The Barak Obama Agenda – Part IV

This is Part IV of the Barak Obama plan. I’m not covering his whole plan for America, just the parts I have problems with philosophically.

Issue #10 – Iran

Iran has sought nuclear weapons, supports militias inside Iraq and terror across the region, and its leaders threaten Israel and deny the Holocaust. But Obama and Biden believe that we have not exhausted our non-military options in confronting this threat; in many ways, we have yet to try them. That’s why Obama stood up to the Bush administration’s warnings of war, just like he stood up to the war in Iraq.

Problem

When did Obama stand up to the Bush administration to any war? When he was in the Illinois Senate? Sitting down and talking to a brutal dictator who wants to eliminate the US and Israel from the face of the earth. The best way to start affecting change in Iran is to eliminate the threat in Iraq. The next step, or simultaneous step, is to affect change within the country from the grass roots level with the people of Iran. The Iranians don’t like their leader any more than we do. They are oppressed and restricted from trade – the money people in Iran don’t like this. Talk is cheap without the threat of action.

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Issue #11 – Iran

Obama supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions. Now is the time to pressure Iran directly to change their troubling behavior. Obama and Biden would offer the Iranian regime a choice. If Iran abandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, we will offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization, economic investments, and a move toward normal diplomatic relations. If Iran continues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic pressure and political isolation. Seeking this kind of comprehensive settlement with Iran is our best way to make progress.

Problem

As I stated, talk is cheap. See post above.
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Issue #12 – Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Obama and Biden will make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a key diplomatic priority. They will make a sustained push – working with Israelis and Palestinians – to achieve the goal of two states, a Jewish state in Israel and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security.

Problem

The Palestinians will never be satisfied with their land. They want it all from Israel and nothing less. There will never be peace in the middle east – this fight has been going on since the middle ages – maybe longer. Anyone remember The Crusades? This was the same fight – Christians (or Jews) against the Muslims. Photo-Ops and rhetoric from Presidents (either party) will never make any headway. I see no solution here.
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Of course, that’s just my opinion

Rob’s Rant

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/foreign_policy/index.php

The Barak Obama Plan – Part III

This is Part III of the Barak Obama plan. I’m not covering his whole plan for America, just the parts I have problems with philosophically.

Issue #7

Invest In A Clean Energy Economy And Create 5 Million New Green Jobs: Obama and Biden will invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial scale renewable energy, invest in low emissions coal plants, and begin transition to a new digital electricity grid. The plan will also invest in America’s highly-skilled manufacturing workforce and manufacturing centers to ensure that American workers have the skills and tools they need to pioneer the first wave of green technologies that will be in high demand throughout the world.

Problem

Green jobs? What constitutes a green job? I’m very dubious of this distinction. I’m all for creating new opportunities to offset our need for oil, but folks, we need to drill for more oil – bottom line. All this other stuff is great, but this idea of “Going Green” is ridiculous. The world lives on oil, nothing else is comparable. If we get some type of technology, like Natural Gas, that can replace this, great, but it’s not there in the foreseeable future. How about building more Nuclear Power Plants? Let’s use all the vast amounts of Natural Gas available in the US? Clean Coal? – great – use it all. “Going Green” is a smokescreen.

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Issue #8

Raise the Minimum Wage: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will raise the minimum wage, index it to inflation and increase the Earned Income Tax Credit to make sure that full-time workers earn a living wage that allows them to raise their families and pay for basic needs.

Problem

This will reduce the amount of jobs. A minimum wage is such a bad idea for America. The market will always decide what is a good wage for the particular job. Jobs that take no skill should pay a lower wage, those will higher skill should bring a higher wage. Artificially raising the wage will actually reduce jobs and opportunity for small businesses.
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Issue #9

Encourage States to Adopt Paid Leave: As president, Obama will initiate a strategy to encourage all 50 states to adopt paid-leave systems. Obama and Biden will provide a $1.5 billion fund to assist states with start-up costs and to help states offset the costs for employees and employers.

Problem

Shouldn’t this be up to the employer? This is called welfare in my book where the business cannot rely on that person if they need to take a leave – for whatever reason. If an employer wants to offer this as a benefit, so be it, but don’t make it compulsory. When my wife and I had children, I took days as a part of the FMLA (Family Medial Leave Act). As part of this act, I first take any sick days in my bank and then vacation days. This is not a free ride, but a part of the benefits my employer offers me. I don’t know how all employers handle this, but the FED should not be involved in this type of behavior. Where to the madness end?
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Of course, that’s just my opinion

Rob’s Rant

Source: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/index.php

The Barak Obama Agenda – Part II

This is Part II of the Barak Obama plan. I’m not covering his whole plan for America, just the parts I have problems with philosophically.

Issue #3 Tax Relief for Working People

Provide a Tax Cut for Working Families: Obama and Biden will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 150 million workers the tax relief they need. Obama and Biden will create a new “Making Work Pay” tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. The “Making Work Pay” tax credit will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans.

Problem

How can we actually do this and who is considered a “Working Family”. According to the IRS, those families making a mere $30,000 per year are in the top 50% of income earners. So…who’s paying the freight on this tax credit. Seems unfair to me, but who am I?
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Issue #4 – Simplify Tax Filings

Simplify Tax Filings for Middle Class Americans: Obama and Biden will dramatically simplify tax filings so that millions of Americans will be able to do their taxes in less than five minutes. Obama and Biden will ensure that the IRS uses the information it already gets from banks and employers to give taxpayers the option of pre-filled tax forms to verify, sign and return. Experts estimate that the Obama-Biden proposal will save Americans up to 200 million total hours of work and aggravation and up to $2 billion in tax preparer fees.

Problem

How about doing away with the IRS altogether? Seems to me that agency is a drag on the system and a Flat Tax or a Fair Tax would be much more Fair to all, not just a small group of people.
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Issue #5 – Amend NAFTA

Amend the North American Free Trade Agreement: Obama and Biden believe that NAFTA and its potential were oversold to the American people. They will work with the leaders of Canada and Mexico to fix NAFTA so that it works for American workers.

Problem

I wonder how the Canadians and Mexicans will view this? Seems to me that it works as it was supposed to – good produced in these countries are able to be traded without the other impediments that other countries are subjected to.

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Issue #6 – Patriot Corporations

Reward Companies that Support American Workers: Barack Obama introduced the Patriot Employer Act of 2007 with Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to reward companies that create good jobs with good benefits for American workers. The legislation would provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in America relative to those outside the US; maintain their corporate headquarters in America if it has ever been in America; pay decent wages; prepare workers for retirement; provide health insurance; and support employees who serve in the military.

Problem

Why should be dictate where a company is located? Seems very isolationist to me. Let the free market decide where a product will be produced, where it will be sold, etc. If a company wants to provide benefits, that is up to them. It’s an incentive to get the best worker – not a right of the individual. Also, what the heck is a “decent wage”? Kind of opened ended.

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Of course, that’s just my opinion

Rob’s Rant

Source: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/index.php

The Barak Obama Agenda – Part I

As we transition into the Obama Era (or Obamanation as I like to put it), I thought it might be useful to go issue by issue of what ideas our new President has for our great country. I’m convinced that most of the voters who actually voted for Senator Obama have no idea of his radical agenda for America. I can only hope that he governs from the center, but we have to take him at his word.

Since there are so many issues to cover, I’m going to pick out the ones that I have a problem with, so this is going to take some time. I’ll cover a few issues at a time and stretch this out as long as possible.

Issue #1 – Windfall Profits Tax

Enact a Windfall Profits Tax to Provide a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families:Barack Obama and Joe Biden will enact a windfall profits tax on excessive oil company profits to give American families an immediate $1,000 emergency energy rebate to help families pay rising bills. This relief would be a down payment on the Obama-Biden long-term plan to provide middle-class families with at least $1,000 per year in permanent tax relief.

Problem

It is an easy target to blame the oil companies for all our ills. Those of us who know the truth know that oil is an international commodity and thus the price is dictated by the market. There are several things that go into this, but the oil companies really don’t have that kind of power. Supply and demand is the king in this industry. The oil companies make very little on each gallon of gas. When compared to the Federal and State Taxes that are collected on each gallon of gas, maybe we should create a Windfall Profits tax on the Federal and State Governments! Fat chance. This is a prime example of class warfare on corporations.

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Issue #2 – $50 Billion Give Away Program

Provide $50 billion to Jumpstart the Economy and Prevent 1 Million Americans from Losing Their Jobs: This relief would include a $25 billion State Growth Fund to prevent state and local cuts in health, education, housing, and heating assistance or counterproductive increases in property taxes, tolls or fees. The Obama-Biden relief plan will also include $25 billion in a Jobs and Growth Fund to prevent cutbacks in road and bridge maintenance and fund school re­pair – all to save more than 1 million jobs in danger of being cut.

Problem

It was a problem when President Bush and both branches of Congress voted on the $700B bailout bill. All that is happening is that we are printing money to put into the system. This devalues our currency and causes a whole host of problems – not to mention higher inflation. What we need is someone who will stand up and say, “How about taking some personal responsibility for your own situation”. Sounds a lot like the New Deal to me. Maybe President Obama will start a new war to fire up the tank and ship builders like FDR.

Of course, this is just my opinion

Rob’s Rant

Source: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/index.php

Racist Voters in Missouri???

A story appeared in the St. Louis Beacon about the possibility of voters in Missouri being racist because they refused to vote for Obama in the Presidential election. What a crock.

Are there still racists in America? Of course. But this goes both ways. I don’t accept the argument that if you’re not black and didn’t vote for the Democratic candidate, who just happened to be black, you’re a racist. Didn’t Obama receive around 90% of the black vote? Did all of those voters pull the lever for Obama because they like his policies or was that based soley on his race? I would opt for the later.

Personally, I really don’t care about these things. I’m much more concerned about what the candidate believes and will actually do for this country. I still believe that President -Elect Obama (still hard to say) is a Socialist. If he keeps all of his campaign promises, there is no way we will come out of our economic problems. I would really like it if we actually got some type of centrist Obama who governs near the middle instead of the far left ideas that he usually espouses. We’ll see.

Of course, that’s just my opinion

Rob’s Rant

Source: http://www.stlbeacon.org/issues_politics/election_analysis/why_did_nixon_win_so_many_votes_while_obama_seems_to_have_narrowly_lost

Feel Sorry for the Kool-Aid Drinkers

This video is frickin awesome. I can see some real truth in it’s sarcasm. Real comedy always has a dose of reality sprinkled into the mix.

Rob’s Rant

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

New Era In America

The election is finally over. After nearly 4 years of campaigning, it’s done. Man I’m tired.

I’m not surprised of the result, but the result does scare me. Having a radical liberal socialist in the White House should scare all of our citizens. It seems that the power of slick marketing and rhetoric trumps common sense.

Now that we are done and have a new President, we should further explore just who we got and open the package. I feel like we’re sitting around the tree on Christmas morning with all the wonderful presents. Your Mom and Dad tell you that they got you some great gifts and you’ll just love them. The only problem is that you can’t open them up to see what you have received. Kind of like Obama. No one has really delved into his associations, ideas, plan for our great country. I believe that many will be shocked in some of his associations and ideas -but maybe that is a pipe dream.

I truely hope that things turn around, but I’m not hopeful. Will he be able to inact all of his liberal ideas. I doubt it – and hope not. It would be viturally impossible for him to do everything promised – it would bankrupt our country. The reality is that the taxes for the producers will go up and those that pay no tax will get a check. Where I’m from we call that welfare.

Of course, that’s just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Voter Imtimidation in Philadelphia

It seems that the Black Panthers really really want Obama elected. So much so that they are intimidating those at a Polling place in Philadelphia. According to Fox 29 in Philadelphia, two individuals were standing at the entrance dressed in Black Panther garb with one brandishing a night stick.

Seems to me that Obama supporters are looking at every avenue available to suppress the McCain vote in Philadelphia. Where’s the outrage at this kind of action. I doubt there will be many news stories or national outcry. What a surprise?

We’ll see if this really makes any difference, especially since the polls are tightening in Pennsylvania.

Of course, that is just my opinion

Rob’s Rant.

Source: http://www.myfoxphilly.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7788840&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

One Last Item Before You Vote

By now I’m sure you have seen the video below created and made by an Iraq War Veteran. Just a last minute reminder before you go into the booth. Whose the patriot here. Who will keep us safe. Really, there is only one choice.

Hopefully, that’s not just my opinion. Happy voting.

Rob’s Rant

McCain – Palin = The Best Bet For Our Future

I am not a McCain fan. I believe he is a centrist Republican and not the conservative voice we need, but he is light years better than Barack Obama. I’ve been amazed the totally biased coverage given us by the main stream media. The only sane national voice is really FoxNews and Conservative talk radio. Without them, we wouldn’t know anything about many many issues – from Rev. Jeremiah Wright to the terrorist Bill Ayres. Below are a few videos and ads that highlight some of these scandals:

Rev. Wright

Bill Ayres – Terrorist

ACORN – Voter Fraud Group

Tony Rezko – Convicted Crook

These are only a couple of the reasons NOT to send Barack Obama to the White House. Send him back to the Senate. Wake up America – Socialism is coming to Washington.

Of Course, That is just my opinion

Rob’s Rant

Long Live Joe the Plumber

Senator Obama’s real tax plan came out to the rest of the American public through the innocent Joe the Plumber in northern Ohio. Many of us have known that he is a socialist and want’s to redistribute the “wealth” for those of us who actually pay the taxes.

Right now over 50% of the American public pay no tax. That’s right, no tax. The people who are considered “rich” are those who actually created the jobs. Why would we take more of their money? If that happens, we’ll have a higher unemployment rate and really wreck the economy. If Obama comes into office, that will surely happen.

Of course, that’s just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Long live Joe the Plumber.

Does Anyone Know What They Are Talking About?

With the Presidential election a couple days away, it seems the country is still divided. I’m convinced that the pollsters do not have a clue on how this one is going to play out. If we remember the past two elections it seemed that the Democratic candidates were way out in front on election day, but we found that it was much closer in the end.

An interesting thing happens when people go into the election booth – they don’t have a pollster in their face (or on the phone) asking how they voted. Many people many want to appear unbiased, but vote their principles when in the booth.

For instance, voting for the black candidate may seem the politically correct view, but that really shouldn’t even figure into the equation. Who really cares the color of ones skin, it’s all about their views and what they can do for the country. If a conservative candidate, like Michael Steele or JC Watts (both black), would run for President, I doubt that they would receive 90% of the black vote. Who is actually biased here?

The more conservative candidate, John McCain, still has a real chance of pulling this out, but it is an uphill battle – or is it? We’ll see in a couple of days if the polls were right, or a little off. If Obama is not up more than 5 points on election day, it’s a dead heat.

Of Course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant