Well, I'm back from over the Pond where National Health Care is a huge issue. In the news are photos of people who are queued up to see a dentist; 144,000 complaints in 2007 about pensioner care; and the 11.5 percent payroll tax to pay for the care.So, depending on the scheme chosen by Hillary or Senator Obama, we can look forward to paying a flat percentage of over 11.5 percent to pay for government health care.Is this something the economy can afford right now? Just think, 11 percent of your salary going away when national health care is signed into law. That's the percentage in Britain and they have really bad care. Here's an example of how govt. interference works in the UK. A woman needed a kidney. Her husband dies and wished for his wife to have one of his kidneys. The govt. over-ruled the wishes of the husband and gave his kidneys to other people who were on the waiting list for an organ before his wife. A former cabinet minister opened his mouth during an interview and his teeth were discolored and rotting. Is this what national health care will get you?On $20,000 dollars a year salary, you will lose $2,300 in increased taxes to pay for national healthcare. Now, if Senator Obama decides to take more from the few rich, who are more than willing to pay for other people’s lifestyle, the percentage could go up to twenty percent. Imagine working for 2.4 months to pay just for health care. That’s on top of the five months the 35% tax bracket must work before they get to keep some of their pay.
If Hillary or Senator Obama are elected, those few rich will be working 7.5 months before they get to keep any of their own salary. That is socialistic government at it’s best.

Senator Obama's speech in Philly

Before we get to what should be Senator Obama's speech in Philly, I'd like to say a couple of things.
First, why is Senator Obama trying to create a divide between the people who have worked and sacrificed to get where they are today, and those who have made poor decisions? It seems to me that Senator Obama's 'divide and conquer' strategy by dividing the U.S. into the 'working family' vs. the 'few rich' is polarizing America instead of bringing her together. Why should those who make more than $75,000 have to work six months to pay their taxes and those who make less only have to work three months to pay their taxes? Is that fair?
Why should those who have worked hard to get where they are today be required to sacrifice even more to take care of those who want to only rely on the government for subsistence? Senator Obama's tax ideas are just plain wrong. I resent his inference that just because someone has some wealth, they are dregs on society? When did becoming rewarded for hard work become an evil thing? I'm talking about people who work hard to provide for their children and retirement. Why does Senator Obama believe those who have wealth are evil? Why should people who work hard to earn money, be required to turn that money over to someone who won't work?

Friends, I’m here in Philly today to ask for your vote. I am not asking for you to vote for me because I am black. I am not asking for your vote because I am a man. I am asking for your vote because I want to be President.

I don’t want to be the first black American President...I want to be the 44th President of the United States of America. The President of the greatest country the world has ever seen. And I am asking for your help. I need you, the great people of this state to help me reach that dream of mine.

Let’s take a minute to talk about your dreams. What do you want from your next president? What do you want from me?

Jobs. Do you want jobs? Philly has an unemployment rate of 6 %, higher than the average of the rest of the country.

What about education? Benjamin Franklin founded of the University of Pennsylvania, America's first university here. There are over 300,000 college students in metro Philadelphia, with the sixth largest public school system in the country, but only a 49 percent high school graduation rate.

To keep children in school we have to give them hope. Hope that there will be an opportunity for them when they finish school. Hope of a better tomorrow. Hope, when what they see everyday flies in the face of that hope.

So what can I do?

I can give you a hand up. I will ask Congress to provide money for job training for parents, so they can keep their homes and families together.

I will ask Congress for financial training for families, so they can make their dollars work for them, rather them working for the dollars.

I will ask Congress for aid in reaching out to high school children, to help them to see the light at the end of the tunnel, to help them stay in school and get the education they need to succeed in this great country of ours.

It is education that made this country great. It is through the education of our children that lays our greatest hope. Our children are our greatest asset. We need to protect that asset.

We have to help our teachers do what they trained for and teach. It’s not their job to raise your children. As a parent you are an integral part of the process. Something as easy as eating dinner together can raise your child’s grades. Be there at dinner and ask them about their day at school. Be there to help them through the homework questions. When was the last time you visited your child’s school? Be there for your children. Your children want you there.
As President, I will focus my energy to help provide for you and your families. But I need you to help me take that first step toward the White House. We need to win the nomination first.
As I said before, I don’t want to be the first black president. I want to be the 44th president of the United States of America. I want to be your president. I need your vote.
God Bless America and Thank you Philadelphia!!!

Who are the most qualified to be President?

Unfortunately, we may never know who is best qualified to BE president. For now, all we can go by is who is best qualified to RUN for president.

When a company chooses to hire a CEO, how do they choose? Do they choose the best spoken? Do they choose the most handsome? Do they choose the most likable?

My thought is that companies choose the most qualified person to be the CEO, based on how that person would best be able to reach the goals for the company set by the board of directors.

Does the United States of America have a board of directors....? Yes we do-we have about 350 million of them. That's what makes the process of running for office so tough. At most companies candidates deal with 8-12 board members, who for the the most part, objectively look at the CEO's performance; the performance of the company under his/her purview; and the fit of the candidate for the job.

The American people choose their CEO by sound bites, miss information and the color of their hair. Richard Nixon lost to John F. Kennedy in 1960 because Nixon did not use make-up and sweated under the lights during the debates. Sweat on a brow was enough to sway the public's perception of the man. Wow, are we shallow or what?

So, what can you as a voter do?
1. Pick up a newspaper and read about the candidates. Do you like Hillary's stance on the bailout of mortgagee's and banks? Do you like Obama's stance on raising taxes on the wealthy? Is your candidate trying to heal or divide America?

2. Get on the Internet and read the speeches. They are there verbatim. Do you like the words you hear? Are the words platitudes or previews of a new age?

3. Find the candidates' past voting records. What did they vote for or against.

Don't be lazy. Don't just say, "I hate all XXXXXXXXX's. Vote with your mind with a little help from your heart.

The Purpose of Taxation is not Redistribution of Wealth

Pride is the recognition of the fact that you are your own highest value and, like all of man’s values, it has to be earned.
Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
He was guilty of nothing, except that he earned his own fortune and never forgot that it was his.
Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Have we lost, in America, our sense of pride and dignity? When I watch Congress and their petty fights among themselves; when I listen to the meaningless rhetoric of our supposed leaders, I am saddened. They are simply trying to maintain the status quo.
Think about this. President Clinton hasn’t held a private sector job in 30 years, and yet he is a millionaire many times over. Look at the wealth of our Congress, are they truly representative of their constituents?
Senator Obama is right when he says there needs to be change. I don’t believe taxation for the purpose of redistribution is the correct way to make that change. What incentive is there for someone who is going through hard times, to pull himself up by the bootstraps?
By delineating the difference between economic circumstance of the American People, Senator Obama is setting America up for civil unrest through class division.
A man, who was once told he shouldn’t charge fees, by a person on public assistance, because he was a doctor and rich, gave this definition of what it means to be wealthy.
“The day I stop working, and can maintain my current lifestyle is when I consider myself a wealthy man,” the doctor said. “You my friend are richer than me, because you do not work and your lifestyle continues to grow.”

Taxation should not be for the purpose of redistribution of earnings.

Senator Obama has made it clear that he does not want to represent all of America; but only those who are working people, to whom he wants to redistribute the wealth of those people who have earned their way.

I need a tax cut

It's a Washington where George Bush hands out billions in tax cuts year after year to the biggest corporations and the wealthiest few who don't need them and don't ask for them - tax breaks that are mortgaging our children's future on a mountain of debt; tax breaks that could've gone into the pockets of the working families who needed them most.

Dear Senator Obama: Please define working families. Am I a working man if I only made $14,445 last year. What about if I made $80,000. Does that make me not ordinary?

Who wants to be ordinary? Do you, Senator Obama? Are you ordinary? Why are you so fixated on taking other peoples' money? Shouldn't people have to earn their way? You seem to be espousing the old hand out instead of hand up.

Half-truths and platitudes

We are all looking for answers...answers to questions that are half-truths and platitudes. If you are looking for answers-or want a question answered by a public figure, send us your question and we'll work at publishing it here.

A question I sent to Senator Obama was related to this wording on his website:

"Obama now continues his fight for working families following his recent election to the United States Senate."

Senator Obama, What is your definition of a working person?

If and when I get a response I will post it here in its entirety.