Bumper stickers I’d like to see

Happiness is a choice

Chose Happiness

I'm peddling as fast as I can!

Lowering Taxes for Business

Every election, I hear someone say: "We need to lower taxes for business to create jobs, stimulate the economy, etc..."

On the surface, this seems like a really good idea.  Businesses employ people and we could use more jobs.

But would this really do any good?

I don't think so.  Businesses only pay taxes when they generate a profit (or in the case of some large corporations, work the system to avoid taxes even when they make a profit)

Most of the businesses I've worked with focus on EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) as a key metric.  No EBIT?  No taxes.  

I've never heard someone say:  "Wow, the corporate tax rate just went down.  Let's get serious about making money now -- we were just playing before."  

Have you?






Here's a good article on how corporations are the real "moochers".

http://www.southernstudies.org/2012/09/corporations-are-the-real-moochers.html

I respect other's viewpoints, as long as they're . . . . . true.

I respect that people have different views on how the government is run -- being able to express our view and vote is the great part of living in a democratic country. 

I also know that politicians have been "spinning" the truth for as long as there was politics.  If you look at history, even some of the founding fathers did that. 

But to repeat outright lies and represent them as truth really insults the American people.  It resembles brainwashing.

So in my own effort to counteract some of the things I saw last night on television, here is a list of five lies that Paul Ryan told when he gave his speech to the RNC.  I hope news outlets report on these!*

1. Lie: President Obama is the "greatest threat" to Medicare.

Truth: Obama didn't make any cuts to Medicare benefits; he made cuts to provider reimbursements, to improve cost efficiency and extend the fiscal security of Medicare by eight years. According to the Medicare actuary, "[Obama's] Affordable Care Act makes important changes to the Medicare program and substantially improves its financial outlook."¹

But Ryan actually does want to cut benefits. He proposed dismantling Medicare and replacing it with a voucher system, leaving millions of seniors to come up with more money to pay for care out of pocket.^2,3

2. Lie: President Obama didn't save a General Motors plant in Wisconsin.

Truth: First, Obama wasn't even in office when the GM plant closed. Second, Obama never made a promise to save it.⁴

3. Lie: President Obama ignored recommendations of a bipartisan debt commission.

Truth: Paul Ryan actually sat on that commission. And he led Republicans in voting down the commission's own recommendation. So the commission never gave a report to Obama, because Ryan himself voted to kill the report before it could.⁵

4. Lie: President Obama is responsible for the downgrading of the U.S. Credit Rating

Truth: House Republicans, including Paul Ryan, held the full faith and credit of the United States hostage to try to ransom it for trillions of dollars in cuts to social programs without increasing taxes on the wealthy one dime. Standard & Poors said specifically, "We have changed our assumption on [revenue] because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues." That's why our nation's credit rating was downgraded.^6,7

5. Lie: Ryan wants to protect the "weak."

Truth: Ryan's biggest feat in his political career was proposing a budget with dramatic cuts to programs benefiting the poor. He'd cut Medicaid by one third, take away health care insurance from 30 million Americans, and cut Pell Grants for 1 million students. All so that he could give more tax breaks to the rich.⁸

* Fox News actually did point some of these out.  To give them credit, here's a link to the article: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/30/paul-ryans-speech-in-three-words/

Sources:

1. "Fact check: Paul Ryan at the RNC," USA Today, August 30, 2012 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279602&id=50188-19449770-mPm8rEx&t=8

2. "Undoing Obama Medicare cuts may backfire on Romney," The Boston Globe, August 18, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279597&id=50188-19449770-mPm8rEx&t=9

3. "Romney-Ryan Medicare Plan Would Cost 29-Year-Olds $331,200: Report," Huffington Post, August 27, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279596&id=50188-19449770-mPm8rEx&t=10

4. "Paul Ryan Misleads With GM Plant Closure Tale," Huffington Post, August 29, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279598&id=50188-19449770-mPm8rEx&t=11

5. "Fact Check: Paul Ryan misleads on debt panel's spending cut plan," CNN, August 30, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279608&id=50188-19449770-mPm8rEx&t=12

6. "Top 5 Fibs In Paul Ryan's Convention Speech," Talking Points Memo, August 30, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279595&id=50188-19449770-mPm8rEx&t=13

7. "Paul Ryan Address: Convention Speech Built On Demonstrably Misleading Assertions," Huffington Post, August 30, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279604&id=50188-19449770-mPm8rEx&t=14

8. "4 Ways Paul Ryan's Budget Would Devastate The Poor," ThinkProgress, August 17, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=279605&id=50188-19449770-mPm8rEx&t=15

The Blue Button

Sometimes little things can make you happy

I've got a blue button on my hair dryer.

The instructions said that when you push it, negative ions* come out in the air.

I have no idea if it really works, but even so, every morning when I'm drying my hair (I start with my head upside down) I push the button and I smile. :)

It's automatic -- I don't know if I'm smiling at myself because I'm pushing a button that does nothing, or if it really works. 

It doesn't matter.

Bottom line, I always feel just a little better.

So, look for your blue buttons of happiness. They're out there!

And smile!

Have a great day!

*negative ions are the good kind -- they are also produced by falling water, like your shower or a water fall. I think it's why people love waterfalls so much.

Why is it?

Why is it that when you try to sneak out in your pajamas to throw out the trash, you are bound to see a neighbor?

Why is it that when you'd like to see one of your neighbors, you rarely do?


Have you ever felt lonely and wanted to see someone you know?

Here's the trick -- make a quick run to the grocery store in your old sweats -- you know, the ones that are sooo comfy but bag out because the elastic has seen better days.  And don't comb your hair.  You'll be bound to see someone you know.

:)

Tracy

Next election or next generation -- a good question

From a bumper sticker:

A politician thinks of the next election.
A leader thinks of the next generation.

Think about it.

We need more trains!

If you don’t think this country needs to rebuild its infrastructure, take a trip down I-95. 

On the way to Florida from North Carolina, we experienced three major traffic backups due to accidents and slowdown from unidentified causes. 

We’d looked into the auto train (auto trainhttp://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245666320) but the last stop before Florida is in Washington, DC.   Next trip we’re going to take the train, even if it means renting a car.

It will save gas and aggravation!

Anyone have experience on the train?  Please share your experiences.