Charitable Giving - Big Government Style

Okay, I'll admit it. I really, really don't get this. Can someone clue me in please? We were just recently subjected to months of campaigning (or lying, depending on how you look at it) by two politicians, neither of which should even have been running for the top office in this country. During this time I heard so much from a man (that I never believed for a minute) about change and creating a caring culture. A place where we, as Americans, take care of each other and level the playing field so everyone can achieve the American Dream. A culture that supports and encourages those that have traditionally not had access to the prosperity promised by this great country.

Now our beloved President has come out in favor of reducing the tax reduction that we can receive for charitable giving. Is this not completely opposite of what you would do if you really cared about helping others and creating a caring culture? It seems to me that if a person wanted to encourage the citizens of this country to give and help those less fortunate, maybe one way to do this would be to increase the tax savings available for charitable giving. Perhaps if it were more advantageous for people to give to worthy causes that help the poor and needy in our communities, we would actually see an improvement in the conditions of the less fortunate among us. I would think that this would promote more help with education, job training, and life skills and provide more opportunities for those with limited access to economic prosperity.

Why then would the head of the Executive Branch of the government take action in direct opposition to this? The answer, as with most of what we have seen so far is that he, and it would seem most of his political party, have Socialist tendencies. They want more of the money currently headed to charities to go to their big government so they can dictate to you exactly how much you will give, and where and how that money is spent. They believe that this same government that has yet to institute a successful program, should be in charge of every program... public or private. They see this as a way to control behavior and to ensure their long-term power by distributing money only to 'charities' that adhere to their value system and help to advance their cause. A government that controls all the money has significant control of the population. By controlling charitable contributions they also control to some extent our freedom of speech, as they already do with religious organizations. Any organization that does not support their socialist, liberal agenda would obviously not be eligible for funding... that certainly makes their world a better place!

As with every area of life, the less government intrusion allowed the better it is for the people. Taxes are no exception. Taxation should not be used as a tool to shape the behavior of the populace according to some arbitrary set of values dictated by politicians. It is time for serious tax reform and a major down-sizing of our government. This is the answer to stimulating the economy and providing opportunity for those that have been victimized by the failure of the war on poverty.

We The People

Maybe it's just me, but in the event that it is not... is anyone else sick and tired of hearing about the Economic Stimulus plans, plans to bail out Wall Street, Detroit, the health-care system, small business, etc? I hear something everyday about how the wonderful, benevolent officials we the sheeple have elected are going to bestow economic prosperity on us and fix the economy. Are they really that stupid, or do they just think that we are that stupid? We wasted around $800 Billion on a first plan that did nothing... we wasted more on a larger (understand more earmarks and special interest) plan that was going to get things going... it continues still and there is no end in sight. Now nearly $2 Trillion later, things are the same or maybe worse.

Now I hear our beloved and anointed President saying that we need to spend more to open up lending to small business. Hello!!! Anyone paying any attention? Isn't borrowing and credit what got us into this mess to begin with? Are we going to borrow our way out of it? That's a brilliant idea! How about this for a revolutionary idea... quit taxing everyone into oblivion to pay for more stupid stimulus plans! Want to start the economy? Put more money into the hands of those who actually work and create jobs and wealth in this great country and stop the hand-outs, bail-outs, and give-away programs. Stop paying for condoms and abortions with our tax dollars! Stop pouring money into the false science of Global Warming! Stop the graft and corruption in the District of Corruption and allow the people of this land to take care of themselves, their families and each other!

Now I know that there are some idiots among us that don't have a clue how to earn, spend, or save money. Fine, let them suffer the consequences of their decisions... that is called learning! Quit over regulating the financial and auto industries, telling them what to do, how and when to do it... then blaming them when it doesn't work and bailing them out with our tax dollars and more pitiful oversight and regulation from the people that have ruined everything they have touched! Mr President, Congress, our elected officials at every level... YOU ARE NOT THE ANSWER, YOU OBVIOUSLY DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWER, YOU WILL NEVER FIND THE ANSWER UNLESS WE THE PEOPLE SHOW IT TO YOU!

The American people have always been hard working, ingenious, and productive people and still are today. If "you the government" will leave "We The People" alone we can make this economy work as it should and make smart decisions that will reward the producers and penalize the non-contributing parasites. Stop giving trophies to all the teams in Little League and start rewarding the winners for their hard work and perseverance. Give the also-rans in life something to shoot for. Let this nation full of generous and able people take care of their families and neighbors. Get out of our way and worry about National Defense like you are supposed to. Quit telling me to wear a seat-belt, where or if I can smoke, if I can have a firearm and forcing me to pay into a failed, pitiful supplemental retirement system that you politicians have bankrupted! We make this country run, not you. Get over it!

Crazy Times

Maybe it's just me... I have always been a little different. My wife has often told me that I am just too extreme! I need to quit being so radical about things. Maybe she's right, I don't want to come off sounding like some wacko razor-wire, compound-livin', bomb-shelter-building, government conspiracy, Republic of Texas nut case. Yet, at the same time, I cannot sit by and just watch some of the crazy things that are going on without commenting. I feel that many like me are no longer heard in our representative republic and it is getting extremely frustrating.

I recently viewed a excerpt from a CNBC broadcast in which the usual talking heads were discussing the economy and the stimulus bills. If you have not seen this, you need to. In this excerpt Rick Santelli starts to actually tell it like it is (can you imagine, on CNBC) and of course is treated like a extremist radical by the elitist news people. You can watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEZB4taSEoA

I have not seen anyone on any mainstream news outlet get it more right than this guy. Of course Hannity, Rush and Glenn Beck have been saying things like this for years... but this was a shot right into the numb-minded, propaganda believing audience of CNBC. Hope someone out there wakes up. I could not agree more with what was said. We have an establishment of elitist career politicians, educators and media pundits that are so out of touch with reality and what I hope is the silent majority of main-stream America that it is no longer even a little bit funny. These people walk around in their rich, elitist, socialist dream world without a clue about what the average middle-class American stands for or believes.

I am beginning to think that for the next presidential election we need to support Tommy. You know, the deaf, dumb and blind kid from Soho? I figure that he could not possibly more detached from what is happening in the real world outside D.C. (District of Corruption) than the idiots we have there now. These people are destroying America and running rough-shod over the Constitution and our rights. Do they not understand they are taxing us into oblivion? Are they really so stupid as to believe that government spending can solve anything besides lining the pockets of themselves and their friends. Taking from the producers in society to give to those that refuse to produce will not stimulate anything except a economic collapse.

Maybe I am a little extreme... but then again, I was raised to believe in a country founded by men of extreme faith and belief. A country that valued freedom above all else. A country that was founded to provide the opportunity (not the guarantee) for all people to work hard, usually against the odds, and to achieve something for themselves and their families. Guess that is a little extreme!

It Just Doesn't Work...

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need". I am surprised lately at how many Americans think that this is a great idea we should entertain. The quote, in case some of you attended public school like me, is from Karl Marx. The idea is that everyone should share equally in the prosperity of the community, and in the wonderful land of Utopia created by Thomas More, maybe it would work. This however is an imperfect world filled with flawed and imperfect people.

The problem with the philosophy is that it punishes the industrious and rewards the shiftless. I think that we can all agree that there some among us that work very hard, and regardless of their motives for their work, they achieve great things. There are others that avoid work at all costs. Some would not even go through the trouble to seek hand-outs if their very existence did not depend on it. In America the idea that each person has the freedom to pursue their dreams and desires is the foundation upon which we build.

Lately I have been hearing individuals communicate their desire for a system that will take from those that have worked hard and reaped the rewards of their labor, and give it to others that have not earned it. The entitlement mentality many possess is a threat to our freedom and ultimately to our economic well being. We live in a country that offers us the freedom to pursue our desires. Our freedom gives us the right to strive for these things, not to have them. We will only achieve to the level we are willing to invest our ability, work ethic and persistence. The lessons learned from working, and many times failing, to achieve our goals is what molds us into people of character. Living off the work of others does nothing to build character, teach us perseverance, or bolster our sense of self worth.

For those that play the game of class-envy the result is always the same, the socialist and communist countries of the world have taught us this. Senator Obama continues the tradition of liberalism by espousing a tax policy that will punish the successful, the employers, the innovators in our country and increase the role of Big Government. Redistribution of wealth (which is what Obama admits his goal is) does not, has not and never will stimulate an economy or motivate individuals to work. The proven way to stimulate the economy and increase tax revenues to the state is through tax reductions. This was successfully proven twice in the last 50 years, once by JFK and again by Ronald Reagan. If, on the other hand, we are looking for a plan to "spread the poverty", squelch productivity, stagnate the economy and discourage individual achievement... the Obama plan would be it.