The Dot.Com Bust Vs the Bush Bust
Sean Lewis
April 24, 2008
A lie about a blow job
Vs
A lie about
WMD's
Torture
Secret prisons
Outing a CIA operative
Wire tapping Americans
The Dot.com Bust
Vs
Katrina
Schiavo
Two recessions
The housing bust
The Record Debt
The Record Deficit
The fall of the US Dollar
Food for Fuel, food price inflation
the destruction of the military readiness
The fall of American Preeminence worldwide
The class war against the American Middle class
World Trade Bombing
No warnings
criminals caught and tried
Vs
9/11
IGNORED warnings
Bin Laden still free
Do I need to continue?
I can, Bush is an idiot.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sarah Palin may lie, but numbers don't. Her record speaks for itself:
Sarah Palin may lie, but numbers don't. Her record speaks for itself:
2007: the year in which Sarah Palin first obtained a passport (Source)
312: the number of nights during her first 19 months in office that Palin charged taxpayers a "per diem" totaling $16,951 for staying in her own home -- an allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business (Source)
$500 to $1,200: the fee that Wasilla charged rape victims to pay for post-sexual assault medical exams, after the city cut funds during Palin's tenure that had previously covered the exams (Source)
$150: the cash payment offered by the Palin administration to hunters who turn in legs of freshly killed wolves gunned down from airplanes (Source)
3: the number of times during her first few weeks as mayor that Palin inquired with the Wasilla librarian about banning books (Source)
3: the number of months after the censorship discussion that Palin fired the librarian (Source)
100: the approximate number of Wasilla residents who rallied to support the librarian, prompting Palin to withdraw her termination letter (Source)
0: the number of foreign heads of state Palin has met (Source)
0: the number of commands Palin has issued as head of the Alaska National Guard (Source)
2: the number of times in Palin's ABC News interview that she said the word "nucular" (Source)
0: Wasilla's long-term debt when Palin took office in 1996 (Source)
$18.6 million: the long-term debt Palin racked up by the time she left office in 2002, amounting to about $3,000 per resident (Source)
$50,000: the amount of city funds Palin used without authorization to redecorate the Wasilla mayor's office, including adding flocked, red wallpaper that made it look "like a bordello," according to a former Wasilla City Council member (Source)
33: the percentage by which Palin increased the budget of Wasilla during her tenure, despite billing herself as a fiscal conservative and champion of smaller government (Source)
25: the percentage by which Palin raised the local sales tax in Wasilla to pay for a sports center, despite claims that she cut taxes (Source)
$27 million: the total amount of federal earmarks Palin secured for Wasilla's town of 6,700 people while she was mayor, thanks to the help of a Washington lobbyist with ties to indicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) and convicted felon Jack Abramoff (Source)
3: the number of times John McCain specifically criticized earmarks requested by Sarah Palin when she was mayor of Wasilla, citing them as examples of wasteful spending (Source)
$453 million: the total amount of earmarks Palin has asked U.S. taxpayers to fund for Alaska projects over the past two years, despite McCain's insistence that she hasn't sought earmarks or special-interest spending from Congress (Source)
$506.34: the amount of federal earmarks Alaska residents will receive per capita in 2008, the highest level of any state (Source)
$223 million: the earmark secured for the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" that Palin initially supported before opposing (Source)
$223 million: the amount of money designated for the "Bridge to Nowhere" that Palin ultimately used for other projects, rather than returning it to the federal government (Source)
20: the percentage of domestic energy that Palin claims Alaska produces (Source)
3.5: the actual percentage share of domestic energy Alaska produces (Source)
0: the number of people in America who know more about energy than Sarah Palin, according to John McCain (Source)
$600,000: the loss at which Palin sold the governor's jet after making a show of placing it on eBay. It was eventually sold to a Palin campaign contributor who paid $2.1 million (more than 20% less than the original $2.7 million purchase price). (Source)
1: the number of private tanning beds Palin installed in the governor's mansion after taking office (Source)
1.5: the approximate number of hours Palin spent on a refueling layover in Ireland, which the McCain campaign cited as part of her foreign policy experience (Source)
0: the actual amount of time Palin spent in Iraq during a 2007 visit to the region, despite the McCain campaign's claim she had visited the Iraq battle zone. She never made it beyond the Khabari Alawazem Crossing in Kuwait. (Source)
2006: the year in which Palin declared she favors abstinence-only education and that "the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support" (Source)
2008: the year in which Palin's 17-year-old daughter was impregnated by a self-described "f***ing redneck," who wrote on his MySpace page "I don't want kids" and "ya f*** with me I'll kick ass" (Source)
9: the number of U.S. Geological Survey studies concluding that the habitat of Alaska's polar bears is threatened by global warming, which Palin discounted as "insufficent evidence" when she sued the Bush administration to overturn its decision to list polar bears under the Endangered Species Act (Source)
5: the number of colleges Palin attended over six years before graduating in 1987 from the University of Idaho with a major in journalism (Source)
500: the number of Fortune 500 companies Sarah Palin is not qualified to run, according to McCain adviser Carly Fiorina (Source)
50: the number of days after Palin announced she "will fully cooperate" with an ethics investigation into the "Troopergate" scandal that the McCain campaign announced she was "unlikely to cooperate" because it had been "hijacked" by Obama operatives. The probe was unanimously authorized by a bipartisan panel of eight Alaska Republicans and four Democrats. (Source)
28: the number of days prior to accepting the vice presidential offer that Palin said she couldn't entertain the idea "until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day" (Source)
15: the number of minutes McCain and Palin spent together during their only meeting prior to the interview in which McCain offered her the vice presidential slot (Source)
2007: the year in which Sarah Palin first obtained a passport (Source)
312: the number of nights during her first 19 months in office that Palin charged taxpayers a "per diem" totaling $16,951 for staying in her own home -- an allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business (Source)
$500 to $1,200: the fee that Wasilla charged rape victims to pay for post-sexual assault medical exams, after the city cut funds during Palin's tenure that had previously covered the exams (Source)
$150: the cash payment offered by the Palin administration to hunters who turn in legs of freshly killed wolves gunned down from airplanes (Source)
3: the number of times during her first few weeks as mayor that Palin inquired with the Wasilla librarian about banning books (Source)
3: the number of months after the censorship discussion that Palin fired the librarian (Source)
100: the approximate number of Wasilla residents who rallied to support the librarian, prompting Palin to withdraw her termination letter (Source)
0: the number of foreign heads of state Palin has met (Source)
0: the number of commands Palin has issued as head of the Alaska National Guard (Source)
2: the number of times in Palin's ABC News interview that she said the word "nucular" (Source)
0: Wasilla's long-term debt when Palin took office in 1996 (Source)
$18.6 million: the long-term debt Palin racked up by the time she left office in 2002, amounting to about $3,000 per resident (Source)
$50,000: the amount of city funds Palin used without authorization to redecorate the Wasilla mayor's office, including adding flocked, red wallpaper that made it look "like a bordello," according to a former Wasilla City Council member (Source)
33: the percentage by which Palin increased the budget of Wasilla during her tenure, despite billing herself as a fiscal conservative and champion of smaller government (Source)
25: the percentage by which Palin raised the local sales tax in Wasilla to pay for a sports center, despite claims that she cut taxes (Source)
$27 million: the total amount of federal earmarks Palin secured for Wasilla's town of 6,700 people while she was mayor, thanks to the help of a Washington lobbyist with ties to indicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) and convicted felon Jack Abramoff (Source)
3: the number of times John McCain specifically criticized earmarks requested by Sarah Palin when she was mayor of Wasilla, citing them as examples of wasteful spending (Source)
$453 million: the total amount of earmarks Palin has asked U.S. taxpayers to fund for Alaska projects over the past two years, despite McCain's insistence that she hasn't sought earmarks or special-interest spending from Congress (Source)
$506.34: the amount of federal earmarks Alaska residents will receive per capita in 2008, the highest level of any state (Source)
$223 million: the earmark secured for the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" that Palin initially supported before opposing (Source)
$223 million: the amount of money designated for the "Bridge to Nowhere" that Palin ultimately used for other projects, rather than returning it to the federal government (Source)
20: the percentage of domestic energy that Palin claims Alaska produces (Source)
3.5: the actual percentage share of domestic energy Alaska produces (Source)
0: the number of people in America who know more about energy than Sarah Palin, according to John McCain (Source)
$600,000: the loss at which Palin sold the governor's jet after making a show of placing it on eBay. It was eventually sold to a Palin campaign contributor who paid $2.1 million (more than 20% less than the original $2.7 million purchase price). (Source)
1: the number of private tanning beds Palin installed in the governor's mansion after taking office (Source)
1.5: the approximate number of hours Palin spent on a refueling layover in Ireland, which the McCain campaign cited as part of her foreign policy experience (Source)
0: the actual amount of time Palin spent in Iraq during a 2007 visit to the region, despite the McCain campaign's claim she had visited the Iraq battle zone. She never made it beyond the Khabari Alawazem Crossing in Kuwait. (Source)
2006: the year in which Palin declared she favors abstinence-only education and that "the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support" (Source)
2008: the year in which Palin's 17-year-old daughter was impregnated by a self-described "f***ing redneck," who wrote on his MySpace page "I don't want kids" and "ya f*** with me I'll kick ass" (Source)
9: the number of U.S. Geological Survey studies concluding that the habitat of Alaska's polar bears is threatened by global warming, which Palin discounted as "insufficent evidence" when she sued the Bush administration to overturn its decision to list polar bears under the Endangered Species Act (Source)
5: the number of colleges Palin attended over six years before graduating in 1987 from the University of Idaho with a major in journalism (Source)
500: the number of Fortune 500 companies Sarah Palin is not qualified to run, according to McCain adviser Carly Fiorina (Source)
50: the number of days after Palin announced she "will fully cooperate" with an ethics investigation into the "Troopergate" scandal that the McCain campaign announced she was "unlikely to cooperate" because it had been "hijacked" by Obama operatives. The probe was unanimously authorized by a bipartisan panel of eight Alaska Republicans and four Democrats. (Source)
28: the number of days prior to accepting the vice presidential offer that Palin said she couldn't entertain the idea "until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day" (Source)
15: the number of minutes McCain and Palin spent together during their only meeting prior to the interview in which McCain offered her the vice presidential slot (Source)
Monday, September 22, 2008
Fixing the Economy IMHO
Fixing the Economy IMHO
by VirtualTruth
Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 01:53:14 PM EDT
The Cascade Effect, the collapse of the US economy.
How did it happen, and how do you stop it.
September 17, 2008
Sean Lewis
I have been writing about this since before the Iraq invasion.
I had hoped that if I wrote about it, someone would have
heard the warning and avoided this financial collapse.
The bottom line the Bush Tax Cuts are the main cause.
The US government needs income to run.
Without the income the US government must borrow funds
from other sources.
The more the US borrows, the higher the US Debt goes and
the larger the payment on the Debt Interest becomes and the
more money the US needs to borrow.
The double edge is that as the Debt grows the faith in the US
Economy and the US Dollar declines.
The US dollar has fallen by almost half against every major
currency.
The Bush Tax Cuts did not fulfill any of the claims promised.
More money to the rich did not stimulate the economy, did not
create 15 million jobs, did not balance the budget or lower
the debt and did not increase revenues.
When people make more money than they need they keep it,
they do not give it away. Greed creates Greed.
The increase in revenue came from the increased profits from
abroad either from exports to foreign countries or profits from US international companies taking advantage of the US currency drop and padding their Earning Reports with profits made overseas.
Add to this mix US companies exporting not only jobs but
entire industries overseas to maximize profits at the cost of US
citizens and you have the second leg of the collapse.
The American middle class, the true engine of the US economy was
under siege.
Americans were losing their jobs at the same time interest rates were
rising and core inflation WITH food and fuel were exploding higher.
Interest rates were rising so that Foreigners would buy the US Treasuries
to finance the DEBT. Unfortunately the American middle class had Adjustable Rate Mortgages tied to the interest rates. So American Mortgage payments increased beyond their ability to pay.
Foreclosures began, and created a falling real estate market. The more
foreclosures the more home prices fell. Middle Class Americans had to
make a decision, sell their homes at a lost or hold on in hopes that things would turn around.
Unfortunately not only did things NOT turn around, things became worst.
The Fuel from Food program accelerated the decline of the economy. It
created a spike in grain prices and food costs and did little to reduce the price of oil products.
The new law making bankruptcies harder and also no longer protecting
people from losing their homes, which means Americans could not
attempt any financial remedies to restructure their debts.
Financial institutions looking for a new way of making money, linked
up with mortgage brokers to securitized loans in early 2001 to 2003
with creative vehicles such as no money down, interest only, 5 year
balloon ARM's.
Everything looked good on paper but was hinged on one thing, the continued
strength of the Middle Class, which I have shown was under heavy siege.
As Americans fell behind on their payments the securitized mortgages were
not receiving payments so began to lose value. As the housing market
continued to collapse so did the securitized instruments.
So here we are. I streamlined this, there were a few other issues,
irresponsible spending, off budget expenses of two wars and Katrina.
How do we fix it?
Painfully.
There is no easy fix.
The US Debt most be reduced. The economy must be stimulated.
The middle class most have jobs. The long term costs of Medicare
medicaid and social Security must be addressed.
The tax cuts must be rescinded.
Government spending must be reduced and pay/go instituted.
The age at which retirees can claim benefits must be extended by one
month a year and benefits will have to be means tested.
The alternative minimum tax must be raised to exclude individuals who
are single at $120,000 and Couples to $200,000. (middle class tax
break)
Social Security taxes need to be raised to 12.5% split between
employer and employee and also raised to include the first $200,000.
(I need to double check this percentage it may be less)
Businesses will receive tax breaks equal to the gross expense of
bringing US jobs BACK to the US for 7 years of continuous employment
of the position as long as the net jobs of employed are increased by
the same number of jobs at the job site.
Health Care should be bottom up.
$10,000 of health credits per tax payer for preventative care. The individual Must get a physical check up each year or lose a portion of the benefits. Give the Taxpayer a lifetime Budget of $250,000 for medical care of their choosing. Pro rate this by age 18 to 72 at the start of this program.
The way to keep medical costs down is early treatment. If a person does not address a medical problem reduce their benefits.
This is not to REPLACE medical insurance but to give a minimum level of medical care.
All of the above is the medicine to get the country back on track.
Ending the tax cuts to the rich will lower the debt, which will
strengthen the US dollar, which will mean oil will cost less, which
means inflation will go down, which means core inflation including
food and fuel will diminish, which means the economy will become
stronger because US workers will be able to afford to buy
discretionary products, which will employ other Americans who will now
have jobs so they will not lose their homes which means the housing
market will stabilize, which means banks will be more solvent, which
means money will once again become liquid which means loans for
investments will once again become available which means industry will
grow which means increasing GDP growth and more jobs.
by VirtualTruth
Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 01:53:14 PM EDT
The Cascade Effect, the collapse of the US economy.
How did it happen, and how do you stop it.
September 17, 2008
Sean Lewis
I have been writing about this since before the Iraq invasion.
I had hoped that if I wrote about it, someone would have
heard the warning and avoided this financial collapse.
The bottom line the Bush Tax Cuts are the main cause.
The US government needs income to run.
Without the income the US government must borrow funds
from other sources.
The more the US borrows, the higher the US Debt goes and
the larger the payment on the Debt Interest becomes and the
more money the US needs to borrow.
The double edge is that as the Debt grows the faith in the US
Economy and the US Dollar declines.
The US dollar has fallen by almost half against every major
currency.
The Bush Tax Cuts did not fulfill any of the claims promised.
More money to the rich did not stimulate the economy, did not
create 15 million jobs, did not balance the budget or lower
the debt and did not increase revenues.
When people make more money than they need they keep it,
they do not give it away. Greed creates Greed.
The increase in revenue came from the increased profits from
abroad either from exports to foreign countries or profits from US international companies taking advantage of the US currency drop and padding their Earning Reports with profits made overseas.
Add to this mix US companies exporting not only jobs but
entire industries overseas to maximize profits at the cost of US
citizens and you have the second leg of the collapse.
The American middle class, the true engine of the US economy was
under siege.
Americans were losing their jobs at the same time interest rates were
rising and core inflation WITH food and fuel were exploding higher.
Interest rates were rising so that Foreigners would buy the US Treasuries
to finance the DEBT. Unfortunately the American middle class had Adjustable Rate Mortgages tied to the interest rates. So American Mortgage payments increased beyond their ability to pay.
Foreclosures began, and created a falling real estate market. The more
foreclosures the more home prices fell. Middle Class Americans had to
make a decision, sell their homes at a lost or hold on in hopes that things would turn around.
Unfortunately not only did things NOT turn around, things became worst.
The Fuel from Food program accelerated the decline of the economy. It
created a spike in grain prices and food costs and did little to reduce the price of oil products.
The new law making bankruptcies harder and also no longer protecting
people from losing their homes, which means Americans could not
attempt any financial remedies to restructure their debts.
Financial institutions looking for a new way of making money, linked
up with mortgage brokers to securitized loans in early 2001 to 2003
with creative vehicles such as no money down, interest only, 5 year
balloon ARM's.
Everything looked good on paper but was hinged on one thing, the continued
strength of the Middle Class, which I have shown was under heavy siege.
As Americans fell behind on their payments the securitized mortgages were
not receiving payments so began to lose value. As the housing market
continued to collapse so did the securitized instruments.
So here we are. I streamlined this, there were a few other issues,
irresponsible spending, off budget expenses of two wars and Katrina.
How do we fix it?
Painfully.
There is no easy fix.
The US Debt most be reduced. The economy must be stimulated.
The middle class most have jobs. The long term costs of Medicare
medicaid and social Security must be addressed.
The tax cuts must be rescinded.
Government spending must be reduced and pay/go instituted.
The age at which retirees can claim benefits must be extended by one
month a year and benefits will have to be means tested.
The alternative minimum tax must be raised to exclude individuals who
are single at $120,000 and Couples to $200,000. (middle class tax
break)
Social Security taxes need to be raised to 12.5% split between
employer and employee and also raised to include the first $200,000.
(I need to double check this percentage it may be less)
Businesses will receive tax breaks equal to the gross expense of
bringing US jobs BACK to the US for 7 years of continuous employment
of the position as long as the net jobs of employed are increased by
the same number of jobs at the job site.
Health Care should be bottom up.
$10,000 of health credits per tax payer for preventative care. The individual Must get a physical check up each year or lose a portion of the benefits. Give the Taxpayer a lifetime Budget of $250,000 for medical care of their choosing. Pro rate this by age 18 to 72 at the start of this program.
The way to keep medical costs down is early treatment. If a person does not address a medical problem reduce their benefits.
This is not to REPLACE medical insurance but to give a minimum level of medical care.
All of the above is the medicine to get the country back on track.
Ending the tax cuts to the rich will lower the debt, which will
strengthen the US dollar, which will mean oil will cost less, which
means inflation will go down, which means core inflation including
food and fuel will diminish, which means the economy will become
stronger because US workers will be able to afford to buy
discretionary products, which will employ other Americans who will now
have jobs so they will not lose their homes which means the housing
market will stabilize, which means banks will be more solvent, which
means money will once again become liquid which means loans for
investments will once again become available which means industry will
grow which means increasing GDP growth and more jobs.
Creating and managing the new United States Sovereign Home-Owner Investment Trust
Creating and managing the new United States Sovereign Home-Owner
Investment Trust
September 21, 2008
Sean Lewis
All real estate properties included to the Trust should be submitted
at the value of the tax assessment value.
The homeowners new rent will be based on the tax assessment
value at a 30 year mortgage.
The original homeowner has two years to purchase back the property
at the tax assessment value.
If the original homeowner purchases the home it is with
the understanding they can not sell the property for 5 years.
If forced to sell the property it will be at the tax assessment rate.
This prevents flipping.
The financial institution can hold the certificate and receive
interest until maturity or may sell the certificate of the trust
as a 5 year bond.
After 2 years the US government may sell the property at fair value
market rates. The profit goes to the treasury. The homeowner
after 2 years will have to pay market value.
The length of the certificates will be 5 years.
This stabilizes the real estate market.
Gives homeowners a chance to reclaim their homes.
Punishes the financial institution for not doing proper due
diligence, but also allows them to mark to market the
value of their holdings. It also allows the treasury to receive
a fair return for it's risk.
This is one solution to the US SHIT!
Investment Trust
September 21, 2008
Sean Lewis
All real estate properties included to the Trust should be submitted
at the value of the tax assessment value.
The homeowners new rent will be based on the tax assessment
value at a 30 year mortgage.
The original homeowner has two years to purchase back the property
at the tax assessment value.
If the original homeowner purchases the home it is with
the understanding they can not sell the property for 5 years.
If forced to sell the property it will be at the tax assessment rate.
This prevents flipping.
The financial institution can hold the certificate and receive
interest until maturity or may sell the certificate of the trust
as a 5 year bond.
After 2 years the US government may sell the property at fair value
market rates. The profit goes to the treasury. The homeowner
after 2 years will have to pay market value.
The length of the certificates will be 5 years.
This stabilizes the real estate market.
Gives homeowners a chance to reclaim their homes.
Punishes the financial institution for not doing proper due
diligence, but also allows them to mark to market the
value of their holdings. It also allows the treasury to receive
a fair return for it's risk.
This is one solution to the US SHIT!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The Cascade Effect, the collapse of the US economy. How did it happen, and how do you stop it.
The Cascade Effect, the collapse of the US economy.
How did it happen, and how do you stop it.
September 17, 2008
Sean Lewis
I have been writing about this before the Iraq invasion.
I had hoped that if I wrote about it, someone would have
heard the warning and avoided this financial collapse.
The bottom line the Bush Tax Cuts are the main cause.
The US government needs income to run.
Without the income the US government must borrow funds
from other sources.
The more the US borrows, the higher the US Debt goes and
the larger the payment on the Debt Interest becomes and the
more money the US needs to borrow,
The double edge is that as the Debt grows the faith in the US
Economy and the US Dollar declines.
The US dollar has fallen by almost half against every major
currency.
The Bush Tax Cuts did not fulfill any of the claims promised.
More money to the rich did not stimulate the economy, did not
create 15 million jobs, did not balance the budget or lower
the debt and did not increase revenues.
When people make more money than they need they keep it,
they do not give it away. Greed creates Greed.
The increase in revenue came from the increased profits from
abroad either from exports or profits from US international companies
taking advantage of the US currency drop and padding their
Earning Reports with profits made overseas.
Add to this mix US companies exporting not only jobs but
entire industries overseas to maximize profits at the cost of US
citizens and you have the second leg of the collapse.
The American middle class, the true engine of the US economy was
under siege.
Americans were losing their jobs at the same time interest rates were
rising and core inflation WITH food and fuel were exploding higher.
Interest rates were rising so that Foreigners would buy the US Treasuries
to finance the DEBT. Unfortunately the American middle class had Adjustable
Rate Mortgages tied to the interest rates. So American Mortgage payments
increased beyond their ability to pay.
Foreclosures began, and created a falling real estate market. The more
foreclosures the more home prices fell. Middle Class Americans had to
make a decision, sell their homes at a lost or hold on in hopes that things
would turn around.
Unfortunately not only did things NOT turn around, things became worst.
The Fuel from Food program accelerated the decline of the economy. It
created a spike in grain prices and food costs and did little to reduce the
price of oil products.
The new law making bankruptcies harder and also no longer protecting
people from losing their homes, which means Americans could not
attempt any financial remedies to restructure their debts.
Financial institutions looking for a new way of making money, linked
up with mortgage brokers to securitized loans in early 2001 to 2003
with creative vehicles such as no money down, interest only, 5 year
balloon ARM's.
Everything looked good on paper but was hinged on one thing, the continued
strength of the Middle Class, which I have shown was under heavy siege.
As America's fell behind on their payments the securitized mortgages were
not receiving payments so began to lose value. As the housing market
continued to collapse so did the securitized instruments.
So here we are. I streamlined this, there were a few other issues,
irresponsible spending, off budget expenses of two wars and Katrina.
How do we fix it?
Painfully.
There is no easy fix.
The US Debt most be reduced. The economy must be stimulated.
The middle class most have jobs. The long term costs of Medicare
medicaid and social Security must be addressed.
The tax cuts must be rescinded.
Government spending must be reduced and pay/go instituted.
The age at which retirees can claim benefits must be extended by one
month a year and benefits will have to be means tested.
The alternative minimum tax must be raised to exclude individuals who
are single at $120,000 and Couples to $200,000. (middle class tax
break)
Social Security taxes need to be raised to 12.5% split between
employer and employee and also raised to include the first $200,000.
(I need to double check this percentage it may be less)
Businesses will receive tax breaks equal to the gross expense of
bringing US jobs BACK to the US for 7 years of continuous employment
of the position as long as the net jobs of employed are increased by
the same number of jobs at the job site.
Health Care should be bottom up.
$10,000 of health credits per tax payer for preventative care. The individual Must get a physical check up each year or lose a portion of the benefits. Give the Taxpayer a lifetime Budget of $250,000 for medical care of their choosing. Pro rate this by age 18 to 72 at the start of this program.
The way to keep medical costs down is early treatment. If a person does not address a medical problem reduce their benefits.
This is not to REPLACE medical insurance but to give a minimum level of medical care.
All of the above is the medicine to get the country back on track.
Ending the tax cuts to the rich will lower the debt, which will
strengthen the US dollar, which will mean oil will cost less, which
means inflation will go down, which means core inflation including
food and fuel will diminish, which means the economy will become
stronger because US workers will be able to afford to buy
discretionary products, which will employ other Americans who will now
have jobs so they will not lose their homes which means the housing
market will stabilize, which means banks will be more solvent, which
means money will once again become liquid which means loans for
investments will once again become available which means industry will
grow which means increasing GDP growth and more jobs
How did it happen, and how do you stop it.
September 17, 2008
Sean Lewis
I have been writing about this before the Iraq invasion.
I had hoped that if I wrote about it, someone would have
heard the warning and avoided this financial collapse.
The bottom line the Bush Tax Cuts are the main cause.
The US government needs income to run.
Without the income the US government must borrow funds
from other sources.
The more the US borrows, the higher the US Debt goes and
the larger the payment on the Debt Interest becomes and the
more money the US needs to borrow,
The double edge is that as the Debt grows the faith in the US
Economy and the US Dollar declines.
The US dollar has fallen by almost half against every major
currency.
The Bush Tax Cuts did not fulfill any of the claims promised.
More money to the rich did not stimulate the economy, did not
create 15 million jobs, did not balance the budget or lower
the debt and did not increase revenues.
When people make more money than they need they keep it,
they do not give it away. Greed creates Greed.
The increase in revenue came from the increased profits from
abroad either from exports or profits from US international companies
taking advantage of the US currency drop and padding their
Earning Reports with profits made overseas.
Add to this mix US companies exporting not only jobs but
entire industries overseas to maximize profits at the cost of US
citizens and you have the second leg of the collapse.
The American middle class, the true engine of the US economy was
under siege.
Americans were losing their jobs at the same time interest rates were
rising and core inflation WITH food and fuel were exploding higher.
Interest rates were rising so that Foreigners would buy the US Treasuries
to finance the DEBT. Unfortunately the American middle class had Adjustable
Rate Mortgages tied to the interest rates. So American Mortgage payments
increased beyond their ability to pay.
Foreclosures began, and created a falling real estate market. The more
foreclosures the more home prices fell. Middle Class Americans had to
make a decision, sell their homes at a lost or hold on in hopes that things
would turn around.
Unfortunately not only did things NOT turn around, things became worst.
The Fuel from Food program accelerated the decline of the economy. It
created a spike in grain prices and food costs and did little to reduce the
price of oil products.
The new law making bankruptcies harder and also no longer protecting
people from losing their homes, which means Americans could not
attempt any financial remedies to restructure their debts.
Financial institutions looking for a new way of making money, linked
up with mortgage brokers to securitized loans in early 2001 to 2003
with creative vehicles such as no money down, interest only, 5 year
balloon ARM's.
Everything looked good on paper but was hinged on one thing, the continued
strength of the Middle Class, which I have shown was under heavy siege.
As America's fell behind on their payments the securitized mortgages were
not receiving payments so began to lose value. As the housing market
continued to collapse so did the securitized instruments.
So here we are. I streamlined this, there were a few other issues,
irresponsible spending, off budget expenses of two wars and Katrina.
How do we fix it?
Painfully.
There is no easy fix.
The US Debt most be reduced. The economy must be stimulated.
The middle class most have jobs. The long term costs of Medicare
medicaid and social Security must be addressed.
The tax cuts must be rescinded.
Government spending must be reduced and pay/go instituted.
The age at which retirees can claim benefits must be extended by one
month a year and benefits will have to be means tested.
The alternative minimum tax must be raised to exclude individuals who
are single at $120,000 and Couples to $200,000. (middle class tax
break)
Social Security taxes need to be raised to 12.5% split between
employer and employee and also raised to include the first $200,000.
(I need to double check this percentage it may be less)
Businesses will receive tax breaks equal to the gross expense of
bringing US jobs BACK to the US for 7 years of continuous employment
of the position as long as the net jobs of employed are increased by
the same number of jobs at the job site.
Health Care should be bottom up.
$10,000 of health credits per tax payer for preventative care. The individual Must get a physical check up each year or lose a portion of the benefits. Give the Taxpayer a lifetime Budget of $250,000 for medical care of their choosing. Pro rate this by age 18 to 72 at the start of this program.
The way to keep medical costs down is early treatment. If a person does not address a medical problem reduce their benefits.
This is not to REPLACE medical insurance but to give a minimum level of medical care.
All of the above is the medicine to get the country back on track.
Ending the tax cuts to the rich will lower the debt, which will
strengthen the US dollar, which will mean oil will cost less, which
means inflation will go down, which means core inflation including
food and fuel will diminish, which means the economy will become
stronger because US workers will be able to afford to buy
discretionary products, which will employ other Americans who will now
have jobs so they will not lose their homes which means the housing
market will stabilize, which means banks will be more solvent, which
means money will once again become liquid which means loans for
investments will once again become available which means industry will
grow which means increasing GDP growth and more jobs
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