If You Wonder

EarthPolicy.org reports: "Qatar, where more than half of the nation's income comes from oil and natural gas, has the world's highest average income: almost $103,000 per person. The United States and China have average incomes (as measured in GDP per person) of $48,000 and $8,000 per person, respectively. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, a failing state plagued by government corruption and violent conflict, has the world's lowest average income, at less than $350 per person. Thus the world's highest national average income is now almost 300 times the lowest."

In the United States consider those bringing home millions of dollars each year paying less taxes than the average American. 

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare changes can be made in the following manner: those born beginning in 2051 will become eligible for Social Security five years after they have reached life expectancy at that year of their birth. That age will be adjusted every 50 years after that. Also in 2051 changes required for the survival of both Medicaid and Medicare will be implemented. As with Social Security adjustments will be made every 50 years.  

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

No amount of observations of white swans can allow the conclusion that all swans are white, but the observation of a single black swan is sufficient to refute that conclusion.

Karl Popper

A Regime Change will Change Nothing

If we have a regime change in November it will become obvious to even the most obtuse of us that Obama did as well as anyone could have done. 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

No amount of observations of white swans can allow the conclusion that all swans are white, but the observation of a single black swan is sufficient to refute that conclusion.

Karl Popper

Raising Taxes on the Rich

Specifically how does raising taxes on CEOs receiving hundreds of millions of dollars affect jobs? This is money they are receiving to go into their bank accounts? 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

No amount of observations of white swans can allow the conclusion that all swans are white, but the observation of a single black swan is sufficient to refute that conclusion.

Karl Popper

Walls Don't Work

Countries building walls are an interesting phenomenon. During its lifespan 5000 people attempted to cross the Berlin wall. A couple of hundred died a couple of hundred were arrested apparently the rest were successful. Granted it probably stopped a few hundred thousand from even trying. The Great Wall of China did not stop invasions from enemy countries. The invaders bribed the gate keepers.  What makes us think a wall around the United States will be any more successful? Who do you think will be the gate keepers?

The Real Results of Government Assistance

email sent to Rep Roe, and Sen Corker and Alexander

The purpose of this email is to inform you of the results of your efforts. My guess is you and your compatriots get so involved in working with the "other guys" you lose sight of what you initially were attempting to accomplish. You know, you get so up to you're a** in alligators you forget you were meaning to drain the swamp.

Remember the Cash for Clunkers program? The people who were driving the clunkers could not afford to buy a newer car but your rich friends such as millionaire Bill Frist, a former associate of yours, could and he even bragged how he took advantage of the government program. The Cash for Clunkers was a stimulus for your rich friends all at the expense of the taxpayers.

Reverse Mortgages do not help those of us who are having a difficult time financially because due to the way the program is structured a substantial amount of cash is required at "closing." But your rich friends, 62 years of age and older who own million dollar houses can take advantage of the program. The individual making minimum wage remains overwhelmed while your rich friends take the money they would have paid on their mortgage invest it and make even more money all at the expense of the taxpayers.

The most recent program announced will qualify 1 million of 11 million individuals owing more on their mortgage than their house is worth. Apparently you and your fellow senators or representatives think giving a person who has lost their house due to foreclosure a check for $2,000 will replace their house. Last year, following ten months of rejections and threats of foreclosure Chase Bank "blessed" me with a Home Loan Modification. The result is the length of the loan was extended the interest rate was lowered resulting in a $500 per month reduction in the payment. No expense to the taxpayer since I owe the same amount.

Whether we like it or not in cases such as a homeless person living on the streets they can do nothing to help themselves. Someone has to give them clothes so they can apply for a job. Someone has to give them a place to live so they can prepare to apply for a job. Someone has to give them food so they can be healthy enough to apply for a job. Someone has to give them money to go to school so they can be qualified for a job. In each of these cases to truly help there cannot be complex qualifications or processes to apply. So far you are doing nothing to help people like that.

But we all see how you are helping your rich friends. 

NBC Anchor Bitten on the Face

Going face-to-face with a dog plus making eye-contact is a direct challenge. Stupid people. On the other hand there is no reason to "rescue" animals. We have millions of dogs and cats and more are added to the excessive population every year. Everyone and everything would be better off if all dogs and cats that find their way into police custody or into animal shelters should be killed. Avoiding avoidable situations such as this one.

Friend of Syria

Russia and China want the Syrian government to continue to kill Syrian citizens. They are Muslims so now we will see if Muslims hate Russia and China or the United States where we are on both sides.

Anyone but "The People"

John Adams, like other Federalists, believed that men of money and position should govern America. They did not trust the common people. This lack of trust resulted in the election of the president and vice president and senators being isolated from direct input by the people.

The president was to be elected by the Electoral College and Senators were to be chosen by state legislators. It was thought senators elected by state legislatures would be able to concentrate on the business at hand without pressure from the populace.

It appears their lack of confidence was well placed. The People are not to be trusted. The People do not vote for what is best for the country but to receive.

The People's vote is determined by advertising. The People have no idea whom to cast their vote for so they let the candidate with the most money tell them how to vote. John Adams' belief that men of money and position should govern America has come to fruition.

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance."

---H. L. Mencken

NC State’s Scott Wood explains how losing to your rival feels

Reporters ask the dumbest questions.  Call a person "a news anchor" or "a reporter" or "an analyst" or "a contributor" and watch the stupidity settle in. 

How does it feel to lose to your rival?

When you heard your wife was dead, what did you think?

When the ship was sinking, how did you feel?

I did not hear the answer, had the reporter's wife ever cheated?

Good one. 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

No amount of observations of white swans can allow the conclusion that all swans are white, but the observation of a single black swan is sufficient to refute that conclusion.

Karl Popper

Capitalism is Not Sustainable

Capitalism needs consumers.

Capitalism is not sustainable. Twenty-five of the 100 highest paid U.S. CEOs earned more last year than their companies paid in federal income tax and many of those companies spent more on lobbying than they did on taxes.

Some speculators have incomes 325 times what the average American receives. The difference between executive compensation and the average American worker is greater than anytime in our history.

If the United States is to survive economic fairness needs to exist and today it does not.

A bit Odd

Candidates for president as well as other elected offices are willing to spend millions of dollars of other people's money to get elected so they can do some great thing for their country. At the same time they do not want to pay any more taxes than they are forced to pay.  Seems a bit odd to me. 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

No amount of observations of white swans can allow the conclusion that all swans are white, but the observation of a single black swan is sufficient to refute that conclusion.

Karl Popper

Re: Debt Is Holding Back Economic Growth

What I have not heard is specifics. I believe we have had enough agreements to reduce the deficit. Both parties have historically spent more than we took in and the current president is no more responsible for the deficit than previous presidents. I believe it is said Bill Clinton had balanced budgets. I doubt it but that is what I have heard.

It is time for specifics time for hard numbers. It is time to accept that the rich do not create jobs. If they do where are the jobs? They are in other countries. Both parties must change leadership. Current leadership has shown themselves not up to the job. We need new ideas. We need jobs that pay livable wages.   

The last war our military fought for our freedom was WWII. Since then we have defeated small countries and tied or lost to those who can defend themselves. Our military is not the solution. Our military needs to be brought home from around the world and the defense department needs to have a major reduction in their budget.

Economic strength is what will lead now not the military. 

I encourage you and your fellow representatives to stop playing games, appoint new leadership and solve the issues. So far Obama sounds more reasonable than the Republicans do and more ready to compromise. Politics requires compromise. 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/ 
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

No amount of observations of white swans can allow the conclusion that all swans are white, but the observation of a single black swan is sufficient to refute that conclusion.

Karl Popper

On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 10:30 AM, Congressman Phil Roe <rep.roe@mail.house.gov> wrote:

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Website | About Phil | First District | Constituent Services | Newsroom | Issues | Legislation | Kids Page Debt is Holding Back Economic Growth The national debt continues to rise to ever more dangerous levels and has now reached over $15 trillion – officially surpassing the size of our economy at 100 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).   The unsustainable amount of government debt is so high that it is straining economic growth.  We must get serious about enacting spending cuts that put us on a sustainable fiscal path. Instead of reining in spending, the president has asked Congress to raise the debt ceiling again. That is why this week the House of Representatives will vote on a resolution to disapprove of the administration's request for an increase in the nation's debt ceiling – another "sign of leadership failure," in the president's own words. This vote is in response to the administration's reckless spending binge that has driven America's economy down a disastrous fiscal path and hurt job creation at a critical time for middle-class families and small businesses. Under President Obama's watch, the government has accumulated the three largest annual budget deficits in our nation's history.  Over $4.6 trillion has been added to the national debt since Obama took office, which is the most rapid increase of any president.  Additionally, there was a 25 percent increase in non-discretionary spending by the president when Democrats controlled both the House and Senate.  According to the U.S. Census, every American's share of the national debt stands at $48,699. Economists continue to warn that our nation's economic growth is constrained.  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Douglas Elmendorf has said that the growing debt puts us at risk for a "sudden fiscal crisis."  CNBC's John Carney recently chimed in about the deficit officially surpassing 100 percent of GDP saying that it "has serious implications for economic theory." He goes on to say that "public-sector debt in the U.S. grew from 58 percent of GDP in 2000 to 97 percent in 2010. That almost certainly puts us beyond the threshold where our debt is restraining economic growth." With the upcoming budget that is due on February 6, the president has another opportunity to offer a serious, credible plan that lays out how we are going to get this country's fiscal house in order.  Congress, along with the president, needs to come to an agreement that leads to stabilization and declines the ratios of federal government debt to GDP and debt to revenue. I came to Congress to get our nation back on track and that includes making the tough decisions that will put us on a path to prosperity.  We must end our annual budget deficits and lower the debt if we want to see sustainable economic growth.  Even the president admits that if we fail to do this, it could lead to a double dip recession.  Now is the time to enact spending cuts because our national security is at risk if we do not lower the deficit. Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family.  You can contact my office by mail, email or phone.  Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.    CONNECT WITH US E-News Sign-up Forward to a Friend Contact Phil TAKE A SURVEY Do you approve of the president's request to raise the debt ceiling?  Yes, we should raise the debt ceiling. No, we should not raise the debt ceiling. I am unsure at this time.            Choose Your Answer Washington, DC Office 419 Cannon House Office Bldg Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-6356 Fax: (202) 225-5714 Kingsport Office PO Box 1728 Kingsport, TN 37662 Phone: (423) 247-8161 Fax: (423) 247-0119 Morristown Office 1609 College Park Drive, Suite 4 Morristown, TN 37813 Phone: (423) 254-1400 Fax: (423) 254-1403

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On the subject of “Jobs"

On the subject of "Jobs:" The number of jobs is not the measurement. What are needed are jobs that pay livable wages. Today, a family of four the two adults can each work full-time at Wal-Mart and still be around the poverty level.

 

On the subject of livable wages the United States cannot compete with other countries because the wages those countries pay are not livable wages in this country. When Congress approved NAFTA the jobs left. Anyone with any common sense knew that would happen; apparently anyone but our government.

 

To bring jobs with livable wages back any benefit corporations receive for sending the jobs out of the country must be taken away. For example: I read an article that reported that Steve Jobs told President Obama that Apple had 700,000 jobs in China because he could not find 30,000 engineers in this country to work with that number of manufacturing employees.  A tariff should be added to every product made in China that causes the price to the consumer to be higher than if it were made in this country by people being paid livable wages.

 

Corporations currently receive tax benefits for moving their jobs to other countries. Corporations either should receive tax benefits for keeping those jobs in this country OR penalties should be assessed to every corporation who have senior executives living in this country but have jobs in other countries. Let those senior executives live where their jobs are. Let them live where they send the jobs.

 

Republicans want to keep taxes as they are on the rich because you claim raising taxes on those rich friends will hurt the creation of jobs.  That may have been the case in the past but that is not true today. If it were WHERE ARE THE JOBS THOSE RICH FRIENDS CREATED?

On the subject of SOPA and PIPA.

On the subject of SOPA and PIPA. Why do we consider piracy wrong online or otherwise? Could it be morality causes us to think that way? If that is true, people in other countries not raised with Christian/Judeo morality are not influenced by them.

 

The Secretary of Education in Ukraine said their children have no character, no ethics, and no morals. So he asked a group from the United States by the name of "Easter European Missions" (the organization smuggled bibles into the USSR) to help them. Today Ukraine is using the bible to teach character, ethics and morals to their children in their public schools. While the United States bans such teaching Ukraine is looking to the bible for help.

 

By the way how do you get "separation of church and state" from "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"? Not making a law that establishes a state religion does not prohibit the government from practicing a religion or even using its literature. No law is the secret.  

Perfection is not sufficient.

Ten percent of the applications to Harvard are from people who got a perfect score on their SAT. About the same number are from people ranked first in their class. More than a thousand in each group are rejected by Harvard every year. Perfection is not sufficient. Being qualified is not reason enough for someone to hire you. 

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.

For years corporations have been mechanizing production and reducing jobs. Jobs requiring manual labor have been dropping for years. Jobs for machine operators and paint sprayers as well as a variety of trade jobs have been replaced with automation in order to lower costs. As we all know, lowering costs produces obscene bonuses for chief executives and other senior managers.

Since the jobs being eliminated belonged to a class of people we found easy to ignore and because we were not affected we rationalized. It was efficient to eliminate blue-collar jobs; it made us competitive; it was progress.  

Now thanks to the information revolution the jobs disappearing belong to us. Suddenly we care about the jobs that are disappearing. The jobs of people who had followed the rules; who had done what they were told to do; have disappeared most likely permanently.

Remember Martin Niemöller’s quotation:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out –

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out –

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out –

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.

Water and Grain

http://www.earth-policy.org/indicators/C54/grain_2012 

eMail sent to Senator Lamar Alexander:

Your pride is misplaced on the subject of closing an online sales-tax loophole. It helps your rich friends to the detriment of your constituents which supports my assertion that you and your political cohorts are in bed with corporate America.  

Concerning a Balanced Budget Amendment to force President, Congress to balance the federal budget illustrates how unaccountable our government is. If Congress wanted to balance the federal budget it would. It does not take an amendment it takes ethics, honesty and common sense all of which are in short supply in our government. Bill Clinton had a balanced budget. Republicans screwed it up.

On the subject of exporting American-made products – not American jobs is a conundrum. Following the congressional approval of NAFTA jobs left the country. Your rich friends exported those jobs and received obscene bonuses for their efforts. Now you want to give your rich friends more money to make minimum wage jobs. This country cannot compete with wages paid in those foreign countries.  

Articles on you becoming governor, stopping the government from requiring new stop signs indicate how you spend your time on the little things because you and your party cannot face the real problems.

Helping the senate function better requires dissolving the senate and starting over. You act like a union with your overwhelming concern with seniority and good-old-boy-networking.

Your efforts to speed up assistance to Tennessee's storm victims shows how dependent people are upon government to do everything for them. How would the government have responded when George Washington were president?

I do not expect a response from you because unlike Senator Corker and Representative Roe you are too busy to respond to the voters. 

Repetitious Redundancies

Repetitious Redundancies.......We should carefully scrutinize each and every word for recurring, superfluous, redundant and unnecessary repetitions. Maybe perhaps the various and sundry statements are true and accurate but they become ridiculous nonsense when repeating again identically the same thought, often with immediately adjoining words. How often have you heard of a Jewish rabbi, an unknown stranger, or an unmarried bachelor? These expressions are different varieties of the same troublesome problem and may potentially conjure up the possible existence of a Buddhist rabbi, a familiar stranger, or a wedded bachelor. We need to reflect in our minds what we are saying with the words we choose and select. Occasionally, from time to time, superfluous redundancies do more than merely obscure neat and tidy expressions. They, perhaps, may leave an idea in your thoughts of a distinction where no distinction should exist. Both "baptized Christians" and "believing Christians" are used when the word "Christian" is ample and adequate. Such unnecessary redundancy opens the door to the possibility of Christians existing without faith and baptism. We need to be clear that the only way to become a Christian is by coming to faith and expressing that faith in the obedience of baptism. In the same way, we carelessly speak about "true facts" leaving open the possibility of facts being separate from truth. While the world has embraced pluralism and denies a single meaning of truth, Christians should hold onto real meaning and the certitude of truth. Facts are true, and truth is comprised of facts. Truth and facts are the same. We must not compromise truth with sloppy language.