Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Is Joe Biden Barack Obama's Spiro Agnew?
The Insomniac believes Richard Nixon chose Spiro Agnew as his VP as much for insurance against impeachment as for Maryland's electoral votes. After all, who would have wanted Agnew as president? And who would want a President Biden? The real nightmare that keeps The Insomniac awake at night is the specter of a President Pelosi. That very thought is so scary that it works better than bran or prunes to keep The Insomniac regular.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sleepless in Texas
As you avid readers of this blog should have deduced by now The Insomniac has been sleeping well the past several months. Lately, however, he has become more and more restless at night and has been mulling over all the things wrong with this nation and this world.
The entire globe has been racked with terrorism, natural disasters, pandemic flu and extreme weather. The Insomniac worries that the issues are not being addressed in a thoughtful and straightforward way but rather seized upon to make political gains. This must stop if the world as we know it is to survive. But, alas, there are those who do not want the world as it is but instead want to mold it into whatever their ideology dictates.
Radio, television and the internet are being used to foster polarization on these issues. What passes for debate is just the different sides yelling their "talking points" at one another. There seems to be no common ground and no spirit of cooperation to attain reasonable solutions.
The Insomniac fears there are many more sleepless nights ahead.
The entire globe has been racked with terrorism, natural disasters, pandemic flu and extreme weather. The Insomniac worries that the issues are not being addressed in a thoughtful and straightforward way but rather seized upon to make political gains. This must stop if the world as we know it is to survive. But, alas, there are those who do not want the world as it is but instead want to mold it into whatever their ideology dictates.
Radio, television and the internet are being used to foster polarization on these issues. What passes for debate is just the different sides yelling their "talking points" at one another. There seems to be no common ground and no spirit of cooperation to attain reasonable solutions.
The Insomniac fears there are many more sleepless nights ahead.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Is The Income Tax Really Voluntary?
Someone should educate Harry Reid about the voluntary nature of Income Tax. Apparently there are a lot of high ranking Democrats who think Income Tax is strictly voluntary. Examples include Tom Daschle and Tim Gietner.
Income Tax Myths: "The income tax is voluntary—even the IRS says so!"
As is demonstrated here, the income tax statutes clearly require the payment of income taxes. There is nothing voluntary about it.
It is true that the IRS frequently states that it relies on the “voluntary compliance” of taxpayers. But anyone who relies on that to say that the income tax is voluntary is confusing two different things: the duty to pay the tax and the method of enforcing that duty relied upon by the IRS.
The duty to pay the tax is mandatory. It rests on the sections of the tax statutes explained in detail here. Those statutes require the payment of taxes and do not give the taxpayer an option in the matter.
So what does the IRS mean when it says it relies on “voluntary compliance”? It is referring to the primary method by which it enforces the (mandatory) duty to pay taxes. The IRS recognizes that this is a huge country and there are hundreds of millions of people who have a duty to pay taxes. The IRS can’t follow each of us around personally and force us to pay. The system can function only if most people voluntarily comply with their duty to pay. If everyone in the country simultaneously stopped complying with the tax laws, the IRS would be helpless. It doesn’t have the resources to bring 200 million tax prosecutions. So the primary method of tax enforcement used in this country is the fact that most people voluntarily go ahead and comply with their mandatory duty to pay their taxes.
But make no mistake about it: the duty to pay is mandatory. If the primary method of enforcement of that duty (voluntary compliance) fails for a particular person, the government hauls out the secondary method of enforcement: a tax prosecution. It can go after the nonpayer in a civil action, or seize assets of the nonpayer, or bring a criminal case that can land the nonpayer in prison.
Income Tax Myths: "The income tax is voluntary—even the IRS says so!"
As is demonstrated here, the income tax statutes clearly require the payment of income taxes. There is nothing voluntary about it.
It is true that the IRS frequently states that it relies on the “voluntary compliance” of taxpayers. But anyone who relies on that to say that the income tax is voluntary is confusing two different things: the duty to pay the tax and the method of enforcing that duty relied upon by the IRS.
The duty to pay the tax is mandatory. It rests on the sections of the tax statutes explained in detail here. Those statutes require the payment of taxes and do not give the taxpayer an option in the matter.
So what does the IRS mean when it says it relies on “voluntary compliance”? It is referring to the primary method by which it enforces the (mandatory) duty to pay taxes. The IRS recognizes that this is a huge country and there are hundreds of millions of people who have a duty to pay taxes. The IRS can’t follow each of us around personally and force us to pay. The system can function only if most people voluntarily comply with their duty to pay. If everyone in the country simultaneously stopped complying with the tax laws, the IRS would be helpless. It doesn’t have the resources to bring 200 million tax prosecutions. So the primary method of tax enforcement used in this country is the fact that most people voluntarily go ahead and comply with their mandatory duty to pay their taxes.
But make no mistake about it: the duty to pay is mandatory. If the primary method of enforcement of that duty (voluntary compliance) fails for a particular person, the government hauls out the secondary method of enforcement: a tax prosecution. It can go after the nonpayer in a civil action, or seize assets of the nonpayer, or bring a criminal case that can land the nonpayer in prison.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Does Anybody Care?
One family fighting to make sure our troops are not forgotten though the media seems to have found higher ratings in the politcal rantings....our men and women in uniform are in harms way and we must not let them be forgotten.
Freedom is not Free
Our warriors continue to fight and to die for our country in two wars. When George W. Bush was president the cost of freedom was exploited and and the media used these brave young men and women primarily for the purpose of spreading political discontent. Now the same media is all but ignoring the exploits of our fighting men and women. The "caring" just evaporated with a change of party in the presidency?One of our members Tracy Roberts is updating the group Fallen Heros almost daily. She has not forgotten who provides our freedom. Please thank her. Please thank our troops whenever you can.Help Tracy and her husband help our troops
http://helpmstracysupportthetroops.com/blog/fallen-heroes-since-june-28th-2009/
When Bush was in charge, the media was falling all over themselves to announce every fallen Warrior and yell and gnash teeth over him "killing our troops." Has anybody besides me noticed that even though the death toll in Afghanistan lately is high in comparison, we don't hear about our fallen Heroes on the news? What kind of message does that send to the loved ones left behind to mourn their loss? Are the deaths of these brave young men and women any less tragic because it's Obama sending them to their demise? We cannot, we MUST NOT, let these losses go unmentioned and unnoticed. It's not right, and it's not fair to the families left without their loved one.
Freedom is not Free
Our warriors continue to fight and to die for our country in two wars. When George W. Bush was president the cost of freedom was exploited and and the media used these brave young men and women primarily for the purpose of spreading political discontent. Now the same media is all but ignoring the exploits of our fighting men and women. The "caring" just evaporated with a change of party in the presidency?One of our members Tracy Roberts is updating the group Fallen Heros almost daily. She has not forgotten who provides our freedom. Please thank her. Please thank our troops whenever you can.Help Tracy and her husband help our troops
http://helpmstracysupportthetroops.com/blog/fallen-heroes-since-june-28th-2009/
When Bush was in charge, the media was falling all over themselves to announce every fallen Warrior and yell and gnash teeth over him "killing our troops." Has anybody besides me noticed that even though the death toll in Afghanistan lately is high in comparison, we don't hear about our fallen Heroes on the news? What kind of message does that send to the loved ones left behind to mourn their loss? Are the deaths of these brave young men and women any less tragic because it's Obama sending them to their demise? We cannot, we MUST NOT, let these losses go unmentioned and unnoticed. It's not right, and it's not fair to the families left without their loved one.
Monday, August 17, 2009
A Monumental Truth
Take a tour, Mr President In That place you call home
Visit each memorial of your successors long gone.
Rising monuments quote profound truth
From men who led this country when in its youth.
At each monument the word “God” stands tall.
To change that foundation would be your downfall.
Our founding fathers were men just like you
But they knew the One who would lead them through.
God was the One who gave them strength
When crisis unknown teetered on the brink.
Please Mr. President, can you not see ?
“In God We Trust” is what has kept us free.
Written by Donna Ditges - The Insomniac's Wife
Visit each memorial of your successors long gone.
Rising monuments quote profound truth
From men who led this country when in its youth.
At each monument the word “God” stands tall.
To change that foundation would be your downfall.
Our founding fathers were men just like you
But they knew the One who would lead them through.
God was the One who gave them strength
When crisis unknown teetered on the brink.
Please Mr. President, can you not see ?
“In God We Trust” is what has kept us free.
Written by Donna Ditges - The Insomniac's Wife
Thursday, August 13, 2009
World History
For those that don't know about history . Here is a condensed version:
Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter. The two most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer. These were the foundation of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups:
1. Liberals
2. Conservatives
Once beer was discovered, it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can was invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed. Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to B-B-Q at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement.
Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the conservatives by showing up for the nightly B-B-Q's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Liberal movement.
Some of these liberal men eventually evolved into women. The rest became known as girlie-men. Some noteworthy liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy, group hugs, and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that conservatives provided.
Over the years conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth.... the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass.
Modern liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food is standard liberal fare. Another interesting evolutionary side note: most of their women have higher testosterone levels than their men. Most social workers, personal injury attorneys, journalists, dreamers in Hollywood and group therapists are liberals. Liberals invented the designated hitter rule because it wasn't fair to make the pitcher also bat.
Conservatives drink domestic beer, mostly Bud. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are big-game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, corporate executives, athletes, members of the military, airline pilots and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other conservatives who want to work for a living.
Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the liberals remained in Europe when conservatives were coming to America . They crept in after the Wild West was tamed and created a business of trying to get more for nothing.
Here ends today's lesson in world history: It should be noted that a Liberal may have a momentary urge to angrily respond to the above before forwarding it. A Conservative will simply laugh and be so convinced of the absolute truth of this history that it will be forwarded immediately to other true believers and to more liberals just to tick them off.? And there you have it. Let your next action reveal your position.
I chose to post it on my blog...the ultra conservative.
Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter. The two most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer. These were the foundation of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups:
1. Liberals
2. Conservatives
Once beer was discovered, it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can was invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed. Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to B-B-Q at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement.
Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the conservatives by showing up for the nightly B-B-Q's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Liberal movement.
Some of these liberal men eventually evolved into women. The rest became known as girlie-men. Some noteworthy liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy, group hugs, and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that conservatives provided.
Over the years conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth.... the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass.
Modern liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food is standard liberal fare. Another interesting evolutionary side note: most of their women have higher testosterone levels than their men. Most social workers, personal injury attorneys, journalists, dreamers in Hollywood and group therapists are liberals. Liberals invented the designated hitter rule because it wasn't fair to make the pitcher also bat.
Conservatives drink domestic beer, mostly Bud. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are big-game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, corporate executives, athletes, members of the military, airline pilots and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other conservatives who want to work for a living.
Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the liberals remained in Europe when conservatives were coming to America . They crept in after the Wild West was tamed and created a business of trying to get more for nothing.
Here ends today's lesson in world history: It should be noted that a Liberal may have a momentary urge to angrily respond to the above before forwarding it. A Conservative will simply laugh and be so convinced of the absolute truth of this history that it will be forwarded immediately to other true believers and to more liberals just to tick them off.? And there you have it. Let your next action reveal your position.
I chose to post it on my blog...the ultra conservative.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Health Care (debate?)
The following letter to the editor appeared in the Aug 12 edition of The Brazosport Facts:
Health insurance company stooges disrupting town halls
If you think health care is a mess, just look at the Republican Party. Once again, they are showing themselves to be the party of “No.”
Instead of producing a workable insurance plan, they are following the mandates of their de facto leaders — Fox News, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh — and trying to stop any meaningful progress toward insuring all Americans. Remember, we are the only industrialized nation that doesn’t guarantee health care for all its people. Those who are working as stooges for the insurance companies and disrupting town hall meetings are doing the immoral work of these corporations.
If you don’t like government-run medicine, then drop out of the Veterans Administration system and let the government know you and all your family won’t be using Medicare. Better yet, do the right thing and support the effort to make this a better country.
Quit listening to the rumors and falsehoods being spread. The right kind of change, the kind President Barack Obama is trying to achieve, will be good for all of us.
Sam Davis, Pearland
Here is my reply - as yet unpublished:
Once again a Democrat party hack, this time the precinct 76 chairman, spouts the party line talking points. Instead of advancing logical reasons supporting the proposed health care legislation, he calls those opposed stooges. Such inflammatory language does little to promote genuine dialog. He makes the outrageous claim that this is the only industrial country that does not guarantee health care for its entire people. Au contraire! Health care is not guaranteed but is indeed rationed in both Great Britain and Canada. I suggest he check out the “complete life” system of providing health care.
Health care is not a zero sum game. Access to health care will improve by training more health care workers and expanding medical facilities. Reasonable tort reform and insurance regulations will help reduce costs. Access can also be improved by innovative thinking such as providing low cost clinics to provide non-emergency care. One possibility for rural areas is to augment hospital environs with assisted living quarters and outpatient care. Rural areas would also be well served by improved patient transport.
Let the discourse begin and the hyperbole cease.
Health insurance company stooges disrupting town halls
If you think health care is a mess, just look at the Republican Party. Once again, they are showing themselves to be the party of “No.”
Instead of producing a workable insurance plan, they are following the mandates of their de facto leaders — Fox News, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh — and trying to stop any meaningful progress toward insuring all Americans. Remember, we are the only industrialized nation that doesn’t guarantee health care for all its people. Those who are working as stooges for the insurance companies and disrupting town hall meetings are doing the immoral work of these corporations.
If you don’t like government-run medicine, then drop out of the Veterans Administration system and let the government know you and all your family won’t be using Medicare. Better yet, do the right thing and support the effort to make this a better country.
Quit listening to the rumors and falsehoods being spread. The right kind of change, the kind President Barack Obama is trying to achieve, will be good for all of us.
Sam Davis, Pearland
Here is my reply - as yet unpublished:
Once again a Democrat party hack, this time the precinct 76 chairman, spouts the party line talking points. Instead of advancing logical reasons supporting the proposed health care legislation, he calls those opposed stooges. Such inflammatory language does little to promote genuine dialog. He makes the outrageous claim that this is the only industrial country that does not guarantee health care for its entire people. Au contraire! Health care is not guaranteed but is indeed rationed in both Great Britain and Canada. I suggest he check out the “complete life” system of providing health care.
Health care is not a zero sum game. Access to health care will improve by training more health care workers and expanding medical facilities. Reasonable tort reform and insurance regulations will help reduce costs. Access can also be improved by innovative thinking such as providing low cost clinics to provide non-emergency care. One possibility for rural areas is to augment hospital environs with assisted living quarters and outpatient care. Rural areas would also be well served by improved patient transport.
Let the discourse begin and the hyperbole cease.
Monday, August 10, 2009
How many zeroes in a trillion?
Light travels six trillion miles in one year; hence one light-year.
Obama spends three trillion dollars in one year should we start measuring our budget in Obama years?
Obama spends three trillion dollars in one year should we start measuring our budget in Obama years?
First Quarter Report on BHO
1. Offended the Queen of England .
2. Bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia .
3. Praised the Marxist Daniel Ortega.
4. Kissed Hugo Chavez on the cheek.
5. Endorsed the Socialist Evo Morales of Bolivia.
6. Announced we would meet with Iranians without pre-conditions.
7. Gave away billions to AIG also without pre-conditions.
8. Expanded the bailouts.
9. Insulted everyone who has ever loved a Special Olympian.
10. Doubled our national debt.
11. Announced a termination of the space defense system the day after the North Koreans launched an ICBM.
12. Despite the urgings of his own CIA director and the prior 4 CIA directors, released information on intelligence gathering.
13. Accepted without public comment the fact that five of his cabinet members cheated on their taxes and two others withdrew after they couldn't take the heat.
14. Appointed a Homeland Security Chief who quickly identified as "dangers to the nation", groups including veterans of the military, and opponents to abortion on demand....and who ordered that the word "terrorism" no longer be used but instead referred to such acts as "man made disasters".
15. Circled the globe so he could openly apologize for America's greatness.
16. Told the Mexican President that the violence in their country was because of us.
17. Politicized the census by moving it into the White House from its Department of Commerce origins.1
8. Appointed as Attorney General the man who orchestrated the forced removal and expulsion (from America to Cuba) of a 9 year old whose mother died trying to bring him to a life of freedom in the United States.
19. Salutes as heroes three Navy SEALS who took down three terrorists who threatened one American life... and the next day announces members of the Bush administration will likely stand trial for "torturing", by pouring water up his nose, a terrorist who had played a part in killing 3000 Americans .
20. Sent Air Force One over New York City .
21. Sent his National Defense Advisor to Europe to assure Europe that the US will no longer treat Israel in a special manner and they might be on their own with the Muslims.
22. Began the process of nationalizing the Auto Industry and the Insurance industry.
23. Announced that for all intents and purposes the Health Insurance Industry will be nationalized.
24. Declared that the United States of America is no longer a Christian nation.
1360 more days to go... God help us all!
2. Bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia .
3. Praised the Marxist Daniel Ortega.
4. Kissed Hugo Chavez on the cheek.
5. Endorsed the Socialist Evo Morales of Bolivia.
6. Announced we would meet with Iranians without pre-conditions.
7. Gave away billions to AIG also without pre-conditions.
8. Expanded the bailouts.
9. Insulted everyone who has ever loved a Special Olympian.
10. Doubled our national debt.
11. Announced a termination of the space defense system the day after the North Koreans launched an ICBM.
12. Despite the urgings of his own CIA director and the prior 4 CIA directors, released information on intelligence gathering.
13. Accepted without public comment the fact that five of his cabinet members cheated on their taxes and two others withdrew after they couldn't take the heat.
14. Appointed a Homeland Security Chief who quickly identified as "dangers to the nation", groups including veterans of the military, and opponents to abortion on demand....and who ordered that the word "terrorism" no longer be used but instead referred to such acts as "man made disasters".
15. Circled the globe so he could openly apologize for America's greatness.
16. Told the Mexican President that the violence in their country was because of us.
17. Politicized the census by moving it into the White House from its Department of Commerce origins.1
8. Appointed as Attorney General the man who orchestrated the forced removal and expulsion (from America to Cuba) of a 9 year old whose mother died trying to bring him to a life of freedom in the United States.
19. Salutes as heroes three Navy SEALS who took down three terrorists who threatened one American life... and the next day announces members of the Bush administration will likely stand trial for "torturing", by pouring water up his nose, a terrorist who had played a part in killing 3000 Americans .
20. Sent Air Force One over New York City .
21. Sent his National Defense Advisor to Europe to assure Europe that the US will no longer treat Israel in a special manner and they might be on their own with the Muslims.
22. Began the process of nationalizing the Auto Industry and the Insurance industry.
23. Announced that for all intents and purposes the Health Insurance Industry will be nationalized.
24. Declared that the United States of America is no longer a Christian nation.
1360 more days to go... God help us all!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
