Be humble

Sitting here minding my own business when the HB hot line rings.  I note caller ID is showing the call is coming from 000.000.0000.  I figure I will have someone on the other end of the line speaking with an East Indian accent, so I can have a little sport.

A raspy voice addresses me by my first name.  “Who is this?”, I ask.  “Liberal Party of Canada” the aggressive raspy male voice tells me.  Clearly the guy is working in some sort of Liberal call out group as I can hear other voices in the background.  The guy sounds like a lawyer bill collector who had smoked to many cigarettes and had to much caffeine.

“Can we count on your support”, he asks.  “Not sure yet”, I answer.  He then got aggressive.  In an aggressive manner he challenged my choices and why the heck would I not be supporting them.  I explained that I had decided who I would not be voting for, and if he did not back off and tone down a bit, there would be another name added to the do not vote list.

The ass then hung up on me!

As at 0910 September 30, 2008:

With 30% of Canadians indicating that they would avail themselves of this service, I had expected the web site work on the first day. 

Update as of 0940 - the site is now working and I have registered my number.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper was hoping to atone Monday for describing the denizens of Canadian arts and culture as government-subsidized elitists with nothing in common with ordinary Canadians.  Harper offers tax breaks to parents with kids in arts programs

From the Canadian Press

Just curious, what about those who want to educate their kids in programs other than the “Arts”.

We have all seen the Moose warning signs as we pass though NB and other area that have a Moose population.  When I travel though these area, I become slightly more vigilant - but only slightly.  I spent my early years in area that had herds of deer, and they too, can present a very serious highway hazard.  A friend just sent me these images and I have promised myself to be a little more cautious.  I feel bad for the Moose.

Who would have thought......

Good.  Now eliminate the rest of them.  Now!

I want to believe, really I do - but I can’t get by the fact that this is a tax on the oil tanks of Canadians.

The Green Shift calculator can be found here.  I just filled in the information as accurately as I can and I am advised my tax savings will be:

There is no explanation of how this is calculated.

The costs are explained on the site as follows (highlights are mine):

Thus, I have no explanation of the math in calculating the savings and it is noted that the costs will vary.

If they can’t convince someone who wants to believe, how will this convince anyone who is opposed to the plan?

I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG. Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We
Deserve It Dividend.  To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.   Our population is about
301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.  My plan is to give $425,0 00 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve  It  Dividend.   Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%.  Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. 
That  sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.   But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.   What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?  Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.  Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads Put away money  for college - it’ll be there Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs. Buy a new car - create jobs   Invest in the market - capital drives growth.  Pay for your parent’s  medical insurance - health care improves.   Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean or else.   Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks
who  lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is  cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces .

If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 economic incentive that is being proposed  by one of our candidates for President. If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it.  Sell off its parts.  Let American General go back to being American General.  Sell off the real estate.   Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.  Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.  Sure it’s a crazy idea that can work.    But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!  How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion  We  Deserve It Dividend more than the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.

And remember, The Family plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.   Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Thursday night, before I sat down to watch the incredibly hot Cindy Day weather forecast, I stepped outside to prepare for an evening ride.  Came back in and said to Herself, “big rain coming - maybe wind”.  A few minutes later, Cindy confirmed my observation.  Herself reminded me that it would be just me and the boys at home this weekend, and I was on my own.

We are constantly reminded of what one should do in advance of a big storm.  I have my list which is now complete.  I am ready.

For people living outside of the US, it can be hard to understand the passion, vitriol, and anger that many US voters feel for an opposing party.  Today, I received an e-mail from an old friend who is an elected NYS Assemblyman(Republican).  About this, he wrote this:

IS THIS IS WHAT WE CAN EXPECT WITH A $700 BILLION BAILOUT.???..!THESE GOLDEN PARACHUTES...ARE ALL IN PLACE...AND THE CEO"S AND OTHER EXECS WILL LAWYER UP AND SUIT FOR THEIR MONEY!  And, the $700 billion will be at least another $300 billion and maybe as much as $2 trillion...all run by another huge bureuacracy REPORTING TO BARNEY FRANK AND CHRIS DODD...AND POTENTIALLY OBAMA....PS: THE 3 BIGGEST RECIPIENTS OF FANNIE & FREDDIE!   WE NEED THE RIGHT PLAN!....PS: REMEMBER THAT BARNEY FRANKS SMALL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE WAS THE MALE PROSITUTION RING HE AND HIS MALE LOVER INTERN RAN FROM THEIR OFFICE IN WASHINGTON

I suggested that he get in touch with his real feelings.  His response cannot be repeated.