The Big Tax

Licking their wounds, the Republicans are seizing upon Mitt Romney and the Cato Institutes' idea of an individual mandate being acceptable by the Court as a TAX. So, if you want to avoid paying the tax, follow the law. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Neither Purse Nor Sword

In approximately one hour from now, our Supreme Court will rule on Health Care. Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist 78 that due to [having neither purse nor sword]the high court will in essence be the weakest and least feared branch of our government. As I teach the Federalist Papers to my AP students, I always challenge them to explore this notion. I for one, believe it to be the strongest and most powerful branch having stolen its powers through an assumed role of judicial review which we have come to respect and accept. The Founding Fathers recognized the need for a small group of able minded men to make decisions for the rest of us in a three branch organization that checks and balances each other. They correctly believed that our inability as a total electorate to make the important decisions for the land was limted by our lack of exposure to information, education and time. Our Founders, however, were not the government of today. Today if you have an obnoxious personality, a loud voice and a stupid audience, you can easily get elected to Congress. We listen to lies because it is easier. We oppose things without understanding them and we answer poll questions without the foggiest notion of what we are saying. For instance, most Americans are opposed to the mandate, but most Americans have insurance so this view is meaningless. If the mandate prevails, their costs will actually go down. This is just one example of our incapability. Whereas when our nation was founded our government in general was made up of educated, experienced and well heeled men, today our elected officials are made up of those who are intellectually challenged, prone to slick and managed statements and personally attracted to money, power and fame. It isn't, regrettably, populated by the best amongst us. For the rest of us, with limited time, great apathy about the great issues of the day and lazy minds, we vote for people who are not capable of running our land. Due to this reality, the Court has lead the way. For example, were it not for the judgement that "Separate but Equal" is inherently unequal, there would be no Civil Rights Act. The court paves the way, and the rest of the government follows suit with legislation that follows their lead. Courts will tilt one way philosophically and then shift back, but it is made up of people with the sharpest and most intellectually curious minds we have produced. So, when they make their judgement in an hour, pundits from both sides will claim victory and defeat, politicians will continue to lie and distort, and campaigning will continue. The worst of our system will prevail in the short term, but the long term will be protected. Until we think for ourselves, judge in our best interests and smarten up, this process will co-exist with our ignorance. I must say, that President Obama has been a shining example of intellect and since many of us condemn the smart as elite and un American, he is in a tight race....evermore making my point. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

For the Record

Tomorrow the Supreme Court will rule on the Affordable Health Care Act. For the record, this is a law passed by Congress and signed by the President who did not initially support an individual mandate, but rather a single payer system. In essence, this law was not the first choice of President Obama so Obamacare has been a misnomer from the outset. For the record, the individual mandate was a Republican idea raised by President Nixon and most leaders of the Republican party as they obsessively railed against a single payer system. For the record, Mitt Romney signed into law signature legislation as Mass. Governor that required the purchase of health care, a mandate that he now denies as important while he hides behind states rights. For the record, the Supreme Court has beoome overly politicized to our great misfortune as a nation. When Earl Warren lead the court, he realized that the nation would never accept a split vote on the matter of Brown vs. Board of Education so he worked to insure unanimity through some arm twisting and much compromise but in the end the decision was accepted, grudgingly by some, but its impact was given credibility due to a unanimous court. Chief Justice Roberts for the record, is ruling a deeply split and divided court and these differences are manifestly apparent with each major vote. Bush v. Gore, 5 to 4. Citizens United, split and the public just as it has grown tired of Congress, is now giving the court its least popular rating in decades. These facts, for the record, will put tomorrow's decision in perspective if the mandate is struck down. I hope the justices took the nations' collective disgrace in protecting the health of its citizens more seriously than they took their personal politics. It is just too important. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

He Simply Cannot Sell It.

With a recent spate of economic news that is less than stellar, the President still retains a lead over Mitt Romney.....close, but the real fight hasn't yet begun and the incumbent has some serious bullets yet to be fired. Why you might ask is the President ahead? Because Mitt Romney cannot sell what he is selling because we don't even know what that is. He has nothing to offer except negativity and blame while six out of ten Americans still hold Bush responsible for the economic downturn. The most recent sales pitch is that the word outsourcing is not offshoring and Mitt only destroyed jobs that he replaced within the country with computers and mergers not with jobs in India. What a great argument to make while running for President. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Issa's Folly

Ask Americans who Daryl Issa is and they wouldnt know. Yet this Chairman of the House Oversight committee is in the news. His politically motivated attempt to embarrass a decent man and further attempt to hurt our President is disgusting. But watch out Mr. Chairman....your folly is about to blow up in your face. We just dont care. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Morally Bankrupt

With focus on the economy, often times the word bankrupt is used, but I would like to change its context for today's post and use it to describe Mitt Romney. He is morally bankrupt because he offers no view on anything, that is his own. His only consistency is in evoking the opposite of whatever the President says and does and then calls it politically motivated, like there's a shocker. Seriously, however, this man is a danger because on any given day and in any given moment, he will change his alleged convictions, spin them as if there was never any record, say the opposite and then take credit for something he never said. On today's Sunday roundup of news, Mr. Romney was simply unable to give a declarative answer on Obama's Immigration announcement. Why, because he was too busy weighing what the tea party and other influences would think, he was spinning, he was waffling and putting politics aside, he simply doesn't have a moral compass to guide him. He is rich, smart, but soulless and Americans, when they tune in, will run from him like a chicken running from the fox. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Dedication

Today I dedicate my post to the eleven remarkable students that have just completed their Advanced Placement, Government and Politics course. It has been my utmost pleasure to teach them, encourage them and guide them throughout the myriad challenges that are faced in understanding our Government and our Politics as a nation. My goal for them, during the course has only been to help them find accurate information on the most important issues of our time so that they can make intelligent and reasoned decisions as voters and citizens. I am confident that they will do just that. Great job kids. Thanks and always remember that We are the People. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Hold your Horses

Let's not make such a big deal over Scott Walker's win last night. It was expected. Union membership across the country is declining. The public has always during economic downturns resented unions and has responded to political demonization of them. Wisconsin is a highly divided state on cultural and rural/urban grounds. Tom Barrett was the same candidate who lost the last time and isn't accepted statewide. Lastly, those who voted yesterday would have given President Obama the edge over Mitt Romney by six points. Republicans will chirp that this is a national signal, entrench further in their opposition to growing the economy and run ads nationally about this win, but it is meaningless on the national stage, no matter which experts say it ain't so. Just hold your horses and wait till November. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas...Hopefully

On the evening that Mitt Romney officially garners the delegatges required, he continues not to disavow the birther comments from the bloviate Trump. I am sorry, but this diminishes whatever other potential characteristics his canididacy may have for some. Mitt Romney through his silence, by his parading at a fund raiser with the low life, multi bankruptcy filing reality TV idiot Donald Trump, he distances himself from the mainstream normalcy that happily makes up the American electorate. For Romney to think his affiliation with the Donald works for him, is another indication of how totally underqualified and how awful a man, Mitt Romney really is. He should have stayed in Vegas. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Class Size

Mitt Romney says class size matters little in the ability for students to achieve. When was the last time he taught a class of 35 students at once? This man, born to wealth, educated in prep schools, thinking it cool to bully others, is speaking as if he has credibility on the issue? With each passing day, Mitt Romney shows his inadequacy and unpreparedness for higher office. As a teacher, I am insulted that he speaks to me, a voter, with such an obvious lack of understanding or conviction on every major issue. Back to School for you Mr. Romney, or else you'll find yourself the richest Presidential election loser in history.....and I hope so. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Mr. Education

Mitt Romney is attempting to develop bonafides for every issue that he has zero experience with. First, foreign policy and his statements have been reckless at best. Next, he touts his job creation performance and we know what the real numbers say. Now he is trying to distinguish himself as an education expert...there is a role to play for the Fed. and lets keep local control. Standard BS. Oh, and by the way, he blames the teacher unions for blocking progress. More demonization from the phoniest fake of a candidate in my lifetime. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Mr. Tweet

If you follow Twitter as a political geek, you would notice that Mayor Cory Booker from Newark is a gold medal twitterer. Whether it be at a fire, or a restaurant, or shoveling snow, he uses this form of instant media activity with much vigor. Mr. Booker is considered a rising star in Democratic circles and a supporter of the President. The kerfuffle over his criticisms of negative advertising as nauseating are being used by the conventional media to drive a wedge between him and the President. It is the topic of the next few days for sure. Romney will use this in his ads to suggest the negative influences in media by Obama while ignoring the constant vitriol and bull coming from their ads and there it goes. What is most striking however, is the way Booker's comments are being portrayed. He condemned the negativity on both sides , not just the Dems. and it is being suggested that he is critical of Obama and therefore this could be a great media wedge issue as they battle for network superiority. No big deal. Political advertising is nauseating and so are the five justices that let this all happen. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Republican Anti Regulation Attitudes

A two billion dollar loss at JP Morgan Chase may not be much for the behemoth bank, but its leader has been considered one of the geniuses of the industry. In front of his nose, the loss happened. What about other banks? Just as we turn a corner from severe financial distress and a deregulatory atmosphere toward at least rhetoric for change, another scam, yes scam occurs, jolting our confidence in the financial sector. The President has been calling for tighter reigns on the industry and the public seems to endorse this, but no matter what happens, short of a repeat of 1929, Republicans will fight tooth and nail, anything that regulates or controls banks. Even Dodd/Frank, ridiculed by Republicans, is giving us a watered down approach to regulatory needs. Many Democrats in fact avoided support for the tougher controls that we need. The problem is that we as citizens think of banks as safe havens for our money, for our mortgages, for small business loans and for our basic money needs. What has happened, is that they have become purveyors of financial scams that we simply do not understand. Ask the average citizen about synthetic derivatives as hedges against loss and they would think you are speaking Klingon. As such, we have become slaves to an industry that develops portfolios and risky financial ventures that go unchecked and unexplained. Why the Republicans continue to shy away from needed reform and why Mitt Romney endorses such recklessness is reason enough to condemn this approach and stay the course with the President. Good Luck to my AP Government students who are about to take their test. They worked hard and my thoughts are with them. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The President's Role

As my Advanced Placement Government students finish their preparation for next week's test, I cannot depart from the fact that President Obama's declaration in favor of same sex marriage is an issue appropriate for our final discussions. It is being complicated due to the diverse moral and religious opinions and interpretations that exist but it is really simple. Let us suppose, today, a woman and a man who cannot bear children decide to marry and a State Government decides to disallow the infertile from marrying. Would those who view marriage as a union for the purpose of propagation be offended? Maybe so. and if not,they are hypocrites. Suppose a black man were to go to the polls to vote and immediately as in days past was excluded based on race, would segregationist bigots have a problem with this? Probably not. These two extreme views that exist within a minority of our people today, would have been mainstream opinions during periods of our history. Yet, today, laws to protect the rights and liberties of individuals have been passed to insure the American mosaic is protected as part of our diversity. To treat one individual or group differently because of a characteristic, is anathema to most of us and our nation continues to march slowly toward acceptance, tolerance and a higher sense of right and wrong. A President is in the job to execute the laws and the laws of this great nation are designed to protect our rights and liberties, not to make decisions based on religious fundamentals. I do not quarrel with or object to anyone whose faith and conscience does not have room for same sex partnerships but I do quarrel with those who use these ideas to deny others the freedom to be who they are and to have the rights they are equally entitled to. The President is just doing his job. Thankfully so. Mitt Romney has no understanding of the role he feels entitled to have. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Civil Rights

The President supports civil rights for all Americans, Mitt Romney for selective Americans. No matter how you try and spin it, no matter what forces religious conscience may compel, no matter what your fears of gay people are, one thing is clear, you cannot in America, deny basic rights to any one group, one orientation or one ideology. Our civil rights and liberties are guaranteed and protected by our Constitution and our Bill of Rights. Politics aside, homophobes aside and religion aside, people are people, not animals not property and not able to be denied the freedoms and liberties due to us all. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Seniors

President Obama is losing amongst senior citizens. None that I am affiliated with, but across the nation he is. Now this makes no sense and I hope it isn't because the most capable and most experienced amongst us have lost their way, but rather due to a temporary case of amnesia. Mitt Romney supports the Ryan plan which would gut Social Security as we know it. Mitt Romney condemns Obamacare and Government run programs but Medicare is single payer and follows the pattern that Romney callously dismisses. Seniors tend to be fixed income focused and yet Romney supports the old tired and failed trickle down economic theories that gut the programs seniors most dearly rely on while trickling wealth into the pockets of the few. Mitt Romney would have allowed the auto industry to fail and there are many seniors today whose working lives relied on the manufacturing jobs that used to be in America. Instead, Romney's experience as a venture capitalist supported jobs overseas and shrunk companies or destroyed them, favoring productivity increases at all costs. President Obama has protected this nation from terrorism and seniors have a disproportionate belief in American security moreso than other age groups. So, once this case of amnesia clears, seniors will do the right thing, and that is not to support Mitt Romney. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Let's Play Gotcha

While Presidents attempt to do their jobs in an election year, the opposition loves to play gotcha, often because they just don't have anything original to offer. This is obviously more intense when it is a first termer running for reelection. So the advisors to the opposition listen all day to news reports, and look for verbal gaffes or made up issues so that they can enter the news cycle to embarrass their foe. Republicans are much better at this than Democrats. Yesterday, the Flunkies in the Romney campaign took the monthly jobs numbers and went on their talk shows and spun the numbers to make it appear as if it is all Obama's fault. Gotcha Mr. President. Well, let me play Gotcha too. This President more than any other, knows that there are jobs waiting to be filled, but we simply do not have the trained experts to fill them. He talks about funding community colleges and training programs and offers stimulus to do it. Romney's party says No, college is elitist. Gotcha. The March jobs report which caused consternation for many, was yesterday revised upward to the original consensus estimate, therefore not making it so bad after all. Republicans ignored that. Anyhow, we have had eight consecutive months of over 100,000 new jobs, the longest streak in a long while. Gotcha. Republicans like to blame the shrinking unemployment number on people leaving the work force as both sides always do. If you look at who is leaving, it is mostly the expected baby boomer retirees who perhaps see a better time to do so now rather than compete with soon to graduate college kids willing to work for less. So, in essence, it is real reduction in unemployment, the lowest in three years. Gotcha. Gas prices are starting to come down and whereas Obama deserves the same non credit for this as he did for the rise, it still helps Americans at the pump. Gotcha. Game over today. Mitt, go campaign in Kansas where their legislature passed the most extreme and nonsensical non scientific abuse of womens' rights in recent history. This seems to be your kind of legislature since you have denied, forgotten and condemned your own moderate credentials. Leave the rest to the President. Gotcha. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

The Opposite

Yesterday in Virginia at a campaign rally, Mitt Romney was asked what he would do about the economy. His answer was that whatever the President did, he would do the opposite. So here is the Romney Plan....Study it well: -Tax Increases for every American. -The Dow at 6000. -Auto Industry left destroyed. -4 million less private sector jobs. -Unemployment trending up instead of down. -TARP program dismantled instead of continued. -Unemployment insurance extensions voided for long term unemployed. -Kick off all college grads. under 26 from their parents' Health plan. -Record corporate profits reversed. -Reliance on foreign oil to again go above 50% GREAT PLAN MITT. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Getting Worse and Worse

On September 11, 2001, over 3000 Americans were killed by Osama Bin Laden. After failed attempts to kill him, President Bush backed off from the priority of finding and killing him trying to change the narrative to hide his failures. As a candidate for President, Obama vied to get Bin Laden and to act alone if there was actionable intelligence to do so. Rudolph Giuliani supported this policy. Mitt Romney did not. Today marks the one year anniversary of President Obama's order to carry out the ultimately successful mission to kill Bin Laden and offer some sense of closure and revenge for that awful day. Presidents always take credit for their successess and try to mask their failures both during, after and separate from a campaign. The mean spirited swipes at this President by his enemies to deny the success and minimize it not only does an injustice to the bravery of those involved, but shows how singular in focus these people are. They care less for our country and more for their own self preservation. Particularly Mitt Romney who gets worse and worse and worse each day. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?

Chutzpah

The same aide to Mitt Romney who declared his candidate an etch a sketch in terms of his views...shake them, they disappear, and start anew, has the utter gaul, the utter chutzpah to say that the auto bailout was Mitt Romney's idea. Folks, when you stop laughing, get serious. Where are you Americans for reason and truth?