The Fiscal HOAX

This fiscal cliff is a hoax. In fact, it isn't a cliff at all. If left to occur, we would begin in January 2013 to gradually reduce federal spending and increase taxes. I have been saying for two years that 2013 will be a tough economic year. Still, we are being inundated daily with propaganda to make us believe the world would end if America were to do, what Congress set up just two years ago.....Cut Spending and increase taxes. We currently have a $16 Trillion national debt. Nearly everyone agrees we need to reduce the national debt and the ONLY way to do this is to cut spending and increase taxes. The Simpson Bowles Commission look at the problem and came to the same conclusion two years ago. So if everyone agrees, and the Congress put the automatic "fiscal cliff" in place....why not just do it?

 Congress and Wall Street don't want us to cut spending or increase taxes. They know their free ride will end and America will begin to return to sound fiscal management. In their view a delay would be better. But any delay only adds to the problem. Sooner [is better] or later [is worse] we need to begin the National Belt Tightening that will reduce government spending and increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans. There is no real reason to wait. Waiting adds to the debt and makes the "pain" of cutting spending later just hurt more. The people who are asking for a change in the "fiscal cliff" law are only concerned for themselves. Look who is doing the all the whining....Congress, Wall Street, Big Banks. None of these groups are looking out for your best interest.

 So, relax and hope that America does nothing. We need to begin austerity programs now to correct stupid over spending....Two pointless trillion dollar wars started by Bush, too many free government welfare programs that paid people to sit at home and too many special tax deals for the rich.

Role of Government

For the last year America, and many European countries, has struggled with the role of government. The two big questions have been: What should government do for us? And, How do we pay for the government we want? Now, a week before the US election a major storm is approaching the seat of Federal Government. Washington, New York and the Northeast will be hit by hurricane Sandy. This is a great time to ask: Do those being hit by this storm want to "go it alone" or get the help and support of their government?

 

Candidate Romney and his far right "wing nut" supporters would like to see America return to its frontier traditions in which everyone was on their own. In this way we would have a much smaller government and we would, at least in theory, pay less in taxes. But the role of government should be to provide citizens with the things they cannot do themselves. Safety is one thing government can and should provide. Along with education, a legal system, highways and healthcare, Government should keep its citizens safe from threats.

 

As we vote next week. Remember we are voting on the kind of government we want for our families in the future. I prefer we follow the Obama plan to cut spending, reduce involvement in foreign wars and begin to do "nation building" in America instead of Iraq or Afghanistan. America is a rich country and we can afford to keep our families safe from terrorist, hurricanes, and swine flu. Tax increases for the wealthiest Americans would make this possible and balance our budget.

Dumb by DEFAULT

Two things I read today upset me. First the DOT has new guidelines for preventing driving while "distracted." These guidelines are all focused on the elimination of the use of phones while driving. Moreover, they are also focused on the prevention of having internet content within the moving vehicle. Second, the FDA is recalling Children's Tylenol because the dropper is "too difficult to read." Really? Grown up people can't figure out how much Tylenol to give their kids?

All this leads me to my concern. Big Government in its endless quest to make us "safer" has in fact reset Americans to DUMB by DEFAULT. I am 100% sure that if Automobiles were invented today....they would be banned as far too dangerous for humans [or at least Americans.] Think about this. Over 30,000 people are killed in cars each year. Al Qaeda only wishes they were that good. Alcohol kills another 100,000 a year. And tobacco is killing 300,000 a year. But government is focused on eliminating productivity by banning phone use in cars. If you want to save lives....ban tobacco sales.

I am not ashamed to admit that I text, email, and read messages on my iPhone while driving. From what I have seen....I am not alone. Here in California on the freeway, over 50% of the drivers are doing the same thing. Most important, they are doing it very well. Driving on the freeway in Greater Los Angeles is like being in the Olympics of Driving. When there is traffic it is heavy and when there is limited traffic everyone drives 90 or more miles per hour. The traditional "laws" are nonexistent. The real rules of driving in LA say this: DO NOT HIT OTHER STUFF. You are expected to drive so as NOT to hit cars, poles, signs, or people. Everything else is OK. You can change your clothes while driving, or you can eat your lunch while driving, or you can type on your lap top while driving. Yes, you can use you mobile phone. I have seen people with two phones driving with their knees. The one rule you cannot break is NO ACCIDENTS. An accident will stop traffic and piss off a thousand other drivers. It will prove you are not really ready for LA. Go back to Omaha and drive to work.

Humans have evolved. From using that first stick to beat the crap out of a bear, to using a mobile phone while driving, we have learned to adapt. Ask any 11 year old who can play video games while talking to his mom on the phone. Humans are multi-taskers. Back in 1880 it was widely believed that humans might explode if they travel faster than 50 miles per hour. These same people believed that trains running on tracks next to farms, made the cows give "bad milk.". Turns out humans can learn to do stuff and over time do it well. Like fly to the moon....also not safe.

Back to phones in cars. They have made our lives better. They work great. All of us are learning to use them better every day. A few, a stupid few, make bad mistakes. Like learning to drive home drunk from a bar, [another acquired skill] humans can learn to drive and eat, or find that CD under the seat, or beat their kids in the back seat, or sell that account using their phone while driving. We are smarter and better than government can imagine. Yes, some make mistakes but overall 95% of us do this well. Stand up and voice your concern for the ongoing effort to make Americans DUMB by DEFAULT. And, be very careful with those Tylenol droppers....I hear they are really complex.

Leaking out

For as long as I can remember I have pissed people off. They always seem to like me at first. I tend to make a good first impression. But, over time things change. I've thought about it and I know the reason. It is because of me. I have two critical personality flaws. I over estimate potential and I have no regard for things I can't respect.

I am a horse's ass. Other people have called me much worse. I have high expectations and I think about things to the point of becoming obsessive. This often leads me to dissecting the people and events around me. I see people for their potential.  I often over estimate this potential and then become amazed that the people whom I respected, are in fact stupid. Once I turn the corner on this discovery, there is almost never a turning back. Here is an example. It might not be a good example but it will work to make my point: If you have a runny nose, you want a tissue. You look for a tissue and you are thrilled when you find it. You blow your nose. And, then the tissue is worthless. You discard it without a second thought. It is of no value to you. What was once thrilling to find has become worthless. This is my experience with most people and events in my life.

There are a few occasions where I am surprised. BMW and Apple products have never disappointed me. The Dry Cleaner we use on Kraemer has exceeded my expectation repeatedly. My wife, Pam, is much smarter and better at "managing" me than I ever expected. My parents and my childhood were nearly perfect, as far as I am concerned. Most of my children have turned out well and I am proud of them. But.... there are so many other things that have been a disappointment. I won't list them. It would take a while.

Sometimes, like today at the Day Care Center, I try hard not to be the pain in the ass person that nobody likes. The lady told me to wear paper booties over my shoes, "to keep the germs out of the play room." Really? Are you that stupid? Paper Booties stop germs? Brother, it is hard to go through a day without telling people how stupid they really are. I am trying to keep this all inside. If it leaks out once in a while, I am sorry.