NBC Augusta 26 had an interesting report on a new group being formed in Aiken. The group will have a meeting at O'Dell Week's tomorrow between 6:00 and 7:00 PM . Follow the link below to read the article and view the video.
Aiken's bringing back the Constitution NBC Augusta 26 news, weather, sports, community, entertainment, shopping for Augusta, Georgia Local News
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Solid Candidate creates Excitement in Egypt
As President Mubarak returns to Egypt after his latest health crisis a new face is on the scene. Mohamed El Baradei who is internationally famous as the head of the IAEA has returned to his homeland and is seeking to replace Mubarak. His candidacy is stirring up great excitement and we can only hope that democracy will prevail. There is a little debate going on in Egypt as to who is the most well known Egyptian. My own thought is Omar Sharif but perhaps my wife has colored my thinking! Here is what the Egyptian Chronicles had to say. Enjoy the video.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Nikki Haley’s Money Bomb | RedState
The following article by Erick Erickson appears on Redstate. It makes excellent points about Nikki Haley and the comments on the article are very much worth your time. We need new conservative leaders and Nikki needs your help.Please contribute to her campaign.
Nikki Haley’s Money Bomb RedState
Nikki Haley’s Money Bomb RedState
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
'Roll Call Voting! No More Anonymous Voting!!!!!!'
As you know Nikki Haley is running for Governor of South Carolina. She has been leading the charge for roll call voting. The following link will take you to a Fairtax Organization message urging your action.
'Roll Call Voting! No More Anonymous Voting!!!!!!'
'Roll Call Voting! No More Anonymous Voting!!!!!!'
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
City Journal Commentary on Britains Healthcare
The Fix Is In
Why Britain’s National Health Service spends so much and does so little
22 March 2010
Americans would do well to ponder a recent admission by a former British minister in the Blair government. On March 2, the Guardian reported that the ex-minister, now Lord Warner, said that while spending on Britain’s National Health Service had increased by 60 percent under the Labour government, its output had decreased by 4 percent. No doubt the spending of a Soviet-style organization like the NHS is more easily measurable than its output, but the former minister’s remark certainly accords with the experiences of many citizens, who see no dramatic improvement in the service as a result of such vastly increased outlays. On the contrary, while the service has taken on 400,000 new staff members—that is to say, one-fifth of all new jobs created in Britain during the period—continuity of medical care has been all but extinguished. Nobody now expects to see the same doctor on successive occasions, in the hospital or anywhere else. more
Why Britain’s National Health Service spends so much and does so little
22 March 2010
Americans would do well to ponder a recent admission by a former British minister in the Blair government. On March 2, the Guardian reported that the ex-minister, now Lord Warner, said that while spending on Britain’s National Health Service had increased by 60 percent under the Labour government, its output had decreased by 4 percent. No doubt the spending of a Soviet-style organization like the NHS is more easily measurable than its output, but the former minister’s remark certainly accords with the experiences of many citizens, who see no dramatic improvement in the service as a result of such vastly increased outlays. On the contrary, while the service has taken on 400,000 new staff members—that is to say, one-fifth of all new jobs created in Britain during the period—continuity of medical care has been all but extinguished. Nobody now expects to see the same doctor on successive occasions, in the hospital or anywhere else. more
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Art of Economiccs
I know tha Economics is a subject many wish to avoid. I fervently wish the Obama administration and congress would take the time to read and understand the following article.My thanks to Pat and Elizabeth Paterniti for sending it to me.
FOXNews.com
March 17, 2010
The Art of Economics
Mallory Factor
Here's why America needs to listen to Arthur Laffer.
Like any field, economics has its trends and fads. Recently, Keynesian economics has been in vogue. Based on the work of British economist John Maynard Keynes, Keynesian economics urge governments to increase their spending and to stabilize the economy in crisis periods. The Obama administration has tried to explain its response to the current financial crisis in terms of the application of Keynesian principles. But as many conclude that our government’s responses have been flawed as well as expensive, it’s time to listen to the advice of another major 20th century economist—Arthur Laffer.
If most Americans have heard of Arthur Laffer at all, it’s probably because of the Laffer Curve, a simple chart that shows that raising tax rates does not necessarily produce greater tax revenues. Laffer first demonstrated the idea to the White House during the Ford Administration; later, it became famous as the idea behind the Kemp-Roth tax cuts that fueled the tremendous economic boom of the Reagan years.
Laffer is one of the most important 20th century economists, but his greatest work may actually be in the 21st century. That’s because he is warning us now that if America doesn’t change its economic course, quickly, we are in for bad times ahead.
To explain, Laffer looks to a few simple axioms on which the field of economics is based – rules that predict how both economies and individuals will behave when faced with a set of choices. For instance, the law of supply and demand explains a great deal of how the economy works – when demand for a particular good increases, supply and demand will eventually equilibrate at a new equilibrium price and quantity.
Right now, Laffer warns that simple economic principles are pointing to a potential macroeconomic meltdown.
First, government borrowing continues at alarming rates. The federal budget deficit is expected to top $1.5 trillion this year, even exceeding last year’s staggering deficit of $1.4 trillion, and Congress recently expanded the national debt ceiling by a similar amount. Federal spending on bank and auto bailouts and stimulus all adds up. All this spending must be financed somehow, and the patience of our Chinese, Japanese, and Arab creditors may one day run out.
Laffer’s second point is that the supply of money continues to grow. The monetary base, which is the narrowest measure of the money supply or total amount of money in the economy at a particular point in time, has just reached an all time high. Left unchecked, the high supply of money could fuel inflation. Unfortunately, the Federal Reserve is caught in a Catch 22—if they decide to fight inflation they will have to sell about $1 trillion worth of government bonds alongside a Treasury auctioning off record amounts of bonds to finance record deficits. Given the fiscal backdrop, were the Fed to go from being a huge net purchaser of bonds in 2009 to a big net seller in 2010, interest rates would be sure to rise drastically, pushing the economy into recession yet again.
Laffer’s third point is that taxes are high and likely to go up from here. Our corporate taxes are already the second-highest among the advanced economies in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. For individuals, the Bush tax cuts expire next year, which will send personal income tax rates, dividend and capital gains tax rates, and estate tax rates higher. Unless Congress passes another fix, the sharply higher Alternative Minimum Tax will snare millions of middle-class taxpayers, instead of the uber-wealthy it was originally designed to target. And that doesn’t even count proposed tax increases in relation to health care reform or climate change legislation. As the incentives to work, save, and invest are all decreased via increased marginal tax rates, economic growth is sure to suffer.
Finally, Laffer points to trade issues. Rather than opening ourselves to trade with the world, we are increasingly cutting ourselves off from it. It’s a basic principle of economics that trade benefits both parties to a transaction, but rather than seeking to negotiate trade agreements with countries around the world, we are not ratifying the ones we have negotiated, and we’re imposing tariffs on China – the very country we need to finance our budget deficit! Open trade will help us move toward the jobs of the future rather than inefficiently seeking to hold on to the jobs of the past.
Laffer is right: no economy can long prosper if it is overspending, increasing tax rates, printing too much money, restricting trade, and increasing regulations. It’s simple, really – but the potential consequences if we don’t change economic course soon could be profound. So the Lafferian response to the economic crisis is simply to take the opposite track and embrace pro-growth economic policies: reform the tax system by moving toward a broad-based, low flat-tax; address the looming unfunded liabilities crisis; decrease the size and cost of government; reinstate a sound and stable money; support free trade for all; and repeal ill-conceived regulations. By turning away from Keynes and toward Laffer, America can begin to grow again and we can all recover.
Mallory Factor is the co-chairman and co-founder of the Monday Meeting, an influential meeting of economic conservatives, journalists and corporate leaders in New York City. Mr. Factor is a well-known merchant banker and speaks and writes frequently on economic and fiscal topics for news stations, leading newspapers and other print and online publications. Mr. Factor writes frequently for the Fox Forum and is seen regularly on Fox News Channel. Mr. Factor can be reached at mallory.factor@malloryfactor.com.
FOXNews.com
March 17, 2010
The Art of Economics
Mallory Factor
Here's why America needs to listen to Arthur Laffer.
Like any field, economics has its trends and fads. Recently, Keynesian economics has been in vogue. Based on the work of British economist John Maynard Keynes, Keynesian economics urge governments to increase their spending and to stabilize the economy in crisis periods. The Obama administration has tried to explain its response to the current financial crisis in terms of the application of Keynesian principles. But as many conclude that our government’s responses have been flawed as well as expensive, it’s time to listen to the advice of another major 20th century economist—Arthur Laffer.
If most Americans have heard of Arthur Laffer at all, it’s probably because of the Laffer Curve, a simple chart that shows that raising tax rates does not necessarily produce greater tax revenues. Laffer first demonstrated the idea to the White House during the Ford Administration; later, it became famous as the idea behind the Kemp-Roth tax cuts that fueled the tremendous economic boom of the Reagan years.
Laffer is one of the most important 20th century economists, but his greatest work may actually be in the 21st century. That’s because he is warning us now that if America doesn’t change its economic course, quickly, we are in for bad times ahead.
To explain, Laffer looks to a few simple axioms on which the field of economics is based – rules that predict how both economies and individuals will behave when faced with a set of choices. For instance, the law of supply and demand explains a great deal of how the economy works – when demand for a particular good increases, supply and demand will eventually equilibrate at a new equilibrium price and quantity.
Right now, Laffer warns that simple economic principles are pointing to a potential macroeconomic meltdown.
First, government borrowing continues at alarming rates. The federal budget deficit is expected to top $1.5 trillion this year, even exceeding last year’s staggering deficit of $1.4 trillion, and Congress recently expanded the national debt ceiling by a similar amount. Federal spending on bank and auto bailouts and stimulus all adds up. All this spending must be financed somehow, and the patience of our Chinese, Japanese, and Arab creditors may one day run out.
Laffer’s second point is that the supply of money continues to grow. The monetary base, which is the narrowest measure of the money supply or total amount of money in the economy at a particular point in time, has just reached an all time high. Left unchecked, the high supply of money could fuel inflation. Unfortunately, the Federal Reserve is caught in a Catch 22—if they decide to fight inflation they will have to sell about $1 trillion worth of government bonds alongside a Treasury auctioning off record amounts of bonds to finance record deficits. Given the fiscal backdrop, were the Fed to go from being a huge net purchaser of bonds in 2009 to a big net seller in 2010, interest rates would be sure to rise drastically, pushing the economy into recession yet again.
Laffer’s third point is that taxes are high and likely to go up from here. Our corporate taxes are already the second-highest among the advanced economies in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. For individuals, the Bush tax cuts expire next year, which will send personal income tax rates, dividend and capital gains tax rates, and estate tax rates higher. Unless Congress passes another fix, the sharply higher Alternative Minimum Tax will snare millions of middle-class taxpayers, instead of the uber-wealthy it was originally designed to target. And that doesn’t even count proposed tax increases in relation to health care reform or climate change legislation. As the incentives to work, save, and invest are all decreased via increased marginal tax rates, economic growth is sure to suffer.
Finally, Laffer points to trade issues. Rather than opening ourselves to trade with the world, we are increasingly cutting ourselves off from it. It’s a basic principle of economics that trade benefits both parties to a transaction, but rather than seeking to negotiate trade agreements with countries around the world, we are not ratifying the ones we have negotiated, and we’re imposing tariffs on China – the very country we need to finance our budget deficit! Open trade will help us move toward the jobs of the future rather than inefficiently seeking to hold on to the jobs of the past.
Laffer is right: no economy can long prosper if it is overspending, increasing tax rates, printing too much money, restricting trade, and increasing regulations. It’s simple, really – but the potential consequences if we don’t change economic course soon could be profound. So the Lafferian response to the economic crisis is simply to take the opposite track and embrace pro-growth economic policies: reform the tax system by moving toward a broad-based, low flat-tax; address the looming unfunded liabilities crisis; decrease the size and cost of government; reinstate a sound and stable money; support free trade for all; and repeal ill-conceived regulations. By turning away from Keynes and toward Laffer, America can begin to grow again and we can all recover.
Mallory Factor is the co-chairman and co-founder of the Monday Meeting, an influential meeting of economic conservatives, journalists and corporate leaders in New York City. Mr. Factor is a well-known merchant banker and speaks and writes frequently on economic and fiscal topics for news stations, leading newspapers and other print and online publications. Mr. Factor writes frequently for the Fox Forum and is seen regularly on Fox News Channel. Mr. Factor can be reached at mallory.factor@malloryfactor.com.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Health Care and Term Limits
As many readers know I am a believer in term limits and have said so on this blog several times. The blatant disregard of the will of the majority of citizens regarding healthcare now taking place makes a compelling argument for a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of Congressional Representatives and Senators.Far too many of them worry more about their career jobs than they do about doing what's right.. Consequentially they can be bought or blackmailed or otherwise coerced by the party whips to follow the leader or lose support and meaningful committee asignments.
I spent four days this past week in the Aiken Regional Medical Center due to an emergency. With excellent care from Doctors, nurses and staff I am at home today in good health but alas very poor spirits awaiting the final decision on the Obama adminstration's health care "reform." If, as expected, the White House succeeds in ramming through this abomination I am afraid that in the near future I and many millions of patients with emergency conditions will not be so fortunate.
Our elected officials should be role models for the nation rather than "roll models" who go along to get along. The time has come to join together and demand that a referendum on term limits be held to let the people decide whether or not to amend the constitution. Let the people decide!
The following poem expresses the problem we have with the present system. It was inspired by a similar piece written by Michael Schenkler of the Queens Tribune concerning elections in Queens:
I spent four days this past week in the Aiken Regional Medical Center due to an emergency. With excellent care from Doctors, nurses and staff I am at home today in good health but alas very poor spirits awaiting the final decision on the Obama adminstration's health care "reform." If, as expected, the White House succeeds in ramming through this abomination I am afraid that in the near future I and many millions of patients with emergency conditions will not be so fortunate.
Our elected officials should be role models for the nation rather than "roll models" who go along to get along. The time has come to join together and demand that a referendum on term limits be held to let the people decide whether or not to amend the constitution. Let the people decide!
The following poem expresses the problem we have with the present system. It was inspired by a similar piece written by Michael Schenkler of the Queens Tribune concerning elections in Queens:
Here, there and everywhere
The Incumbents always win,
Their primary focus is to insure,
That the “ins,” are always in.
It’s of little import what they do,
Their record is of little matter,
They raise the bucks, work the PACs,
Anything to make war chests fatter.
Without fail they make the sale
Name recognition can’t be beat,
With all the funds and paid-for-mail,
It’s always another term repeat.
And so we have it for good or not
With hardly any exception
If an incumbent’s name is on the ballot,
He or she will win election.
You ask how to change the game
Just look hard at all in the race
Study accomplishments not the name
Dare to be bold to select a new face.
I know it is difficult to deny your “friend”
Who every few years solicits your vote
But if our uncritical habits we fail to amend
Our nation soon will be of little note!
So there you have it my friends. Since we do not yet have the term limits I advocate let's show very many incumbents the gate . Our country will surely benefit from new faces in public places.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Rep. Paul Ryan on Health Care Reform-Washinton Post
Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin writes on Health Care reform. He is a real American hero.
Paul Ryan - Rep. Paul Ryan on what real health reform should look like - washingtonpost.com
Paul Ryan - Rep. Paul Ryan on what real health reform should look like - washingtonpost.com
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Obama at Bat
Okay, Things look bleak but the following youtube is too good to miss.Let us hope for the best!
Congressman Rogers of Michigan Has it Right
The Obama administration appears confident that it will succeed in pushing through its health care legislation. Maybe they will and maybe they won't. So far they don't have the votes but in the end it will depend on how many lemmings will follow them off the cliff. The following youtube is worth watching.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Health Care in a Free Society
The following is an excerpt from an article in Imprimis, Free subscriptions to Imprimis ara available from the website.
Health Care in a Free Society
PAUL RYAN is in his sixth term as a member of Congress, representing Wisconsin's First Congressional District. He is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee and a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. A graduate of Miami University in Ohio, he and his wife Janna have three children and live in Janesville, Wisconsin.
The following is adapted from a speech delivered on January 13, 2010, in Washington, D.C., at an event sponsored by Hillsdale College's Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship.
SOMEONE once said that before there was the New Deal, there was the Wisconsin Deal. In my home state, the University of Wisconsin was an early hotbed of progressivism, whose goal was to reorder society along lines other than those of the Constitution. The best known Wisconsin progressive in American politics was Robert LaFollette. “Fighting Bob,” as he was called, was a Republican—as was Theodore Roosevelt, another early progressive. Today we tend to associate progressivism mostly with Democrats, and trace it back to Woodrow Wilson. But it had its roots in both parties.
The social and political programs of the progressives came in on two great waves: the New Deal of the 1930s and the Great Society of the 1960s. Today, President Obama often invokes progressivism and hopes to generate its third great wave of public policy. In thinking about what this would mean, we need look no farther than the health care reform program he is promoting along with the leadership in Congress.more
“Reprinted by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College.” SUBSCRIPTION FREE UPON REQUEST. ISSN 0277-8432. Imprimis trademark registered in U.S. Patent and Trade Office #1563325.
Health Care in a Free Society
PAUL RYAN is in his sixth term as a member of Congress, representing Wisconsin's First Congressional District. He is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee and a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. A graduate of Miami University in Ohio, he and his wife Janna have three children and live in Janesville, Wisconsin.
The following is adapted from a speech delivered on January 13, 2010, in Washington, D.C., at an event sponsored by Hillsdale College's Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship.
SOMEONE once said that before there was the New Deal, there was the Wisconsin Deal. In my home state, the University of Wisconsin was an early hotbed of progressivism, whose goal was to reorder society along lines other than those of the Constitution. The best known Wisconsin progressive in American politics was Robert LaFollette. “Fighting Bob,” as he was called, was a Republican—as was Theodore Roosevelt, another early progressive. Today we tend to associate progressivism mostly with Democrats, and trace it back to Woodrow Wilson. But it had its roots in both parties.
The social and political programs of the progressives came in on two great waves: the New Deal of the 1930s and the Great Society of the 1960s. Today, President Obama often invokes progressivism and hopes to generate its third great wave of public policy. In thinking about what this would mean, we need look no farther than the health care reform program he is promoting along with the leadership in Congress.more
“Reprinted by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College.” SUBSCRIPTION FREE UPON REQUEST. ISSN 0277-8432. Imprimis trademark registered in U.S. Patent and Trade Office #1563325.
Colbert Report on Rasmussen
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| The Colbert Repoll - Scott Rasmussen | ||||
| ||||
Back Room Deals
This link will take you to another sad tale exposing the way Congress does its business. Unfortunately both parties have engaged in this sort of shenanigan over many years to the detriment of our country but never have the stakes been as high as they are on Obamacare. We are already encumbered by a massive unfunded liability for Medicare and it will only get worse. There are many problems with the current system. Reform is needed but the plan being muscled through Congress is a disaster. We can only hope that love of country and pressure from irate consituents will move a sufficient number of elected officials to block the arrogant misuse of power that the Obama administration and some elected officials in Congress are displaying.
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Best Films Never Made
The following PajamasMedia production by Andrew Klavan on the "Oscars" is funny but painfully true.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Election 2010: South Carolina Republican Primary for Governor
I have posted the following link to the latest poll in the South Carolina Governors race. While Nikki Haley places 4th it is interesting to note that a large number of those polled are undecided. Nikki's numbers are improving daily and as people get to know her I expect that many of the undecided will move to her. Please spread the word. If you haven't already done so check out her website: http://www.nikkihaley.com/ and email the link to your friends.
Election 2010: South Carolina Republican Primary for Governor
Posted using ShareThis
Election 2010: South Carolina Republican Primary for Governor
Posted using ShareThis
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Son of Hamas
From the Online Wall Street Journal
By MATTHEW KAMINSKI
Nashville, Tenn.
'I absolutely know that in anybody's eyes I was a traitor," says Mosab Hassan Yousef. "To my family, to my nation, to my God. I crossed all the red lines in my society. I didn't leave one that I didn't cross."
Now 32, Mosab is the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founder and leader of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. Throughout the last decade, from the second Intifada to the current stalemate, he worked alongside his father in the West Bank. During that time the younger Mr. Yousef also secretly embraced Christianity. And as he reveals in his book "Son of Hamas," out this week, he became one of the top spies for Israel's internal security arm, the Shin Bet.more
By MATTHEW KAMINSKI
Nashville, Tenn.
'I absolutely know that in anybody's eyes I was a traitor," says Mosab Hassan Yousef. "To my family, to my nation, to my God. I crossed all the red lines in my society. I didn't leave one that I didn't cross."
Now 32, Mosab is the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founder and leader of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. Throughout the last decade, from the second Intifada to the current stalemate, he worked alongside his father in the West Bank. During that time the younger Mr. Yousef also secretly embraced Christianity. And as he reveals in his book "Son of Hamas," out this week, he became one of the top spies for Israel's internal security arm, the Shin Bet.more
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