Politicians, the Elite and Social Engineers, Part 4

Another morning that I wake early in the morning because I have political thoughts on my mind.  I liked the time in my life when I would wake early because I had great ideas to apply at work much better!

I'm thinking what got me started is a story of Seattle police officer wives complaining of the Occupy protesters and protecting an officer that shot a homeless man, that was carving with his small (3 inch) knife, in his back.  I'm sorry, but this disturbs me horribly.  Not only was this man shot once, he was shot 3 times!  AND, not only was he shot in the side and back!  I understand supporting fellow officers, but to have the gall to say "you weren't there, and the press doesn't tell the truth" is not acceptable.  The evidence speaks for itself.  Officers are not supposed to shoot people in the back unless they are an immediate and direct threat to someone.  OK, so the guy was walking away and dis-obeying the officer - so get backup and continue to track the guy until backup arrives!  Anyhow, it was determined that the inexperienced officer was nervous and made rookie mistakes; thus, it was determined that he was not fit to be an officer.  I can accept that decision.  I just can NOT accept people thinking that it was acceptable behavior of an officer!

This story I believe is what led me to think of this question for the citizens of the U.S.A.:  Do we want a country where people starve, freeze or die from curable diseases while there is sufficient airable land for feeding everyone, sufficient housing for everyone and sufficient medical resources for everyone simply because we can not agree on how to properly distribute the wealth of the country?  If you are OK with this, then I feel terribly sad for you and wonder what in your life or what information could have led you to that position and I would LOVE to hear about it.  If not, PLEASE vote.  And, I'm not just talking about voting with your ballot.  Vote with your pocket-book and your voice!

I wouldn't have a problem with the 1% ultra-wealthy, if they were giving 100% of their profits and gains during the recession to charities that support foster children, the disabled and anything that supports honorable jobs; rather than continue to gain massive wealth while so many get poorer and poorer.  I am not part of the 1%, but I give 100% of my spare time to supporting two single parents with young children.  These parents both work and lean on the government very little or none at all!  I'll be happy to explain more to anyone interested.

Please do not hear that I support free-loaders!  I've heard plenty from those what are part of the 99% that have paying jobs, but what I've heard was people that haven't had to search for a job or attempt to build a business lately.  I know people that are plenty willing to work and have actually attempted building businesses, that simply faced impossible odds and ended up losing their homes.  I have a job, albeit, a temporary one.  And, I've been unemployed since the beginning of this most recent downturn and the job boards were simply anemic.  And, when so many are struggling to pay for the absolutely necessary, it's difficult to start a business unless you want to face stiff (nearly impossible IMHO) competition from the corporations providing us with the absolute necessities (food, clothing, housing).

I believe the people of the Occupy movement are attempting to voice this, but many seem to be hearing one-sided views.  I hope anyone that reads this sees that there is far more than one-side!!!

What is frustrating me the most about the Occupy movement is that our local governments are doing their best to silence these people while not appearing to be taking away their rights.  I'm thinking that it is time for another amendment to our constitution.  That amendment would require local governments to maintain public spaces that are visible and audible to the general public (where people go to shop and do business).  For example, Seattle would be happy to keep the movement secluded to the park next to the courthouse where primarily other poor people will see them rather than the general public.  I am not saying this wouldn't be a difficult piece of legislation to write and gain support for, just that it is needed.  Otherwise, it will be the wealthy who own the land that will control everything because they can claim trespassing, etc.

I just do not understand how someone could think that it is unfair to tax people gaining money from investments at the same rate as those who gain money from their time.  Please, someone explain this to me.

Politicians, the Elite and Social Engineers, Part 3

Capitalism - I love it, and I hate it.  I love it because it creates competition to assure that people continue to provide the best possible products and services at the best possible price.  I hate it because, unregulated, it leads to monopolies and 1 in 6 people living in poverty.  Socialism is supposedly the opposite of capitalism, but countries that are strictly socialistic are often frought with greedy/selfish politicians.  So, how do we get the best of both worlds?  I like to call it regulated capitalism.

Here in the U.S. we've been doing quite well with capitalism combined with Social Security and welfare.  That is, as long as there has been plenty of tax revenue provided by a good economy.

Economy - let's consider that concept.  A good friend of mine once went to a seminar.  In this seminar, the leader had the people form a circle.  He gave one person in the circle a dollar and had that person give the person next to them that dollar in exchange for a shoulder-rub.  Then, the person giving the shoulder rub would repeat the pattern with the next person in the circle.  Well, of course, the dollar was supposed to get all the way around the circle.  It's a nice idea.  Everyone gets back what they put into the system, right?  However, in capitalism, one of those people would be smart enough to haggle and get that back rub for half-price and invest the savings in something that gets them more money down the road.  And this is where the imbalances in society begin.  Let me be clear, I'm not suggesting that the haggler is an evil-wrongdoer.  I have a retirement fund and I do what I can to save money.  This is simply the world we've been born into.

So, how do we keep a balance without going completely socialistic?  I know some will disagree, but I believe it means "soaking the rich" and "death" taxes.  If the wealthy were keeping more people gainfully employed, maybe this wouldn't be necessary.  Even some of the wealthiest people support this idea:  Warren Buffet and the Gates family.

Some are afraid of taxing the rich because they may leave the country or stop 'investing.'  If I were making $200K a year, and paid half that to taxes, I would still have at least $20K to expand my portfolio!  If I didn't want the government to get so much of my money, I simply donate some of it to non-profit organizations I believe in.

I don't understand the resistance to Estate taxes.  People think they somehow deserve an eliteist life just because they were born into an elite family?  Aren't those who have worked all their adult lives more deserving of their Social Security benefits?  Aren't children living in poverty, who have done nothing to deserve poverty, deserve a good meal provided by food stamps?  I say we increase taxes on the wealthy before we cut these programs!

I'm not saying that the poor don't deserve some of the blame for the problem in the U.S. (I say "in the U.S." because I know the recession is global).  If anything, the recession is forcing the U.S. labor workers to be willing to work for a more competitive wage.  I mean, why do you think companies have gone off-shore so much?

And, at the same time, I know people in our government agencies deserve some of the responsibility too.  They seem to operate like many Americans operate with their credit cards and mortgages!  But how do we keep these people accountable?  Maybe that'll be another post...

Politicians, the Elite and Social Engineers, Part 2

After reading Part 1, I imagine many of you were thinking "Sounds great John, but find a way to pay for it all."  It's a question that's been thrown at Obama during his entire campaign and he never had a satisfactory answer, in my opinion.

I like the saying "how can we afford it?  How can we afford to *not* do it?"  In the U.S. we don't seem to have a shortage of human resources, just misdirected.  By misdirected, I mean that people are practically being rewarded by being on unemployment, welfare and in prison.  I realize that many of you think I'm crazy by saying prison, but I've heard plenty of stories of people doing things to get themselves back into prison because it is easier than being outside.  At least there, they get fed, clothed and sheltered.  I mean, have you seen how many homeless are sleeping in illegal places in Seattle?  Heck, if they get arrested, the worst that will happen to them is that they get fed, clothed and sheltered for a night or two for trespassing.

So, how do we remedy this?  Convince our legislature to re-direct unemployment, welfare and prison funds to creating jobs.  This can be done in many ways.  One can be by opening government jobs.  One can be by offering more contracts for contractors.  One can be by providing more small-business loans.  These jobs, however, would have to provide better take-home pay then unemployment or welfare.  Some jobs would be created just in the process of administering the programs.

I realize this sounds like bigger government, but it's really just redirection of funds and energy.  Heck, reducing unemployment, welfare and prisons would mean that people would have to be laid-off from the jobs that support those programs!  Or, the prison guards could be redirected as police and supervisors of those that get the jobs that the would-be prisoners would get; for instance.

On a similar subject, I feel the need to support our bus systems.  Here in Washington State, the buses are losing funding due to the drop in local purchasing (sales tax revenues).  There was a proposal to create an income tax, but that was killed.  King County instituted a $20 car-tab hike to make up the difference, but Snohomish County couldn't make the same happen.  I think people fail to recognize the value of buses, even if they do not ride them.  If there are fewer buses, there will be:
- more illegal and underage drivers on the road,
- more road and gas-station congestion,
- more bicyclists,
- more smog,
- higher gas prices due to higher demand.
Even if I weren't a regular rider, I would definitely pay the $20.  I would pay more for the bus, but higher bus rates may deter riders as well.  If it's cheaper to ride the bus, more people will ride them.

Politicians, the Elite and Social Engineers, Part 1

In the history of the United States, our forefathers (and mothers) have established laws for equal rights.  These equal rights include, but are not limited to, the right to vote, employment, housing, etc.  I think it's time for another big step:  equal opportunity for education.  Of course, I would like to see equal access to all the resources this planet has to offer, but that's a utopia that will have to wait (first things first).

Capitalism has served the U.S. well.  The greatest and largest amount of inventions and performers have come from the U.S. due in large part to capitalism.  Now, while I know some of those great stories are from people that were born into poor families, I do believe the majority are due to people born in wealthy families.  Would Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have been so successful without having had access to excellent education?

I know people don't want to support "other people's kids," however, are they really other people's kids?  Or, are they everyone's kids?  Ever watch Idiocracy?  If we don't support ALL of our kids, I don't care how good your retirement account looks, we have a pretty dismal future!

Now, the question is, how do we pay for it?  Well, that's something I may discuss on another post.  The point is, support education any way you can.  If you don't have money, volunteer and vote!