Mitchell’s laws: The more budgets are cut and taxes inceased, the weaker an economy becomes. To survive long term, a monetarily non-sovereign government must have a positive balance of payments. Austerity = poverty and leads to civil disorder. Those, who do not understand the differences between Monetary Sovereignty and monetary non-sovereignty, do not understand economics.
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There was a time when the middle of the country really was the middle. We here in the Midwest were the moderates, who could sneer at Southern bigotry, Eastern elitism, Southwestern machismo and Western superficiality.

Sure, those were wild generalities, but any sneering certainly should be gone by now, for our center-of-the-nation neighbor Kansas seems determined to own the label for intolerance and hypocrisy:

House passes bills aimed at abortion, sharia

The (Kansas State) House passed a wide-ranging anti-abortion bill Monday, along with another bill meant to keep Kansas courts from making rulings based on foreign laws — which some supporters have said is necessary to protect the state from Muslims who would impose their legal code, also known as sharia.

As everyone knows, Kansas is overrun with Muslims and this great hoard of Muslims is determined to impose sharia. Everyone in Kansas knows this.

The abortion bill, which supporters dubbed “The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” passed 88-31. It seeks to revamp the state’s tax code to remove all subsidies — direct and indirect — for medical costs related to the elective termination of pregnancy.

Note “indirect” and “related to.” They leave lots of room for government meddling into people’s lives. (Kansas is a favorite Tea Party state, which wants to get the government off peoples backs.)

Kansans for Liberty, a Tea Party sect, complains on its web site: “Well over 50% of Americans oppose the US Government’s takeover of our country’s Healthcare Industry.” Apparently that anti-government-takeover sentiment doesn’t include the Kansas government.

“We’re talking about not being able to deduct the cost of any health insurance that pays for coverage of abortions,” said Rep. John Rubin, R-Shawnee, one of the bill’s champions.

Not only can’t you deduct for abortion itself, but you can’t deduct for a health insurance plan that would pay anyone for for an abortion — even if you yourself don’t have an abortion. But remember, this rule is not a “government takeover” of healthcare.

The bill also prohibits including donations to institutions that provide abortions in a taxpayer’s charitable deductions.

So no charitable donations to a hospital that might help a beaten and raped child who will die in slow agony without an abortion. Is that similar to stoning a rape victim? Sharia law no. Kansas law, yes.

Keep in mind, Kansas has among the most liberal gun laws (i.e. virtually no gun laws), but by heaven, they are going to clamp down on those murdering girls and doctors.

Rep. Barbara Bollier, R-Mission Hills, a retired physician, offered an amendment Friday to tack on (information about) several specific medical risks of continuing a pregnancy, but it was defeated.

Even though abortion itself, paying for abortion and deduction for insurance that covers abortion all are illegal, we want to be triply sure no one even thinks about abortion. So our women and girls are not to learn whether there is a medical risk to continuing a pregnancy. They’re better off if we keep them ignorant. [But again, this is not government interference]

The bill also restricts the state from paying anyone who engages in abortion training, which has caused an ongoing debate about the medical accreditation of The University of Kansas’ obstetrics and gynecology program.

Who cares about training and accreditation? Clearly unnecessary — in Kansas.

The other bill passed by the House, dubbed the “Kansas Laws for Kansas Courts Act,” prohibits judges from making any ruling based on a foreign or religious law that is contrary to the state or federal Constitution.

This tells a judge he can’t break Kansas law. Well, DUH! But the inclusion of “foreign” and “religious” sends a special, not so subtle, bigoted message.

It doesn’t specifically mention sharia in order to distinguish itself from an Oklahoma law already declared unconstitutional.

These patriotic lovers of the constitution repeatedly try to worm around the clear meanings of the constitution.

But supporters, including Rep. Peggy Mast, R-Emporia, and Rep. Jan Pauls, D-Hutchinson, have called it a pre-emptive measure to prevent the spread of Islamic law.

If that were constitutionally legal, why not come out and say it. Why the subterfuge?

Several lawyers outside the Statehouse warned that the bill could sour international trade for Kansas companies, but Rep. Lance Kinzer, R-Olathe, told the House that a conference committee amended it to exempt business-to-business transactions in which foreign laws are taken into account.

“We wanted to make sure nothing in this bill would prohibit that relatively common proceeding,” Kinzer said.

Whew! Sure, protecting our way of life is important, but now you’re talking money. Got to protect those meat packers. Let’s be honest, we’d let a meat packer do anything, even commit abortion, if the money were right.

The bill passed 120-0.

That says it all. I guess no Humanitarian Award for Kansas this year.

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

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No nation can tax itself into prosperity, nor grow without money growth. Monetary Sovereignty: Cutting federal deficits to grow the economy is like applying leeches to cure anemia. Two key equations in economics:
Federal Deficits – Net Imports = Net Private Savings
Gross Domestic Product = Federal Spending + Private Investment and Consumption + Net exports

#MONETARY SOVEREIGNTY

Mitchell’s laws: The more budgets are cut and taxes inceased, the weaker an economy becomes. To survive long term, a monetarily non-sovereign government must have a positive balance of payments. Austerity = poverty and leads to civil disorder. Those, who do not understand the differences between Monetary Sovereignty and monetary non-sovereignty, do not understand economics.
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Here is an excerpt from TPM. Does the Tea/Republican Party echo your personal values on this issue?

House GOP To Shift Defense Cuts To Poverty Programs
Sahil Kapur, MAY 7, 2012,
As Congress returns from recess this week, House Republicans are set to advance legislation to replace automatic defense spending cuts they agreed to last year with cuts to programs for the poor and working class. The controversial measure is expected to pass the House and die in the Senate, making it largely a political exercise that allows the two parties to contrast the values at the heart of the 2012 election: Should the burden for addressing the country’s long-running fiscal challenges fall to struggling people, or to the wealthiest people in the country?

The proposal — which is an outgrowth of the budget the House GOP overwhelmingly voted for late March — would cut some $261 billion from health care programs, food stamps, unemployment benefits and child tax credits, among others. It constitutes a violation of the GOP’s end of the debt-limit deal, which included painful sacrifices for both parties if the Congress failed to reach a bipartisan deficit-reduction agreement.

The issue is not whether we need defense spending (we do), nor whether the federal deficit should be cut (it should not). The issue is whether America will still be America, if we hack away at benefits for the poor and middle classes, especially when we have the unlimited ability to help the poor and middle classes.

The issue is not whether the poor and middle classes are lazy malingerers (the vast majority are not), nor whether the U.S. is “broke” as GOP Speaker John Boehner claimed (it is not). The issue is whether impoverishing the 99% is the American way.

The issue is not whether taxes on the rich should be increased (they should not), nor whether power-hungry traitors are destroying the American dream (they are). The issue is whether this reflects your values.

The issue is whether this is in America’s future:

Austerity = poverty and leads to civil disorder.

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

==========================================================================================================================================
No nation can tax itself into prosperity, nor grow without money growth. Monetary Sovereignty: Cutting federal deficits to grow the economy is like applying leeches to cure anemia. Two key equations in economics:
Federal Deficits – Net Imports = Net Private Savings
Gross Domestic Product = Federal Spending + Private Investment and Consumption + Net exports

#MONETARY SOVEREIGNTY

Mitchell’s laws: The more budgets are cut and taxes increased, the weaker an economy becomes. To survive long term, a monetarily non-sovereign government must have a positive balance of payments. Austerity = poverty and leads to civil disorder. Those, who do not understand the differences between Monetary Sovereignty and monetary non-sovereignty, do not understand economics.
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In the coming Presidential election, you will have a choice of three candidates, Barack Obama, Flip Romney or Flop Romney. Here are some positions held by Flip Romney and the opposing positions held by Flop Romney. Thanks to Senator John McCain for digging most of these up:

FLIP: “I think the minimum wage ought to keep pace with inflation.”
FLOP: “There”s no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs.”

FLIP: “I will work and fight for stem cell research.”
FLOP: “In the end, I became persuaded that the stem-cell debate was grounded in a false premise.”

FLIP: “I respect and will protect a woman”s right to choose.”
FLOP: “I never really called myself pro-choice.”

FLIP: “I like mandates. The mandates work.”
FLOP: “I think it”s unconstitutional on the 10th Amendment front.”

FLIP: “I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush.”
FLOP: “Ronald Reagan is… my hero.”

FLIP: “Illegal immigrants should have a chance to obtain citizenship.”
FLOP: “Secure the border, employment verification and no special pathway to citizenship.”
FLIP: ““Mitt Romney believes that young illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children should have the chance to become permanent residents, and eventually citizens, by serving honorably in the United States military,” a Romney campaign release states.

FLIP: Romney refused to take a position on Bush’s massive, 10-year tax cut plan.
FLOP: “I supported them.” (The Bush tax cuts)

FLIP:Romney said he will take stands that put him at odds with some traditional ultra- conservative groups, and cited his support for the assault rifle ban and the Brady gun control law. “That’s not going to make me the hero of the NRA. I don”t line up with a lot of special interest groups.”
FLOP: “I’m after the NRA”s endorsement. I”m not sure they”ll give it to me. I hope they will. I also joined because if I’m going to ask for their endorsement, they’re going to ask for mine.”

FLIP: “I have a gun of my own. I go hunting myself.”
FLOP: Asked by reporters at the gun show Friday whether he personally owned a gun, Romney said he did not. He said one of his sons, Josh, keeps two guns at the family vacation home in Utah.

FLIP: “I think the global warming debate is now pretty much over . . .”
FLOP: “I have to tell you with regards to global warming that that’s something, which, you’re right, the scientists haven’t entirely resolved . . .”

FLIP: When a 2002 Constitutional Amendment was proposed to ban same-sex marriage, Romney opposed it
FLOP: Romney will join petition backers in a State House press event today to urge the Legislature to pass the Protection of Marriage Amendment

FLIP: Gov. Mitt Romney (R) signed a bill Wednesday requiring all Massachusetts residents to purchase health insurance.
FLOP: Romney … is much more likely to present his state’s universal coverage law as not a model to copy but an example for other states to learn from. He’s now a critic of his own biggest achievement.

FLIP: Mitt Romney broke with GOP tradition and refused to sign the [Americans for Tax Reform] pledge. Romney’s Gubernatorial Campaign Spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, Dismissed Such Pledges At The Time As “Government By Gimmickry.”
FLOP: Almost five years after he refused to sign a ‘no new taxes’ pledge during his campaign for governor, Mitt Romney announced … that he had done just that, as his campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination began in earnest.

Between Flip and Flop, I support Flip . . . or actually it’s Flop. I think half of right wingers should vote for Flip and the other half for Flop. Or maybe the other way around. And don’t quote me, because I may change my mind, depending on what you think.

While all politicians change positions for convenience, Flip and Flop seem to have cornered the world record. I therefore have created the Mitt Romney Flip Flop award, of which he will be the first recipient — five copies for extreme wishy-washy excellence.

WHO WILL YOU VOTE FOR?

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

==========================================================================================================================================
No nation can tax itself into prosperity, nor grow without money growth. Monetary Sovereignty: Cutting federal deficits to grow the economy is like applying leeches to cure anemia. Two key equations in economics:
Federal Deficits – Net Imports = Net Private Savings
Gross Domestic Product = Federal Spending + Private Investment and Consumption + Net exports

#MONETARY SOVEREIGNTY

Mitchell’s laws: The more budgets are cut and taxes inceased, the weaker an economy becomes. To survive long term, a monetarily non-sovereign government must have a positive balance of payments. Austerity = poverty and leads to civil disorder. Those, who do not understand the differences between Monetary Sovereignty and monetary non-sovereignty, do not understand economics.
==========================================================================================================================================

France became the latest in the line of euro nations, whose voters tossed out their leader. Why has this been happening?

Washington Post
Francois Hollande wins French presidential vote over Sarkozy, exit polls show
By Edward Cody, Updated: Sunday, May 6,

PARIS — Francois Hollande, a moderate Socialist with an easy smile, was elected president of France on Sunday, exit polls showed, narrowly defeating the incumbent, Nicolas Sarkozy, a conservative whose five-year term was undermined by Europe’s economic crisis and his combative personality.

The outcome turned Sarkozy into the latest political leader to fall victim to the European economic implosion of the past four years.

Leaders of France, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain all have been voted out. According to European Union and International Monetary Fund philosophy, all these leaders did not create enough austerity for their economies, while the voters believed these leaders created too much austerity.

Who is right? Could it be that the problem lies not in the leaders nor in their nations, but in the euro itself? That the problem might be a fundamental weakness in the euro, never seems to occur to the EU.

Based on EU beliefs,all these nations, (and in fact, most nations of the world,) have been profligate. The vast majority are deeply in debt to everyone else. So “A” owes “B” and “B” owes “C” and “C” owes “A” – and they all are in trouble. See anything wrong with those mathematics?

Sarkozy was generally given high marks for statesmanship in dealing with the economic crisis in the European Union. But voter dissatisfaction swelled nevertheless, in part from an impression that working-class French people were not getting enough attention as Sarkozy dealt with the crisis.

The Socialist candidate, although making clear that hard times lie ahead, promised to apportion out austerity with a more even hand, including stimulus for economic growth alongside debt reduction. In one telling argument, he charged Sarkozy with protecting the rich by limiting upper-tier tax rates and said, if elected, he would impose a 75 percent rate on all earnings above $1.3 million a year to finance more help for the poor.

A man is elected because he will “apportion out austerity with a more even hand”? Think how desperate the people must be, if that’s their criterion — continuing economic disaster, but doled out more equally.

And then there’s “stimulus for economic growth alongside debt reduction.” Exactly how is that accomplished? There is no known mechanism by which a government can reduce its debt (i.e. increase taxes and/or reduce spending), while stimulating its economy (something the U.S. Tea/Republicans have not yet figured out).

[O.K., there is one method: Spend less on foreign soil. This means reduced foreign wars, foreign purchases (by the government) and foreign assistance. But to achieve an approved level of austerity, governments tend to reduce domestic spending, a sure road to recession or depression.]

The euro is a failed concept. Unless changes are made, look for every euro nation, not just the PIIGS, to tumble painfully down the dark hole of austerity and economic disaster.

As I have said repeatedly, there are two, and only two, long-term salvations for the euro nations:

1. Return to Monetary Sovereignty by re-adopting your own sovereign currencies
or
2. The EU to become a republic, similar to the U.S. federal government, with the euro nations similar to U.S. states, in which the EU provides euros to member nations as needed.

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

==========================================================================================================================================
No nation can tax itself into prosperity, nor grow without money growth. Monetary Sovereignty: Cutting federal deficits to grow the economy is like applying leeches to cure anemia. Two key equations in economics:
Federal Deficits – Net Imports = Net Private Savings
Gross Domestic Product = Federal Spending + Private Investment and Consumption + Net exports

#MONETARY SOVEREIGNTY