The Former Speaker of the House Thomas Philip “Tip” O’Neill, Jr., coined an important phrase during his political career: “All Politics is Local,” and our FOUNDERS would have agreed with that. In fact, it was the basis of our “Republican” form of government. Each Member in the House of Representative was intended to be the elected voice of the constituents of their individual districts. Each member of the House was intended to be responsible to those constituents for their actions, their choices, and every word they spoke as a Representative of those voters. And when the 17th Amendment took the power to select Senators away from the State Legislators, also elected by the People of that State, and, instead, put that power into the hands of those People directly, it made those Senators equally responsible to those People as well. As a result, all Politics, no matter whether they are related to the City, the County, the State or the Presidency, are, in fact, Local!
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Politics by T. Edwin Perry
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The quote that inspired this is Benjamin Franklin’s line, “Democracy is Two Wolves and a Lamb voting on what to have for Lunch. Liberty is a Well-Armed Lamb contesting the vote!” But I wonder what Benjamin Franklin would say about other the other forms of Government and Philosophy that are currently being promoted as alternatives to our own. Here’s what I think he’d say:
Filed under: Politics by T. Edwin Perry
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In 1938, the Government created “The Minimum Wage,” essentially the final legislation in FDR’s “New Deal.” In the past year, the Government has added a “Special Advisor” to the President named Kenneth Feinberg, who acts as the President’s “Pay Czar.” His job is to find out who makes TOO MUCH MONEY! Are we on the verge of a MAXIMUM WAGE?
Filed under: Politics by T. Edwin Perry
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So, the results are in. Scott Brown wins by more than 100,000 votes in one of the most liberal states in the nation on a decidedly conservative platform. He’s pledged to vote against the existing health care bill He’s pledged to vote against deficit spending He’s pledged to vote against higher taxes He supports more [...]
Filed under: Politics by Steve Hansen
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Just in case you missed it in the title, let me state it again. For the Record, I HATE POLITICS! Now, those of you who have read my previous posts may be thinking to yourself, “Well, gee, Todd, that doesn’t make ANY sense at all. All you ever DO is talk about politics.” Those of you who may be thinking that are in for a rude awakening. I do not post about POLITICS. My posts are about PHILOSOPHY. Allow me a little leeway as I explain this position to you.
Filed under: Finance/Economy, Politics by T. Edwin Perry
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Do you suffer from “Entitlementality?” Entitlementality is a misconception wherein you believe that the Government is responsible to provide for your basic daily necessities. It’s not, by the way, but there are millions of people in the United States, and, for that matter, the WORLD, who suffer from this condition.
Filed under: Finance/Economy, Politics by T. Edwin Perry
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Every year you get a statement from the Social Security Administration, which shows how much you earned, how much you can expect to receive if you retire at 65, or at 62.5. (I dare you to do the math on that thing: It doesn’t add up!) In many ways, it’s just like the statement that you receive on your 401k Savings Program, your IRA Statement, or any other savings statement that you may receive. But what so many people don’t understand is that Social Security IS NOT a retirement savings account. IN FACT, they don’t even consider it a tax. It’s a fee, or a contribution, but not a tax. That’s why you can’t get it back when you file your annual Tax Return. It isn’t voluntary, but, no, it isn’t a tax! (That was sarcasm, just in case you missed it.)
Filed under: Finance/Economy, Politics by T. Edwin Perry
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Are we, as a Nation, really on the verge of giving up on the chances of winning in Afghanistan? Is the idea of not increasing troop levels, or worse, pulling out and leaving an unprepared Afghan government to fend for themselves really an option? A Brief Bit of Afghan History On December 24, 1979, the [...]
Filed under: Politics by Steve Hansen
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