Georgia Republicans believe themselves invulnerable
In politics as in sports, it’s dangerous to get cocky.
And Georgia Republicans have gotten cocky. They have come to feel invulnerable and complacent, convinced that their constituents’ intense dislike of Democratic policies at the national level has given them a free hand to do as they wish here in Georgia, without consequence or backlash.
Ethical missteps, bad judgment, failure to govern — they believe that none of it matters as long as those magic words “Barack Obama” retain the power to distract and anger Georgia voters.
Want proof? Let’s review events just from the first eight months of 2011.
The year kicked off with the revelation that House Speaker David Ralston had taken his family and staff on a $17,000, all-expense paid holiday trip to Europe, courtesy of lobbyists for a high-speed rail company. In our much-reviled Congress, such behavior would result in severe censure or even removal from office, but here in Georgia it barely raised an eyebrow. In fact, Ralston continues to argue that limits on lobbyist gifts to politicians are not necessary given the fine, upstanding character of those we elect to public office.
There were also no repercussions when the chairman of the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee, Jack Murphy of Cumming, was sued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for being grossly negligent in his role as a director of a failed bank in Alpharetta. Murphy is now barred from involvement in any FDIC-insured institution, but inexplicably, he has been allowed by his fellow Republicans to retain his role overseeing the state’s banking industry.
Murphy’s counterpart in the state House, Banks and Banking Committee chair Greg Morris, was also fined $5,000 this year by the FDIC for violating regulations as a director of an Ailey bank. He too has been allowed to stay in his leadership role overseeing Georgia’s deeply troubled banking industry.
Not surprisingly, neither Morris nor Murphy has shown interest in investigating why Georgia continues to lead the nation in bank failures or whether the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, charged with regulating state-chartered banks, failed in its duties. Given that 17 of the nation’s 68 bank failures in 2011 have occurred here in Georgia, costing the FDIC a total of $1.549 billion so far this year, their studied avoidance of the problem is appalling.
But again, they feel no public pressure to do better, so why should they?
Then there was the scandal in June, when the executive secretary of the state ethics commission was given her walking papers and her sole investigator stripped of her job. Those events occurred immediately after the two sought to subpoena records from the 2010 campaign of Gov. Nathan Deal. Again, there were no repercussions. Overall, GOP leaders have slashed the commission’s budget by 42 percent since 2008, even as they have burdened the agency with new record-keeping duties. They have also stripped the agency of rule-making powers available to almost every other agency in state government, all the while claiming to be horrified at alleged abuses of power in Washington.
I haven’t even mentioned the coup against Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle by his fellow Republicans in the state Senate, which basically left that body rudderless, or the embarrassing financial shenanigans of Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers and his business partner, U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, or the continuing efforts of GOP legislators to empower themselves at the expense of local government officials. And who knows what the rest of the year will bring?
Once politicians feel themselves unaccountable, there’s no telling what they might do.
– Jay Bookman
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1,210 comments Add your comment
Not So Casual Observer
August 23rd, 2011
2:13 pm
Jay,
How about a Democrat Governor who gives an order to his administration that essentially enacts a piece of legislation that was twice defeated, and further, is opposed by a majority of the state’s people? Would this Governor then be a target of your same criticism aimed at Republicans?
Would this Governor then be cocky, complacent and have a sense of invulnerability?
Of course the “Governor” is, in reality, the President of the United States and the legislation is the “Dream Act” that ICE agents have now been ordered to follow though the legislation was defeated. That SNEAKY, cocky, invulerable and complacent Barrack Obama issued an executive order during the debt/deficit debate to order ICE agents to follow the Dream Act.
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
2:14 pm
Mary Elizabeth
August 23rd, 2011
1:52 pm
I don’t disagree, but would like to make a couple of points. One, the FDIC is also responsible for making sure banks are solvent a responsibility they take very seriously. Two, the FDIC costs are 100% paid by the member banks. When an FDIC insured bank fails it is substantially the FDIC’s fault and costs you and I nothing.
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
2:18 pm
Not So Casual Observer
August 23rd, 2011
2:13 pm
Your comment is spot on. The is president should be impeached. He won’t be of course, but he should be.
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:18 pm
Midori,
Are your peeps ok?
MPercy
August 23rd, 2011
2:18 pm
Left wing management @1:31 pm After the tightened bankruptcy laws of several years back it’s now vastly easier for a corporation to dump its debt (send its debtors packing) and start over than it is for the average citizen.
Of course, now we can count on the Administration to run in and bypass the bankruptcy process altogether. Give companies a bailout so they don’t have to go into bankruptcy (a la TARP). Or do a fake bankruptcy and reward supporters only (as the Obama administration did with GM, in shafting secured creditors and rewarding unions, not to mention letting new GM retain billions of old GM losses to offset future taxes–that doesn’t happen in bankruptcy court).
What was that about plutocracy?
URIF
August 23rd, 2011
2:20 pm
Liberals are so selective and emotional in their thinking. They have no problem with “unions are people”, “governments are people”, but when you correctly describe corporations as people you take away their strawman that is so desparately needed to have a villain to make their argument. Ultimately every corportation is made up of people who invest in them (governments, unions, other corportations, pension funds/401ks for unions and people, and individual people) and people who work for them.
Joe Mama
August 23rd, 2011
2:20 pm
S. Cat — “Sorry Joe, I don’t have time to be your research assistant”
And I’m not so credulous as to repose trust in unsupported claims and flights of fancy. If you’re going to assert it, then either provide evidentiary support or else prepare yourself to be disbelieved.
Frankly, I think it’s pretty rude of you to assert something, fail to demonstrate or support your argument and then find fault with someone who calls you on it. You might not have time to be my research assistant, but I don’t have time to blindly buy into the skylarking of d00ds on teh intertubes.
“but to think it hasn’t happened is foolhardy”
And to assert that it *has* (without supporting evidence) is no less so.
Schrodingers cat
August 23rd, 2011
2:20 pm
GG…then incorporate
Ron Paul 2012
August 23rd, 2011
2:20 pm
Only republicans are corrupt. Democrats drink from the fountain of excellence.
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:21 pm
MPercy,
Those two earlier posts to me — well, I’ll take your word for it. I was pissed about the tax cuts not expiring, but was even more pissed about why. The programs you mentioned that have expanded are to help those who need it, and I’ve made myself crystal clear that I don’t have a problem with our govt. helping out the bottom income earners, or helping those who need it get back on their feet.
(As far as what you said in regards to Treasuris and T-bills and all that, you were talking Greek to me — not a clue what that means
)
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:23 pm
“Liberals are ”
AAAAANNNNNNNDDDDDD I stop reading.
Can we play another game?
“Apples are”
“Giraffes are”
“Trees are”
“Kumquats are” (really, what are those?)
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:24 pm
mr cat
i am….
Not So Casual Observer
August 23rd, 2011
2:24 pm
To the People who wish to be corporations:
You can be Granny, Inc. if you so desire. About $250 and follow the step-by-step instructions at your Secretary of State web site. You can immediately deduct, or depreciate any assets you purchase as long as your corporation has a “profit motive” and there is a reasonable expectation of a profit.
If you deduct the salaries you pay Mr and Mrs. Granny then the corporation will have a deduction but the same will be reported on your personal return.
I would suggest anyone in a small busines that interacts with the public should be incorporated for liability reasons.
Joe Mama
August 23rd, 2011
2:25 pm
URIF — “Liberals are so selective and emotional in their thinking. They have no problem with “unions are people”, “governments are people”
I have yet to see any liberal describe a union as collectively equalling a person, or a government as same. Unions and governments are *made up of* people, to be sure, but that’s hardly the same. Your misstatement and misreading may or may not be deliberate, but it *is* glaringly apparent.
“but when you correctly describe corporations as people”
Corporations aren’t people, no matter how much you might like for them to be.
“you take away their strawman that is so desparately needed to have a villain to make their argument.”
There’s no straw man there at all.
“Ultimately every corportation is made up of people who invest in them (governments, unions, other corportations, pension funds/401ks for unions and people, and individual people) and people who work for them.”
So? Unions, governments and corporations are *all* made up of people, but that doesn’t *make* them people, nor does it grant them the *rights* of people.
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:25 pm
Mr. Cat and URIF
Would you support a campaign to make sure that people/corporations
all have exactly the same rights?
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
2:26 pm
I heard that GM was not going to be doing any waranty work or free recall repair on their cars sold before Obama bought them. Is this true?
jm
August 23rd, 2011
2:26 pm
A. Glad the VA earthquake didn’t hurt anyone
B. God trying to send DC a message? Or was it just the delayed physical manifestation of the S&P downgrade?
Paulo977
August 23rd, 2011
2:26 pm
Doggone/GA
August 23rd, 2011
1:48 pm
Will it pass, will it pass?
Now that would be something to write home about ,if it does!!!!
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:27 pm
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:24 pm
mr cat
i am….
Says Sam.
And he even likes Green Eggs and Ham!!
Talking Head
August 23rd, 2011
2:28 pm
News reports coming in that the earthquake in Virginia…is Bush’s fault.
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
2:28 pm
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:25 pm
I agree with you. People should be allowed the same write offs as corporations.
Schrodingers cat
August 23rd, 2011
2:28 pm
Joe – Whether you believe it or not has no influence whether it has or not….but
In most cases CEO’s are shown the door rather than a decrease in compensation or the terms are realigned with company profitability and stock options or some other metric.
Believe it or not..summarily dismiss it…..makes no difference to me
Pizzaman
August 23rd, 2011
2:28 pm
Jay,
Why are you or anybody surprised what the “Redneck Republicans” do? After all they are or are descendants of “Yellow Dog Democrats” and have the same prejudice: they hate Blacks. Why else would they be spening all their efforts and political capitol trying to make the first Black President a one term President? BTW: I’m a 68 yr old, white conservative Independant raised mostly in the South and can’t support Yellow Dogs or Rednecks.
Uncle Jed
August 23rd, 2011
2:28 pm
Dem Congresswoman Blames Black Unemployment On “Racism”
Wonder what “all other colors” unemployment could be blamed on? Maybe a lack of jobs?
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:29 pm
Sam I Am
Is a corporation too.
(wait, do cartoon people/cats count??)
Schrodingers cat
August 23rd, 2011
2:29 pm
GG – Would you support a campaign to make sure that people/corporations
all have exactly the same rights?
————————————
No…would you?
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
2:30 pm
Of course the dems are corrupt.
They have unlimited bribes now.
What are you going to do about it?
Nothing.
Who stole Paul’s name?
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:30 pm
Mrs. G.,
Hey! Why not!?!
jm
August 23rd, 2011
2:30 pm
“News reports coming in that the earthquake in Virginia…is Bush’s fault.”
Well, its certainly not Obama’s fault. He’s in Martha’s Vineyard.
Mary Elizabeth
August 23rd, 2011
2:31 pm
Mighty Righty 2:14
My questions (and concerns) are:
Why have politicians in Georgia who are in power to investigate bank activities in Georgia not done so?
Since Morris and Murphy have both had difficulty with the FDIC, why have their political peers allowed them to remain in positions of power in their respective banking committees?
Why is Murphy still allowed by his political peers a leadership role in overseeing the state’s banking industry?
And most importantly: What IS the connection between Georgia’s politicians and the banking industry in Georgia?
jm
August 23rd, 2011
2:31 pm
Everyone should be incorporated. So many tax advantages….
Uncle Jed
August 23rd, 2011
2:32 pm
But then, it could be the hat: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/08/23/dem_congresswoman_blames_black_unemployment_on_racism.html
“When you look at African American males, 40% of them are unemployed, those under 30 years of age. I understand exactly the entire nation must be involved in this recovery but the black community is experiencing a great recession. That’s what we’re experiencing,” Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) told MSNBC.
“And all of the growth in the past 30 years, we see it slipping away. From home ownership, the middle class; it’s slipping away from our hands. And it has a lot to do with many issues. Racism, shipping jobs overseas, access — no access to technology. You know, the digital divide is there and many of the new jobs that’s what it requires. So, we have a problem.”
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:32 pm
Mr. Cat
Yes.
Why won’t you?
You are certainly worth it.
No paradox there.
GT
August 23rd, 2011
2:32 pm
Jay I would love to agree with you but Bush got might cocky. He tapped phones of American citizens and forgot to inform the judge. He went to war on excuses trumped up, lied to congress and the UN but lived to lie again. They were going to drag him to court for the waterboarding, or lying about that but Obama was the bigger man once again and let Bush continue to think he walked on water and was above the law, a little like that man named Nixon. J. Edgar Hoover had more respect for law and justice than Bush. When you have all the answers who needs justice. Turns out he was right.
jm
August 23rd, 2011
2:33 pm
5.9 Earthquake
Guess the Chinese have finally drilled through the middle of the Earth and reached DC, to raid the Fed bank vaults and get their $ back. Kudos to them.
MPercy
August 23rd, 2011
2:34 pm
Bosch: The problem is that programs that you *think* are supposed to help the less fortune (a) often fail to do any such thing or (b) do so in such a grossly inefficient manner that you hardly needed to bother. I believe in a moral responsibility to help others, however it’s not (to me) the government’s job to force that belief of mine on others, nor is it right (in my opinion) that the government decides how much I’m gonna “give” and who gets it.
Some more spending we’ve embarked on. How about paying $150M/year to Brazil so we don’t have to stop subsidizing American farmers (which subsidies were found to be in violation of international trade agreements)?
[Time magazine, Friday, Apr. 09, 2010]
What could be more outrageous than the hefty subsidies the U.S. government lavishes on rich American cotton farmers?
How about the hefty subsidies the U.S. government is about to start lavishing on rich Brazilian cotton farmers?
If that sounds implausible or insane, well, welcome to U.S. agricultural policy, where the implausible and the insane are the routine. Our perplexing $147.3 million–a-year handout to Brazilian agribusiness, part of a last-minute deal to head off an arcane trade dispute, barely even qualified as news; on Tuesday, April 6, it was buried in the 11th paragraph of this Reuters story. (The New York Times gave it 10th-paragraph play.) If you’re perplexed, here’s the short explanation: We’re shoveling our taxpayer dollars to Brazilian farmers to make sure we can keep shoveling our taxpayer dollars to American farmers — which is, after all, the overriding purpose of U.S. agricultural policy. Basically, we’re paying off foreigners to let us maintain our ludicrous status quo.
Cotton subsidies are a particularly egregious form of corporate welfare, funneling about $3 billion a year to fewer than 20,000 planters who tend to use inordinate amounts of water, energy and pesticides.
jm
August 23rd, 2011
2:35 pm
5.9 Earthquake
When you cram so many additional federal employees into a 10 mile by 10 mile area, what do you expect?
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
2:36 pm
jm,
Did you steal Paul’s name?
Obozononics
August 23rd, 2011
2:37 pm
Soothsayer;
Your comments are the proof that most Americans watch only the government new channels on TV, the truth is that Obozo has spent WAY more in 3 years than Bush did in 8. Funny how liberals never let facts get in the way of their opinions…
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:38 pm
OMG, MPercy’s killing me with these more than one inch posts.
Now, I’ve gotta get out my brain cell.
Thomas
August 23rd, 2011
2:38 pm
I wanna be a coporation!
GG- you can. Simply start doing a business and look to file a Schedule C which is included in your- yes your very own- Form 1040. You can then hire folks which will cause you to file numerous forms with the feds, states, and counties to ensure proper withholding across all fronts. You will need to make sure you have a license to do business in all areas you conduct business. You will need to make sure you are properly filing sales tax. You will need to make sure your employees have proper contracts and are properly provided healthcare and retirement plans. You will need to do all recordkeeping and make sure it is accurate to substantiate to any government authority. You will need to make sure you record and file Form 1099s-
I probably covered about 25% of the issues that must be addressed beyond actually “doing the business”
It really is that easy!!!
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
2:38 pm
“spent WAY more in 3 years than Bush did in 8.”
On saving the w global collapse.
Midori
August 23rd, 2011
2:38 pm
yes Bosch – she’s fine.
told her to stay out of the Metro, tho.
Thulsa Doom
August 23rd, 2011
2:39 pm
The year kicked off with the revelation that House Speaker David Ralston had taken his family and staff on a $17,000, all-expense paid holiday trip to Europe, courtesy of lobbyists for a high-speed rail company. In our much-reviled Congress, such behavior would result in severe censure or even removal from office, but here in Georgia it barely raised an eyebrow- Jay
For the life of me I don’t understand how anyone- Dem or Repub, wouldn’t be supremely embarrassed over the sickening relationship between lobbyists and pols here in GA and this trip in particular. For this man to accept such largesse and think we don’t expect a quid pro quo in terms of his vote on the matter is beyond belief. And while the Dems may crow about this obvious example of a pure pig at the trough I seriously doubt the state Dems are any less pure of corruption than this clown. The whole problem is that just like our pols on the national level every voter in a district thinks the problem is pols in other districts, states, etc. and not their particular representative. Makes me wonder if the whole situation is just plain hopeless given the apathy of the American voter.
jm
August 23rd, 2011
2:39 pm
getalife 2:36 – no, why?
5.9 Earthquake
Maybe someone requested a Treasury bond payment in cash.
1811/0311
August 23rd, 2011
2:39 pm
Hummmm ……………….. Someone sending a message?
Headline: “Strong Quake Hits Capital Region,
Sends Shockwaves Up East Coast”
“URGENT: A strong magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes Virginia, sending tremors up along the East Coast and causing the Capitol, the Pentagon and downtown D.C. to be evacuated.”
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
2:40 pm
Thomas,
Don’t get audited.
Soothsayer
August 23rd, 2011
2:40 pm
Obama’s tee thrown off course by earthquake. President quoted as saying, “if not for that darned earthquake, it’d have been right down the middle.”
Schrodingers cat
August 23rd, 2011
2:40 pm
GG – for starters, I don’t want corps to be able to vote in federal elections, serve on a jury, or run for federal office…that said, I do own an LLC
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
2:41 pm
jm,
Because the guilty will not admit it.
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
2:42 pm
Mary Elizabeth
August 23rd, 2011
2:31 pm
You are making assumptions. First I doubt anyone thinks Morris and Murphy should personaly investgate banks anymore than we would think Obama should personaly investigate Fannie Mae. I don’t know how committee appointments work. Why is Charlie Rangel still on the congressional finance committee? Who said they didn’t investigate these banks? They may have had them closed! All we know is what Jay is telling us and he isn’t telling us much.
Southern Comfort
August 23rd, 2011
2:42 pm
Lemme guess what’s transpired today. We have 12 pages of both conservative bashing for their ethical lapses and conservative deflection that’s defacto defense of those actions by trying to switch to talking about liberal ethical lapses. They’re all full of sh*t if you ask me. I admire Jay for writing this column because, if you’re gonna campaign that you’re all wholesome and good, don’t f**k up and get caught doing things that don’t fit that mold. The things you do in the dark will always come to light.
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:43 pm
Thomas
I repeat…already am. Or our small business is..
I want to incorporate ME….I want the same stuff the fortune 100 get.
(in my teeny tiny fair share of course)
jm
August 23rd, 2011
2:44 pm
I wonder what would happen if someone PIMCO size required delivery of payment in cash. I mean, the US Mint would be in a real pickle. Yes, I’d like $10 Billion in cash please Uncle Sam. $100’s would be fine. It would still be a freight train of cash.
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:45 pm
GG – for starters, I don’t want corps to be able to vote in federal elections, serve on a jury, or run for federal office…that said, I do own an LLC
WHY?
Those corporations are people…they have rights.
And it’s not like corporations aren’t already involved in elections,
american jurisprudence or all that good stuff.
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:45 pm
“The problem is that programs that you *think* are supposed to help the less fortune (a) often fail to do any such thing or (b) do so in such a grossly inefficient manner that you hardly needed to bother.”
MPercy,
I think as a society, we’ve come to the conclusion that we are going to subsidiz the lowest wage earners in this country.
But oddly enough, I’ve grown cynical enough to think that it isn’t for the reasons we all want to feel all warm and fuzzy about: helping them. It’s for profit. As I’ve written before, that money goes straight back into the economy — if I had to pull a number out my ass, I’d say almost 90% of it goes straight back into corporations (i.e. groceries, utilities).
And while 147 million seems like alot of money, believe me, that is a drop in the bucket for such a project. That’s like a light bulb to most of us.
Jack
August 23rd, 2011
2:45 pm
This dumb-downed, racist, redneck, old people person with a pre-conceived bias (according to Bookman) will vote for the Devil if he’s on the GOP ticket. Anything, anybody would be better than the suit that’s in the White House now.
Thulsa Doom
August 23rd, 2011
2:46 pm
What could be more outrageous than the hefty subsidies the U.S. government lavishes on rich American cotton farmers?- MPercy
MPercy,
On top of that these subsidies as I understand it go to large corporate agri-farms run by goliaths like Archer-Daniels Midland. In a Stossel report the subsidies are abused for tax purposes by rock stars like Bon Jovi and Springsteen and in our farm subsidies program there are even corporate farms owned by Arab sheiks of all people being subsidized by U.S. tax payers. The whole process of farm subsidies and now subsidizing Brazilian farmers is nothing short of insanity. And the biggest suckers of all- us the American taxpayers.
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:46 pm
Midori,
Good to hear that, and oh yes, I would hate to get trapped in those tunnels (with some of those people
)
jm
August 23rd, 2011
2:47 pm
Granny G 2:43 – ah. now you’re learning. To get that stuff, you have to be profitable, spend money, etc. etc. Ie, “corporate subsidies” as you guys refer to them aren’t always (or even generally) subsidies. Instead, they’re a reduction in taxes owed rather than a handout.
GG, unless you’re profitable, you’ll get nothing. Its not a handout. Good luck.
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:48 pm
“as I understand it ”
Maybe you can call Chambliss, he would know all about how those work.
jt
August 23rd, 2011
2:49 pm
That earthquake in Washington is GOD speaking.
.
He sayeth….”Stop your warfare/welfare/police state NOW….Leave my people (Georgians) ALONE.
Elect Ron Paul or ELSE!”
.
I heard him clear as a bell.
Mighty Righty
August 23rd, 2011
2:50 pm
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:43 pm
I thought you once wrote that you had your own business. Regardless, you can become a subchapter S and take advatage of the benefits. All write offs whether S corp. or C corp. are functions of income. In other words, you can write off any cost of acquiring income but not transportation to or from work or cost of personal benefits.
jm
August 23rd, 2011
2:50 pm
5.9 Earthquake
Ok. Which idiot pushed the red button that controls underground missile testing?
Or was it all the founding father’s rolling over in their graves simultaneously due to so much debt?
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:50 pm
“This dumb-downed, racist, redneck, old people person with a pre-conceived bias (according to Bookman) will vote for the Devil if he’s on the GOP ticket.”
I would expect nothing different from this demographic.
Thomas
August 23rd, 2011
2:51 pm
want to incorporate ME….I want the same stuff the fortune 100 get
I place a megaphone to my mouth and scream “You can- it is called a schedule C filer” You yourself will have all the same rights, privileges, and burdens without incorporating.
Uncle Jed
August 23rd, 2011
2:53 pm
5.9 Earthquake
++++++++++
Was this de fault Obama threatened?
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:54 pm
MR
We have a wonderful accountant – no worries.
But the goal is to make Godzilla Family, Inc.
I want to depreciate, I want to take advantage of special tax rates.
I want to give gifts and deduct them!
I Corporation.
Thulsa Doom
August 23rd, 2011
2:54 pm
As I’ve written before, that money goes straight back into the economy — if I had to pull a number out my ass, I’d say almost 90% of it goes straight back into corporations (i.e. groceries, utilities). -Bosch
I see your point but your point also applies to corporations who pay taxes twice on a dollar- the dollar they earn and then again when they pay their employees. That money going back to corporations undoubtedly is spent more efficiently then just giving it to someone to spend in the form of food stamps for example. Giving money to a corporation which is nothing more than a collection of people working to a common purpose can result in the creation of actual wealth, the new creation of jobs, etc. Just giving money to someone to spend does not have the same multiplier effect and does not create wealth or jobs in the same fashion that a dollar given to a corporation can.
And while 147 million seems like alot of money, believe me, that is a drop in the bucket for such a project. That’s like a light bulb to most of us.- Bosch
Bosch,
If you’re not ticked about this kind of govt nonsense then when will you ever be mad about pure govt waste and folly? When is enough enough? For God’s sake we are spending 1.6 trillion more than we are taking in per year precisely because of crap like this. And the bill is going to come due soon. The piper is going to eventually have to be paid. And you’re only response is that its just a drop in the bucket?
jt
August 23rd, 2011
2:55 pm
God also isn’t happy with the lefty progs.
.
They sold their anti-war creds for a cheap political D.
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
2:56 pm
Thomas
I can depreciate my washer?
I’ll call my accouting firm – Dewey, Cheatun & Howe to verify…
But If I’m not incorporated am I still people?
jm
August 23rd, 2011
2:56 pm
5.9 Earthquake
Ok. I thought Obama was done giving out MME permits. Who gave T Boone a fracking permit for DC?
Of all the the government incompetence……
jm
August 23rd, 2011
2:58 pm
GG 2:54 – now you’re thinking. Hop to and good luck.
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
2:59 pm
” That money going back to corporations undoubtedly is spent more efficiently then just giving it to someone to spend in the form of food stamps for example.”
A dollar is a dollar Doom, and while I got no gripes with what you wrote, to argue one is more valuable is quite disingenuous.
“If you’re not ticked about this kind of govt nonsense then when will you ever be mad about pure govt waste and folly?”
Waste and folly? Were you by chance a college thespian?
Who wrote I wasn’t ticked, it just doesn’t keep me up at night, just like people on food stamps doesn’t keep me up at night. Again, to argue that corporations spend money more efficiently when they are sitting on literal mountains of cash is well, nuts.
And kudos to you for fitting in “waste and folly” and “For God’s sake” all in one post. Really. Good job.
But sometimes I think you assume too much about what people think — it helps to just ask.
Elvis
August 23rd, 2011
3:00 pm
The earthquake was on a previously unknown fault in Virginia. It is to be named Bush’s Fault.
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
3:01 pm
Ha ha! Good one Elvis, and Happy Birthday!
(And are you actually a vampire?)
jm
August 23rd, 2011
3:01 pm
“It is to be named Bush’s Fault.”
I thought there were already hundreds of those…..
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
3:02 pm
And that Beloit’s Mindset List gets more lame every year. It used to be good for a couple of good shocks, but now it’s just lame-o.
Dave R. - 3k/4k/5k
August 23rd, 2011
3:03 pm
God to D.C. – “I’m not very happy with you”. . . .
Peadawg
August 23rd, 2011
3:06 pm
“The earthquake was on a previously unknown fault in Virginia. It is to be named Bush’s Fault.”
That’s funny as hell. I don’t care who you are.
Paddy O
August 23rd, 2011
3:07 pm
left wing: you have deftly demonstrated both your socialistic tendencies and the general MO of liberals everywhere – asinine idealism. The guy who put the parts together did NOT create the wealth in a vacuum – due to the surplus of HIS kind of labor, his labor is NOT as value as much. However, the guy who DID design the car, and guy who paid for & constructed the factory, have a much scarser labor pool – so, they can demand higher wages. very simple economics which most pollyanna socialistic liberals have a very poor command of. Kapisch?
Elvis
August 23rd, 2011
3:08 pm
Thank ya. Thank ya very much!
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
3:10 pm
Yeah Paddy O, that whole “division of labor” concept is just so foreign to us liberals. It’s all rocket science.
Bosch
August 23rd, 2011
3:10 pm
Elvis,
Seriously. Are you a vampire? Inquiring minds want to know.
Southern Comfort
August 23rd, 2011
3:13 pm
I don’t think it’s just DC that G*d has a problem with.
Granny Godzilla
August 23rd, 2011
3:15 pm
the epicenter was 90 miles south of DC….
who’s God mad at in Fredricksburg?
Geico or Quantico?
Thulsa Doom
August 23rd, 2011
3:15 pm
A dollar is a dollar Doom, and while I got no gripes with what you wrote, to argue one is more valuable is quite disingenuous.- Bosch
Bosch,
If you think that a dollar spent by a govt program whether it be on farm subsidies or food stamps is as efficiently spent or invested as a dollar invested by say Bill Gates or a small businessman expanding his business then I just don’t know what to say to you. I don’t want to be insulting but there is nothing that can be said to a person that actually has that mindset. Hopefully I am just misunderstanding you or you didn’t explain things well to me. Please tell me that you really don’t honestly believe that a dollar spent in a govt program or by govt period is as efficiently spent as a dollar spent by an entrepreneur or small businessman.
Normal
August 23rd, 2011
3:16 pm
5.9 earthquake…nah, Congress just had a simultaneous f^rt…
Thomas
August 23rd, 2011
3:18 pm
GG- ok I give as I missed the “we are just being silly part”
Some people are stupid
August 23rd, 2011
3:18 pm
Enter your comments here
out of the blue
August 23rd, 2011
3:19 pm
“anybody would be better than the suit that’s in the White House now.” Says you JACK, now who would that person be?
Some people are stupid
August 23rd, 2011
3:21 pm
Doom-
Please tell me that you really don’t honestly believe that a dollar spent in a govt program or by govt period is as efficiently spent as a dollar spent by an entrepreneur or small businessman.
Here in lies the divide. Efficiency is relative to people. The government giving money in the form of food stamps is efficient to the person who runs the grocery store. You make it seem as those there is no waste and fraud in business.
Southern Comfort
August 23rd, 2011
3:21 pm
For those of you who were begging for Obama to cut regulations, thanks for opening the friggin’ floodgates to hell. If you didn’t think we had enough problems already, then just wait for a while…
The White House report spans 800 pages and includes 100 reforms for the Transportation Department alone, including eliminating railroad industry regulations that could save $340 million, officials said.
The Defense Department has finalized plans to speed up payments to 60,000 contractors and the State Department is reforming visa rules to “promote economic growth and tourism,” Sunstein said.
“Every plan emphasizes that it is not a one-shot endeavor,” he said. “We have made an effort to create periodic reviews of rules and to change the culture and be open to public concerns.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-issues-new-rules-to-end-bureaucratic-red-tape/2011/08/23/gIQAfAy4YJ_story.html
The State Dept gives visas out like halloween candy already, and they wanna promote economic growth and tourism even more?? Some of y’all may wanna start your own OB/GYN related businesses. If you think birth tourism (one example) was already bad, your wishes just opened pandora’s box. You can count on government spending to increase because of that as well. With more people trying to enter the US, you will need more CBP officers to inspect the arriving foreigners. Sometimes, it’s just best to leave well enough alone.
Doggone/GA
August 23rd, 2011
3:22 pm
“No Charitable contributions? I am surprised by that”
I contribute, but right at the moment not enough to bother using the deductions
Doggone/GA
August 23rd, 2011
3:26 pm
“Now that would be something to write home about ,if it does!!!!”
Yep, it would be…but THEN the question would change to: will they ENFORCE it?
getalife
August 23rd, 2011
3:26 pm
It is Mother Nature fighting back.
The plot thickens.
Adam
August 23rd, 2011
3:27 pm
Not So Casual Observer: That SNEAKY, cocky, invulerable and complacent Barrack Obama issued an executive order during the debt/deficit debate to order ICE agents to follow the Dream Act.
Too bad you weren’t praising him for the YEARS he spent enforcing immigration to the MAX. Now that he’s doing the opposite, you are playing right into his hands by having poutrage.
MPercy
August 23rd, 2011
3:27 pm
OMG, MPercy’s killing me with these more than one inch posts
Sorry! This should be a one-inch post, though!
JOE C00L
August 23rd, 2011
3:28 pm
FYI, people who say “Anybody But Obama” are FRINGE!
Uncle Jed
August 23rd, 2011
3:31 pm
~~~Afternoon Quiz~~~
Who put forth the following plan?
A) Bill Clinton
B) Timothy Geithner
C) Herman Cain
D) Senator Barrack Obama
E) Warren Buffet
F) none of the above
A 9% business flat tax
Gross income less all investments, all purchases from other businesses,
and all dividends paid to shareholders.
A 9% individual income flat tax
Gross income less charitable deductions
A 9% national sales tax
This significantly expands the tax base which helps everybody.
This plan has the following advantages:
It is fair, revenue neutral, transparent and efficient
Zero tax on capital gains and repatriated profits
Replaces the payroll tax
Will aid capital availability for small businesses
Saves taxpayers $430 billion in annual compliance costs
It eliminates the uncertainty holding this economy down