Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

Money and Business

Taxifornia

Meathead, and other California Democrats, think that it’s OK to levy additional taxes on hard-working-but-financially-viable Californians. This table gives insight into why raising taxes is a bad idea. In the US Census table below, notice that while California has the largest tax base in the country (and nearly twice that of second-place New York), the tax-per-individual Californian is only in ninth place. It should be obvious that not all 37 million Californians pay the amount shown; the higher-income folks carry a disproportionately large burden, while many in the state (and ALL illegal immigrants) pay no income tax at all. Those of us who earn decent wages suffer the highest tax burden in America.

I am sick-to-death of the freaking “Robin Hood” mentality of stealing wealth from those who earn it and giving it to those who don’t.

11 Apr 2006 by California Money and Business Whacko Politics

The President Looks Back at 2005

The President discussed events of 2005 in his weekly radio address this morning:

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. 2005 has been a year of strong progress toward a freer, more peaceful world and a more prosperous America. This year we watched the Iraqi people defy the terrorists and suicide bombers and hold three successful elections, voting to choose the only constitutional, democratic government in the Arab world. We also saw the people of Afghanistan elect a democratic parliament in a nation that only a few years ago was ruled by the Taliban.

President Bush reviewed progress in the War on Terror, homeland security, the economy, and recovery from a year of natural disasters. He concluded with the following:

In 2005, America grew in prosperity, advanced the cause of freedom and peace, and enhanced our security. Our duties continue in the new year, and I’m confident that our nation will meet the challenges that lie ahead.

Thank you for listening, and happy New Year.

Read the entire transcript of the President’s Radio Address.

31 Dec 2005 by International Islamic Terrorism Money and Business

Cardiac Christmas

Damsel told me on the chatroom a while ago that Christmas season is a prime time for cardiac arrest. I understood that very well when I stopped at the ATM next door during my lunchtime walk; the damn thing ate my bank card! And I have some Christmas shopping to do!

We're sorry; your card has been retained.
Please contact your financial institution

Now what? I called my credit union, and after wading through several layers of pushbutton menus, I was in touch with the all-important “your call is important to us” message, this time interlaced with credit union ads, which was marginally less irritating than the starved-bandwidth elevator music one usually gets.

Finally, I was in touch with an actual person who advised me that there was a network glitch, and the card was retained as invalid; she could order me a new card which would be “rushed” to me within five business days. “That’s no good,” I said, “I have no cash and shopping season is upon me!” “Well,” was the reply, “You can go to the institution that retained the card and ask them to return it to you; sometimes they will return them if you have proper ID.”

To make a long rant shorter, I went back next door to the customer service representative who cheerfully returned the card to me after checking my driver’s license. Now, why wouldn’t the ATM just regurgitate the card and advise me to check with my bank? I can see why some people become technophobes.

05 Dec 2005 by Curmudgeon Rants Money and Business

Bad Wal-Mart? A Liberal Myth

Y’know, Wal-Mart is under attack from the left because of their politics; but unions and the liberal media attack Wal-Mart in the context of being bad for poor and working class Americans. Senator Edward M. Kennedy and other politicians from the Senate all the way down to municipalities attack Wal-Mart on completely unfounded charges:

From a South Bay Daily Breeze editorial:

As the world’s largest retailer and America’s largest private employer, Wal-Mart inevitably will be the target of criticism. Given the company’s disdain for unions, it’s no wonder unions loathe it so. But what doesn’t make sense is how the unions’ assertion that Wal-Mart is the enemy of poor people has become close to conventional wisdom among Democrats and many journalists. The case for this claim is flimsy.

This is made plain by a new study, “Wal-Mart: A Progressive Success Story,” by New York University professor Jason Furman.

Furman shows that Wal-Mart’s prices for consumer goods are almost uniformly the cheapest around. Not only that, in areas with Wal-Marts, other retailers also lower their prices.

Read the complete editorial Wal-Mart hardly enemy of poor.

As it is, Wal-Mart offers opportunities for motivated individuals and lower prices to the consumer – something that unions, democrats and many journalists hate.

Now, if Sam Walton, or one of his clan, had drowned a woman while being stupid, reckless and negligent, then perhaps Wal-Mart should be criticized for their policies and business practices today.

02 Dec 2005 by Money and Business Whacko Politics

Bush hates poor? Only if numbers lie

Larry Elder, an attorney, syndicated columnist and national radio talk-show host provided some interesting counterpoints to the “Bush hates the poor” moonbats.

Some of the facts highlighted in Larry’s column:

  • Education: Under No Child Left Behind, Bush increased federal spending on education — in inflation-adjusted dollars — from 2001 to 2005 by 38 percent.
  • Job training: President Bush’s 2005 budget included 12.5 percent more funding than in 2001 for job training and employment assistance.
  • Community service: The budget of the Corporation for National and Community Service — which includes funding for former President Bill Clinton’s pet project, AmeriCorps — grew by an inflation-adjusted 76 percent from 1995 to 2005.
  • Health care: The federal share of Medicaid, the joint federal/state program, increased from $129 billion in 2001 to $176 billion in 2004, a 36 percent increase, averaging over 10 percent a year. Health research and regulation funding has gone from $42 billion in 2001 to $63 billion in 2004, a 48 percent increase.
  • Faith-based initiatives: Under President Bush, 600 religious organizations received federal grants for the first time in 2003 and 2004, and faith-based groups received 8 percent of available social service grants in 2003, and 10 percent in 2004.
  • SBA loans: The Small Business Administration provided twice as many loans in 2004 than it did in 2001, providing over $19 billion in loans and venture capital to almost 88,000 small businesses.

Each of the programs mentioned above that are supported by the Bush administration are directly aimed at providing advantage to economically challenged people in this country.

Read Larry Elder’s column “Bush hates poor? Only if numbers lie” in the Daily Breeze.

It’s a shame that the weak-minded minions of the left parrot these ideas that have no basis in truth. As we have stated before, there is a shortage of gray-matter in brains of those making these vain repetitions until they themselves believe the lies.

17 Oct 2005 by Money and Business Whacko Politics

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