Abe F. March

We often hear the phrase, “Thinking outside the Box” (Novel or creative thinking).  This phrase is used in business environments, especially by executive coaches and management consultants. To think outside the box is to look further and to try not thinking of the obvious things, but to try thinking beyond them.

When we think about our country, are we boxed-in with our views?   Have you ever tried to see our country with an outside view?  

Observations about our country, expressed by foreigners, are often rejected and even resented.   Many only want comments from people living inside the box – people of the same mindset. Some writers view criticism as constructive while others only want to hear words that are comforting and supportive of their work.  It is natural for people to want affirmation for the choices they make and that includes their choice of where they live or work.  It can be a personal affront to hear criticism of one’s choice of residence and the impulse is to strongly defend that choice.  

When it comes to ideas, i.e., a healthcare system, only a system that originates within one’s country (the box) is even considered.  There are existing systems that have been proven to work, however unless it is American devised, it can’t work.

As an American living in Europe, I often hear critical comments about America.  If I don’t like what I hear, I rise in defense of my country.  Often the comments they make are valid and I can understand their POV.  I like it when I hear how America was (once) a beacon for the world.  America was the world leader and many countries, especially in Europe, adopted American ideas.  Now they complain that the bad things happening in America are coming to Europe.  It would be great to pick and choose what is good and reject what is perceived as “not good”.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way, and once an infection begins, it requires an antidote – some remedy to diffuse or eradicate it.  One looks for the source of the infection, and often the source is easily identifiable.

Preconceived ideas are difficult to change.  Using universal healthcare as an example, those against it look for programs that don’t work well and find incidents where the patient experienced problems.  They use bad examples to defend their agenda.  If their agenda was in support of universal healthcare, they might investigate programs that work.  I don’t believe that there is a perfect system; however there are systems that do work.  I have experience with a program that works, is affordable and want to see my fellow Americans have access to a similar program.  A good healthcare program not only saves lives, but also saves money.  Government controlled does not mean government operated.  

Are we too boxed-in to entertain outside ideas?  Are we too blind to admit our faults?  Do we still have the fighting spirit to work for a better tomorrow?  Can we once again become a world leader?  Leading by example works.  Our current economic example is not something to follow.  Those who did are in similar economic straits.  The decisions made by previous American Presidents led to our current financial crisis.  The policies that created the problem can be corrected.  It will require not only thinking outside the box, but leadership outside the box of political philosophy that created the problems.  

The next election is important for America and the world.  The world is watching with good reason.  They want to follow a winner.  If American can’t lead, then America will become a follower.  Will China take the role of leadership?  Financially, China is already in the driver’s seat. 

Wikepedia says:

“A Christian    is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. "Christian" derives from the Koine Greek word (Christos) Christ, a translation of the Biblical Hebrew term Messiah.[1]

Central to the Christian faith is love or Agape. Christians also believe Jesus is the Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew Bible, the Son of God, and the saviour of mankind from their sins.[2] Most Christians believe in the doctrine of the Trinity ("tri-unity"), a description of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which retains the monotheistic belief of Christianity's Abrahamic heritage through an ineffable confluence. This includes the vast majority of the churches in Christianity. A minority of Christian churches are Nontrinitarians.

The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to describe anything associated with Christianity, or in a proverbial sense "all that is noble, and good, and Christ-like."[3] It is also used as a label to identify people who associate with the cultural aspects of Christianity, irrespective of personal religious beliefs or practices.[4]

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Personal notes:

There are about 21 major world religions.  The two largest are Christianity and Islam.  Estimates give Christianity 2.1 billion and Islam with 1.3 billion with Secular/Irreligious/Agnostic/Atheist 1.1 billion (of which approx. 13.5 million are Jewish.)  

Epiphany:  1. The manifestations of Christ to the Magi. 2. Any manifestation of a god or demigod.  (Feeling) A sudden realization of a great truth

Prophet: (religion) A prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people.  

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Confused by religion?

From my early childhood I have wondered about the teachings of my church concerning the bible, the proclaimed “Word of God”.  Sending missionaries to foreign lands was felt necessary to convert the heathens to Christianity and save them from hell.  I often wondered about those who never got the message.  Did they go to hell due to ignorance?  The answer given was that if they didn’t know the truth, God would not punish them.  In my view, if that were the case, then ignorance was a good thing.  Once the people were told what was sinful, only then did they have a problem.  

The second thing that puzzled me was the punishment of hell.  If we are God’s children, then it follows that God is our parent.  How could a parent condemn his children to everlasting punishment in hell?  The Bible tells us that "God is Love" (1 John 4:8).

The most well known verse is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

I have read numerous books about religion.  The study of religion although enlightening served to elicite more questions.  A book by Karen Armstrong: “A History of God” is revealing and provides an historical look at the three major religions:  Christianity, Islam and Judaism.  Who or what is God appears to have confounded men throughout the ages.  Icons have been used to help with God visualization.  At the same time, God is expressed by some as essence (an abstract entity or a phenomenon).  Christ, the son of God, is visualized in human form and that appears to help with visualization in prayer, when talking to God.

The inspired word of God is accepted as God talking to man, revealing the sacred word.  How did God talk?  Was it with a voice, an epiphany, a dream or simply a strong feeling/ inspiration?  

Moses is said to have received his commandments from God.  It is said that God talked to Mohammad and he recorded what God revealed to him that led to him writing the Koran, and.  that made Mohammad a messenger of God (Allah) - a Prophet, as was Moses..  It seems that anyone claiming to have been contacted by God is a Prophet.     

How can it be proven that God talked to someone?  Do we take that on faith?   

When a President claims that God told him to invade a country, can we believe that and does that make him a Prophet, or is profit the objective?  

Keeping in mind that there were many Gods in ancient history, I presume that man created his own vision of God that he followed.  For some that God is one of wrath and vengeance.  The Christian God in the form of Jesus is proclaimed to be a loving God, a forgiving God, a God that turns the other cheek.  Each of the three major religions claims one God - presumably the same God, yet their actions often suggest that they worship a God of wrath – not forgiveness.

Communicating with God is another problem.  How does one communicate with nothingness?  If God is a spirit, what is visualized?  I can appreciate that an Icon provides a visual aid.  An Icon of death however, as with the crucifix, is a negative image.  An icon of life would be more positive.  The Eucharist ceremony, symbolically eating the body and drinking the blood of Christ, seems to me, cannibalistic.  

Man has been searching answers for ages.  Theories based on flawed texts written by man have caused numerous religious philosophies.  There are approximately 38,000 Christian denominations in the world today.   The philosophies of Islam are not so numerous. Muslims are basically divided in two major factions, Sunnis and Shias, that are further divided into various Schools of Jurisprudence and orders of Imamate. All other movements within such as Salafi, Modernists, the Mystical Sufi Orders, Deobandi and Barelvi are either Sunni or Shia or both. The division occurred during the early phase of the Caliphate over the question of who should succeed Muhammad after his death.  “While Christian denominations differ chiefly in matters of doctrine, Jewish denominations differ from one another primarily with regard to practice. Hasidism and Kabbalah are mystical approaches to the Jewish faith. Like monasticism in Christianity and Sufism in Islam, Jewish mysticism emphasizes inward, spiritual experiences over intellectual and rational knowledge.”

Conflict continues within Christianity, Islam and Judaism regarding beliefs and form of worship.   Who is right?  Can one ever fully comprehend God?  Is God a person, an intelligence or a thing?  Faith is an important factor in any belief or doctrine.

I believe ones perception of God is personal.  I don’t think there are valid answers to many questions and that what we believe to be right or real comes from faith.  Whatever our belief, it should not be forced on others. The search for answers may provide insights, however truth is what we believe it to be.  

How many jobs have been lost to technology?  We all enjoy new technology, but it comes with a price.  Machines replace workers.   A business calculates the cost of labor and decides it is less costly to use a machine.  What happens to the laid-off workers?  They talk about re-training workers displaced by technology.  For what jobs will they be trained?  Who will pay the cost of the training?  If the person is unemployed, can he/she afford to pay for re-training?  

Age is also a factor.  Older employees have difficulty learning, especially high tech, and at the same time, they are no longer desired due to their age.    

How many of our unemployed are employable?  As we replace workers with more technology, there will be more unemployed.   What will happen when there is no work available for the unemployed?  How will they survive?  

My questions are not new, however I don’t think there is enough attention being given to this problem.  One requires an income to survive.  Many unemployed are finding jobs in the service industry, however that too is diminishing.  Self-service has also replaced workers.  Email is affecting the postal service.  We want everything fast.  We are told that “Time is money.”  Selling your time for money is not so simple.  

We see book stores closing attributed to e-books.  What happens to the workers?  

If a machine can do the work of 10 employees, does that mean it takes one worker to operate the machine and nine unemployed?

Is our education system preparing for the age of technology?  How will people survive in a mechanized society?

There is an advantage to getting old(er).  No worry about employment, however the only concern now is that the benefits promised will continue.  The one certainty we have is death.  In the meanwhile, while we circulate among the living, we must find a way to survive and enjoy the time we have remaining.  Having friends and being loved is the greatest benefit.      

Death sentence for seniors?

Healthcare has become a political issue.  Many opposed to change take the attitude that their mind is made up and don’t want to be confused with an opposing view.   They cite abuse and use that argument to kill any new program .  Concentrating on the negative instead of the positive is a mindset that resists innovation/change.  I don’t know of a perfect healthcare program, however I do know of programs that work well in spite of alleged abuse.  In some situations, what one perceives as abuse others consider preventive medicine.  Early detection of a problem can save lives as well as costs by regular visits to the doctor instead of waiting for an emergency that cause greater costs both financially and physically.   

I am familiar with the mindset of some health insurers since I was once a health insurance salesman.  I am familiar with the American health care program as a user.  I am also familiar with a European healthcare program as a user.  My personal experience with a good program prompted my desire to push for a better healthcare program for American citizens.    Concentrating on programs that don’t work and/or using isolated examples of abuse to prevent change are not constructive.      

Confusion is amplified with the term “government controlled” Government controlled means the government sets the rules/standards by which the insurers operate.  The government does not administer the program.  The government’s job is to monitor the established program(s) to insure compliance.    

In a good program, no one is rejected for pre-existing conditions and everyone is eligible for coverage.  Everyone who has an income pays based on a percentage of their income, regardless of the income source. Trying to associate the term welfare with universal healthcare is just another attempt to block reform.  

We have witnessed the attempt of one political party to balance the budget by cutting Social Security and Medicare.  The lifeline of many seniors is their social security.  Social Security is not a charity.  Employees pay a tax into a SS fund.  Upon attaining the age of eligibility, they are entitled to receive compensation as stipulated by law.  

Law abiding senior citizens withhout a guarantee of their SS income is a travesty of justice.  Not everyone has a separate retirement program and SS is the only income for many seniors.   Additionally, seniors count on a government sponsored healthcare program, i.e., Medicare.  Without these funds, the senior is sentenced to an untimely death.  There are some seniors who would prefer to die and escape the pain and suffering they must endure.  Our taxes pay for the housing of criminals who get a roof over their heads, food and healthcare.   A senior without an income may lose their home.  Healthcare costs may also contribute to the loss of their home.  Should these law abiding citizens turn to crime for survival?  It appears that the people who wish to deny the seniors their means of survival are those who have security provided for by the tax payers and that includes the taxes paid by the seniors they unwittingly are sentencing to an early death.   A lethal injection would be more humane.

Comments like “The greatest country on earth” continue to be expressed even when things are bad.  Are comments like this mental cover-up?  Are they intended to show patriotism or some form of denial?  

We like to think that we are the greatest and the best even when facts show otherwise.   

Based on our current depressed economy and financial crisis, if we are considered the best, what does that say about the rest of the world?  

Is our unemployment the best in the world?

Is our currency the best in the world?

Are our politicians the best in the world?

Is the misery of our citizens the best in the world?

Living on our past successes and accomplishments doesn’t count.  We are as good as what we are doing today.  

A positive mental outlook is important; however being in a state of denial is not a healthy attitude.  If we refuse to recognize our faults, our failures, we tend to compound the problem by accepting the bad as good.   

Being critical is healthy.  It means we care.  It also reflects our desire to make things better. Ignoring our faults or failures by living in the past is to accept defeat.  We are never defeated until we give up.  I don’t think Americans have a give-up mentality.  That mentality needs stimulation to affect positive change.  If we want to live in the past, then it is better to think of the things that were done that led to success and start doing them again.  Actions are the catalyst to change, not wishful thinking.    

Those meager years that began in 1929.  I was not ten years old, but remember the hard times.  I didn’t know they were hard times and felt it was a way of life.  Following the depression came the war years – a continuation of austerity.  The frugal mindset helped them overcome the shortages.  There were rationing stamps that included food items as well as things like gasoline.

Women took jobs in factories doing the work formerly done men.  

What sticks with me is how people banded together within the community, helping one another.  They traded ration stamps to get things they needed.  Today they would probably be labeled communists or socialists.  How sad it is to turn something good, like helping your fellow man, into a stigma of something bad.  The family was important.  Children took care of their parents in old age.

So what happened to this communal mindset or mentality?  When did the feeling of “me” replace the “we” mentality?  I don’t know the cause, but it appears to have happened after the war.  Seeking independence, many kids left the farm and migrated to the cities seeking greater opportunity for prosperity.  That was seen as progress and the sign of the times.

Not every one made it and many returned home for security.  The security net was the family unit.  I’m guessing here, but it seems that as the family units declined, the independent workers needed a security net provided by the government.

As we are on the brink of a new recession/depression, it is time to consider ways to survive.  Helping one another is highly significant.  The “me” must be turned into “we”.  “United we stand, divided we fall” is a truism.  Food, clothing and shelter remain as the basic human needs.  In tough times, the “wants” take a backseat.  That doesn’t mean we should not aspire for better condition to fulfill the wants, but that our priorities require adjustment.  

Giving without the thought of return (what’s in it for me), is not easy to do with the programmed mentality of “me”.   

I can’t recommend a specific book to read, but I can suggest seeking information about the hard times of the past and looking for the grit that turned the bad times into the good times.   

Check out the following URL about the Great Depression of 1929. http://useconomy.about.com/od/grossdomesticproduct/p/1929_Depression.htm

“What Ended the Great Depression of 1929?

In 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected President based on his promises to create Federal Government programs to end the Great Depression. Within 100 days the “New Deal” was signed into law. This created 42 new agencies designed to create jobs, allow unionization, and provide unemployment insurance. Many of these programs, such as Social Security, the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), and FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) are still here today, helping to safeguard the economy.

However, the extent of the Great Depression was so great that government programs alone could not end it. Unemployment remained in the double-digits until 1941, when the U.S. entry into World War II created defence-related jobs”.

I think most of us heard the expression, “Do you think money grows on trees?”

If you ever tried to plant money in the soil, you discovered that the paper money didn’t like to be watered and just fell apart and the coins corroded, turning green or black.  So how does one grow money?

Planting money seeds can be accomplished by writing.  The words are the seeds that contain the nutrients.  As the tree grows and blossoms, it produces fruit.  Selling the fruit can either be in fixed locations, by word of mouth, or the Internet There are people who don’t want the producer to succeed and throw harmful material on the plants to inhibit its growth; however with plenty of water, sunshine and good maintenance, the tree will grow.

The money tree begins with thoughts that germinate.  Turning those seeds into words can produce the fruit of entertainment or enlightenment.  Cultivating the money tree is required to rid weeds of negativity that inhibit plant growth.

Once your fruit is harvested and ready for the market, it is dressed with a nice cover that appeals to the hungry reader.  If the fruit is rotten or full of blemishes, it won’t sell.  Fresh fruit should be marketed while it is still fresh. You may also want to mention that it was not sprayed with toxic material - that your fruit is ripe, delicious, and satisfying to the soul.  Your soul food can feed empty minds or minds in need of nourishment.  

Once you have planted your seeds, your garden requires maintenance.  The weather (economy) can affect your crop.  Sometimes it is necessary to protect your plants from the storms, and that requires more work.   A bountiful harvest is largely dependent on the care/maintenance you give it.      

Your reputation for producing good fruit will spread and the next harvest will be more successful.  Customers will want your produce.  It may require you to plant more trees to quench their appetite.  

Of course, there will be nothing to harvest if you don’t plant.  And once planted, cultivation is required.  Remember also that some plants take longer to grow.  Don’t be impatient.  Fruit tastes better when ripe.

Negativity sells.  The media thrives on it.  We turn on the news or read the headlines and read about disasters or some evil that has been committed.  The greater the disaster and/or the higher profile of the evil doer, the longer the coverage and that means profits.     

The defense industry sees war as a positive thing.  There is always an enemy that needs to be destroyed.  That means profits.       

Politicians use negativity to promote their agendas by throwing dirt at their opponents.  Getting ahead by putting others down is a way of life. Stepping on the under privileged, the poor, to keep them in their place provides security for the rich and more profits.

Like birds, negative thinkers flock together.  Anything contrary to their ingrained beliefs is immediately discarded.  When I was a member of the Optimist Club, there was one member who saw negativity in everything, and I said, “I think we should create a Pessimist Club.”  The man replied, “It will never work.”  

Remember that the God of the Old Testament is a God of Revenge.  The God of the New Testament wants us to turn the other cheek, love our enemies, and do good to those that hurt us.  How can one believe in a God like that?  We got to be tough.  We need to teach people lessons.  How can you do that by being kind or having compassion?

Being positive is not good.  We saw what positive thinking did.  We had a balanced budget, the SS fund was secured, and common people were prospering and satisfied with their lives.  That was bad.  No pain, no gain was not being utilized.   Our intelligent leader, who trusted in the money God, knew that the citizens of his country needed some pain.  He decided to do the right thing and use that money for a worthy cause.  He invaded a country and put soldiers to work.  Thousands got killed – a small price to pay for achieving his goal.  It created jobs in post war reconstruction.  He also wanted the oil for his friends so they could create jobs; however that didn’t work out as planned.  He did win the coveted “Worst President in History” award.    

If you want to remain as you are, there are some books that should not be read.  

Established dogmas have a long history of killing unbelievers.  In order to keep those traditions alive, you are advised not to read:

 “Waking God” by Philip Harris and Brian Doe.  This book series could rattle established dogmas and cause you to question your faith.

If you want to maintain your solemnity, don’t read:   

“200 Shorts" by Salvatore Buttachi.  It could create smile lines on the face.

Other books not to read:

“The Healings” by Oana may cause you to question wholeness.

“Beware of the Devil’s Hug” by Marvin Wilson may cause you to have compassion for a derelict, and that’s devilish!

“They Plotted Revenge Against America” by Abe March is definitely not to be read by patriotic Americans.  

Warning:

The above mentioned books are just a sampling of books published by “All Things That Matter Press”. Reading ATTMP published books may cause problems with mainstream publishers and create untold competition with renowned best selling authors.  Reading these uncensored books could cause you to question your sanity.   Remember, ignorance is bliss.  

Stay negative.  Misery loves company.

The following expressed by D.J. Stephens

"The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3

months & 8 days to be ratified!  Why?  Simple!  The people  demanded it.

That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.

Of  the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to

become the law of the  land...all because of public pressure.

If you pass this message along to 20 people, In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message.  This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of  2011

1.  No Tenure / No Pension.

A  Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when

they are out of office.  

2.  Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security

system immediately.  All  future funds flow into the Social Security system,

and Congress participates with the American people.  It may not be used for

any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans

do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.  Congressional pay

will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the

same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American

people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective

1/1/12.  The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen.

Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.  Serving in Congress

is an honor, not a career.  The  Founding Fathers envisioned citizen

legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to

work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take

three days for most people (in the  U.S. ) to receive the message.  Maybe it

is time.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!"

A State of Emergency exists with many citizens of America.Many

of us are living in fear and that fear is real. As seniors our

livelihood is being threatened by the loss of Social Security income. We

paid into the SS fund. If there is no money in the fund, where is it?

If it was used and not returned it is akin to theft. It is called an

entitlement and that is a correct label. We are entitled to the money we

paid into the fund. Medicare and VA care is also threatened. The

veteran swore an oath to serve and put his/her life on the line. What

about the promises made to the veterans? The enemy is not some foreign

power, but those who are ready to renege on their promises and deprive

the citizens of life-sustaining services.

Mr.President, your efforts for a universal health care program is

appreciated. We know that the enemies within, supported by the rich and

powerful, don’t want it to succeed. The enemies talk about the

trickle-down theory. Where has it trickled down? Can they give examples

of this theory? Where are the jobs they created? What

happened to America’s middle class? We have a two-class society, rich

and poor, with the rich are getting richer and the poor, poorer.

In the preamble to our constitution, it says, “…establish justice ,insure

domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense and promote the

general Welfare…” What happened to justice, Tranquility and general

Welfare?

If there are tax breaks, don’t you think those breaks should apply to all

Americans? If the rich get tax breaks based on the trickle-down theory,

allow them to keep the breaks if they can demonstrate how those breaks

created jobs. If not, they should be required to pay up.

I am an author and participate on a forum with other authors. The current

state of emergency is being discussed. Here are two postings by other

authors.

By D.K. Christi

"The President of the United States has not threatened anything. He cannot

assure anyone that government business will go forward because the debt

ceiling has never before been held hostage to opposing political

agendas. His original request was the traditional bill extending the

debt ceiling to cover the debts already incurred - not new debt - the

debts we have already promised to pay. That's what debt is - already

spent funds.

What is our debt? The majority is from the reduction in taxes during the

Bush Administration that reduced needed revenue to support the war

effort. The war effort is the biggest piece of the debt since when the

war was started, there were no taxes or financial hardships imposed on

the U.S. citizens while the best young men and women were being sent to

face death. The next piece of the debt came from the programs

implemented to put specific industries back into business to provide

jobs or prevent the loss of jobs. That is only a small piece of the debt

since those payments were successful and have been nearly paid back in

full - in full. Another piece of the debt is payments owed to senior

citizens and disabled persons for medical care that has been one of the

most efficient delivery systems of medical care imaginable. While costs

for insurance and general medical care have skyrocketed with exorbitant

salaries in the insurance industry and high awards to malpractice

attorneys and for malpractice insurance, the administration of the

medicare program has been lean and efficient. The program works. It

extends quality life and provides a safety net for people who previously

either died, were burdens to families or ended up on the federal dole

because all funds were exhausted from illness. Social Security and

medicare are paid for by those who are employed for the benefit of those

who retire. It's a pay for itself program. Medicaid primarily serves

children and elderly who have no other source of medical care. Because

it is administered by states, it is less efficient and has a variety of

service methods making its efficiency difficult to measure. Both

programs serve people with no other resources for the most part, those

least able to lobby for themselves.

Thus the debt was incurred by wars and tax gifts to the wealthy and

corporations that shrunk the revenue needed to support the war effort

and the promised services to citizens.

The debt ceiling" is semantics that matter in the money markets. Not

increasing the debt ceiling at this time is not comparable to living

within our means at home. The war effort should have been a pay as you

go effort - taxing for the war at the time of the war. Tax breaks to the

wealthiest people and corporations who have windfall profits from the

labors and benefits of this wonderful country and its working class is

plain stupid. That stupidity should not be borne by the least able.

President Obama is just stating the obvious. When it comes time to pay the bills,

the current revenue flow will not pay them all. Everyone knows that,

but he said it to be perfectly clear. The debt ceiling must be lifted so

the government can pay existing debts. It will be a world class debacle

not to.

The next step is to remove those ridiculous tax breaks to the wealthy and

largest corporations, extend the salary taxes past the current income

limits for social security and collect outstanding IRS debts rather than

adding people to the prisons who need to work off the debt they owe us.

It's taking a statement and turning it into a threat that keeps people on

edge and unable to evaluate the truth from the political hyperbole."

By E. Don Harpe

"The debt limit (ceiling) was first introduced in 1917, and since then

Congress has never failed to raise it. Actually, the first time it was

put on the table was in 1981, and it was the Gipper himself who raised

it that year. Back then President Ronald Reagan said, quote: “The full

consequences of a default – or even the serious prospect of default – by

the United States are impossible to predict and awesome to contemplate.

Denigration of the full faith and credit of the United States would

have substantial effects on the domestic financial markets and the value

of the dollar.”

And now we learn that every time it’s been put on the table since then,

it’s been raised. President George W. Bush raised the debt ceiling in 2002 – 03 –

04 – 05 – 06 – 07 – and 08. President Barrack Obama raised it in 2009 and 2010.

And here’s the kicker. The budget, or passing a budget, was not

connected to raising the debt ceiling in any of those years.

So, why is it this year the Republican’s in Congress are determined to tie

the debt ceiling to the passing of a new budget, and why are they

standing so firm on what they insist on calling “raising taxes?” We know

it isn’t really raising taxes, it’s just rolling them back to where

they were before George W. Bush started the second biggest welfare

program in the history of the country, by giving billions of tax dollars

to the wealthiest people in the country. We know the argument that the

“tax breaks for the wealthy” are needed to create jobs, and if that were

true, it would be well spent. But it simply isn’t true. They aren’t

creating any jobs, at least not here in this country. They’re sitting on

the money, giving their corporate heads raises and personal jets, but

they aren’t creating any jobs. I honestly believe they could create

jobs, I just don’t think they want to. Most of these elite wealthy

people who have their hands so deep in the taxpayers pockets are

themselves Republicans, and I think they are very deliberately not

creating jobs in order to point to the unemployment situation and the

number of jobs not created as a means to get a Republican elected to the

White House again in 2012. They want this, because in that way they’re

pretty sure the government teat they’re sucking off will never dry up.

So the idea that rolling back the tax breaks will in some way hinder job

growth is nonsensical. Job growth due to the tax breaks is non-existent

all ready, so how can it be hindered more?

The other reason, which also deals with the creating of new jobs, says that

even the mention of rolling back taxes has been enough to keep the

people who get the wealthy welfare checks from investing the money to

create the jobs. How hokey is that? Are they that afraid? I doubt it.

Most people doubt it.

The American people believe that it is unconscionable to try and balance

the budget by spending cuts alone, especially when those cuts come at

the expense of those Americans least able to afford the cuts, and most

likely to suffer from them. We are already graduating students that can

barely read, and can’t find New York or Los Angeles on a map, and they

want to take money away from education. Nearly every college in the

country is raising tuition just to get by, and they want to take money

from the grants program. Seniors are being told they have to choose

between eating and buying medicine, between paying their utility bills

and their phone bills. Social programs that do the most good in this

country are being stripped of funding, when they know it will keep many

middle aged ladies from getting needed mammograms. And why is this being

done? To create jobs if you listen to the Republicans, but if you

listen to the rank and file working man and woman on the street, it’s

being done so the wealthy can remain in their gated communities, in

their million dollar homes, and fly around the world on vacations. It’s

being done so oil companies and big farm businesses can keep making

record profits, and keep their corporate jets in the air. It’s being

done so the war in the Middle East can continue, and the war is

continuing, not to keep us safe, but to keep pouring billions of dollars

into the coffers of a handful of corporations. The war has never been

about terrorism, or keeping America safe from attack. It’s been about

making dollars for a handful of very powerful people who think it is

their right to rape this country until the middle class and the working

class bleed.

I think the Republicans and those idiot members of the tea bag party that

are doing everything in their power to hold this country hostage,

should be brought to trial for treason."