrats dominate CA government top to bottom. The results of this takeover speak volumes about where the dems are taking the nation. CA is broke and taxation is the worst…big government is crushing us. It seems like the more money the dems throw at any given problem, the worse things get. And the dwindling minority of CA Republican voters keep taking hit after hit; it’s not fair – we deserve better from our Party.

I know CA is a red state, but it’s still hard to imagine that Barack Obama was re-elected by over 60% of the CA vote. That underscores the change in California’s demographics. Those demographics have been steadily gaining momentum until they have snowballed into a giant voting block for liberalism.

In several large key counties long held as by conservatives democrats again scored big in 2012 and were able to surprise the GOP leadership when they gained a 2/3rds majority in the Assembly and Senate. it seems the CA GOP is always being caught by surprise.

Continue reading “The Big Boycott of 2013 and Beyond” »

by Peggy

A must read by every taxpayer who is sick and tired of how OUR money is being spent. WASTEBOOK 2012 One example: “Perhaps nothing demonstrates just how out of touch Washington is more than the $300,000 USDA is spending to tell Americans to eat caviar, one of the world’s most expensive delicacies, at a time when millions of Americans are struggling just to put the basics on the family dinner table.

It echoes back to the fabled proclamation of the callous royal who, when asked about the hungry and poor shortly before the French Revolution, she replied “let them eat cake.” A number of important committees within both the House and the Senate are failing to do the important work for which they are responsible.

Perhaps the most striking disappointment is the Senate Budget Committee (see appendix for complete lists). Since the last budget was passed on April 29, 2009, Washington has spent $11.2 trillion and added more than $4.8 trillion to the national debt.13 With the national debt now over $16 trillion, never before have taxpayers needed a budget blueprint more to guide our nation away from fiscal ruin. Yet, the Senate Budget Committee has failed to produce a budget – which it is required to do by law – in over 1,200 days.14 In addition to not producing a budget resolution, the committee has also failed to hold many hearings, a key tool for Congress to conduct oversight, investigate problems, seek solutions, initiate conversation and debate, and advance an agenda.

The Senate Budget Committee held a mere 12 hearings in 2012 – fewer than all but five other congressional committees from both chambers. As you look at these examples, put your personal political persuasion aside and ask yourself: Would you agree with Washington that these represent national priorities, or would you conclude these reflect the out-of-touch and out-of-control spending threatening to bankrupt our nation’s future?” Full report: http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=b7b23f66-2d6 0-4d5a-8bc5-8522c7e1a40e.

Posted by Tina

All I can say is, “Oh brother, what an idiot!”

(CNSNews.com)

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) says, “corporations control the patterns of thinking” in the United States and that the Bill of Rights to the Constitution should be amended so that the government is given the power to restrict freedom of speech.

“We need a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to control the so-called free speech rights of corporations,” said Johnson.

This person is just dumb. His party won. His party won, in part, by demonizing corporations, banking and the rich. His party won even though it was his party that refused to do anything about WARNINGS of the fiscal meltdown for almost EIGHT YEARS. His party won and this idiot has the nerve to say that corporations “control the patterns of thinking”.

I suggest it has been the radical progressive of the Democrat party that have “controlled patterns of thinking” for several decades. They have brainwashed our kids in schools, they have stirred up hatred in black and Hispanic communities by waging class warfare against political opponents, and they have targeted strong candidates and spokespersons of the opposition with the aim to destroy their reputations.

Go ahead, tell me this administration and the hard core progressive socialists of the Democrat Party are not aiming to destroy this country as a free nation.

“Fundamental Transformation”…remind yourself every day! These people want to remove the Constitution. It is, as Obama once averred, too restrictive!

by Jack Lee

SPECIAL EDITION – Chico’s Financial Crisis

Since 1970 the City of Chico has had a telephone users tax. In 2012 the City proposed Measure J that broadened the definition of what a telephone to include telephone transmissions from any device and this specifically imposed a new tax on cell phones. The proponents argued that the defeat of Measure J would cost the City about $900,000 in revenue and force layoffs of police and fire. Measure J did not pass.

Prior to the election City Councilman Scott Gruendel argued the tax would amount to about $30 a year per phone user, however his formulation is suspect since the entire population of Chico is only 86,187 and this represents a mere 10,400 households. If you consider that about 23,000 of us own cell phones that would be $690,000 in additional taxes… if the measure had passed. Good think it didn’t pass and here’s why:

The City Telephone User Tax amounts to an illegal double tax since we are already paying a federal excise tax on telephones. Telephones are controlled exclusively by the federal government and the question came up, do cities like Chico have the right to tack on a local tax to something that was federally regulated and taxed. Based on a lower court decision in California, it appears the City of Chico has been collecting an illegal telephone users tax since it’s inception in 1970. That raises the next problem, how far back can a City like Chico be held liable for a refund of illegally collected taxes and where would that money come from?

The legal precedent is, 3 years for retroactive refunds for an illegal tax. (See Howard Jarvis Ass’n v. City of LaHabra 25 CAL 4th 2001 and Section 338(a) of the Ca. Civil Code of Procedure. The Supreme Court ruled the time period within 338(a) was applicable, but a continued violation could extend that retroactive time limit. Continuing illegal taxation is deemed a new violation and not subject to 338a 3 year rule and that leaves the refund period open ended.

The City of Chico is facing the very strong possibility of being forced to refund millions of dollars in illegal telephone users tax. Even if this was limited to 3 years, that would force the City into being liable for a huge un-payable debt because they simply don’t have the money. If this retroactive debt is imposed their only way out is to seek protection in bankruptcy.

Exactly what the City proposes to do about this dire situation is still unknown, the rumors are more layoffs to police and fire…8 positions to be exact. However, as of this date the City has not posted the Agenda for the next Council meeting on Dec. 4th. It was due out by the close of today, however it’s not expected to be made public until sometime tomorrow, then we will know if this is even on the agenda or if it will be more global warming resolutions.

Posted by Tina

The President is out on the campaign trail today warning the people in candy coated tones that if the Republicans don’t do what he wants the middle class won’t be able to afford diapers.

President Obama the leader of our nation, I repeat, THE LEADER OF OUR NATION, yet he HAS NOT made a definitive proposal for avoiding the fiscal cliff. As is his usual mode of operation he sits out and expects others to come up with solutions.

What a wimpy guy! He won the election and promptly runs for the closet! His vision of the presidency is all show and today he took it on the road.

His so called wealth tax will bring in $80 billion dollars. A lot of money for most of us. There’s only one problem. The government needs much more than that just to pay interest on our debt (at least $200 billion).

Obama’s one big (old) idea is purely political. He knows it won’t make a dent in the fiscal problems that plague our nation. He is not a serious person. He is a celebrity who enjoys playing fast and loose with other people’s money. He has no idea how to fix the problem and no intention of learning. Don’t bother him with details just show him the money!

Our nation is in decline. If you have any interest at all in knowing more than whether the Republicans will make it hard for you to buy diapers you can start with a few important facts that are, apparently, of no concern to the BIG SENDER.

Buffet said over the week end that the wealth tax would make the middle class feel good. He has to be the most out of touch guy in the world. He believes people like him should be taxed at a higher rate, and that’s fine, but he doesn’t consider how middle class business owners will be affected.

There are nearly 100, 000 small businesses that will be harmed by the Presidents proposal. Those business owners create jobs and will be hurt substantially by this tax.

Oh well, as long as people can buy diapers, we’re good!

Posted by Tina

Progressives believe in drama and intimidation. They enjoy trying to shock people to force “change” they can “believe in”. Women seem particularly attracted to the shock protest. In the sixties and seventies they burned their bras. During the last campaign they dressed up like vaginas, parading around like giant %#&@*. Now several clownish females, joined by equally silly men have written slogan on their bodies and removed their clothes as a form of protest. The spectacle took place in the hall outside John Boehner’s office off to call attention to “the naked truth” about potential spending cuts in HIV funding.

The men were smart enough to dress and mingle or get lost…the women stayed naked to get arrested.

The clown assault from the special interest left has begun. Whether it be HIV or climate change get ready for the splash and flash of progressive whiners who want other peoples money redistributed to their favorite cause.

by Jack Lee

When you think about the divide between the haves and have nots, you think of money, right? Well, there’s another growing divide. . . in brain power!

I recently posted an article about a study showing a decline in our brain power, starting thousands of years ago and that’s kinda startling considering we’re supposed to be evolving upwards, not backwards. I suppose anyone can look back over our long human history and compare that with where we are now and see a growing divide between rich and poor. And coincidentally, the growing divide between smart and dumb or maybe that is no coincidence?

Before you start yelling at me, this isn’t meant to be a discussion about an IQ test for the right to breed or that the rich are necessarily smarter than the rest of us. My only purpose is to pose and probe some interesting questions about our future: Smart vs dumb and what can we do to reverse the decline?

The first two questions that come to mind are, if we’re getting dumber how would we know and why aren’t smart people breeding more? It should be apparent to most of us with an IQ above 90, that idiotic behavior is more rampant than ever, and this is despite our best efforts to protect everyone from everything. Seems like the idiots are always one step ahead. We read almost daily, “High speed accident claims life of driver who was not wearing seat belts.” Unfortunately, the dolts that engage in all sorts of reckless behaviors also tend to over breed. Boing! (Light goes on) Hmmmmm…I think I see a nexus here!

In this modern age we have an unprecedented amount of useful information available to us thanks to computers and the internet. Arguably, it might be more than some people can handle, but on the whole you might think this would be raising brain power. However, rather than to be profiting from this information bonanza thousands of hours are spent playing video games…even the bright fall into this trap. They are dumbed down because they spend too much of their most productive years on hold, going nowhere and on the other end of that scale we have terrorists coordinating via email and learning how to build better IED’s. A free Stanford online class in advanced mathematics is hardly used, but a free porn site gets millions of hits. And you wonder how Obama was ever elected? Ha!

Going back in time, the smart people didn’t always stand out that much because without proper education or access to information it was hard to shine beyond your job. For example, the guy who invented the first marine chronograph for navigation was a humble unknown, yet he created what better educated men failed to do! Fortunately for us, he was motivated by a large cash reward, but without that, his brilliance might have slipped by completely unnoticed.

Compare that to village idiot…back in day we had no problem knowing who that was. Now the village idiot might sell drugs and earn more than you do. He also breeds with other village idiots that you wind up supporting with your tax dollars. If access to information is what makes a society great then I want to know what $#%^ happened?

At the same time as idiots are making headlines, we have smart people doing greater things than ever, however they’re just not having that many babies. What’s the problem here? Maybe smart people just can’t tolerate being with really dumb partners, even if they are super hot? Of course, it also doesn’t help that smart people tend to be somewhat quirky. They also tend to be socially awkward with the opposite sex. But, on balance, it’s hard not to be awkward when socially acceptable behavior appears to be a drunken menage a trois and you don’t know any of the participants. (Welcome to Washington D.C. Mr. Smith)

That brings up of another area of our society that has cost us dearly in terms of research time, money and productivity. That being, indiscriminate high risk sex leading to the spread of deadly diseases. Despite the fact that the perils of AIDS is well published even the most remote parts of the world, dumb people still choose to engage in high risk behaviors that places a heavy burden on others. I think we went the wrong way on AIDS, we should have increased it’s leathality by 10,000% and it would have burned itself out years ago with a fraction of the mortality losses, but I digress.

I’ve always believed that the choices we make is the best gauge of our societies general intelligence. Uh, soooo looking back at that Nov. 6th election it looks like… we’re a lost cause? Perhaps. Okay, I still can’t get over that one. The choices were so clear and the risks were so great, yet we stupidly elected the guy pushing us over the fiscal cliff?

What I learned from my research here can be summed up thusly: The village idiot has been busy breeding like a rabbit, the geeks haven’t – there’s your [great divide]. This can’t be solved by anything Occupy Wall Street has to offer. That’s why I say it’s high time we consider removing all those warning lables and make seat belts an extra cost option. (I’m joking…sort of)

Maybe an IQ test isn’t such a bad idea before having babies? It might help to lower all that highway carnage and probably your insurance premiums for accident death or dismemberment too!

(Disclaimer – this article is not intended in any way to offend those persons born with serious mental disabilities or their caregivers. They deserve our respect and support. Some demeaning of liberal democrats was unavoidable, sorry.)

It’s a good start. At least somebody is trying to do something about ethics, we need more school officials and parents with the same interest.