Vacation Insights

This summer I've been taking time off from this blog...see my reasons why here.

But I'm on vacation, my kiddos are in bed early, it's quiet, and I just canNOT let some of these things go...

FIRST:  Yesterday marked the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.  A worthy organization that teaches moral values, duty to God and country, and builds character. I grew up with young men involved in BSA; I have seen firsthand what the BSA can do. 

My angst? President Obama was unable to speak at this momentous occasion due to some "pressing" issues. Know what they were? A fundraiser in NYC and an appearance on the daytime talk show The View.  

That's right. Our President again chooses to pander to the Hollywood crowd and rub shoulders with Joy Behar (bleh) rather than motivate and encourage thousands of young men around the country.  He's a community organizer, after all...this should be right up his alley.

And, it's The View, for goodness sakes! Can he appear on a more fluffy program? Can it really be considered a serious news program? Not even close. Even Rosie O'Donnell (YES, HER!) said he shouldn't do the show...wow.

SECOND:  Details I received via email which explain EVERYTHING that frustrates me about the Obama Administration. This is from Bill Bonner at The Daily Reckoning:

Here is a "chart that showed past presidents and the percentage of each president's cabinet appointees who had previously worked in the private sector - you know, a real life business, not a government job. Remember what that is? A private business?

Roosevelt - 38%
Taft - 40%
Wilson - 52%
Harding - 29%
Coolidge - 48%
Hoover - 42%
FDR - 50%
Truman - 50%
Eisenhower - 57%
Kennedy - 30%
LBJ - 47%
Nixon - 53%
Ford - 42%
Carter - 32%
Reagan - 56%
GHWB - 51%
Clinton - 39%
GWB - 55%
Obama - 8%


"And these are the guys holding a 'job summit'; going to tell us how to run our businesses, make our decisions for us? Do you want to trust them with every aspect of your life?"

Doesn't that explain a lot?! It sure clarifies why Obama is attacking the private sector and small businesses. This president and his cabinet are so far removed from what actually CREATES wealth, jobs and prosperity and the exact reason why they have made no improvement in our economic recovery. Can you say, "Over Your Head"?


THIRD:  I've talked about the Arizona Immigration Law previously and my support for the State of Arizona acting to enforce and protect the people of that state where the federal government neglected to do so. Today, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton blocked some of the provisions of this immigration law. From Fox News:

"The partial injunction on SB 1070 means Arizona, for the time being, will not be able to require police officers to determine the immigration status of anyone they stop or arrest....Bolton also struck down the section of the law that makes it a crime not to carry immigration registration papers and the provision that makes it a crime for an illegal immigrant to seek or perform work."

From Rush, he has summarized the 36-page ruling into a few short words: "It is no longer illegal to be illegal."


Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has promised this is not the end. She doesn't strike me as someone to lay down and take the hit. I'm anxious to see how she steps to the plate. She's serious.

Stay tuned...

Sources:
Fox News, BSA Anniversary Celebration Without Obama
Rosie O'Donnell - Obama on The View
Bill Bonner for The Daily Reckoning 07.25.2010
Rush on Arizona Immigration 07.28.2010
Fox News, Judge Blocks Portions of AZ Immigration Law 07.28.2010

Understanding Unemployment

"To increase job creation, Congress must treat the disease, not manage the symptoms.  Government hiring will not spur private investment -- it will crowd it out.  Congress should instead promote private-sector investment and entrepreneurship -- which promote wealth creation."

 - James Sherk, The Heritage Foundation

Do you remember the State of the Union address?  Do you remember Obama promising to focus his priorities on job creation? Well, here we are two months later and it seems "jobs" is just a four-letter word he's required to say every once in a while, but in actuality, has taken very little focus at all.

The Heritage Foundation has a great article today discussing the basic causes of our high unemployment. Go with me here...this is important. Heritage is comparing data from the downturn in 2001 to our current recession and the results are very interesting. 

Before you read below, remember unemployment is a result of two different things:

(1) Layoffs (businesses letting people go...this is mostly what the media focuses on)

(2) Decreased hiring (businesses not adding to their payroll)

Here are quotes directly from Heritage:

Job losses were worse [in 2001 recession] than now. Net employment has fallen more during the current recession because employers have created 7.3 million fewer new jobs than during the 2001 recession.

Decreased hiring is the most important factor driving unemployment up.

Lay offs have now returned to their pre-recessionary levels. Hiring has not.

The main reason why unemployment rises during economic downturns is that job creation falls while the labor force continues to grow, making new jobs harder to find. Those without work remain unemployed longer, driving up the unemployment rate. 

Low hiring is primarily a symptom of America’s economic weakness, not its cause. Businesses did not suddenly decide to stop hiring. Rather, economic and political conditions changed in ways that discourage investment and entrepreneurship.

The large expansion of government is also contributing to the problem. The resources the government spends do not materialize out of thin air— they come from the economy. When the government increases spending, it crowds out the resources that business owners could have invested in their enterprises. Private investment falls sharply when government spending rises.

Many items on the congressional agenda—the gargantuan health care legislation...cap-and-trade regulations of CO2 emissions, and abolishing private ballots for union organizing—would significantly raise taxes and business costs. In addition, enormous increases in federal spending raise the prospects of yet higher taxes and rapidly rising inflation.

These combined factors have particularly affected small businesses...[who] have less room to absorb the cost of additional regulations or taxes. Unsurprisingly, then, small business hiring has dropped much more sharply than in the past. Small businesses now account for 35.8 percent of job losses in this downturn—triple the 2001 amount.

Heritage has a couple great charts within the article.  I've cut and pasted this one because it shows MORE losses in 2001, but also MORE gains compared with today, thus a shorter and less devastating downturn.  The political climate in '01 was such that the private sector was still adding jobs! 

Heritage outlines a slew of options and suggestions to promote job creation, so check it out. But just remember...the government cannot SPEND it's way out of a recession. The private sector needs to start investing, spending and hiring, otherwise 10% unemployment is going to become the norm around here.  

Source:

The Cause of Unemployment: Still Due to Dwindling Job Creation  

Profits. Bad?

Seems backward, right?  All of this loathing of businesses because they earn a profit. The headlines and commentary over the past few weeks have been bugging me.  Those "banks on Wall Street" can't catch a break.  And now some of these bank executives are earning a bonus because they've turned a profit and that's bad?  Is this really criminal?

Um, hello?  Has anybody taken a basic economics class?

Well, I have...way back in the day, and I do remember this:

ECON 101

Profits:  goooood

Most companies use a system of quantitative/qualitative performance measures. If the measures are met they are rewarded. It seems logical for executives who made changes which allowed their companies to repay TARP loans and earn a profit deserve some type of compensation.  I would presume in most cases the bonus is well-deserved and based on a series of audits of their performance results.   Of course not everyone on "Wall Street" is good.  I'm not naive that corruption exists on Wall Street, but I also believe it exists on any street, including Pennsylvania Avenue.  It's easy to point the finger.

Now consider our government, which ignores spending control and instead expands programs and draws more loans.  The end result is a "company" further in debt with no outlook for profitability. Is anybody berating our government's compensation?  My big beef with some of our government entitlement programs is all this talk of expansion. Let's help Medicaid, Welfare, Unemployment benefits, etc. reach MORE people for LONGER.  Does anyone see a problem in this?

*me raising hand*

The most successful welfare program does not tout how many people it can support, but how many no longer require its services.  Let's get people on their feet rather than in a state of never-ending dependency.  Welfare should be a short-term fix rather than a long-term solution.

I suggest we applaud the profitable businesses.  ANY profitable business, whether on or off Wall Street.  A profitable company is a company in position to add jobs.  Obama should reconsider his "Jobs Bill", (a fancy name change from 'Stimulus' which is now taboo after its utter failure last year) and focus instead on helping companies improve their financial bottom line.

That, my friends, is where the REAL jobs are found.

SOTU...So So

I've read through the transcript...it's harder to read than it was to listen to, mostly because I miss Biden's cute smile and Pelosi's wild clapping.

Didn't Obama have people fainting at town hall meetings during his campaign? The only reason you'd have fainted last night was if you couldn't hold out for the record-long speech or you fell asleep from hearing the same things our President has reiterated over the last year.

In summary, I felt the speech lacked excitement, energy, leadership and an agenda that mirrors our dire economic state. Here are some statements that caught my attention:

Obama: Tomorrow, I'll visit Tampa, Florida, where workers will soon break ground on a new high-speed railroad funded by the Recovery Act. (Applause.) There are projects like that all across this country that will create jobs and help move our nation's goods, services, and information. (Applause.) We should put more Americans to work building clean energy facilities -- (applause)...

My Issue: Government-created jobs are not REAL jobs. I'm not suggesting physical people are not working them (I know a lot of people who work for the government), but this job creation will not stimulate the economy. Jobs need to come from the private sector. I've said before this requires infusing private companies with cash and this comes easiest with tax cuts.

Obama: But at a time of record deficits, we will not continue tax cuts for oil companies, for investment fund managers, and for those making over $250,000 a year. We just can't afford it.

My Issue: This is distribution of wealth and it is not right. I don't make $250k a year (or should I say, the hubster work-a-holic doesn't make $250k a year...by a mile), but even still, who's to say those people don't deserve their hard-earned cash? "We can't afford it" WHAT?! Mr. President, if you want to create a state of dependency and entitlement, please do so without taking money from those who've earned it based on their efforts. A lot of wealthy people are very generous with their money. They donate large amounts to charities and are GOOD people. If you take away part of their cash just because they have large amounts of it, do you think they will be a bit disenchanted and give less? You betcha...then you've got an entirely different problem altogether...the failure of non-profits (aka more job loss, and less charitable donations to help people in need).

That "You betcha" was for all my Sarah Palin fans. :)

Obama: We have to recognize that we face more than a deficit of dollars right now. We face a deficit of trust -– deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years. To close that credibility gap we have to take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue -- to end the outsized influence of lobbyists; to do our work openly; to give our people the government they deserve.

My issue: I love this whole "to do our work openly" statement. Do you know Obama was in the press recently claiming the closed-door health care meetings were wrong? He feels bad about them now. Do you also know he promised "transparency" on CSPAN for those same negotiations and we have proof of his hypocrisy? What makes you think we'll get it now? I'm not counting on it. Yes, there's a deficit of trust. I don't trust Obama as far as I can throw him...and I have a gimpy arm, so I can only throw him 3.2 inches.

Obama: Throughout our history, no issue has united this country more than our security. Sadly, some of the unity we felt after 9/11 has dissipated. We can argue all we want about who's to blame for this, but I'm not interested in re-litigating the past. I know that all of us love this country. All of us are committed to its defense. So let's put aside the schoolyard taunts about who's tough. Let's reject the false choice between protecting our people and upholding our values. Let's leave behind the fear and division, and do what it takes to defend our nation and forge a more hopeful future -- for America and for the world.

My issue: I was a bit surprised at the lack of overall content on our security and military. It was such a small portion of the SOTU considering our security was infiltrated and under attack less than a month ago. We had a full-fledged terrorist ready and armed to blow up an airplane headed for Detroit. This is not something to be taken lightly. What about the men and women who subdued the terrorist? Have you pictured it in your head? I have...and it's amazing...right out of a movie. What great people. It's too bad our President failed to acknowledge this foiled attempt...foiled at the hands of average Americans. And yet this terrorist was read his Miranda rights. Is this what Obama is talking about when he suggests "upholding our values"? No terrorist who desires to kill innocent American lives deserves to be treated as a regular citizen. Just like Obama remained on his Christmas vacation enjoying the golf courses in Hawaii after the attempted attack at Christmas, he completely misses another opportunity here.

Obama: The price of college tuition is just one of the burdens facing the middle class. That's why last year I asked Vice President Biden to chair a task force on middle-class families. That's why we're nearly doubling the child care tax credit, and making it easier to save for retirement by giving access to every worker a retirement account and expanding the tax credit for those who start a nest egg.

My Issue: This is a tough one for me personally. Obama's calls to reform are often described as "sweeping" but this is certainly not sweeping when it excludes so many families. Families are as different as their variety of child-care arrangements. Our personal arrangement is for one parent to stay home. We forego the income of a second job and have one parent take on the role of primary care provider for our children. We are ineligible for this savings. Why not create more equitable reform that can benefit more working families?

That's it for now. What were your thoughts? Issues?

P.S. I promise I'm not censoring the comments, although I reserve every right to because it's my personal blog, but there was a comment deleted this morning and if you want to know why, click here.

Source: State of the Union Address

The People Have Spoken

"This little campaign of ours was destined for greater things than any of us knew, and the message went far beyond the name on the sign."

- Scott Brown, Acceptance Speech

The last of the checks and balances came out in full force today: the people.  I was on watch most of the day and was elated when the numbers came through this evening.

 Whether or not our elected officials actually listen to the people remains to be seen. Brown had some great comments today. I wonder if our panic-stricken Congress listened in. Uncertainty abounds with respect to health care and it appears tonight the Dems have a few ideas floating around, but not a lot of direction. We'll see what the Obama-Pelosi-Reid trio have to say tomorrow.

Best case scenario: ObamaCare dies. I'm not naive...I know it will not die forever, but a girl can dream right? I hope it goes away at least until the election this fall. If "The Machine" continues on its crash course of ignoring public opinion the Tea Party movement will certainly affect the open seats and reclaim some ground in Congress. And maybe we'll see a significant stretch of time pass before health care reform can have some momentum. I said I could dream right?!

"We had the machine scared and scrambling, and for them it is just the beginning of an election year filled with surprises. They will be challenged again and again across this country. When there’s trouble in Massachusetts, there’s trouble everywhere – and now they know it." (Brown)

I've talked about the polls previously, but it's evident Obama and Congress are focusing on the wrong agenda item. Most of the country is worried about the economy and jobs. If I was unemployed I would be more worried about getting a job than my health care premiums. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gave nothing away today in speculating about a GOP win in Massachusetts, but he did elude to job creation taking priority over health care.

QUESTION: What's the President's agenda for his second year in office and what's the top priority?

MR. GIBBS: I think the top priority...is to continue to work hard on getting this economy back on track and creating jobs again...his primary focus will be on creating jobs.

Very interesting.  Could Obama be getting the message?

Here's another Brown quote:

"Raising taxes, taking over our health care, and giving new rights to terrorists is the wrong agenda for our country. What I’ve heard again and again on the campaign trail, is that our political leaders have grown aloof from the people, impatient with dissent, and comfortable in the back room making deals. And we can do better."

I'm hoping our country can have some economic focus. But in the economic realm Obama's lack of experience is evident. I fear Obama will push for another stimulus, which I've blogged about recently, and my opinion is "Are you freakin' kidding me?" Can someone please consider tax cuts!! Let's infuse some cash into our economy...give businesses some opportunity to hire...invest in their businesses. It's a complete no brainer. Tax Cuts = Job Creation. Maybe someone will get the message.

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In a related item...THANK YOU!! I'm so happy with how the blog is being received. Thanks for all your comments and opinions. Obviously, with this being a conservative blog, most of the input and ideas are conservative...but liberal or conservative, keep 'em coming. Let your voice be heard. What we've learned from Scott Brown and his supporters is conservatives are NOT alone. The tea party movement is not to be ignored. Conservatives abound and they WILL stand up.

Source:

Robert Gibbs Briefing 011910

Scott Brown Transcript for Acceptance Speech

MSNBC Skepticism over Obama's Agenda