The Economy
What is the cause of the current malaise of US economy?
Many say we need to create jobs, but what creates a job? A job is only created if there is a demand for it, and there is only a demand if there is a need. And, I believe that is the crux of the matter. There is no need to hire someone if there is no demand for more work to be done.
No free enterprise business, from Ford to the Deli down the street, will hire more people than are required to accomplish the task at hand. That is a very simple truth, but one that is often ignored or perhaps just not mentioned in the sound bites.
Business relies on customers, and customers need dollars to buy goods and/or services, which means they need to have an income. Most, yes, more than 9 out of 10 workers have incomes, so why isn’t that enough people to create sufficient demand for goods and services?
The un-obvious answer to this question is oil. The price of oil, and subsequently gasoline, is draining the American economy of the dollars that would otherwise be fueling a vibrant and thriving economy.
Commute twenty miles each way per day, and on average you will be spending $35 to $40 per week for gas, which is about $2,000. per year, let alone additional driving for family, fun, or necessity. A few years ago gas was under $2.00/gal. and not many years before that it was under $1.00/gal.
Gasoline cost is sucking the life out of the American economy! And perhaps, not by coincidence, so are the wars we are enmeshed in in the countries that reap the majority of those oil dollars.
In recent years we have discovered that the United States has tremendous oil reserves.
In light of the age old law of Supply and Demand, we should be doing everything in our power to produce oil here in the United States. The added Supply available would send the cost of oil downward, giving that commuter more non-fuel spendable money. The US produced oil and gasoline would create a need for hiring more workers in that industry, and the reduced cost of weekly commuting fuel would quickly translate into stimulating other aspects of the economy, which does mean more need for workers and more hiring. And, perhaps most importantly, would reduce our reliance on, and need to fight with the oil producing countries of the Middle East.
So, let’s stop worrying about the so-called one percent, and we, the ninety-nine percent, start thinking clearly about what is happening to our country, why, and doing something about it.
Make America a self reliant, sane and sensible country once again!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Healthcare Bill Revisited
Recently, in the New Castle Post , J. Michael Donovan wrote about the Canadian health care system, which I understand from our many Canadian friends both here in Florida and in the Dominican Republic, works quite well. That said, I don't believe that is particularily germane to the US Healthcare Bill that was passed last year and/or recently discussed in Veazey's View.
Briefly, Canada has about 30 million people as against 300 million in the US. The Canadian system is quite specific to check-ups, treatment and medical care; whereas the US Healthcare Bill is a popouri of a dozens of side issues. That is, specifically, why I created the link to the Enrolled Bill in the The Fable of Contents. Any reader who is willing to take a very few minutes to to click onto this link, http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:7:./temp/~c111MGWLC7:: to the Index of the Bill, can read any Section which might sound like a good thing for our healthcare problems here in the US, and see what the Bill's details actually call for. You will be shocked!
No matter which Section title you chose, you will find far different specific wording; -which is now the Law, then what is implied in the Section title. And, worst of all, in my mind are the billions of dollars that are authorized to be expended by the Secretary of Health at her discretion. And, the required reports and studies that will take years before completion. And, taxes for all sorts of medical related events. Please read it!
And so, the real question is not the relevance of the quality, or effectivness of any other country's healthcare program:--the question is, should our present Congress repeal the Enrolled Bill, so that specific fallacies in our former healthcare system be addressed.
There are faults aplenty in our current system, but to quote an old saw, "let's not throw out the baby with the bath water!" This is truly not a Republican or Democratic question. Our healthcare system had some flaws. Let's just fix them.
February, 2011
Briefly, Canada has about 30 million people as against 300 million in the US. The Canadian system is quite specific to check-ups, treatment and medical care; whereas the US Healthcare Bill is a popouri of a dozens of side issues. That is, specifically, why I created the link to the Enrolled Bill in the The Fable of Contents. Any reader who is willing to take a very few minutes to to click onto this link, http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:7:./temp/~c111MGWLC7:: to the Index of the Bill, can read any Section which might sound like a good thing for our healthcare problems here in the US, and see what the Bill's details actually call for. You will be shocked!
No matter which Section title you chose, you will find far different specific wording; -which is now the Law, then what is implied in the Section title. And, worst of all, in my mind are the billions of dollars that are authorized to be expended by the Secretary of Health at her discretion. And, the required reports and studies that will take years before completion. And, taxes for all sorts of medical related events. Please read it!
And so, the real question is not the relevance of the quality, or effectivness of any other country's healthcare program:--the question is, should our present Congress repeal the Enrolled Bill, so that specific fallacies in our former healthcare system be addressed.
There are faults aplenty in our current system, but to quote an old saw, "let's not throw out the baby with the bath water!" This is truly not a Republican or Democratic question. Our healthcare system had some flaws. Let's just fix them.
February, 2011
Monday, November 15, 2010
#2 The Bush Tax Cuts and other such nonsense
Why are they called the Bush Tax Cuts rather than simply, current Tax Rates? The rhetoric is all over the place. Taxes on the rich, Tax breaks for the poor; -or the middle class. etc. etc.
Taxes are nothing more than a way for a government to collect money to pay for themselves and the services they elect to provide to, and for, the public. The method of collection varies from direct: i.e. tolls for the roadway, or Park entrance fees for the Parks; to more general, such as Income Tax or Corporation Tax, which go to all sorts of expenses.
In between, there are more than a myriad of taxes and another myriad of rationale-like names for the their existence. Meals Tax, Sales Tax, Excise Tax, Inventory Tax, Inheritence Tax, Cigarette Tax, et al. There's a Telephone Pole Tax, and in New Hampshire they tried to tax the golf holes at the Portsmouth Country Club. It failed, thank common sense!
The foggyness with the issue of Taxation names stems in part from the concept of concocting the name of the source of a Tax, rather than naming it for the Expense for which it is being collected. I believe we, and our elected representatives, could more clearly look at, and decide upon, a proposed service if we named the tax that which it would pay for and priced it accordingly.
But primarily, for this View, let's change the present debate from Bush Tax Breaks, etc. to: Should we raise Present Tax Rates, or Cut Spending and revise Entitlements. Period, full stop!
We can't have it both ways. Everyone knows that real reductions in spending by governments must be made, and that an awful lot of that spending is on ourselves. They are the so-called entitlements. Well, I'm concerned that there are more entitlement dollars going out than there are tax dollars for them coming in, and that there will be greater than a rude awakening in the not too distant future: -there will be a disaster.
I believe some of the proposed entitlement changes being brought forth deserve full consideration; and immediate action. It is up to us to reshape the entitlements income/expense ratio in a balanced and sensible way for future generations.
There have been many past and passed good intentions and some parts of those programs are successful, such as Social Security as a safety net for a certain segment of our population. However, the 1930's life span and recipients personal needs have changed radically, and thus a course correction for Social Security is absolutely in order. I believe we should raise the eligibility age, offer opt-outs as a personal choice, review the currently covered persons, and place some practical income levels for SS benefit disqualification.
A lot more discussion is needed on the subject of Taxes, Expenses, and Entitlements, but this is a start. end, wmv
Taxes are nothing more than a way for a government to collect money to pay for themselves and the services they elect to provide to, and for, the public. The method of collection varies from direct: i.e. tolls for the roadway, or Park entrance fees for the Parks; to more general, such as Income Tax or Corporation Tax, which go to all sorts of expenses.
In between, there are more than a myriad of taxes and another myriad of rationale-like names for the their existence. Meals Tax, Sales Tax, Excise Tax, Inventory Tax, Inheritence Tax, Cigarette Tax, et al. There's a Telephone Pole Tax, and in New Hampshire they tried to tax the golf holes at the Portsmouth Country Club. It failed, thank common sense!
The foggyness with the issue of Taxation names stems in part from the concept of concocting the name of the source of a Tax, rather than naming it for the Expense for which it is being collected. I believe we, and our elected representatives, could more clearly look at, and decide upon, a proposed service if we named the tax that which it would pay for and priced it accordingly.
But primarily, for this View, let's change the present debate from Bush Tax Breaks, etc. to: Should we raise Present Tax Rates, or Cut Spending and revise Entitlements. Period, full stop!
We can't have it both ways. Everyone knows that real reductions in spending by governments must be made, and that an awful lot of that spending is on ourselves. They are the so-called entitlements. Well, I'm concerned that there are more entitlement dollars going out than there are tax dollars for them coming in, and that there will be greater than a rude awakening in the not too distant future: -there will be a disaster.
I believe some of the proposed entitlement changes being brought forth deserve full consideration; and immediate action. It is up to us to reshape the entitlements income/expense ratio in a balanced and sensible way for future generations.
There have been many past and passed good intentions and some parts of those programs are successful, such as Social Security as a safety net for a certain segment of our population. However, the 1930's life span and recipients personal needs have changed radically, and thus a course correction for Social Security is absolutely in order. I believe we should raise the eligibility age, offer opt-outs as a personal choice, review the currently covered persons, and place some practical income levels for SS benefit disqualification.
A lot more discussion is needed on the subject of Taxes, Expenses, and Entitlements, but this is a start. end, wmv
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Post Number One: From Rye Reflections to Veazey's View Blog
#1: From Rye Reflections to Veazey's View Blog
Rye Reflections http://www.ryereflections.org/ became an important part of my life over the past five years and I find that I miss it and the interaction with the group, as well as the opportunity to express my opinion, or perhaps better said, my perspective, on any given subject.
Several of the family suggested that a blog was the way to go, and proceeded to set me up with this avenue as a way to express all that I wish to say: -whether anyone wants to read it is anther matter, and that will remain to be seen.
I put the link to RR above, and you will find it to be a wonderful reference for all sorts of adventures; be it travel, NH seacoast news over the past five plus years, opinions, sking, golf, you name it! You will also find the bio's of all the contributors over that period. It's well worth marking as a Favorite for a rainy afternoon pastime.
I shall try to express Veazey's View in an constructive way, and hope that it will be of some value in cutting through the fog that seems to dull the issues in our society. Postings shall be somewhat random as there is so much out there to comment on. end - wmv
Rye Reflections http://www.ryereflections.org/ became an important part of my life over the past five years and I find that I miss it and the interaction with the group, as well as the opportunity to express my opinion, or perhaps better said, my perspective, on any given subject.
Several of the family suggested that a blog was the way to go, and proceeded to set me up with this avenue as a way to express all that I wish to say: -whether anyone wants to read it is anther matter, and that will remain to be seen.
I put the link to RR above, and you will find it to be a wonderful reference for all sorts of adventures; be it travel, NH seacoast news over the past five plus years, opinions, sking, golf, you name it! You will also find the bio's of all the contributors over that period. It's well worth marking as a Favorite for a rainy afternoon pastime.
I shall try to express Veazey's View in an constructive way, and hope that it will be of some value in cutting through the fog that seems to dull the issues in our society. Postings shall be somewhat random as there is so much out there to comment on. end - wmv
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)