Neutral Look at our Goverment - A must read!!

  • October 28, 2010 11:29 PM PDT
    Read this slowly, let it sink in….
     
    This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be.  Please read the entire article.
     
    The article below is completely neutral, not anti-republican or democrat.
     
    Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day.
     
    It's a short but good read.  Worth the time.  Worth remembering!   545 vs. 300,000,000
     
    EVERY CITIZEN NEEDS TO READ THIS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS JOURNALIST HAS SCRIPTED IN THIS MESSAGE.  READ IT AND THEN REALLY THINK ABOUT OUR CURRENT POLITICAL DEBACLE.
     
    Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.
     
    545 PEOPLE -- By Charlie Reese
     
    Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
     
    Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
     
    Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
     
    You and I don't propose a federal budget.  The President does.
     
    You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations.  The House of Representatives does.
     
    You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
     
    You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
     
    You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
     
    One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
     
    I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress..  In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
     
    I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority.  They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing.  I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash.  The politician has the power to accept or reject it.  No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he/she votes.
     
    Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault.  They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
     
    What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall.  No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.... . The President can only propose a budget.  He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
     
    The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.  House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want.  If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
     
    It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility.  I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.  When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
     
    If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
     
    If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red ..
     
    If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
     
    There are no insoluble government problems.
     
    Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.  Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
     
    Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
     
    They, and they alone, have the power..
     
    They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
     
    Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...
     
    We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
     
    Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
     
    What you do with this article now that you have read it.........  Is up to you.
     
    Sales Tax
    School Tax
    Liquor Tax
    Luxury Tax
    Excise Taxes
    Property Tax
    Cigarette Tax
    Medicare Tax
    Inventory Tax
    Real Estate Tax
    Well Permit Tax
    Fuel Permit Tax
    Inheritance Tax
    Road Usage Tax
    CDL license Tax
    Dog License Tax
    State Income Tax
    Food License Tax
    Vehicle Sales Tax
    Gross Receipts Tax
    Social Security Tax
    Service Charge Tax
    Fishing License Tax
    Federal Income Tax
    Building Permit Tax
    IRS Interest Charges
    Hunting License Tax
    Marriage License Tax
    Corporate Income Tax
    Personal Property Tax
    Accounts Receivable Tax
    Recreational Vehicle Tax
    Workers Compensation Tax
    Watercraft Registration Tax
    Telephone Usage Charge Tax
    Telephone Federal Excise Tax
    Telephone State and Local Tax
    IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
    State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
    Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
    Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
    Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
    Gasoline Tax (currently 4475 cents per gallon)
    Utility Taxes
    Vehicle License Registration Tax
    Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
    Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
     
    Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
    • 1780 posts
    October 29, 2010 12:39 AM PDT
    WOW not THAT was an eye opener......Thanks badirish
    Dragon
    • 76 posts
    October 29, 2010 1:09 AM PDT
    Excellent -- and I couldn't agree more!!
    • 9 posts
    October 29, 2010 1:29 AM PDT
    You know how it work? Everyone goes to the polls saying that their ALL crooks, except mine....
    • 2072 posts
    October 29, 2010 1:31 AM PDT
    "Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. "


    What does THAT tell you !!!!
  • October 29, 2010 5:06 AM PDT
    Too bad we cant go back to the days of having all the politicians be volunteers with no pay and no perks either. We will never get ahead in this country, with the party system of elections. Why dont we start electing people who are just americans and not democrats or republicans. Just a dream of mine I know! Great article btw thanks buddy!
    • 846 posts
    October 29, 2010 5:30 AM PDT
    Thanks, great article. It does make you think. I just a shame that more folks will not read it and some of those that do will not see the point of it.
    • 601 posts
    October 29, 2010 7:53 AM PDT
    The year is 1906. One hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes!

    Here are some of the U.S. statistics for the Year 1906:

    The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years.

    Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub.

    Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

    A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.

    There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads.

    The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

    Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California.

    With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.

    The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!

    The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour.

    The average U.S. worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

    A competent accountant could expect to earn $2,000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

    More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. took place at home.

    Ninety percent of all U.S. doctors had no college education. Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."

    Sugar cost four cents a pound.

    Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

    Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

    Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

    Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

    Five leading causes of death in the U.S. were:

    1. Pneumonia and influenza 2. Tuberculosis 3. Diarrhea 4. Heart disease 5. Stroke

    The American flag had 45 stars.

    Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.

    The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!

    Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea had not been invented yet.

    There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

    Two out of every 10 U.S. adults could not read or write.

    Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

    Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then the pharmacist said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."

    Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.

    There were about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S....
  • October 29, 2010 5:51 PM PDT
    OH Man.........I fear I would get "regulated" if I were to comment on this. GREAT post, John! I think most in this country forget that the it's the right to life, liberty and the PURSUIT of happiness. Nothing is guaranteed and the Federal Govt is only really to protect the individual states from foreign aggression and let those states govern as they see fit in accordance with the Constitution. The people of each State elect who they want to govern their little portion of the union and was not supposed to be subjected to blanket regulation contrived by those of other states that didn't share their local values that They the people of those individual states voted to be governed by. Of course there is need for Federal regulation to promote fairness and equality, but not to decide on the individuals daily life or level of perceived success in relation to the population as a whole.

    Technology has changed many things and made science fiction into reality. But, no technological advance can change the basic rules of nature. The problem is that instead of doing some hard thinking on how to prosper without taxing the individual monetarily or otherwise, they did the easy thing of passing laws to take from the individual because they were too lazy or inept to figure out how to make it happen otherwise. Or they did it because with a little benefit to the many after decades of contribution, there were those who would benefit 1,000 fold in a fraction of the time. It's all a big ponzy scheme really. Nothing has been about freedom and self governance for some time. It's about wealth and personal ego at the expense of the masses.
    • Moderator
    • 19007 posts
    October 30, 2010 2:44 AM PDT
    Absolutely James, It is all about money and political ego's. I have had no respect for any politician since Harry (Give em Hell) Truman. And even he wasn't perfect.
    • 1780 posts
    October 30, 2010 9:24 AM PDT
    RexTheRoadDog wrote...
    Absolutely James, It is all about money and political ego's. I have had no respect for any politician since Harry (Give em Hell) Truman. And even he wasn't perfect.



    Hey there pappy.....most of us wasn't even around when Give em Hell Harry was in office.......but I like what I see from him on the History Channel.
    Just a small stab at ya Bro.....LOL
    • Moderator
    • 19007 posts
    October 30, 2010 11:49 PM PDT
    nightdragon wrote...
    RexTheRoadDog wrote...
    Absolutely James, It is all about money and political ego's. I have had no respect for any politician since Harry (Give em Hell) Truman. And even he wasn't perfect.



    Hey there pappy.....most of us wasn't even around when Give em Hell Harry was in office.......but I like what I see from him on the History Channel.
    Just a small stab at ya Bro.....LOL


    Stab all ya want there Dragon. Just remember I am like an elephant I have a big ......... memory

    • 1780 posts
    October 31, 2010 6:42 AM PDT
    RexTheRoadDog wrote...
    nightdragon wrote...
    RexTheRoadDog wrote...
    Absolutely James, It is all about money and political ego's. I have had no respect for any politician since Harry (Give em Hell) Truman. And even he wasn't perfect.



    Hey there pappy.....most of us wasn't even around when Give em Hell Harry was in office.......but I like what I see from him on the History Channel.
    Just a small stab at ya Bro.....LOL


    Stab all ya want there Dragon. Just remember I am like an elephant I have a big ......... memory



    Yea I know you do.......Can't wait to see ya again.
     

    • 9 posts
    November 1, 2010 11:42 AM PDT
    Damn Dragon,
    Can you say reality check? The article stated that it's writer no longer worked for the Orlando Sentinal. I wonder if he can find gainful employment anywhere after writing that. The thing is, most people don't know, that if enough of us came together, we could depose the "current government".
    It's in the constitution, man! For anyone who wants to know, read your constitution. And then maybe, just maybe, everyone would band together and do something about this. Ultimately, we are the masters of our own "ship". Sometimes voting isn't enough. I say screw the "tea" and "coffee" parties, and lets start something called the "FREE" party. Grassroots grow deeper, spread farther, and invade every lawn on the block. Whatcha think about that?
    Sittin' in the easy chair, doing nothing, will gain us all the same return, nothing....
    Just sayin'...RIDE FREE
    Tweek
    • 21 posts
    November 1, 2010 9:02 PM PDT
    Amen - Great post!!! Crazy how out of control things are today - makes you wonder how we got here -