Capitalism

Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Freedom - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Policy Institute: What’s Getting Under Pelosi’s Skin?

November 24, 2009 by

What’s Getting Under Pelosi’s Skin? Our newest health care study, that’s what! “Adding Insult to Injury,” which we released yesterday, has already hit the national airwaves. Congressman Peter Roskam appeared on Fox News yesterday, citing our study’s findings that Illinois will lose 169,000 jobs (and the nation 3.8 million) if the current health care bill passes.

We discovered other unfortunate side effects of the plan, including economic shrinkage of 5.1% and a $4,418 price tag for each Illinoisan. You can watch our CEO’s remarks at yesterday’s Chicago press conference here.
Continue reading “

Illinois Policy Institute: What’s Getting Under Pelosi’s Skin?”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Capitalism - Censorship - Communism - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Free Speech - Freedom - History - Liberals - Socialism - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

The End of History or a History of the End?

November 24, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A few years ago, Francis Fukuyama was widely criticized for his book claiming that mankind had seen “The End of History.” Fukuyama contended that liberal democracy had won the debate over which system was best and, therefore, there was necessary no more “moving forward” for man’s social order. While Fukuyama might have thought the question of the best system was settled — that being the Western democratic system — what good does a great system do if no one is aware of it? Unfortunately, we are quickly nearing a time in our schools where any knowledge of our political system or western history is going untaught. It’s so bad that most standard history courses are disappearing from our universities to be replaced by specialties about minorities or single subjects like “genocide” or “homosexual studies.”

Of course, much of the criticism of Fukuyama’s premise was based on a mistaken reading of what he said, but with this failure to teach proper history to our students we might be seeing at least one reason to doubt that liberal democracy is strong enough to stay as top dog, regardless of its efficacy. The liberal democracy as being practiced in the U.S., for instance, is weakening to the point of frivolity, one prone to a breakdown from within, and this lack of a useful education is just another example of this societal crash. Dangerously, proper history is being taught less and less in our universities.

Not long ago, an ominous article in the New York Times reported that specialty courses and professors now far outnumber standard history.
Continue reading “

The End of History or a History of the End?”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Liberals - President - Security/Safety - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - The Law - Vince Johnson - Welfare

Special for the High School Class of 2010

November 23, 2009 by

-By Vince Johnson

Sixty-two years ago I was a 19 year old in the Class of 1947. Our commencement speaker emphasized how fortunate we were to be preparing for career opportunities in a world focused upon peace and prosperity rather than grieving over the death and destruction of the most devastating war in history. I had a unique appreciation for his remarks because in 1945 I quit school on my 17th birthday to join the U.S. Navy. After a tour of active duty I was finally back home graduating from high school.

During the Great Depression years of the 1930’s and the war years of 40’s, thousands of people sacrificed life and limb so their kids could live in a land of abundant opportunities rather than a world filled with the miseries of war and poverty.

In those days it would have been unthinkable to borrow trillions of dollars from the future of our children without their knowledge or consent. You may believe this could never happen in America, but this has been happening to you since before you were born! Politicians have decided that your parents and grandparents needed things they could not afford, so they paid for them with several trillion dollars borrowed from your future.
Continue reading “

Special for the High School Class of 2010″

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - GOP - Health - Liberals - President - Republicans - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Senate Approves Motion to Proceed on Obamacare

November 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

With a 60 to 39 vote, the Senate has passed the motion to proceed to move on with the debate over Obamacare. Again, it is important to note that this is only a vote to begin the floor debate on the bill. It is not a vote to pass Obamacare.

In the Washington Examiner, Byron York has an excellent point when he asks, “why was it so hard for Democrats even to start the healthcare debate?”
Continue reading “

Senate Approves Motion to Proceed on Obamacare”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - California - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - Liberals - President - SEIU - Society/Culture - State Government - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

SEIU Fixing the Vote in Fresno, Too

November 21, 2009 by 4 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

A few weeks ago we reported on how the Services Employees International Union was attempting to fix the vote in Sonoma County, California so that Sonoma’s in-home healthcare workers would end up with SEIU representation instead of NUHW representation.

Well, Sonoma wasn’t an isolated case. The SEIU used the same vote fixing tactics in Fresno County.

Andy Stern’s SEIU is playing hardball, using techniques that harken back to the mob-infested old days in order to win the game of representation. And THIS is the guy that President Obama is taking close counsel from? A goon. A thug. A mob-like hitman.

Its the Chicago Way, alright. From Chicago to Fresno and Sonoma Counties all the way to the White House. This president and his cronies are instituting mob action everywhere they go.
Continue reading “

SEIU Fixing the Vote in Fresno, Too”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Founders - Free Speech - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Marie Jon - President - Religion - Republicans - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - The Law - Western Civilization

Americans embrace George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, not Chairman Mao Zedong

November 20, 2009 by

-By Marie Jon

America is under siege from within. Our nation has undergone a bloodless coup that required no military action. It occurred one year ago this month, at the hands of liars, cheats, and thieves who — calling themselves “progressives” — deceived the electorate at the polls and defrauded the electoral process.

Our lives have been shaken and turned upside down and inside out as a result. “The Twilight Zone” has become a reality right here in the U.S.A. Fortunately, with the help of the Internet, blogosphere, conservative talk radio, and Fox News, the Utopian facade we’ve unwittingly accepted is being exposed for what it really is. It cannot stand the light of day, and it is crumbling as a result.

Facts and truths are being laid out before us regarding the current Marxist “coup.” Americans are growing more than just a tad concerned about President Barack Obama and his handpicked and unaccountable “Czars.” These elitists hold to un-American ideologies that are certainly not mainstream. One cannot reconcile the radical, leftist philosophies of Obama and his cohorts with the noble goals of our Founding Fathers. We who love the American ideal embrace George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, not Chairman Mao. View: Does it Matter?

Continue reading “

Americans embrace George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, not Chairman Mao Zedong”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Health - Liberals - President - Senate - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Harry Reid Wants to Vote on a Phantom Bill (Dem Dirty Tricks Edition)

November 19, 2009 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Either today or later this week, Senate Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev) wants the Senate to vote on a “motion to proceed” on the Senate’s version of the healthcare bill. That wouldn’t be so bad except for the fact that it has barely been seen by anyone in the Senate. At least not as far as most Senators are concerned. Why is that? Because the bill has not been shown to them with sufficient time to study it, that’s why.

What Reid wants is for the Senate to vote to proceed on a bill that has not been seen, not read, not studied by the very Senators from whom he wants to force a vote. If this bill is so important, why isn’t it imperative that our Senators actually get to see the thing they are expected to vote on?

And that isn’t the worst of the unconscionable dirty tricks that Reid is playing with this “important” legislation. He’s also planning on a bait and switch tactic once he gets his vote to proceed.
Continue reading “

Harry Reid Wants to Vote on a Phantom Bill (Dem Dirty Tricks Edition)”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - GOP - Liberals - Patriotism - President - Republicans - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Where is THIS Republican Party?

November 19, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

An excerpt of the 1924 Republican Party Platform:

The prosperity of the American nation rests on the vigor of private initiative which has bred a spirit of independence and self-reliance. The republican party stands now, as always, against all attempts to put the government into business.

American industry should not be compelled to struggle against government competition. The right of the government to regulate, supervise and control public utilities and public interests, we believe, should be strengthened, but we are firmly opposed to the nationalization or government ownership of public utilities.

In 1924 the GOP ran Calvin “Silent Cal” Coolidge for president. And he won on this platform.

Even then Democrats were trying to tun this country into a less powerful version of Europe by emulating its socialist systems. A proud Republican Party repudiated these socialist tendencies and reiterated its pride in the American way. These principles appealed to the true American spirit and also won elections.

Unfortunately, the very next president, himself a Republican, turned toward socialist, collectivist concepts and set the stage for what later became Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal destruction of the American economic system that compounded a market correction and turned it into “The Great Depression.” And save for a brief time under Ronald Reagan, it appears that the GOP has never recovered its principles as espoused in its 1924 platform.
Continue reading “

Where is THIS Republican Party?”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Computers - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Google - Inernet - Liberals - Scott Cleland - Socialism - Society/Culture - Technology

Google-AdMob’s Antitrust Problems

November 17, 2009 by

-By Scott Cleland

Google’s acquisition of AdMob, “the world’s largest mobile advertising marketplace,” will receive serious antitrust scrutiny focused on whether the deal lessens competition by extending search advertising monopoly to mobile devices.

Expect the review process to be a magnet for a host of antitrust, competition, and privacy product/services concerns, much like the proposed Google Book settlement has been a magnet for antitrust, competition, and privacy content concerns.

First, Google is misleading with its blanket statement: “We don’t see any regulatory concerns with this deal.”

Not “any” concerns implies Google does not expect: any DOJ/FTC discussion over who reviews the deal; no second request for information; no CIDs (subpoenas); no hearings; or no serious competitor objections that authorities will have to explore. If that is true, why does Google say it could it take “several months” to close?
Continue reading “

Google-AdMob’s Antitrust Problems”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Thomas Brewton

Why Place Your Bet On The Horse That Always Loses?

November 16, 2009 by

-By Thomas E. Brewton

Why believe that Obamacare will “bend the cost curve,” when government has repeatedly failed to cut costs of existing healthcare entitlements?

The Obama administration and fellow liberal-progressive-socialists in Congress have based much of their rationalization for Obamacare on its purported reductions in healthcare costs. But, for at least two decades, proposals by the Social Security Administration and Congress to cut Medicare costs have come to naught.

This is hardly surprising, since Congress’s modus operandi is spending money, and the more of it the better, from politicians’ viewpoint. Alexis de Tocqueville, celebrated author of Democracy in America, put his finger on the insurmountable problem in mid-19th century. The theory of socialism is “from each according to ability, to each according to need,” but, while the public’s needs may be quantifiable, its wants are unlimited.

Efficiency is a negative criterion in any government project. Remember that the Employment Act of 1946 committed the government to maintaining full employment. From the politicians’ viewpoint, it is better to employ excessive numbers of people, at higher costs, to enhance the image of helping the people. Congress’s $787 billion so-called stimulus extravaganza is a recent example.
Continue reading “

Why Place Your Bet On The Horse That Always Loses?”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Crime - Economy/Finances - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Guvs Race: Adam Andrzejewski Says Repeal Video Gambling

November 13, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski says if he’s elected Illinois Governor he’d work to repeal the video gambling law recently passed by the state legislature.

On WBBM 780AM radio (Chicago), Andrzejewski said, “It is bad public policy. It wasn’t vetted by the people.”

Andrzejewski said he will make repeal of the law a priority if elected and in order to do that he plans to stop funding for road, school or transit improvements backed by the gambling expansion. The measure signed by Quinn also uses liquor tax increases and expanding the lottery to the Internet, among other things, to fund the projects.

At least two other GOP candidates have expressed their distaste with the video gambling law. Bob Schillerstrom came out against the bill early in his campaign and Kirk Dillard claimed he was unhappy with the law. Of course, Dillard voted for the video gambling law in his role as a state Senator, so his claim of being unhappy with the bill seems a mixed message juxtaposed with his actual vote on the issue.

Andrzejewski has been a popular campaigner with the rank and file thus far on the hustings. He’s won at least four straw polls in carious parts of the state, three in a row of late. Andrzejewski is a true outsider never having held public office before.

Visit AdamforIllinois.com.

Anti-Americanism - Business - Capitalism - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - George W. Bush - GOP - Liberals - President - Republicans - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston - Western Civilization

The George W. Bush Institute: Free Markets, Small Government… Since When

November 13, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Get ready because I am going to slap George W. Bush around a little bit. Now, don’t get me wrong, it isn’t like I hated him. After all I voted for him twice. There was a lot that Bush did that I supported, mostly on the security and war fronts. But, I really stood against his domestic agenda almost completely. I was against no child’s behind left alone — er, I mean no child left behind — I was against the bailouts and against the drug benefit for seniors program. I disagreed with his “compassionate conservatism” narrative because it really was just an excuse for a little less big government than what the Democrats full-blown socialism would have been. About the only thing he wanted to do that I supported, the privatization of Social Security, he never pushed hard enough to implement.

With that in mind, George W. Bush made his first major appearance before the general public today in a speech announcing the George W. Bush Institute, a new public policy think tank to be housed in the Bush Presidential Library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Bush wants his new institute to foster free market policies, small government thinking, education, global health and “human freedom”… to which I have to ask, so where were you for eight years on these things Mr. Bush?

During his speech, Bush said that with the $700 billion bank bailout he implemented in the waning days of his presidency he “went against” his free-market instincts. He said it was one of the “most difficult” decisions of his presidency. I’d say he failed the test. Juxtaposing his bailouts with the free-market, small government policies that he wants his new institute to push causes one to raise an eyebrow, of course. How do past actions jive with his future policy ideals?
Continue reading “

The George W. Bush Institute: Free Markets, Small Government… Since When”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Illinois - Liberals - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Another Trade Show Dumps Chicago Over Union Ripoffs

November 13, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Another trade show is leaving Chicago this time for Atlanta, Georgia. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society meeting which has been held in Chicago’s McCormick Convention Center for quite some time is leaving the city due to the high costs that unions force upon its exhibitors.

In October we posted that the Plastics Industry Trade Association is also contemplating fleeing Chicago for southern hospitality for the same reason.

The HIMSS reports that 2009 attendance in Chicago’s McCormick Center was down by 5 percent compared to 2008. Attendance also dropped from 29,100 in 2008 to 27,500 this year. Additionally, HIMSS reports that they lost exhibitors over 2008, as well.
Continue reading “

Another Trade Show Dumps Chicago Over Union Ripoffs”

Anti-Americanism - Business - Cable - Capitalism - Computers - Congress - Economy/Finances - Entertainment - Free Trade - Google - Inernet - Liberals - Net Neutrality - Scott Cleland - Society/Culture - Taxes - Technology

Why Google Is Not Neutral

November 13, 2009 by 2 Comments

-By Scott Cleland

After discussing whether Google should buy The New York Times, Google decided against it because it “would damage its ‘neutral’ identity,” per Ken Auletta’s just-published book “Googled: The End of The World as We know It.”

Google has long claimed to be neutral. Their corporate philosophy statement claims: “We never manipulate rankings to put our partners higher in our search results and no one can buy better PageRank. Our users trust our objectivity and no short-term gain could ever justify breaching that trust.”

As the world-leading corporate proponent of an industrial policy to mandate net neutrality for all its potential broadband competitors in cloud computing, and as the beneficiary of “The Google Loophole” in the FCC’s proposed open Internet regulations (para 104), it is fair to stress test whether Google’s claim of a “neutral’ identity is true or just cleverly-executed PR.

Is Google Neutral?
Continue reading “

Why Google Is Not Neutral”

Anti-Americanism - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Jobs - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Women Becoming Majority of Union Workers

November 12, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Associated Press had an interesting article reporting that women are fast becoming the majority of union members and will be the majority in 10 years if current trends continue.

As it stand now, women make up 45 percent of union members today, up from 35 percent in 1983. Apparently white men now only make up 38 percent of the union workforce, down from almost 52 percent in ’83.

The AP notes that this preponderance of women is changing the goals of union negotiators.

“When you have a majority of women in the labor movement, issues like work-family balance, paid sick days and paid parental leave become more important,” said John Schmitt, an economist at the left-leaning think tank and one of the authors of the report.

And what has caused this change? The growth of public, government unions. At this point, the AP reports, that 49 percent of all union members are now working for local, state, and federal workers in public employees unions. 61 percent of public employees are female.
Continue reading “

Women Becoming Majority of Union Workers”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Jobs - Liberals - Society/Culture - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

A Victory Against Obama’s Unionism in New Hampshire

November 11, 2009 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

In a victory for free labor, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has cancelled its solicitation for bids to build a new Jobs Corps Center in the state of New Hampshire. Why is it a victory? Because initial plans to receive bids would have discriminated against non-union construction companies per President Obama’s orders. Over 80% of all construction companies are non-union.

Executive Order 13502, signed early in Obama’s term, was applied to the New Hampshire construction project and instituted what is known as a Project Labor Agreement (PLA). A PLA is a way to force all companies working on a construction project to agree to union rules, dues, pensions and payments whether they are union shops and their employees are union members or not.

In effect, a PLA turns every employee and company working on a PLA enforced project into a unionized force. Naturally, this drives up costs, lengthens deadlines, and forces employees to fork over dues money even if they don’t belong to a union.
Continue reading “

A Victory Against Obama’s Unionism in New Hampshire”

Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Thomas Brewton

Government As Narcotics Dealer

November 11, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Since the advent of the Federal Reserve System in 1913, monetary authorities have repeatedly upped the narcotic dosage as a remedy for the pains of easy money and credit addiction.

An exceptionally clear and insightful analysis of the precipitating and sustaining causes of the twelve-year-long Great Depression is to be found in Banking and the Business Cycle: A Study of the Great Depression in the United States. Published in 1937, this book provides a wealth of statistics and quotations from Federal Reserve officials, bankers, and economists of that era. It can be obtained from the Ludwig von Mises Institute via its website.

At the end of World War I, when the Federal Reserve System was only five years old, the Fed decided to prevent prices across the economy from falling back to the levels prevailing before the war. To do so, the Fed pumped so much money into the economy via the banks that total bank lendable deposits more than doubled in the six years from 1914 to 1920. To make the perspective clearer, the Fed pumped more lendable funds into the banking system in six years than had been created in the prior 131 years since the ratification of the Constitution.
Continue reading “

Government As Narcotics Dealer”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Truth in Accounting: America’s Official Debt Will Soon Top $12 Trillion

November 10, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

This week, the official debt of the United States of America will top $12 trillion. In just one short year, The Treasury Department has borrowed more than $4,600 for each citizen. U.S. government debt has risen to an unprecedented $12 trillion. That’s up from $10.6 trillion just one year ago. Debt held by the public has grown by nearly $1.4 trillion or a whopping 13.58%. “To increase the debt at this alarming rate is just plain scary,” said Sheila Weinberg, founder and CEO of the Institute for Truth in Accounting, the Northbrook Illinois based accounting watchdog organization. What’s worse, the nation’s real debt-including Social Security and Medicare obligations– is at least $72.6 Trillion or more than $235,000 for every man, woman and child.

The absolute and relative size of the nation’s obligations are alarming.

“There is no parallel to this amount of debt in American history, even during our wars and recessions,” said Weinberg. “For example, the U.S. debt the end of World War II was $258 billion or just $2.8 trillion in today’s dollars[Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator].”
Continue reading “

Truth in Accounting: America’s Official Debt Will Soon Top $12 Trillion”

Afghanistan - Barack Obama - Capitalism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Free Trade - Health - House of Representatives - Joe Wilson - Liberals - Senate - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Joe Wilson on Healthcare and Afghanistan

November 9, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Does Joe Wilson or any of his colleagues on the Hill care about the Constitution?

I participated in a conference call last Friday with Representative Joe Wilson (R, SC) who wanted to rally the troops against Pelosi’s healthcare bill. He also talked of Afghanistan, as well. But I think he made a revealing comment about the Constitution that distresses me.

Rep. Wilson started off his comments with his condolences to the families of the victims of the criminal actions at Fort Hood which had only recently happened at the time. “As a 21-year veteran of the military myself with three sons in the Army, one in the Navy, and a nephew in the Air Force, I truly do have a deep sympathy for the families at Fort Hood,” Wilson said.

Wilson then went into the issues of the day and said he was pleased to see the “clean sweep” that Republicans in Virginia saw in the governor’s race there.

This has also been an extraordinary week with the elections on Tuesday in the state of my ancestors, Virginia. I’m so grateful for the Commonwealth that there was a clean sweep and as it pointed out to me the Republican clean sweep there was for limited government and extending freedom is in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson.

Wilson also remarked that Jon Corzine, the incumbent Dem. gov. in New Jersey, had some “pretty strong things to say about me” and was happy that he lost his re-election bid.
Continue reading “

Rep. Joe Wilson on Healthcare and Afghanistan”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Society/Culture - Taxes

A Response From my Senator and My Reply

November 9, 2009 by

-By Richard J. Little

In response to a careful crafted, time consuming, and painstakingly written personal letter and multiple faxes/emails I recently sent to one of my state’s United States Senator, I received this beautifully worded but totally impersonal email form letter from Senator X (or, more likely, one of the staff) who is a member of the Democratic party:

Thank you for contacting me regarding your opposition to universal health care coverage. I understand your concerns.

When it comes to health care, our families and businesses are in a serious crisis. High health care costs are causing cuts in benefits and increases in premiums, adding to the ranks of the uninsured at alarming rates. But the impact of this problem goes beyond individual families. Skyrocketing health care costs make our businesses less competitive in the global marketplace and cost us good-paying jobs. We are already paying for the uninsured through overuse of the emergency room-the most inefficient and expensive way of providing care.

I believe that health care is a right, not a privilege. There is no doubt that the problems we face are complex, but there are real solutions. We can create a system that is uniquely American and shares the cost between the government, businesses, and individuals in a way that is fair and equitable. Now is the time to show the political will to tackle these issues because there is so much at stake. I am committed to working with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee to find solutions to America’s health care crisis.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please don’t hesitate to do so again if my office can be of assistance to you or your family.

Sincerely,

X
United States Senator

In the faint hope that I will get responsive and representative governance from my Senator since according to public opinion polls my view are in line with a majority in my state and the nation at large, I took another huge block of my time to respond to the kind form letter:
Continue reading “

A Response From my Senator and My Reply”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - President - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Some Comments from Illinois Candidates on Pelosi’s Bare Win on Healthcare

November 8, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Several Republicans and candidates here in Illinois have spoken out on the passage of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s version of Obamacare. Here are a few of them (in no particular order).

Republican State Chairman, Patrick Brady, warned Illinois Democrats that what they have wrought is “wrong for Illinois.”

Today is a disappointing day for Illinoisans as Nancy Pelosi, Melissa Bean, Debbie Halvorson and Bill Foster ignored the concerns of voters and rammed a trillion dollar 1,990 page government-run health care bill through Congress ignoring pledges of transparency and bi-partisanship. Illinois for generations will be forced to deal with the consequences of this legislation that increases health care costs, increases taxes on small businesses and the middle class, cuts Medicare and puts a Washington bureaucrat between you and your doctor.

Joe Walsh, candidate for the 8th Congressional District, took the occasion to accuse incumbent Democrat Bean of proving she is a left-winger.
Continue reading “

Some Comments from Illinois Candidates on Pelosi’s Bare Win on Healthcare”

Budget - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Liberals - President - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Cook Cnty Board President Loses Powers

November 8, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

For months early this year, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger repeatedly beat back attempts to repeal his onerous sales tax hike that saw Cook County become the highest taxed county in the country at 10.25 percent. The reason president Stroger was able to do this so easily is because the law stated that opponents of the President needed to get four fifths of their fellows to overturn a Stroger veto.

This four-fifths rule has traditionally given the board president nearly unassailable powers as marshaling four fifths of the board to oppose the board president is a herculean task. But now that power has been taken away from the county board president by the governor of the state when Pat Quinn signed new legislation that would change the law from a four-fifths majority to three-fifths.

On Saturday, Quinn signed the new three-fifths rule into law. Quinn said that he is not signing this law to spite Stroger or anyone else. He said he signed it because it was a “fair” law that brought Cook County into line with the rest of the state.

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - House of Representatives - John Armor - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Nancy Counts on Corruption

November 8, 2009 by

-By John Armor

Nancy D’Alesandro Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has regularly accused the Republicans in the House of displaying “a culture of corruption.” Yet the critical vote to get the House version of the health bill out of the House, demonstrates that Speaker Pelosi not only likes corruption, she counts on it. Remember her middle name because it figures in the proof.

On 7 November at 11:15 pm House bill 3962 passed by a vote of 220-215. Votes in favor of that bill included the following: Norm Dicks (D-Wash), Jane Harman (D-Cal), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Alan Mollohan (D-WVa). Jim Moran (D-Va), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Laura Richardson (D-Cal) and Peter Visclosky (D-Ind). If just three had voted against the bill, or had not been in the House to vote for it, the bill would almost certainly have failed.

Why that curious comment about not being in the House? A staffer for the House Ethics Committee put an internal document on a home computer with file sharing capacities. As a result, the complete list of Members of Congress under ethics investigations escaped into the press. These yes votes on the health bill were provided by Members who might have been expelled, had their possible ethics violations had been promptly and adequately examined, decided and acted upon.

Now, who has the power with a wave of her hand, to speed up or slow down the ethics investigation of any Member of the House? Why, that would be the ultimate power, Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. She’s been scrambling all this week to engineer the last few votes for passage.

Continue reading “

Nancy Counts on Corruption”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Communism - Congress - Constitution - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Buy What Democrats Say to Buy or GO TO JAIL

November 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

It has come to this, America. Democrats have decided that if you don’t agree with their policies, you are to be fined. And if you don’t pay the fine, you are a criminal and will be sentenced to jail. That’s right, Democrats are criminalizing dissent.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has decided to leave language in her heatlhcare bill that criminalizes and prescribes jail time for any American that does not want to buy private healthcare insurance. Think of this, America. I am telling you that the U.S. Congress has decided to force you to buy the product of a privately owned corporation! The power of the U.S. federal government has never been used to purchase something from a private company but here comes San Fran Nancy to do just that. But, let’s face it. She is only taking her cue from the big guy and his “Chicago way” sort of political thuggery.

The Joint Committee on Taxation issued a letter (Download pdf file) in reply to Representative Dave Crump’s inquiry about the matter of the criminal penalties of refusing to buy healthcare insurance should Pelosi’s version of Obamacare pass.
Continue reading “

Buy What Democrats Say to Buy or GO TO JAIL”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Media Bias - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Vince Johnson

The Great Health Insurance Mystery

November 7, 2009 by

-By Vince Johnson

I had a dream that several respected members of Congress tried to prove this bulletin was misleading and I quietly smiled when they gave up and went out to lunch. 

There is no mystery in the fact that Congress wants the government to be the only source for health insurance for over 306 million Americans.  However, there is great mystery in understanding why politicians do not realize that such an eventuality is bureaucratically impossible.   

Consider established facts: The Social Security Administration requires 62,000 employees to process applications, issue SS numbers, manage existing accounts, and disburse monthly payments to 50 million retired folks. The total U.S. population of people over 18 is about 230 million.  Assuming these people have SS numbers, it is reasonable to say that in any given month, the SSA is handling the accounts of 280 million people including 50 million retirees.

 Keep the above in mind as you consider what Congress will be coping with when the government becomes the sole provider of health insurance.
Continue reading “

The Great Health Insurance Mystery”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Some House Dems that Might Be Persuaded to Vote No on Obamacare

November 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Ken Marrero over at Blue Collar Muse reminds us that there are a few Democrats that could possibly be persuaded to vote against House Speaker Pelosi’s healthcare bill.

Word has it that Pelosi is going to try and strong-arm her bill to a floor vote this Saturday, so if you want to stop this bill, call the following Congressmen and voice your opinion.

  • Michael Arcuri (NY-24th)–(202) 225-3665
  • Steve Dreihous (OH 1st)–(202) 225-2216
  • Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8th)–(202) 225-2542
  • Debbie Halverson (IL-11th)–(202) 225-3635
  • Steve Kagen (WI-8th)–(202) 225-5665
  • Betsy Markey (CO-4th)–(202) 225-4676
  • Tom Perriello (VA-5th)–(202) 225-4711
  • Loretta Sanchez (CA-47th)–(202) 225-5711
  • Vic Snyder (AR-29th)–(202) 225-2506
  • Zack Space (OH-18th)–(202) 225-2965

I should remind readers that if you call these on-the-fence Democrats it’s far more effective if you are from their District, though. Just random calls from across the country will mean far less than the calls of actual constituents.

Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Trade - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - President - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Video: Cook County Board Presidents Candidate Debate

November 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

John Garrido only Republican to attend

Several of the candidates for Cook County Board President attended a debate hosted by The Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA). It was filmed by Chicago’s ABC News.

In attendance were Republican candidate, John Garrido, current Democrat incumbent Todd Stroger, Democrats Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, and Metro Water Reclam. Dist. Pres. Terrence O’Brien, as well as Green Party candidate Tom Tresser.

Sadly, Republican candidate Roger Keats did not participate. Also not attending were Democrats Dorothy Brown, and Danny Davis — likely because Davis has not yet officially announced his candidacy. Also not attending was Greenie Sean Burke.
Continue reading “

Video: Cook County Board Presidents Candidate Debate”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Current Democrat House Vote Count on Healthcare

November 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of the jobs of the “Whip” position in Congress is to count votes so that the leadership has an understanding of what sort of support their legislative efforts have. These Whip counts are often made public knowledge (but not always) and The Hill has reported the latest counting of House Democrats and where they stand on the Pelosicare/Obamacare bill.

So, if one of your Congresscritters is on this list as a “yes” vote or is leaning “yes,” contact them immediately and voice your opposition.

As of noon on 11/06/09:

YES OR LEANING YES
Howard Berman (Calif.)
Leonard Boswell (Iowa)
G.K. Butterfield (N.C.)
Steve Cohen (Tenn.) Called the measure “America’s bill”
Gerry Connolly (Va.) Had expressed concern about tax provisions in initial bill
Henry Cuellar (Texas) Got tort provisions added, though still wary of costs
Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.)
Sam Farr (Calif.)
Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.) Leaning yes, would like to see more on tort reform
Debbie Halvorson (Ill.)
Alcee Hastings (Fla.)
Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) Yes
Steve Kagen (Wis.)
Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) Leaning yes
Dale Kildee (Mich.)
Ron Kind (Wis.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Brad Miller (N.C.)
Dennis Moore (Kan.) Was target of death threat last summer over healthcare reform
Jim Langevin (R.I.) Opponent of abortion rights
Tom Perriello (Va.) Held many town halls this summer
Jared Polis (Colo.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Earl Pomeroy (N.D.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Nick Rahall (W. Va.)
John Salazar (Colo.)
Linda Sanchez (Calif.)
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) Yes
Mark Schauer (Mich.) NRCC quickly pounced on Schauer’s support of bill
Dina Titus (Nev.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Paul Tonko (N.Y.) Leaning yes
Tim Walz (Minn.) “I think we’re getting there.”
Diane Watson (Calif.) Praised bill in speech on the floor
Peter Welch (Vt.)
Continue reading “

Current Democrat House Vote Count on Healthcare”