Saturday, April 10, 2010
American Economy - 9/2009
So we are coming up on the one year anniversary of the financial market meltdown of September 2008. Normally, in the course of a market correction things would start moving in the right direction about now. What I see is an ever climbing unemployment rate, bankrupted state and federal governments and economic decline. Why are we struggling so? Didn't the feds pass a huge economic stimulus package? Didn't we take over entire industries? Didn’t we waste billions for cash for clunkers? We had 5 percent unemployment during most of the Presidential campaign. Now the economy continues to shed jobs. I think an important aspect of our current situation is the impact of our national leadership. They have chosen to pursue their goals instead of the best interests of the American people. They have ivory tower solutions that have never worked in the history of man. Instead of choosing proven solutions, they want to implement their agenda. The vice president said it yesterday, the stimulus package is working. The economy has shed millions jobs in the last 9 months. I believe ultimately the President's plan is to concentrate as much power as possible in his hands and dictate our future. This economic downturn is helping him achieve his goals. Since they passed their big government, union funding stimulus program, what have they been up to? Well, it would be cap in trade, government healthcare and prosecuting those that kept us safe. At a time of economic misery and decline, why would we be seeking to needlessly increase government interference in the economy? Cap in trade costs jobs and produces nothing. Healthcare reform at this point will cool the job market as businesses hold back on hiring while the government comes up with a new unfunded mandate and attempts to control our personal lives. A big part of the problem at this point is the uncertainty injected into our economy because of the agenda of the president. Even as we ponder all of this, his banking department is writing new regulations to cripple our financial markets. They want to make it less risky. The result will be less investment, less growth and a longer, deeper recession. Remember government stimulus is mostly about stimulating government (making it bigger) not about helping expand and grow our economy. It is time for the silent majority to speak and be heard. Our freedom is at stake.
My second Tea Party speech
Introduction: My name is Doug Livengood. I was born in California, I have lived my whole life in this wonderful state. I was taught in public schools all the way through college in California. I love this state and this country. I am a father, a husband, a patriot and a citizen. I have a deep respect for those that came before me, Who fought and died to make this a free country. Who conceived of the constitution and then fought, bled and in many cases died to give me what we have today. I can imagine many of our founding fathers and brave patriots would look at our country today and just shake their heads. They would think “how could we have allowed this?” or “where did we go wrong?”. I want to tell you today that they didn’t go wrong. We, “that’s you and me” have allowed this country to careen off course and it is past time to start pushing this country back on the right course.
Now before I go too far you will have to forgive me. I am not a professional speaker and I don’t own a teleprompter so every once in a while I will need to check my notes. It won’t be too often because I am speaking from my heart and the words I say are true. I don’t have to make this stuff up as many professional politicians do.
I look at those in government who have seized the reigns of power and are currently seeking to steer our nation down the wrong road and I can’t just sit idly by waiting for the large crashing sound as they run us down a dead end road or off a cliff. I am losing sleep as I watch those in power purposely making choices that destroy what has made America great. Here are just some of the elements that the current cadre of elitists in Sacramento and Washington are selling:
1. The government must take over large swaths of our economy or we will fail.
2. We must spend trillions of dollars we don’t have to stimulate our economy.
3. By spending trillions of dollars we will reduce unemployment.
4. By bailing out our auto industry we will keep them from bankruptcy.
5. By appeasing those that seek our destruction they will play nice.
6. By making more regulations and increasing our costs we will improve our economy and grow “Green jobs”
7. By having the government administer our healthcare system we will have lower costs and better coverage.
I am not sure what world these people are from but they are selling large heaping truck loads of bull.
How did we get here?
When did liberty and capitalism become evil? I actually have friends who think profits are evil…
When did opposition to socialism and government takeover of healthcare become racist? I for one oppose their ideas and plans regardless of their skin tone! I believe that rhetorical line is purposeful and intended to oppress us and marginalize our point of view. I refute the label and will stand firm in my support of your freedom and liberty!
There are seven key elements to the plans currently being forced down our throats. If you add them up you can form an equation:
Government takeovers + Government overspending + Government solutions to all our problems = Decline, Depression and Slavery
Government takeovers are the auto industry, the banking industry, the student loan industry, the utilities and the healthcare system. They are no longer happy with just regulating our economy to death, they are now attempting to centrally plan large swaths of our economy. Even the Chinese are uncomfortable with our current economic policies.
Government overspending almost needs no definition. It has been going on for decades and we can no longer sit by and watch the destruction it causes. Why should we allow such waste and fraud?
A government solution to all our problems is the way our current leadership looks at the world. They think the only way to fix something or make something better is to get a government bureaucrat involved. They know better than we do. The government is more compassionate and is better trained and able to solve the big problems that we can’t. Those in power are trying to convince us they are our savior. I for one seek no government savior.
I define decline as a shrinking economy, a disheartened military, an ever increasing portion of our citizens who are unemployed and seeking assistance.
Depression is the going to be state of our economy if we don’t change course. We are already steaming toward those falls and we need to take control of our ship of state and turn back toward the safe course that will lead to our recovery.
I know slavery is a harsh term, but what would you call working for almost half of the year to pay your debt to society when you broke no law? Taxes are being considered and invented faster than in any time in my lifetime and at ever confiscatory rates. Those in the halls of power seek to take your treasure (money, freedom, liberty), add a large dose of bureaucracy and save America. We know that is failed formula. The press and the government want us to feel powerless to change the course of history. We need to stand firm against their tyranny. The state of California came to us in May after the largest tax increase in California history begging for more. We said no.
Let us consider for a second the results we see today from the big government solutions we face. First, the stimulous plan has funded every pet project ever conceived of by the ruling party. They have paid their union supporters back with our treasure. Second, the saved auto industry is actually bankrupt and in the grasp of the same unions that drove them to bankruptcy. Third, the stimulous was supposed to save jobs, we are approaching 10 percent unemployment nationwide and are way over that in our state. Sounds like progress to me. Finally, let’s consider the outcome of their priorities on capital hill. First, we must pass government healthcare and second, the cap in trade proposal. Each proposal mandates huge new costs on business and individuals while our economy collapses. Today the news is all about skyrocketing unemployment, plunging factory orders and escalating foreclosures. We are currently lead by a pack of fools with no idea how to restart the American economy. Their concepts of central planning and nationalization of industry worked so well for the communists in Russia. Those in power actually believe they can tax and regulate us into a growing economy.
The current course of the Federal government is following will lead to ever increasing taxes for you, me, our children and grand children. The real results of their equation is higher taxes, more regulation, less freedom and the death of liberty in America. We can’t afford to wait, we need to act today!
So how do we change course? What can we do?
The first and most important step is to stop them in their tracks. We do this by applying pressure, so loud and so long they can no longer ignore us. That means speaking out. That means removing from power all who seek our enslavement. Second, we must elect those that will repeal the laws, deflate the bloated bureaucracy and set us free. We can’t afford to just get along or try to improve on the administration of their ideas. Their ideas are poison. Just as the Fannie Mae and Freddy mac lending practices poisoned our banking industry, their other ideas are poisoning our economy. The foundation of their ideas is false. The earth is not dying. The earth has seasons. In the winter it is cold, in the summer it can get a little warm around here. Over time there are storms. Not one thing they propose can change any of that and we should not cripple our economy just to try some liberal climate control experiment. Capitalism is our birthright and provides us with huge opportunities not found anywhere else in the world. Freedom and capitalism together have helped us become a super power. We have helped others obtain freedom, we now need to stand up and stop our government from their attempts to make us into another Europe.
Now before I go too far you will have to forgive me. I am not a professional speaker and I don’t own a teleprompter so every once in a while I will need to check my notes. It won’t be too often because I am speaking from my heart and the words I say are true. I don’t have to make this stuff up as many professional politicians do.
I look at those in government who have seized the reigns of power and are currently seeking to steer our nation down the wrong road and I can’t just sit idly by waiting for the large crashing sound as they run us down a dead end road or off a cliff. I am losing sleep as I watch those in power purposely making choices that destroy what has made America great. Here are just some of the elements that the current cadre of elitists in Sacramento and Washington are selling:
1. The government must take over large swaths of our economy or we will fail.
2. We must spend trillions of dollars we don’t have to stimulate our economy.
3. By spending trillions of dollars we will reduce unemployment.
4. By bailing out our auto industry we will keep them from bankruptcy.
5. By appeasing those that seek our destruction they will play nice.
6. By making more regulations and increasing our costs we will improve our economy and grow “Green jobs”
7. By having the government administer our healthcare system we will have lower costs and better coverage.
I am not sure what world these people are from but they are selling large heaping truck loads of bull.
How did we get here?
When did liberty and capitalism become evil? I actually have friends who think profits are evil…
When did opposition to socialism and government takeover of healthcare become racist? I for one oppose their ideas and plans regardless of their skin tone! I believe that rhetorical line is purposeful and intended to oppress us and marginalize our point of view. I refute the label and will stand firm in my support of your freedom and liberty!
There are seven key elements to the plans currently being forced down our throats. If you add them up you can form an equation:
Government takeovers + Government overspending + Government solutions to all our problems = Decline, Depression and Slavery
Government takeovers are the auto industry, the banking industry, the student loan industry, the utilities and the healthcare system. They are no longer happy with just regulating our economy to death, they are now attempting to centrally plan large swaths of our economy. Even the Chinese are uncomfortable with our current economic policies.
Government overspending almost needs no definition. It has been going on for decades and we can no longer sit by and watch the destruction it causes. Why should we allow such waste and fraud?
A government solution to all our problems is the way our current leadership looks at the world. They think the only way to fix something or make something better is to get a government bureaucrat involved. They know better than we do. The government is more compassionate and is better trained and able to solve the big problems that we can’t. Those in power are trying to convince us they are our savior. I for one seek no government savior.
I define decline as a shrinking economy, a disheartened military, an ever increasing portion of our citizens who are unemployed and seeking assistance.
Depression is the going to be state of our economy if we don’t change course. We are already steaming toward those falls and we need to take control of our ship of state and turn back toward the safe course that will lead to our recovery.
I know slavery is a harsh term, but what would you call working for almost half of the year to pay your debt to society when you broke no law? Taxes are being considered and invented faster than in any time in my lifetime and at ever confiscatory rates. Those in the halls of power seek to take your treasure (money, freedom, liberty), add a large dose of bureaucracy and save America. We know that is failed formula. The press and the government want us to feel powerless to change the course of history. We need to stand firm against their tyranny. The state of California came to us in May after the largest tax increase in California history begging for more. We said no.
Let us consider for a second the results we see today from the big government solutions we face. First, the stimulous plan has funded every pet project ever conceived of by the ruling party. They have paid their union supporters back with our treasure. Second, the saved auto industry is actually bankrupt and in the grasp of the same unions that drove them to bankruptcy. Third, the stimulous was supposed to save jobs, we are approaching 10 percent unemployment nationwide and are way over that in our state. Sounds like progress to me. Finally, let’s consider the outcome of their priorities on capital hill. First, we must pass government healthcare and second, the cap in trade proposal. Each proposal mandates huge new costs on business and individuals while our economy collapses. Today the news is all about skyrocketing unemployment, plunging factory orders and escalating foreclosures. We are currently lead by a pack of fools with no idea how to restart the American economy. Their concepts of central planning and nationalization of industry worked so well for the communists in Russia. Those in power actually believe they can tax and regulate us into a growing economy.
The current course of the Federal government is following will lead to ever increasing taxes for you, me, our children and grand children. The real results of their equation is higher taxes, more regulation, less freedom and the death of liberty in America. We can’t afford to wait, we need to act today!
So how do we change course? What can we do?
The first and most important step is to stop them in their tracks. We do this by applying pressure, so loud and so long they can no longer ignore us. That means speaking out. That means removing from power all who seek our enslavement. Second, we must elect those that will repeal the laws, deflate the bloated bureaucracy and set us free. We can’t afford to just get along or try to improve on the administration of their ideas. Their ideas are poison. Just as the Fannie Mae and Freddy mac lending practices poisoned our banking industry, their other ideas are poisoning our economy. The foundation of their ideas is false. The earth is not dying. The earth has seasons. In the winter it is cold, in the summer it can get a little warm around here. Over time there are storms. Not one thing they propose can change any of that and we should not cripple our economy just to try some liberal climate control experiment. Capitalism is our birthright and provides us with huge opportunities not found anywhere else in the world. Freedom and capitalism together have helped us become a super power. We have helped others obtain freedom, we now need to stand up and stop our government from their attempts to make us into another Europe.
Obama Election - 10/2008
Who is this demagogue about to ascend to the presidency?
Why is America ready to elect this man? Obama refused to release his real birth certificate. His school records are sealed. His records when he was a state senator are sealed. He has no record he is willing to share with the American people. Why is he hiding all this information? Could it be because he believes what his good friends believe? Is he even a true citizen of this country? Why is this being covered up?
How can America be so ready to elect a person who seeks to spread the wealth around? Do we understand what that really means?
The Obama tax plan will have the same effect on our economy as the recent market crash. Huge amounts of money will flow out of the economy and into the government. He will then decide who should receive what. Obama claims the current economic crisis is due to George Bush. George Bush went to Congress no less than 15 times to try to nip the Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac disaster in the bud. Who stopped him? Democrats! Why did the Democrats stop him? Could it be the millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the Fannie, Freddy group? Especially the millions that flowed into the Obama campaign coffers. The collapse of Fannie and Freddie was predicted by George Bush and John McCain. They called for reform and were turned away.
When the country was suffering through the summer of sky high gas prices, who was fighting to get our country more resources and reduce our dependence on foreign oil? Republicans in the House. Obama's input on the issue, we should all inflate our tires and use renewable sources. His claim that any new drilling will take 10 years to bring to market is a vapid claim that characterizes his entire campaign. We had the opportunity over 10 years ago to tap the oil in Alaska. Who turned back our efforts? Democrats, again and again!
Obama wants to decide who gets the wealth. His past efforts in spreading wealth include massive corruption in the Chicago public housing (Tony Resko). Is this what we want for our future? Do we want a President who would sit through 20 years of sermons attacking the United States, then leaves his faith because we finally learn what he has been listening to? Who has a close friend and supporter who bombed the capital and to this day is unrepentant?
Where did his 600 million in donations come from? How did he find that many people willing to give him 200 dollars at a time in untraceable credit cards? Finally, why do we know more about Joe the plumber than the candidate for President? He is a private citizen who dared ask a hard question. Why is Joe being excoriated by the press? Why is the Obama campaign attacking this citizen? Now we here about Obama’s national police. Is this what the future holds? It makes me wonder, how did we get here?
Why is America ready to elect this man? Obama refused to release his real birth certificate. His school records are sealed. His records when he was a state senator are sealed. He has no record he is willing to share with the American people. Why is he hiding all this information? Could it be because he believes what his good friends believe? Is he even a true citizen of this country? Why is this being covered up?
How can America be so ready to elect a person who seeks to spread the wealth around? Do we understand what that really means?
The Obama tax plan will have the same effect on our economy as the recent market crash. Huge amounts of money will flow out of the economy and into the government. He will then decide who should receive what. Obama claims the current economic crisis is due to George Bush. George Bush went to Congress no less than 15 times to try to nip the Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac disaster in the bud. Who stopped him? Democrats! Why did the Democrats stop him? Could it be the millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the Fannie, Freddy group? Especially the millions that flowed into the Obama campaign coffers. The collapse of Fannie and Freddie was predicted by George Bush and John McCain. They called for reform and were turned away.
When the country was suffering through the summer of sky high gas prices, who was fighting to get our country more resources and reduce our dependence on foreign oil? Republicans in the House. Obama's input on the issue, we should all inflate our tires and use renewable sources. His claim that any new drilling will take 10 years to bring to market is a vapid claim that characterizes his entire campaign. We had the opportunity over 10 years ago to tap the oil in Alaska. Who turned back our efforts? Democrats, again and again!
Obama wants to decide who gets the wealth. His past efforts in spreading wealth include massive corruption in the Chicago public housing (Tony Resko). Is this what we want for our future? Do we want a President who would sit through 20 years of sermons attacking the United States, then leaves his faith because we finally learn what he has been listening to? Who has a close friend and supporter who bombed the capital and to this day is unrepentant?
Where did his 600 million in donations come from? How did he find that many people willing to give him 200 dollars at a time in untraceable credit cards? Finally, why do we know more about Joe the plumber than the candidate for President? He is a private citizen who dared ask a hard question. Why is Joe being excoriated by the press? Why is the Obama campaign attacking this citizen? Now we here about Obama’s national police. Is this what the future holds? It makes me wonder, how did we get here?
Freedom under Attack - 11/2008
Our freedoms are under attack today. I entered this election season worried about those outside our country and their impact on my freedom. Today, I am more concerned with those in this country that seek to limit my speech and freedom. I recently had a whole yard full of conservative signs stolen. I guess I didn't pass someone's PC test. It seems that our freedoms are generally under attack by liberals and Democrats today. Democrats seek to limit speech on the radio (fairness doctrine legislation). Democrats want to abandon the war on terror giving the terrorists the opportunity to regroup and attack us again. Democrats seek to expand the role of the Federal government. Democrats want to limit our economy through over regulation and suppressed energy production. Democrats already have our schools, colleges, media and courts saturated with supporters who continually train their young recruits or alter our laws to suit their needs. I am continually talking to my children to counter their efforts. When you consider the Democrats desire to expand child care and health care I see another effort to indoctrinate their subjects and convince the rest of the country that we can not survive without them. We can not afford lame liberal solutions which are proven to fail (war on poverty, Fannie Mae, Freddy Mac, Welfare, Federal housing, Socialism, Communism and government health care). We need to stand up and vote for freedom. Vote for those who are willing to fight for our freedom with lower taxes, less government, less regulation.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Obamacare Killing American exceptionalism
In March of 2008 I had a blood test with my wife's prompting. I had a high PSA value. My doctor was concerned enough to get a second test and send me in for a biopsy. Needless to say at 47, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I am the fourth in four generations to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. For a moment I would like to discuss how my world/treatment differed from that of my ancestors. First, I was diagnosed really early. My uncle was diagnosed in his late 60's. My grandfather in his 80's and I am unsure of when for my great-grandfather. Second, I had many treatment options available (surgery, radiation and cryo). My grandfather had fewer though he was very wealthy and could have paid for the best of anything. My uncle was treated and cured (within the last 10 years). My grandfather was treated, but his cancer spread and he died of bone cancer. My great grandfather died of prostate cancer. Instead of facing a life ending illness I was given choices that didn’t exist even 15 years ago. My biggest concern was maintaining my quality of life not planning my early demise.
The President and congressional leaders think they need to "save" us from our terrible health care system and force us to go into a single payer system. Let me be very clear, the options I had in seeking treatment would not have existed if Government Health care had been passed in the 90's as Hillary wanted. The tool that saved my life, the Da Vinci Robot system wasn't even invented and approved till 2000. The company that invented it has sold thousands of these amazing machines that save lives daily. It wasn’t invented in Europe, Russia, Canada or Cuba. It was invented in California. A company was created and funded by our free market society. They had an idea, saw a huge market and proceeded to develop a machine that improves the lives of thousands. Would that development have been done if the Government ran everything? NO! My surgeon was trained at the best schools and works up at Stanford, would he have chosen medicine if government health care passed? I asked, he said no. Would I have been able to obtain treatment within 2 months of my diagnosis? Canada only has one MRI machine, I think not. So here our your options, since I was already cured:
1. accept all the lies and propaganda currently being spread by those that want to rule your life.
2. reject their lies and support our system that though imperfect will not be served well with all the new government intervention and bureaucracy proposed by Obama and his cadre.
Today, this month, they talk about fixing our health care system. I am just one case of millions of Americans who are saved each year by a system that could be improved but definitely not by more government. Help me turn them back.
The President and congressional leaders think they need to "save" us from our terrible health care system and force us to go into a single payer system. Let me be very clear, the options I had in seeking treatment would not have existed if Government Health care had been passed in the 90's as Hillary wanted. The tool that saved my life, the Da Vinci Robot system wasn't even invented and approved till 2000. The company that invented it has sold thousands of these amazing machines that save lives daily. It wasn’t invented in Europe, Russia, Canada or Cuba. It was invented in California. A company was created and funded by our free market society. They had an idea, saw a huge market and proceeded to develop a machine that improves the lives of thousands. Would that development have been done if the Government ran everything? NO! My surgeon was trained at the best schools and works up at Stanford, would he have chosen medicine if government health care passed? I asked, he said no. Would I have been able to obtain treatment within 2 months of my diagnosis? Canada only has one MRI machine, I think not. So here our your options, since I was already cured:
1. accept all the lies and propaganda currently being spread by those that want to rule your life.
2. reject their lies and support our system that though imperfect will not be served well with all the new government intervention and bureaucracy proposed by Obama and his cadre.
Today, this month, they talk about fixing our health care system. I am just one case of millions of Americans who are saved each year by a system that could be improved but definitely not by more government. Help me turn them back.
Democrat's True Colors
I have survived the first year of the Obama regime. Fortunately, I still have a job, for the rest of us, not so much. In this year of a bad economy, fighting two foreign wars and impending nuclear proliferation to Iran, what has the government been working on? How have they been doing? Well, first they passed the economic stimulus bill. Do you feel stimulated? The only expansion from that pork filled monstrosity has been government expansion. We still have 9.7 percent unemployment which is really worse than it sounds with all the discouraged workers. We have mounting debts that threaten to strangle our recovery. We have a new Health care law that doesn’t really improve any portion of our health care system, but does require business to insure their employees, increases regulation on insurance companies and cuts benefits to our seniors. Whew, what an improvement. What we really have is 25,000 new IRS agents to make us pay up. Sounds like the largest tax increase in American history. We also have huge new government regulations on banking, which normally would help re-ignite our economy. So next they want to “save the planet” with more new government taxes and regulations on our electrical generation industry and auto industry. The only problem is we can’t afford to pay higher electrical bills or purchase those new fuel efficient cars. Oh yeah, I forgot the wonderful cash for clunkers program that cost us billions in new debt. Just to be clear, this is exactly what the Democrats want. They want us controlled. They want us so burdened with debt and regulation, that we are forced to our knees and begging them for assistance. They have 10 percent of our working people in that position and they want more. They have 50% of the economy under their thumb and they want more. We have uncontrolled growth of unions festering inside our government causing continued bloating and deficit.
The Democrats have shown their true colors and we can never forget their agenda and what they truly want. They want power over you. Two years ago the American people gave it to them after several years of print and TV media cheering for all this “Change”.
The problem we face today is they are all wrong. Everything they are doing is attacking the fabric of America. We are a working nation. We need jobs. We are a capitalist nation built on freedom and liberty. They mean to take that from us. We are a God fearing country, they mock us.
I am done with all this. Today, this hour, we all need to start pushing back. We need to work hard to overturn all this poison that has been foisted on America. We need to find those patriots that will stand firm and protect our country, our freedom and our economy. Obama has done more harm to America in one year than Osama has done in a decade!
The Democrats have shown their true colors and we can never forget their agenda and what they truly want. They want power over you. Two years ago the American people gave it to them after several years of print and TV media cheering for all this “Change”.
The problem we face today is they are all wrong. Everything they are doing is attacking the fabric of America. We are a working nation. We need jobs. We are a capitalist nation built on freedom and liberty. They mean to take that from us. We are a God fearing country, they mock us.
I am done with all this. Today, this hour, we all need to start pushing back. We need to work hard to overturn all this poison that has been foisted on America. We need to find those patriots that will stand firm and protect our country, our freedom and our economy. Obama has done more harm to America in one year than Osama has done in a decade!
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