Tag: popular faith

–Max Baucus rides to rescue the Constitution

The debt hawks are to economics as the creationists are to biology.

Montana’s Senator Max Baucus introduced a Constitutional amendment in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission, which said that corporations and foreign governments can spend unlimited dollars calling for the election or defeat of a candidate. Baucus’s proposed amendment:

“Section 1. Congress shall have the power to regulate the contribution of funds by corporations and labor organizations to a candidate for election to, or for nomination for election to, a Federal office, and the power to regulate the expenditure of funds by corporations and labor organizations made in support of, or opposition to, such candidates.

“Section 2. A State shall have the power to regulate the contribution of funds by corporations and labor organizations to a candidate for election to, or for nomination for election to, public office in the State, and the power to regulate the expenditure of funds by corporations and labor organizations made in support of, or opposition to, such candidates.

“Section 3. Nothing contained in this Amendment shall be construed to allow Congress or a State to make any law abridging the freedom of the press.”

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

To say the Baucus proposal is rushed, sloppily constructed and useless would be an understatement:

1. It is limited to corporations and labor organizations, but does not address all those organizations that are not incorporated, such as foreign governments, partnerships, etc.

2. “Power to regulate” is so broad-stroke as to have no limitations whatsoever, and so repeatedly would be in conflict with the First Amendment.

3. “. . . .abridging the freedom of the press” doesn’t include freedom of speech, which is what advertising, lobbying and political contributions are all about.

4. It covers “candidates,” but not issues. Those candidates, who have a defining position (i.e. “bring the troops home, tomorrow” or “no limit on gun ownership”), easily could be supported by mentioning the issue or the slogan, without mentioning the candidate’s name.

In short, it’s a typical “flag-burning” amendment, designed to demonstrate Baucus’s outrage and patriotism to his constituents, but with neither substance nor hope of passage.

Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
http://www.rodgermitchell.com

No nation can tax itself into prosperity

–Economic disaster: Congress in agreement

The debt hawks are to economics as the creationists are to biology.

By Z. BYRON WOLF ABC News; July 27, 2010; “Debt Commission: Dealing With Federal Debt Likely To Require Tax Hikes, Spending Cuts. On both sides of the aisle, lawmakers are coming to terms with hard political fact: services are going to have to be cut and taxes are going to have to go up to keep the $13 trillion-plus national debt from skyrocketing into infinity and beyond.”

Our leaders have no idea what they are talking about. Cutting services and raising taxes is not a “hard political fact.” These are the absolute worst steps we could take, not just unnecessary, but massively harmful to our economy. The infamous DEBT COMMISSION, whose assignment it is to reduce the economy’s money supply, is akin to a “blood commission,” whose job it is to reduce the blood supply. Money is the lifeblood of an economy.

The same people who complain there are not enough jobs, also want to reduce money creation, the very thing that creates jobs. Our leaders act like doctors, who apply leeches to cure anemia. The country needs lower taxes, not higher. The country needs more federal spending, not less. These politicians, totally ignorant about economics, make economic decisions with the expected result.

And don’t be fooled by statements that taxes only will be increased on the rich. That simply is not true. All taxes destroy money. Period. Destroying any money, whether currently owned by rich or poor, decreases the total money supply, which hurts the entire American economy. You cannot drain water from only one end of a bathtub. A tax on Bill Gates hurts us all. It benefits no one.

And what are the “unnecessary” services that will be cut? See: SERVICES, and decide what we should eliminate — remembering that eliminating any federal spending reduces the money supply.

I cannot express in stronger terms how outrageously harmful this all will be. I urge you to contact your Senators, your Representatives and your media, and tell them to learn economics before making these terrible economic decisions that absolutely, positively will injure us all.

If Congress were employed by Al-Qaeda, they could not hurt America more than they now wish to do. If someone told you, “I have a plan to destroy billions or even trillions of American dollars,” you rightfully would brand him a traitor. More countries die from enemies within than from enemies without.

Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
http://www.rodgermitchell.com

No nation can tax itself into prosperity

–Salary for attending school, III

The debt hawks are to economics as the creationists are to biology.

The following article reinforces the posts, Salary for attending school and Salary for attending school, 2nd paper:
——————————————————————————————————————————————————
U.S. goes from leading to lagging in young college graduates

By Daniel de Vise
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 22, 2010; 6:07 AM

The United States has fallen from first to 12th in the share of adults ages 25 to 34 with postsecondary degrees, according to a new report from the College Board.

Canada is now the global leader in higher education among young adults, with 55.8 percent of that population holding an associate degree or better as of 2007, the year of the latest international ranking. The United States sits 11 places back, with 40.4 percent of young adults holding postsecondary credentials.

The report, to be presented Thursday to Capitol Hill policymakers, is backed by a commission of highly placed educators who have set a goal for the United States to reclaim world leadership in college completion — and attain a 55 percent completion rate — by 2025.

The campaign mirrors President Obama’s quest to reclaim world leadership in college graduates by 2020, although it gives the country five more years to get there. The Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education set its goal in December 2008, seven months before Obama’s American Graduation Initiative.

“I don’t think what we’re saying and what the president’s saying are that different,” said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board, the New York nonprofit agency responsible for the SAT and AP tests.

The United States ranks somewhat higher, sixth, among all nations when older adults are added to the equation, according to the report, which Caperton said would be the first of many annual reports charting progress toward the 2025 goal.

But the report focuses more heavily on younger adults, who are feared to be the first generation in the modern era that will be less well-educated than their parents.
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Educational attainment has risen gradually among 25- to 34-year-olds in recent years, according to census data, with the share holding associate degrees or better rising from 38.1 percent in 2000 to 41.6 percent in 2008, the latest figure available.

The report is tailored to state leaders and ranks states by college completion among young adults. The District of Columbia ranks higher than any state, with 62.2 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds holding postsecondary degrees. Maryland ranks 12th among states, with a 38.6 percent completion rate; Virginia ranks 17th, with a 36.5 percent rate.

The commission is urging state and national leaders to pursue a 10-part “action agenda,” which recommends such initiatives as universal pre-kindergarten for low-income families, better college counseling and dropout prevention, and streamlined college admissions, all of which might raise college completion rates. The group is led by William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland.

“We have a real, objective way every year to look at every state and see how they’re doing,” Caperton said, “and we’re doing this with legislators all over the country.”

Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
http://www.rodgermitchell.com

No nation can tax itself into prosperity

–$1,000 reward

The debt hawks are to economics as the creationists are to biology.

Politicians continue to worry about the size of the federal debt:

“The president knows that Republicans support extending unemployment insurance, and doing it in a fiscally responsible way by cutting spending elsewhere in the $3 trillion federal budget,” said Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio. “At what point do we pivot and start being concerned about our children and our grandchildren?” said Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

I will pay $1,000 to the first person (including you, Representative Boehner) who can demonstrate why the U.S. federal government will be unable to service its debts.

Wait, I’ll make it even easier. I’ll pay $1,000 to the first person (including you, Senator McConnell) who can demonstrate why the U.S. federal government will be unable to pay its debts, even if all taxes and all federal T-securities were eliminated. And I’ll throw in an extra $1,000 if you can show how the U.S. taxpayer and/or taxpayers’ grandchildren owe the federal debt.

Readers, please feel free to pass this on to your political representatives. I have my checkbook in hand.

Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
http://www.rodgermitchell.com

No nation can tax itself into prosperity