What is your “fair share” of what someone else has worked for?
—Thomas Sowell
The political left continually misrepresents data to prove their lie that the folks at the top of the economic pyramid don’t pay their fair share of income taxes. According to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation article “Who Pays Income Taxes: Tax Year 2021,” updated February 13, 2024, “The top 10 percent of earners bore responsibility for 76 percent of all income taxes paid, and the top 25 percent paid 89 percent of all income taxes. Altogether, the top 50 percent of filers earned 90 percent of all income and were responsible for 98 percent of all income taxes paid in 2021.”
So I pose this question: What is fair share? Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, two of today’s more famous political hacks, would have you believe it is 100%. And by the way, isn’t it ironic that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris continually tell us that the rich must pay their fair share while Biden’s son Hunter has been convicted in Federal Court of failure to pay millions of dollars in federal income taxes?
Rid Yourself of Media That Make Up Their Own Facts
I recently unsubscribed to a popular politically conservative website. Their daily updates were, well, over the top, and their headlines assumed facts not in evidence. In other words, it was hearsay with a tablespoon of bullshit. My guess is that they all worked from home in their PJs and made stuff up. I wager they were underpaid RINOs trying to make a name for themselves. Their views of the progressive liberal left were brutal. And that’s coming from me, folks! I enjoy filling my cup with many viewpoints, but exaggeration and stretching the truth are something I cannot abide by. It’s been seven days since I weaned myself off their updates. No sweating or fever yet, but I am watchful for signs of media withdrawal-induced sickness. I have my trusty bottle of Tylenol standing by.
Looking at Our Depleted SPR from another Perspective
SPR—Strategic Petroleum Reserve. I’ve written about it before, about how Biden has used it for political purposes. To refresh your memory, the SPR is our nation’s strategic—read EMERGENCY—oil reserve to be used in times of national emergency and war. The capacity of the reserve is 714 million barrels of oil. The oil is stored in enormous underground salt caverns along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana. Although I have never been a fan of President Gerald Ford, he established the SPR in 1975 after OPEC imposed an oil embargo on the United States. I commend President Ford for acting with non-partisan foresight and a touch of genius.
By the way, a barrel contains 42 gallons of oil. Here’s some math fun: 714,000,000 X 42 = 29,988,000,000 gallons of oil. Hey, we’re friends, so let’s just round it off to 30 billion gallons of oil—oil to be used to avoid severe economic disruptions as well as oil to be refined to power our
U.S. Army tanks and self-propelled howitzers. It’s oil to be refined for our B-1 bombers, F-22s, F-18 Super Hornets, A-10s, AC-130s, B-52s, F-35s, and others. Yes, the military has massive energy reserves. Consider this a backstop to that.
What’s my point here? Well, I’ve read and been told that the United States is in a very dangerous position at this time, much of it the consequence of the Biden Administration’s foreign policies. Both Russia and North Korea are threatening nuclear strikes. Iran and North Korea are exporting missiles to Russia. Iran is behind most if not all of the attacks on Israel. What’s more, the U.S. Energy Information Administration has indicated that the SPR has dropped to its lowest level since 1985 with just under 445 million barrels of oil.
SO, DURING THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME IN RECENT GLOBAL HISTORY, AMERICA’S GAS TANK IS DOWN OVER 40%.
Inflation and Hunger – Inextricably Linked
No Kid Hungry is a Washington, DC–based nonprofit. It commissioned Change Research to perform a Texas Hunger Survey with data collected from 1,133 people in July 2024. That they commissioned a study in Texas is not for me to understand, but the results are sobering. You have to be living under a rock to be unaware that inflation has soared a cumulative 21% during the Biden presidency. That has literally crippled millions of Americans’ ability to put healthy food on the table for their families and has led to massive food insecurity. An astounding 81% of Texans polled responded that the cost of food was rising faster than their incomes. A full 46%, nearly half, responded that it is much harder to afford groceries. Worse yet, for Texas families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade in public schools, 29% reportedly had to choose between paying for food and paying their utility bills.
Voters, this is as real as it gets.
America cannot withstand four more years of Democratic inflationary policies.
By way of background, when President Trump stepped down from office, the year-over-year inflation rate as of January 2021 (that’s inauguration month, folks) was approximately 1.4%. America’s inflation was virtually nonexistent. Just so it is not lost on you, in May 2024, CNN fact-checked President Biden’s false claim that when he assumed the Presidency the inflation rate was 9%. Not even close, Joe. It was June of 2022, well into the Biden presidency, that inflation topped out at 9.1%.
Frack You, Pennsylvania
One of the many news outlets I spend time with is Oilprice.com. As someone who wants to stay informed about global energy trends, I read their articles every week. I recently ran across a superb piece written by Dan Doyle, owner of an Appalachian-based hydraulic fracking company. His September 11, 2024, article titled “Kamala Harris’ Real Stance on Fracking” was a real eye- opener. I recommend you read the article. Here is the link:
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Kamala-Harris-Real-Stance-on-Fracking.html.
Dan Doyle is an articulate and knowledgeable energy insider. His command of energy policy is truly impressive. He details many of the anti-American energy policies of the Biden Administration, including placing a moratorium on most if not all federal gas and oil leases during the first week of that administration.
The administration and the press secretary de jour have mastered the art of half-truths, mistruths, and outright lies. Whether it was Karine Jean-Pierre or Jen Psaki standing at the podium and misleading the American public, I have learned that simply fact-checking their statements are not enough. The lies told by the Biden Administration are superbly well-crafted. Mr. Doyle has learned to unravel their speeches and get to the heart of where and how they seek to deceive the public. Those who know me understand that I am not one to shout unproven tales. I am thoughtful in my approach to writing and consider the facts before taking pen to paper.
I agree with Dan Doyle that if Kamala Harris became the 47th President of the United States, her policies would strangle domestic fossil fuel production and fracking. Horizontal drilling would be wiped out of existence by the energy regulatory bureaucracy in Washington, DC. Thank God for Trump!
Newsmax published an article on September 15, 2024, called “Pennsylvania’s Fracking Industry Plans to Continue, Whoever Wins White House.” Many Americans don’t realize that
Pennsylvania’s contribution to natural gas production (via fracking and horizontal drilling) is massive. The state produces more natural gas than Qatar or Canada. Mr. Google informs me that Pennsylvania pumps 20% of America’s natural gas (the second-largest after Texas). That number was 7.5 trillion cubic feet in 2023.When it comes to fracking and colossal natural gas production numbers, Pennsylvania has a lot of skin in the game. Frack You Kamala!
Only 11 NATO Members Are Meeting Their Funding Requirements
European countries have benefited from American security guarantees since World War II, yet many have steadfastly refused to honor their own commitments to help pay for those guarantees. After reading an article about the abysmal level of NATO funding in the September 2024 issue of Newsmax, I took to NATO’s website and saw a lot of high morality with kid-sized financial responsibility.
In 2006, NATO Defense Ministers agreed to provide a minimum of their 2% of GDP (gross domestic product) to fund the Alliance’s military readiness. Think of a high school class all promising to submit their homework on time. While there’s a good number of over-achievers such as Poland, the United States, Greece, Finland, Hungary, the United Kingdom, and a few others, the majority of the class has failed to submit their homework on time and have consistently underfunded their commitments. Their consistent theme is that they will try to do better in the future. HEY! I used to say that to my math and English teachers when I failed to submit homework on time. Listed below are those countries with failing grades that are not living up to their commitments. Those numbers represent 2023 funding amounts directly from NATO sources. Keep in mind that small countries need friends with big guns because they exist in dangerous neighborhoods.
NATO Members Not Living Up to Their Funding Commitments
France – Why am I not surprised?
Bulgaria – Former satellite state of the Soviet Union.
Croatia – It figures. Its socialist roots run deep.
Albania – Remember when it was occupied by Nazi German forces?
Netherlands – They should be ashamed of themselves.
Turkey – Perhaps the worst behaved of the group.
Spain – From dictatorship to a parliamentary democracy—pony up, guys.
Belgium – You can cry neutrality, but the Nazis still invaded you in 1940.
Denmark – At twice the size of Massachusetts, they need friends with bombs and big guns. Norway – Mr. Google says Norway is the size of Montana. They need friends with big guns. Germany – Europe’s financial titan? Phooey! Show me the money.
Canada – Hey, Trudeau! Pony up the cash.
Italy – Wait ’til you need saving again.
I’m sure I missed a few underachievers, but you get the idea. As a nation, if you make a commitment, you are expected to keep it. My guess is that Donald Trump will forcefully request that these countries meet their funding commitments.
New York Politicians Spending Taxpayer Funds on Illegals
Multiple media sources tell me that New York City has already spent $1 billion on migrant (illegal alien) housing. That’s taxpayer money that’s not supporting New York taxpayers. Ever wonder why after-school programs are not expanding? Ever wonder why city services are being cut? Ever wonder why schools are shut down to cater to illegals? Stop wondering. New Yorkers again voted these clowns back into office. They get what they deserve.
The Idiots Running Oregon
According to a September 15, 2024, article written by Carlos Fuentes in the online media outlet The Oregonian/Oregon Live, the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has admitted that it has registered at least 306 illegal aliens to vote. What began in 2021 is just now acknowledged in 2024. Both federal law and Oregon state law prohibit non-citizens from voting in local and national elections. Blue state Oregon has allowed and encouraged voter registration automatically when applying for a driver’s license. It has permitted non-citizens to apply for driver’s licenses since 2019.
Kevin Glenn, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, which oversees the DMV, was quoted as saying, “It’s basically a data entry issue.”
NO, Mr. Glenn, it is NOT a data entry issue. It is a stupidity issue. It is a national security issue. States should not be encouraged to welcome illegal aliens into the warm bosom of their irrational entitlement programs. They should be placed on a bus to Mexico, escorted by Federal Marshals, and removed from this country. They should not be given jobs, licenses, and permits, or be encouraged to begin a life here once they have committed a felony by entering the United States illegally.
Oregon state income tax rate tops out at 9.9%—among the highest in the nation. When will Oregon voters understand that their tax dollars are NOT benefiting their communities. They are benefiting felons.
Oregon Is NOT the Only State with Voter Integrity Issues
What is so racist about proof of citizenship? I grew up in the melting pot of the East Coast— New York City—and I never met anyone who didn’t have valid identification. Here is a sample of states dealing with non-citizens discovered on their voter registrations. I gathered the information from a recent CNN online article authored by Zachary Wolf on September 12, 2024.
Texas has discovered approximately 6,500 potential non-citizens on its voter registration.
Ohio recently removed an astounding 155,000 voters from its voter registration. It claims that a little less than 600 were referred for prosecution as potential non-citizens.
Georgia states that it has identified 1,634 non-citizens attempting to register to vote and is investigating the matter.
Pennsylvania claims a “glitch” enabled 168 non-citizens to register to vote.
Alabama discovered 3,251 non-citizens on its voter registration (this was my own investigation).
Arizona’s Secretary of State admits that close to 97,000 non-citizens are incorrectly listed on its voter registration according to Just the News website. Arizona is involved in a lawsuit due to its refusal to clean up its voter registration. Adding insult to injury, this has been going on since 1996.
Just so there is no question in your mind, be assured that the only number of non-citizens allowed to vote in America is zero. Voting is a right and a privilege reserved for American citizens. If you climb under (or over) a fence in Texas, Arizona, or California, arrive on a raft in Florida, or sneak in through our unprotected borders to the north, you are not authorized to vote. For all the states that encourage automatic voter registration at the DMV, my hope is that each Secretary of State will be tarred and feathered, sued, fired, jailed, and pensions cancelled. That will send a strong message that these types of policies are shortsighted, stupid, and encourage illegal behavior.
DEI – Deluded, Entitled, and Irrational
I’ve lost count of the number of articles I have read that describe how corporations from coast to coast have instituted DEI training—you know, diversity, equity, and inclusion. They’re the golden buzzwords of today’s woke generation. And then there is this question: “Do you speak English?” That is considered microaggression. Safe spaces have taken on a life of their own. If something I say offends you, you have many choices. You can close your laptop, you can stop reading or listening, you can walk away, or you can even run out the door and no longer be subject to my anti-woke rhetoric.
For the record, I am not a fascist, and I do take offense to the never-ending, neo-Marxist dialogue so prevalent in both offline and online media. And by the way, I support and respect our military and our veterans. I pay my taxes on time, and I don’t text while driving. I stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. I respect the flag and give generously to charities. I have found that many woke persons are angry and inflexible in their beliefs, clinging to misrepresentations and rejecting objective discussion, debate, and conversations. I have seen far- left political activists repeatedly attack the person, not the argument. For them, having a calm and rational discussion on numerous important topics is simply not an option.
I do not seek to oppress anyone, and taking offense is a personal choice, as is victimhood, which demands the sanction of the victim. Those with far-left political views that hold on to factual inaccuracies make no pretense of wanting to engage in dialogue. Evidently, everything I say and stand for will naturally offend them, so they choose not to listen to a viewpoint that is not their own. What they refuse to understand is that contrary points of view exist and are not wrong simply because they do not agree with them. Anyone can have a personal belief, but it does not mean that belief is right.
I Can Find No Mention of Systemic Racism in Our Founding Documents
Why do I keep writing? I’m not looking to receive a persistence award, although I am told that is a thing. I continue to write because my concern for the direction, future, and well-being of America has ratcheted up to ALARM. I read recently that President Trump is solidly in favor of voter ID laws. I agree with him. Democrats in Congress are 100% against voter ID bills, calling them racist. They argue that gays, transgenders, African Americans, and others are marginalized by the requirement to show an ID to vote.
Last I checked, this is 2024, not 1862 when Abraham Lincoln was in the White House. I’m a fairly intelligent guy, and I don’t get it. I have yet to have anyone explain to me how presenting an ID to vote in a federal election smacks of racism. To the best of my knowledge, you need ID to rent a car, a hotel room, or an apartment. You need ID to sell or buy a home, get on an airplane, and get medical attention at a hospital or doctor’s office. I’ve heard no cries that my doctor’s office is racist or that car rental counters at airports are racist. If you want to enlist in the military or go to an R-rated movie, you have to show ID. If you want to buy beer or whiskey, you will probably be asked for ID. In fact, if you buy a cell phone and connect to a carrier, you are asked to show ID. Are cell phone companies racist?
The rallying cry of the left—SYSTEMIC RACISM—would not permit a Tom Scott, Republican Senator from South Carolina, to exist. Born poor to a single-parent household, he nonetheless was able to raise himself with the help of mentors and his mom and become a voice of reason on Capitol Hill.
The rallying cry of the left—SYSTEMIC RACISM—would not permit a Ben Carson, brilliant neurosurgeon and candidate for president in 2016 who became Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Trump Administration, to exist. Born in Detroit and a poor student through much of his schooling, he was able to rise up and attend Yale University, the University of Michigan, and Johns Hopkins Medical School. In a society of systemic racism, that would never have been allowed to happen. Sure, there is racism in America just as there are pockets of anti-Semitism and those who hate Asians, Poles, or Russians.
There will always be people who hate. They were around in the time that Jesus walked the earth, and they are around today. Racism exists, but that does not mean that America, the country, is racist. The racists and haters inhabit every country around the world. And it’s almost guaranteed to happen in a society described as a melting pot of cultures. There are those who stick to their beliefs no matter how vile and detestable they might be. But to suggest that this country’s racism is systemic is untrue. There is no plan, official or not, for racism anywhere in state government constitutions or in the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, or the United States Constitution. Those screaming the loudest omit inconvenient facts and cling to their beliefs because it serves their purposes. Ben Shapiro’s book Facts Don’t Care about Your Feelings is a must-read for those looking to understand this subject on a deeper level.
This Country Did Not Achieve Greatness by Directives from Washington, DC
All of us need to be reminded that the Federal Government did not create the States; the States created the Federal Government.
—Ronald Reagan, First Inaugural Address
I believe our founding principles are under attack. Washington liberals continue to usurp state power at an alarming rate. Let’s go back to Civics 101. Our founders believed in limited central government, and the majority of the power residing in the independent states. The Biden-Harris Administration seeks to reverse that with their far-left, Green New Deal policies that have severely weakened our country. The administrative state led by executive departments such as the Department of Education have increased regulations and overstepped their authority. They have bypassed Congress and created regulations that Congress never intended. This is about to come to an end with President Trump’s inauguration in January.
Case in point: I believe it’s time to shutter the Department of Education and return all power over schooling and education to the states where it belongs. The federal government refuses to understand that one size DOES NOT fit all, and states should be free to chart their own course as written in the Federalist Papers and detailed in the United States Constitution. In 2021, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) proposed legislation to dismantle and eliminate the Department of Education.
Here is what the Congressman said: “Unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. should not be in charge of our children’s intellectual and moral development. States and local communities are best positioned to shape curricula that meet the needs of their students. Schools should be accountable. Parents have the right to choose the most appropriate educational opportunity for their children, including home school, public school, or private school.”
I believe it is time for the states to take back power from the bloated and misdirected federal government. I am a great admirer of Senator John Kennedy, Republican from Louisiana. He said, “I realize you can’t fix stupid, but you can vote it out.” You CAN vote it out—permanently.
This is spot on as usual for this extraordinary defender of our country.
Living Testimony
I am an American with inherited sovereignty.
I was born on American soil.
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