Archives
::::::
Human beings constantly learn how to do more and more with less and less. The latest example is a field microscope that doesn’t even need a lens, and that can be made for less than $10.
::::::
From an excellent article by W. Michael Cox, the senior vice president and chief economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and Richard Alm, the bank’s senior economics writer . . .
Today’s Downsize DC Conference Call, MY two-hour radio show, sponsored by DownsizeDC.org and Gun Owners of America…
:::
:::…begins my final month as a regular, live, on-air radio host with his own program.
:::
:::I’m calling it quits after nearly three-and-a-half years.
:::
:::On today’s (Sunday) program, which starts at 3:06 PM Eastern (2:06 PM Central, 1:06 Mountain, and 12:06 PM Pacific), I will spell out why I’m doing this and what comes next for me — including my future in radio (yes, there is a future).
:::
:::But for now, there are only four more episodes to go.
:::
:::So I’m going to wax a bit eloquent today, and explain why I’m so excited about the future — the wonderful prospects for our country. This week, I plan to publish an article on our blog (now featured on the front page of our website), describing why I think DownsizeDC.org is both strategically optimistic and tactically incremental in its approach.
:::
:::But are you hopeful about the future? Do you believe that Constitutional freedom and small, limited government will prevail? Are you excited about DownsizeDC.org? Or do you think the federal government is collapsing our rights, headed for totalitarianism, and the only thing that will save us is a revolution?
:::
:::I’d like to hear your thoughts. The best CALLER to today’s show will::::::
Quote of the Day:
:::From the Washington Post’s annual Mensa Invitational, in which readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here’s one of the winners:
:::
:::”Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.”
:::
:::Subject: July results
:::
:::As you can see on the home page of DownsizeDC.org, we crossed 50,000 messages to Congress this month — and for only the third time in our history. Better yet, we did it for the second month in a row! We also recruited 571 new DC Downsizers this month, an increase of 67 over what we did in July of last year.
:::
:::Biggest News:::::::
Quote of the Day:
:::”Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.”
:::– Will Rogers
:::
:::Subject: Can we control the runaway federal deficit?
:::
:::When you earn less, you must spend less. But when the government earns less, it spends more, usually by borrowing. It’s happening right now.
:::
:::The U.S. economy has slowed. Tax revenues are dropping, but government spending is soaring. The federal deficit is projected to reach a record level next year — $490 billion. That’s nearly half a trillion dollars added to the national debt in just one year.
:::
:::This is bad for the economy. Money that’s borrowed by the government can’t be borrowed by businesses. Businesses create jobs. Businesses are competing with the government for capital. It’s a competition businesses can’t win. But it gets worse . . .
::::::
Quote of the Day:
:::”We can have justice whenever those who have not been injured by injustice are as outraged by it as those who have been.”
:::– Solon (594 B.C.)
:::
:::Subject: Another Victory!
:::
:::We just won another victory (our 13th victory since 2006). The Senate killed S. 3297 yesterday. This massive bill, called the “Advancing America’s Priorities Act,” contained 36 completely unrelated measures. Sixty votes were needed to close debate and bring the bill to a final vote. It received only 52 votes — there were 40 votes against.
:::
:::This shows us something:::::::
I watched a good chunk of last Friday’s, Dennis Kucinich-inspired, “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Impeachment, Non-impeachment Hearings” on C-SPAN. Both many Democrats and nearly all Republicans seem to hold an erroneous view about impeachment, and it goes like this:
::::::
“We can’t start impeachment now, because this President’s term of office will be done in six months.”
::::::
It appears that this statement is based on the erroneous notion that impeachment is ONLY about removal from office. But we have recent history to tell us that removal from office is a TWO-step process. Bill Clinton was impeached by the House — which is akin to an indictment. However, he was not convicted after his trial by the Senate, and therefore was NOT removed from office.
::::::
Frankly, it really doesn’t matter whether or not there are just six weeks left in the term. Beyond removal from office, impeachment should be pursued for the following three reasons . . .
::::::
1) Iran. This Administration has consistently threatened to bomb Iran, despite the National Intelligence Estimate of late last year that indicated Iran is NOT a nuclear weapons threat. Many commentators believe that, right now, it is only the threat of $2-300 per barrel oil that prevent the President’s war plans from commencement. Will the President attack as a lame duck? Will the fact that he only has limited time in office prevent him from doing what he (wrongly) believes is his job?
::::::
2) Justice. This President has already talked about his legacy. He wants to be Harry Truman II. He stood the heat and saved the world through decisive action. He’s already raising vast sums for the largest-ever Presidential Library (a former President “edifice complex”) that will hold papers even we the people are not able to see. But Bill Clinton has a blotch on his record because of his impeachment. The impeachment hearings on Dick Nixon (which most everyone believes were going to result in his impeachment) darkened his record. No President wants to get hit in the legacy.
::::::
3) Signal. Impeachment would send a signal to future occupants of the Oval Office — a warning sign to tread carefully and obey the law. And if that was the only reason to proceed with impeachment, then it’s time for Congress to get started.
::::::
Originally posted at PositiveLiberty.com
Next year’s budget deficit is projected to reach $490 billion. That’s nearly half a trillion dollars added to the national debt in just one year. It’s also a new record, eclipsing the previous one-year record of $413 billion set in 2004. Meanwhile . . .
::::::