The Right Lane update 3.11.13

The pursuit of Constitutionally grounded governance, free markets and individual liberty

"There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily." --George Washington

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Cutting Government Would Boost Economy By Sheldon Richman
Budget sequestration is as modest a step toward cutting Leviathan as one can imagine. Further progress will be difficult as long as people believe that slashing the size of government conflicts with reviving the economy. Nothing could be further from the truth. In his recent debate on Charlie Rose, Nobel Prize-winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman said that even wasteful government spending should not be cut, because it would undermine job creation and economic recovery. This view isn't quite as popular as it once was, but it is still influential.

The logic of the argument is that insufficient consumer spending caused the Great Recession, the anemic recovery, and persistent high unemployment. If people aren't spending, so goes the argument, businesses lay off workers. And when the newly unemployed workers reduce their spending, more workers are laid off. This ripple effect puts the economy into recession. To end the recession, consumer demand must grow again, but it can't grow because unemployment is high. It's a vicious circle: people don't spend enough because they don't have jobs, but they can't find jobs because people aren't spending enough.

Therefore, says Krugman, government must spend. This is why he supports more debt. And this is why he thinks cutting spending to rein in the deficit is precisely the wrong thing to do now. Keep the deficit spending going to create jobs, Krugman says, and worry about the debt later. There'll be plenty of time for that. If this were really how things worked, we'd be in a fix. But they don't work that way. Business cycles — the boom and bust — don't happen because consumers all mysteriously decide to cut their spending, throwing people out of work. And since that's not the cause of the downturn, increased government spending is not the cure. In other words, the spending frenzy, the deficit, and the debt all can be addressed while the economy is recovering. In fact, radically downsizing government is the key to recovery.

Recessions begin because a string of large-scale business investments prove to be unsustainable in light of real economic conditions. Why would so many entrepreneurs make the same mistake at the same time? Because the government and its central bank — the Federal Reserve — create misleading signals in the form of artificially low interest rates and (before the most recent recession) artificially high demand for housing. These policies fool entrepreneurs into thinking that consumers are saving rather than spending, that is, deferring consumption until the future. Businesses then use the easy credit for long-term interest-rate-sensitive projects, such as housing and stages of production remote from the consumer-goods level. Yet consumers have not curtailed spending.

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Kimmel Exposes Sequester Ignorance

Comedian talk show host Jimmy Kimmel introduces a new segment where his crew visits the streets of LA and asks a ‘confusing question.’ In this particular video pedestrians are asked what their opinion is on ‘Obama Pardoning the Sequester, and sending it to Portugal,’ the responses are scary. Watch

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Feinstein: It’s Legal to Hunt Humans

At a Senate judiciary committee hearing on Thursday, California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein shot down a proposed amendment exempting veterans from her “assault weapons” ban, bizarrely arguing that it’s legal to hunt humans with high-capacity magazines. “The time has come, America, to step up and ban these weapons,” Feinstein said. “The other very important part of this bill is to ban large capacity ammunition feeding devices — those that hold more than 10 rounds. We have federal regulations and state laws that prohibit hunting ducks with more than three rounds. And yet it’s legal to hunt humans with 15-round, 30-round, even 150-round magazines. Limiting magazine capacity is critical, because it is when a criminal, a drug dealer, a deranged individual has to pause to change magazines and reload that, the police or brave bystanders have the opportunity to take that individual down.” Feinstein also said the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in some military veterans is a concern. “The problem with expanding this is that, you know, with the advent of PTSD, which I think is a new phenomenon as a product of the Iraq War, it’s not clear how the seller or transferor of a firearm covered by this bill would verify that an individual was a member, or a veteran, and that there was no impairment of that individual with respect to having a weapon like this.”

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"Gun Correctness" or just plain stupid?

(CBS Detroit) A 9-year-old boy’s birthday cupcakes sparked a school controversy that just keeps growing, with scores of people lining up against a school principal who found the cupcake’s topping inappropriate.” The boy was chided, and so were his parents, for cupcakes featuring little green Army men on the top. Schall Elementary School principal Susan Wright called the parents at home and said the cupcakes were insensitive in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting. School staff pulled off the Army men before they were served. The parents reacted by calling the media. And the principal, who refused to speak publicly on the issue, issued an extensive statement that said, in part:

“In the climate of recent events in schools we walk a delicate balance in teaching non-violence in our buildings and trying to ensure a safe, peaceful atmosphere. On one hand, there are those who advocate arming teachers, having armed security guards and creating a fortress of defense in our schools. On the other hand, there are those who feel that guns create fear in schools and we need to put solid security measures in place  plus practice routines to be prepared in case an emergency should ever occur. Living in a democratic society entails respect for opposing opinions.”

She added that some parents “prohibit all guns as toys,” and “no disrespect” was intended for members of the military, however, “Our commitment is always to our children and creating a safe place for them to learn, grow and have respectful dialogues about their differences.”  There was not dialogue and no respect for this little man's respect for his heroes in the military!

The above is one of many instances acting itself out across the nation.  It might lead one to believe that someone somewhere wrote new "guidelines for Gun Correctness" and sent them out to all of the Nation's schools.  That might be better than what comes to my mind.  It demonstrates how "collective" our liberal teachers are in their Political Correctness thinking.  There is no mystical hand in this.  These are liberals, doing what liberals do - the politically correct thing.  No matter than 9 year old kids still believe that soldiers who put their lives in jeopardy every day are their "heroes".  They see this acted out every day on the news when one of our young heroes fall in battle.  The ceremonies are heart wrenching and memorable.  However, to the Gun Correctness police they forget about unintended consequences; war heroes as monsters that may come to school and kill little children?  Are you outraged yet?

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How Welfare is Draining the System  by Francis Marion

Over the weekend, I was watching the local news before going to bed.  A story they ran caught my attention and it had to do with the amount of government assistance that some people can get. The news story centered on a single mother of 2 that lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Five years ago she didn’t have any alternative but to apply for welfare and government assistance.  Since that time, she has been trying to work her way off of welfare, but the system has sucked her in so deep that she’s not sure she can get out.  She told a local reporter:

“If you’re gonna get something for free, are you gonna work for it?  It kind of sucks you in.  They feel like they’re hopeless.  They feel like they have no alternative.”

The news story went on to list the amount of government aid available to a single mother of two who makes $19,000 per year.  Mind you the figures vary from state to state, but this is what would be available in the Lancaster area:

• Day Care – $14,976
• Head Start Program – $13,400
• Housing Vouchers – $7,148
• Weatherization – $6,500
• Heating Bills – $400
• Cell Phone – $480
• Land Line – $230
• Legal Advice – $182
• Food Assistance – $6,028
• Medical Assistance – $6,045
• Pell Grants – $5,500
• Education Opportunity Grant – $4,000
• SMART Grant – $4000
• TEACH Grant – $4000
• Tax Credit – $6,800
• Tax Return – $1,900

The total government aid available totals up to $81,589.  Some of those are a *one or two time assistance only and others are yearly.  By design, or simply worked out this way? It's your money!

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39% Think Government Should Help Fight Childhood Obesity

Most Americans continue to see childhood obesity in the country as a serious problem, but more are now open to government involvement in this area. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 88% of American Adults say childhood obesity is at least a somewhat serious problem in the United States today, including 49% who see it as a Very Serious issue.  Only eight percent (8%) see childhood obesity as not very or Not at All Serious. See above.  It is not a Government problem to solve.  It is parental, period!

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US ‘fully capable’ of defending against North Korea attack, White House says

The U.S. is fully capable of defending itself against a North Korean ballistic missile attack, the White House said Thursday, after Pyongyang threatened a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the United States. Ever heard the statement "Peace Through Strength"?  Obama has portrayed the U.S. as weak and not able to make the tough choices in the face of threats or immanent threats (think Iran). This President has inflicted untold damage on our Nation!  He is not stupid; he knows what he is doing.  Question for your is why?

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Liberal Chick Says Football, SUVs, Hunting & Eating Meat Leads to Rape!

You have to watch this.  These people actually vote you know!

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Medicare Advantage Cuts Will Cost Recipients Thousands By: Sandy Fitzgerald

Please forward this to all those you know that voted for Obama and tell them "thanks!"

Medicare benefit recipients across the United States could lose an average of $2,235 if proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage plans go into effect next year, with the largest losses projected for beneficiaries in Louisiana and Washington, D.C. According to a report issued by the American Action Forum, Louisiana residents stand to lose $3,367 annually, or almost 24 percent of their benefits, while Washington, D.C. recipients could lose $3,374 annually, a 26 percent loss.  The cuts, proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, would be in addition to already scheduled reductions planned through Obamacare and the American Taxpayer Relief Act. Obamacare calls for reductions in Medicare payments of $716 billion through 2022,with a large portion of the cuts coming through payments for the advantage plan, which allow beneficiaries to use Medicare dollars to choose an outside, privately-run health plan to help offset costs.  The other top 10 states facing cuts are Texas, with $3,126 on average for each beneficiary; NewYork, $2,772; Alaska, $2,582; Hawaii, $2,540; Massachusetts, $2,517; New Jersey, $2,410; California, $2,377; New Mexico, $2,236. The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico is also facing cuts of $3,056 per recipient if the proposed cutbacks go through.

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Rand Paul: Why I Did What I Did

Too many pundits in the national news media glibly stated over and over again that Kentucky Senator Rand Paul stood on the floor of the United States Senate — for nearly thirteen straight hours last Wednesday — to “filibuster” President Obama’s nominee for CIA Director. And sure, while this is technically true, in my view this sort of political analysis completely misses the mark. Writing in the Washington Times on Friday, the senator explained in his own words why he rose to speak that day — namely, to defend the principles enshrined in the United States Constitution: On Wednesday, I rose to begin a filibuster on the nomination of John O. Brennan to be director of the CIA. I stood up with the intent of speaking until I was no longer able to speak. I vowed to speak as long as it took, until an alarm was sounded from coast to coast that our Constitution is important, that our rights to trial by jury are precious, and that no American should be killed by a drone on U.S. soil without having been found guilty in a court of law. I didn’t rise to oppose Mr. Brennan’s nomination simply based on him as a person. I rose to defend the principles of our Constitution, principles for which we have fought long and hard. To give up on that principle — the Bill of Rights, the Fifth Amendment — is a travesty. I will not sit back and allow the president to shred our Constitution.

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The Disease of Tolerance and Political Correctness By John Renken

Revelation 2:19:   I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols

In the midst of all of the political blundering, failure of leadership on both sides of the aisle, the Global War on Terrorism, increasing debt, and the attempt to disarm the citizens there is an underlying problem that has led to the silence of the People of America … it is a disease that is so insipid that most don’t even realize they are sick.

As a culture we have embraced the false teaching of Political Correctness or tolerance. In essence we have become a nation of people who don’t have a spine. We see evidence of it in each of the problems threatening to destroy our great nation right now. When you look at the debt crisis you see Republican leadership failing for fear of violating this disease. They failed to speak the truth. Remember after 9/11? Then President Bush fell victim to the disease when he falsely called Islam a “Religion of Peace”. We could go on and on about how America has slept with the prostitute of Tolerance and Political Correctness.

The thing that amazes me is the Media portrays Tolerance and Political Correctness as a Christian Value and nothing could be farther from the truth. As a matter of fact, Jesus was the most intolerant and politically incorrect person the world has ever seen. When confronted with the Political and Religious leaders of the world He mocked them. Called them white washed tombs and the cultural equivalent of “You ‘Sons of Bitches’ “  Not only did Jesus on multiple occasions speak loudly and “rudely” against the evil in the political and religious realm, He was completely intolerant of Sin. Jesus called it what it was. The Act of Homosexuality and Gay marriage is a sin, sex outside marriage sin, abuse of women and children sin. He makes no concessions based on genetic makeup, parental upbringing, lack of money, excess of money, or what you thought was right. Sin is Sin. Right is Right and wrong is wrong. Jesus didn’t back down from a fight, nor did He not speak the truth for fear of how he would be seen, however Jesus’ intolerance was not towards people! His political incorrectness was towards ideology and beliefs not the people themselves.  We all need to take a lesson from the passage in the Book of Revelation and not tolerate sin, failure, and political correctness, but be like our King who says “I WILL NOT TOLERATE” this anymore.

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Park ranger: Supervisors pushed sequester cuts that visitors would see

Another federal employee has come forward to claim the Obama administration resisted efforts to ease the impact of sequester. A U.S. park ranger, who did not wish to be identified, told FoxNews.com that supervisors within the National Park Service overruled plans to deal with the budget cuts in a way that would have had minimal impact on the public. Instead, the source said, park staff were told to cancel special events and cut “interpretation services” — the talks, tours and other education services provided by local park rangers. “Apparently, they want the public to feel the pain,” the ranger said. The National Park Service is among many federal agencies warning of a major impact from the sequester cuts, which took effect last Friday. The agency has warned of delayed access to portions of Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks, closed campgrounds at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, reduced hours at the Grand Canyon visitor center and other ramifications. Just so you know!

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Rating President Obama on The Issues

Obama Earns Low Marks on Taxes and Spending Voters are more critical of President Obama’s handling of issues related to taxes and remain unhappy with how he's dealing with spending. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the president is doing a good or excellent job in the tax area. That's down five points from 44% last month.  Forty-two percent (42%), on the other hand, think he is doing a poor job, up from 39% in February.

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