So many signs and so much publicity for the 1% TCED tax that is coming up for vote again tomorrow. I for one am against the tax; however, I am not within the voting district so I don't get a say in the matter. Some things that i would hope everyone voting tomorrow would consider.
1.) Branson has seen no noticeable growth in the ears since the tax was originally passed. Now, this does not mean that Banson has not benefited from the tax, given the state of the economy we might have seen a very large decrease in revenue if not for the money spent on advertising.
2.) Taxes in many parts of the city are nearly 10%, 3% of that accounts for state taxes and in many areas as much as 3% accounts for TIF taxes and there is a 4% city tax. So that adds up to 10% in the TIF areas, but what about the rest of the town? Why should I be paying 10% tax on a hamburger on Main Street and 10% for the same burger in Branson Hills development? Branson Hills has a TIF tax; whereas, main street has no such tax. So I'm being taxed at 4% by the city at Branson Hills and 7% on Main Street? Maybe my math is wrong, I don't know.
3.) "The tax is paid for by the visitors, not the locals." What a bunch of crap. If you eat out, go to the movies, go to a show or do anything except for go to the grocery store then you are paying that 1%. I don't remember getting a "locals" discount card so that I don't have to pay that 1% tourism tax.
4.) I thought that the Branson area was made up of mainly "Tea-Party" Republicans, I guess I was mistaken in thinking that Tea-Party members were against taxes in general and believed that money was best spent by the people and not the government. Oh yeah and, for those of you who are not aware, your Mayor is a registered Democrat; which would not matter to me as long as she was a good Mayor, but she's a lousy Mayor.
5.) Who is paying for all of the advertising for the TCED vote? I highly doubt that the major players are paying for all of those pretty signs and radio advertisements. It is likely that the TCED is actually paying for all of it, money that is not being spent to bring people to town but instead is being spent to continue taxing those who do come to town for another 1 cent of every dollar they spend while here.
Closing thought: Maybe the City of Branson could spend the money they are collecting from the current 4% sales tax, 7% in some areas if my math isn't wrong, on drawing in tourists and advertising instead of spending it on making up ridiculous regulations that drive away new business, hurt existing businesses and keep away big name performers just to make sure that the people who own this town are the only ones making any money.
It doesn't matter how much money you spend on advertising a turd sandwich, once people figure out that it's a turd sandwich they will stop buying it.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Genetically Modified Government
Many people may now be aware of the horrendous piece of legislation hidden on the 78th page of H.R. 933: The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, Section 753; dubbed The Monsanto Protection Act. This little piece of legislation makes the GMO giant Monsato and other GMO companies above the law when it comes to one of the most important things in this world, OUR FOOD!
Lets take a trip back in time. Although not all of this is directly connected to section 753 I feel that it does have it's part to play in the overall scheme of things.
I would like to start at August 2011, The Budget Control Act of 2011. Both chambers of congress vote to raise the debt ceiling to prevent a government shut down. Under the BCA-2011 Congress was required to come up with a working budget by January 1, 2013.
As we all know no budget was every agreed upon and the "Fiscal Cliff" deal was brokered with little time to spare before the January 1 deadline (You can find my Blog on the Fiscal Cliff here).
Jump to the end of January. H.R. 325 To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes, some refer to is as the "No Budget, No Pay" bill. Congress suspends the debt ceiling until May 19, 2013 in order to give them more time to form a budget. Remember that the majority of the sitting members of Congress were in office in August 2011 when the BCA-2011 was signed into law.
We arrive at 3-20-2013, Senate pass H.R. 933, The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013, The House passes it the next day. This bill does not address the budget problem, it only kicks the can down the road, for the third time in as many months.
We are also now at the climax of our story. Only after H.R. 933 was approved by the Senate on 3-20 did anyone get a chance to read it and find out that, buried 78 pages deep in the spending bill is hidden Section 753, The Monsanto Protection Act. After all, as Nancy Pelosi said: "We have to pass the bill so we can find out what is in it...". Between March 21, when the House passed H.R. 933, and March 26, when President Obama signed it into law, a petition gathered 250,000 signatures to urge the President to veto the bill and have Section 753 removed from it. The petition to deport Piers Morgan for his attacks on the 2nd Amendment gathered just over 100,000 signatures in a months time. It should say something for how strongly people feel on this issue when a quarter million signatures was gathered in only 5 days.Originally the provision seemed to appear out of thin air. It passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee under Senator Barbara Mikulski. What was confusing at first is that Section 753 should not have made it to the Appropriations Committee unless it passed through either the Agricultural or Judiciary Committees. The confusion comes due to the change of leadership at the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013. Senator Herb Kohl retired from the Senate at the end of 2012, Senator Kohl as Chairman of the appropriations subcommittee in charge of the Ag budget typically rejected such pieces of legislation. The new Chairman of the Ag committee is Senator Mark Pryor from Arkansas, another big Ag state and home of Tyson Foods. Shortly after this transition Senator Daniel Inouye, chairman of the full Senate committee died just before Christmas to be replaced by Senator Mikulski, who knew little or nothing of the Ag bill that would soon be passed by her committee and become part of H.R. 933.
So, the real question is, who drafted this piece of legislation that so obviously favors big Agra and GMO giants like Monsanto? Dubbed The Monsanto Protection Act by it's opponents it should be no surprise that the author is none other than Monsanto itself. But how does Monsanto get something like this to the Senate? Well, you could donate $64,000 to the campaign funds of a certain Senator who, conveniently enough, is from the same state as the GMO giant. If you guessed Senator Claire McCaskill you would be DEAD WRONG! That's right ladies and gentlemen, this bill was sponsored and co-drafted by Senator Roy Blunt formerly Congressman Blunt of Missouri's 7th Congressional District. Congratulations to those of us living in South-West Missouri, we are indirectly responsible for this piece of garbage that will ensure that our food supply will continue to be poisoned by the people who brought us Agent Orange, Aspartame, and Dioxin.
Beyond all of this, the Vermont Legislature is attempting to pass a bill that will require the labeling of GMOs in the state, much like items are labeled for Peanut or Gluten Allergies, just as was attempted in California last year. Monsanto has threatened to sue the State of Vermont if it passes the law, which is backed by the majority of the population of the state. The legislation has stalled in committee for the time being due to the threat. This is just another example of the extensive power that these mega-corporations have, the ability to scare and entire state's government into submission for fear of financial ruin.
Sources:
Lets take a trip back in time. Although not all of this is directly connected to section 753 I feel that it does have it's part to play in the overall scheme of things.
I would like to start at August 2011, The Budget Control Act of 2011. Both chambers of congress vote to raise the debt ceiling to prevent a government shut down. Under the BCA-2011 Congress was required to come up with a working budget by January 1, 2013.
As we all know no budget was every agreed upon and the "Fiscal Cliff" deal was brokered with little time to spare before the January 1 deadline (You can find my Blog on the Fiscal Cliff here).
Jump to the end of January. H.R. 325 To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes, some refer to is as the "No Budget, No Pay" bill. Congress suspends the debt ceiling until May 19, 2013 in order to give them more time to form a budget. Remember that the majority of the sitting members of Congress were in office in August 2011 when the BCA-2011 was signed into law.
We arrive at 3-20-2013, Senate pass H.R. 933, The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013, The House passes it the next day. This bill does not address the budget problem, it only kicks the can down the road, for the third time in as many months.
We are also now at the climax of our story. Only after H.R. 933 was approved by the Senate on 3-20 did anyone get a chance to read it and find out that, buried 78 pages deep in the spending bill is hidden Section 753, The Monsanto Protection Act. After all, as Nancy Pelosi said: "We have to pass the bill so we can find out what is in it...". Between March 21, when the House passed H.R. 933, and March 26, when President Obama signed it into law, a petition gathered 250,000 signatures to urge the President to veto the bill and have Section 753 removed from it. The petition to deport Piers Morgan for his attacks on the 2nd Amendment gathered just over 100,000 signatures in a months time. It should say something for how strongly people feel on this issue when a quarter million signatures was gathered in only 5 days.Originally the provision seemed to appear out of thin air. It passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee under Senator Barbara Mikulski. What was confusing at first is that Section 753 should not have made it to the Appropriations Committee unless it passed through either the Agricultural or Judiciary Committees. The confusion comes due to the change of leadership at the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013. Senator Herb Kohl retired from the Senate at the end of 2012, Senator Kohl as Chairman of the appropriations subcommittee in charge of the Ag budget typically rejected such pieces of legislation. The new Chairman of the Ag committee is Senator Mark Pryor from Arkansas, another big Ag state and home of Tyson Foods. Shortly after this transition Senator Daniel Inouye, chairman of the full Senate committee died just before Christmas to be replaced by Senator Mikulski, who knew little or nothing of the Ag bill that would soon be passed by her committee and become part of H.R. 933.
So, the real question is, who drafted this piece of legislation that so obviously favors big Agra and GMO giants like Monsanto? Dubbed The Monsanto Protection Act by it's opponents it should be no surprise that the author is none other than Monsanto itself. But how does Monsanto get something like this to the Senate? Well, you could donate $64,000 to the campaign funds of a certain Senator who, conveniently enough, is from the same state as the GMO giant. If you guessed Senator Claire McCaskill you would be DEAD WRONG! That's right ladies and gentlemen, this bill was sponsored and co-drafted by Senator Roy Blunt formerly Congressman Blunt of Missouri's 7th Congressional District. Congratulations to those of us living in South-West Missouri, we are indirectly responsible for this piece of garbage that will ensure that our food supply will continue to be poisoned by the people who brought us Agent Orange, Aspartame, and Dioxin.
Beyond all of this, the Vermont Legislature is attempting to pass a bill that will require the labeling of GMOs in the state, much like items are labeled for Peanut or Gluten Allergies, just as was attempted in California last year. Monsanto has threatened to sue the State of Vermont if it passes the law, which is backed by the majority of the population of the state. The legislation has stalled in committee for the time being due to the threat. This is just another example of the extensive power that these mega-corporations have, the ability to scare and entire state's government into submission for fear of financial ruin.
Sources:
House passes The Budget Control Act of 2011
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2011/h690
Senate passes The Budget Control Act of 2011
http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2011/s/122
House passes HR 325
http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2013/h/30
Senate Passes HR 325
https://www.opencongress.org/vote/2013/s/11
Senate Passes HR 933 on 3-20-2013
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00044
House passes HR 933 on 3-21-2013
http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=325006
Monsanto threatens State of Vermont for attempting to label GMOs
http://www.infowars.com/monsanto-threatens-vermont-legislature-over-gmo-labeling-bill-says-it-will-sue-state/
Some things everyone should know about HR 933 Section 753
http://www.ibtimes.com/monsanto-protection-act-5-terrifying-things-know-about-hr-933-provision-1156079
Senator Blunt worked with Monsanto to draft Section 753, dubbed the Monsanto Protection Act
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/big-agriculture-tom-vilsack-monsanto-89268_Page2.html
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Henry Jane
On the 40th Anniversary of the greatest war crime committed by this country I would like to express my interpretation of the first three Rights granted to us by our nation's Constitution: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Life: Well, you're reading this so I assume you are alive. The Constitution portrays Life as the first Right and, as such, is the most important right to all of the people of the world. This includes all of those that may be counted at "enemies" of the United States or it's people. If we, as a people, are able to deny the right to life then we have corrupted the foundation of our country.
Liberty: There are many definitions of Liberty
Basic Liberty: The control over ones own action. This is laid out by Jesus Christ in Luke 6:31: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Negative Liberty: Freedom from others. Just as you have the freedom to not oppress others, so do you have the freedom from oppression from others.
Libertarian Liberty: People should, must, and ought to behave according to their own free will and take responsibility for their own actions. This seems to be the most reasonable form of Liberty in the eyes of people, to take responsibility for your own actions. Should you choose to murder someone then you should pay the consequences of your actions. In reference to the first Right, Jesus Christ said to turn the other cheek and to let those who are innocent cast the first stone. My interpretation of these scriptures is that even those guilty of the most heinous crimes deserve to live; though they may live in a prison for the rest of their lives we may not know what God has planned for their lives.
Positive Liberty: Where emphasis is placed upon social structure directed at maintaining a class based system whereas the duties of each class benefit the whole. This is the basis of Socialism: The good of the many outweigh the good of the few. Sadly the outcome of this system is a very few elite end up having complete control over the many.
The Pursuit of Happiness: This Right is solely based on the two that precede it. Happiness is based purely on an individual basis. Provided your happiness does not violate the first two Rights there is no reason why anyone should infringe upon your happiness.
Although there are many definitions of Liberty, there is only one product of it and that is Freedom. Freedom is the reason why this country was founded in the first place, to deny Life is to deny Liberty and to deny Liberty is to deny Freedom, which makes the entire concept of America an exercise in futility.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Would you like bacon with that?
There is much talk these days about the "pork" in government spending most recently brought to light by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, most people know it as the bill pushed through Congress on the eve of December 31, 2012 to avoid the so called "Fiscal Cliff".
Most people are aware that there is no shortage of pork in government spending, almost every bill is loaded with funding for something not related to the bill itself. Some of the pork is simply extensions or modifications of previously approved pork while some of it is new pork. The only time it seems to matter what kind of pork is in the bill is when it conflicts with the people who yell the loudest. There was plenty of pork passed down during the Bush administration; however, no one seems to remember it because it was so long ago and there was a Republican in the White House. We were living in the golden age of an artificial bubble created by the housing market, the GDP was up, there was a war going on and everything seemed to be just wonderful on the surface. Bills were being passed left and right to fight terrorism or prop up the housing market, all the while taxpayer dollars were going out the door faster than they had in decades on corporate welfare.
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was no exception to this obsession with pork. While the bill did nothing to address a 2% Social Security payroll tax increase set to take effect January 1, which increased taxes for an estimated 77% of Americans, the bill also extended the Farm Bill spending ($6 billion), extended tax breaks for certain business entities ($3 billion) and continued tax incentives for renewable energy companies($15 billion).
Of the $6 billion in the Farm Bill extension a majority of the money will be sent to corporations like St. Louis based Monsanto. Monsanto is most famous for the weed killer Round-Up, what most people do not know is that they started out making Agent Orange, a herbicide used during Vietnam, which is highly toxic to humans. Monsanto now makes it's money by creating Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). These GMOs are resistant to certain pesticides and herbicides which allow for the farming of extensive areas of land without the risk of pets damaging the crop. GMO foods have been abolished in nearly every country, except for the United States, largely due to evidence that these foods are toxic to laboratory animals, causing horrible birth defects and cancer in most subjects. In the United States; however, no research concerning GMOs has been done and the research conducted in other countries has been largely ignored by the government as a whole. The most common GMOs are Corn, Soy and Canola, ironically pork may soon be joining the list of GMOs due to a $500,000 grant by the FDA.
Of the $15 billion in renewable energy tax extensions most of these extensions will go to corporations not unlike Solyndra, corporations which would never be able to turn a profit without government assistance. Renewable energy may be the way of the future; however, it should be privately funded as an endless stream of government funding and tax abatement only encourages contractors to produce very little at high costs.
Of the $3 billion in tax extensions most of the extensions will go to the national and multi-national corporations who lobbied for the extensions such as: Nascar, Hollywood, Puerto Rican rum producers, and railroads. Most smaller businesses will not be affected by this extension, causing their taxes to increase this year.
The American Taxpayer Relief Act also continued the practice of "Active Financing Exception" exempting multi-national corporations from paying almost all corporate income tax. These multi-national corporations, such as: Citi Bank, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and General Electric, are able to defer U.S. Taxes by moving profits offshore.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, after everything is said and done this bill will increase government spending by $33 billion per year even after tax increases. While a majority of Americans will see some increase and a few will see a large increase in taxes, some corporations, primarily banks, will continue to avoid paying any taxes at all.
So, a person is left to wondering, who's relief was this act meant for?
Most people are aware that there is no shortage of pork in government spending, almost every bill is loaded with funding for something not related to the bill itself. Some of the pork is simply extensions or modifications of previously approved pork while some of it is new pork. The only time it seems to matter what kind of pork is in the bill is when it conflicts with the people who yell the loudest. There was plenty of pork passed down during the Bush administration; however, no one seems to remember it because it was so long ago and there was a Republican in the White House. We were living in the golden age of an artificial bubble created by the housing market, the GDP was up, there was a war going on and everything seemed to be just wonderful on the surface. Bills were being passed left and right to fight terrorism or prop up the housing market, all the while taxpayer dollars were going out the door faster than they had in decades on corporate welfare.
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was no exception to this obsession with pork. While the bill did nothing to address a 2% Social Security payroll tax increase set to take effect January 1, which increased taxes for an estimated 77% of Americans, the bill also extended the Farm Bill spending ($6 billion), extended tax breaks for certain business entities ($3 billion) and continued tax incentives for renewable energy companies($15 billion).
Of the $6 billion in the Farm Bill extension a majority of the money will be sent to corporations like St. Louis based Monsanto. Monsanto is most famous for the weed killer Round-Up, what most people do not know is that they started out making Agent Orange, a herbicide used during Vietnam, which is highly toxic to humans. Monsanto now makes it's money by creating Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). These GMOs are resistant to certain pesticides and herbicides which allow for the farming of extensive areas of land without the risk of pets damaging the crop. GMO foods have been abolished in nearly every country, except for the United States, largely due to evidence that these foods are toxic to laboratory animals, causing horrible birth defects and cancer in most subjects. In the United States; however, no research concerning GMOs has been done and the research conducted in other countries has been largely ignored by the government as a whole. The most common GMOs are Corn, Soy and Canola, ironically pork may soon be joining the list of GMOs due to a $500,000 grant by the FDA.
Of the $15 billion in renewable energy tax extensions most of these extensions will go to corporations not unlike Solyndra, corporations which would never be able to turn a profit without government assistance. Renewable energy may be the way of the future; however, it should be privately funded as an endless stream of government funding and tax abatement only encourages contractors to produce very little at high costs.
Of the $3 billion in tax extensions most of the extensions will go to the national and multi-national corporations who lobbied for the extensions such as: Nascar, Hollywood, Puerto Rican rum producers, and railroads. Most smaller businesses will not be affected by this extension, causing their taxes to increase this year.
The American Taxpayer Relief Act also continued the practice of "Active Financing Exception" exempting multi-national corporations from paying almost all corporate income tax. These multi-national corporations, such as: Citi Bank, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and General Electric, are able to defer U.S. Taxes by moving profits offshore.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, after everything is said and done this bill will increase government spending by $33 billion per year even after tax increases. While a majority of Americans will see some increase and a few will see a large increase in taxes, some corporations, primarily banks, will continue to avoid paying any taxes at all.
So, a person is left to wondering, who's relief was this act meant for?
Friday, November 9, 2012
In the Beginning...
Sounds like the title to a church sermon doesn't it?
Well, I'm no theologian but I do plan to preach to those who want to listen.
I would like to start my first blog with a few ground rules:
1.) I am not a perfect person, I do not even call myself a Godly person as I know people who I feel are Godly and I am not one of them.
2.) I am a Monotheist. I believe in the God of Abraham and Isaac, the great I AM; however, I see myself as very flawed and not worthy of anyone's devotion or praise.
3.) I make bad choices sometimes, I do my best to make them right.
4.) I try to be truthful, there may be times when I am wrong and I will correct it as soon as possible.
5.) I love my country, not necessarily the country it has become but the country I think it should be.
6.) I am not a Libertarian, yes I have some libertarian views but I am not a Libertarian.
7.) I love learning, I try to learn something new every day.
8.) I have an opinion, my opinion is my own and no one else's. That does not mean that it is right, it is just my opinion.
I may add to this list later as I see fit.
Why did I run for the position of Central Committeeman?
I ran for the position because I am rather fond of being a Republican. The first six "We Believe"s of the 2012 Missouri Republican Party Platform sum it up rather well.
WE BELIEVE that all of us are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, including life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is our fundamental belief that our morals, our values and our
culture are derived from Almighty God. To quote the Psalmist, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the
Lord.” Psalm 33:12.
WE BELIEVE that the strength of America is in the hearts and homes of its citizens.
WE BELIEVE in the right of Missourians to be secure in their persons, their homes and their
communities.
WE BELIEVE government governs best when it governs least.
WE BELIEVE that all political power is vested in, and derived from, the people; that all government
originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the
whole.
WE BELIEVE the role of the federal government should be "to ensure domestic tranquility, to provide for the common defense and to promote the general welfare." And we believe that the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants all other duties to the states.
This last year my eyes were opened by Ron Paul to the lack of accountability in our political system and the trouble our country is in. I nearly left the Republican Party; however, Dr. Paul had a better idea: join the party, become involved and change the party into something better.
As a committee-person it is my job to promote the Republican Party, it's principals and it's candidates. Sadly many of the Republican candidates are not properly representing the principals of the Republican Party.
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