I sent the following to the Speaker of the House and my representatives as a possible government shutdown looms on April 8. They need to grow up and look the interests of the country, not themselves.
It's Common Sense!
Dear Speaker
April 8 is approaching and there is no word if the US Congress is close to passing a budget for fiscal year 2011.
As a Federal employee I have become disgusted over the years with Congress's inability to have a budget passed when it is due - October 1 of every year. Instead, there are continuing resolutions as Congressman and Senators add on their favorite projects. One year my agency’s budget was held up because abortion legislation had been tacked on. Another year several special interest projects were tacked on, one being the study of trout fishing in West Virginia.
Why does Congress allow the Federal Budget to be used by special interests? The budget needs to be independent, so our Federal Government can function timely and competently.
Instead, here we are six months after the budget due date and fighting is still going on. There is talk of a government shut down if things are not resolved by this Friday.
Why do Federal employees and the American public have to suffer because of Congress's in competency? Will you or any of your staff not be paid if the government shuts down? Will any of your mortgage payments, school tuition payments, health care, and basic needs be put in jeopardy? Probably not, Congress has a way of protecting itself and leaving the rest of us to our own means.
Please explain to me what shutting down the government proves? To other countries it shows our leadership as two little kids fighting over a ball and neither is giving in until they get what they want. I have seen commentaries on how the US Congress is looking more Third World all of the time. Negative posturing with no practical or positive solutions does not project the image of “the Leader of the Free World“.
I hear Representatives and Senators saying all the time they know what the American people want. Who did they ask? Do they really think the majority of Americans want to see big business get more tax breaks, while funding is denied to childrens programming on public TV? Do you really think the American people want to hear that the financial institutions that lead us into a financial melt down can pay higher bonuses than ever to their employees and not pay a penalty tax for using our tax dollars for a bail out?
Maybe Congress is big business friendly but the middle class is tired of picking up the bills while corporations get all kinds of write offs. GE had one of their best years ever but paid little to no Federal tax. Why?
Be responsible. Get the budget passed. Compromise and act like adults, not spoiled children.
As a Federal employee I'm willing to do my part. I took a pay freeze; I saw my health care premiums increase and my out of pocket increase. I pay more for gas and food because of the current world situation. I will do my part. You need to make sure everyone does their part. That government cuts are across the board, that nobody is protected. The oil companies do not need subsides, they seem to be making out just fine on their own, as do the power companies and every major financial institution. Everybody needs to pay and suffer equally and that includes Congress.
Forget that you are a Republican or Democrat, forget that you will need to be elected again, become a caring, concerned US citizen and do what is right for the country, not your personal agenda.
Thank you!
Michael Wolfe
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Congress and the 2011 Budget
I have been away from the blog for awhile but the goings on in DC finally got to me and I need to speak out. I sent the following missive to the Speaker of the House, my senators and my Congressman. Accountability is what Congress needs to look at. Forget all the petty squabbling - look out for all Americans, not just their buddies.
Please feel free to use any part of the letter when contacting your representives.
Accountability - its Common Sense!!
Dear
I like most Americans have been listening to the debate on the Federal Budget and one word that seems to be ignored is ACCOUNTABILITY.
Congress needs to be accountable to all Americans when they make budget cuts, not just their constituents. The military said it does not need anymore C17 transport planes, but Congress keeps them in the budget because of their constituents. If the military says no, then no.
Government contractors appear to be leeches on tax payer money. All you hear about are over costs. When I hire a contractor to do work on my house, he looks at the job and tells me how much. That's what I pay him. If he made a bad estimate, it's on him not me. When are government contractors held accountable? They gave the bid to get the job; they need to live with their bid.
I agree that there is a lot of waste in Federal agencies. I am a Federal employee and see it everyday. The problem is that when we complain, we are ignored. I believe a serious study needs to be made of overtime practices if every government agencies. I know some departments that have "perpetual" overtime, yet the employees are not held accountable to production and accuracy standards. Maybe a little more Congressional oversight rather than whining would be more productive.
Big business breaks. I, like most Americans, was scandalized when the banks that caused the financial crisis were able to pay big bonuses to their employees less than a year later. Where was my bonus? My tax dollars bailed them out but I did not get anything. In truth I am being asked to sacrifice as a federal employee but they are asked to have fun spending their bonus. When won't Congress tax the rich a little more? Why are the rich protected and the middle class and poor left to pick up the bills?
With our current economic problems no business should be getting subsidies, not oil, not agro business, not anyone. These people are making billions and yet Congress wants to help them. Congress wants to cut back on EPA standards that protect the environment to assist their big business friends, but want to do away with Planned Parenthood, because uneducated girls and boys can take care of themselves.
Finally, Foreign Aide. Its time we wake up to the fact that we are not the policeman of the world. Our days of empire are coming to an end. The billions sent out in foreign aide need to stay home and take care of Americans. How many billions went to Egypt are sitting in Mubarak's Swiss account? The people of Egypt went looking for their independence on their own and have inspired the Middle East. The billions wasted in Iraq will never pay for our service men and women who died there. Afghanistan drags on and no one has seen bin Laden, which is why we went in the first place.
Bring the foreign aide money home. Put it in our schools so we can compete with the rest of the world. Put in our small businesses, so we can stop outsourcing and build things in America. Bring it home so we can give our citizens affordable health care they all deserve.
Accountability - Congress needs to be accountable to everyone. Government shut downs shows the world American leaders are school kids fighting in the playground trying to be tough regardless of the outcome. If you feel America is the world leader other countries need to look to, then start setting the example and lead. Make hard choices across the board for everyone. If all pay, it's fair, if you let the rich and "powerful" off, then its politics as normal in this country.
Thank you.
Michael Wolfe
Please feel free to use any part of the letter when contacting your representives.
Accountability - its Common Sense!!
Dear
I like most Americans have been listening to the debate on the Federal Budget and one word that seems to be ignored is ACCOUNTABILITY.
Congress needs to be accountable to all Americans when they make budget cuts, not just their constituents. The military said it does not need anymore C17 transport planes, but Congress keeps them in the budget because of their constituents. If the military says no, then no.
Government contractors appear to be leeches on tax payer money. All you hear about are over costs. When I hire a contractor to do work on my house, he looks at the job and tells me how much. That's what I pay him. If he made a bad estimate, it's on him not me. When are government contractors held accountable? They gave the bid to get the job; they need to live with their bid.
I agree that there is a lot of waste in Federal agencies. I am a Federal employee and see it everyday. The problem is that when we complain, we are ignored. I believe a serious study needs to be made of overtime practices if every government agencies. I know some departments that have "perpetual" overtime, yet the employees are not held accountable to production and accuracy standards. Maybe a little more Congressional oversight rather than whining would be more productive.
Big business breaks. I, like most Americans, was scandalized when the banks that caused the financial crisis were able to pay big bonuses to their employees less than a year later. Where was my bonus? My tax dollars bailed them out but I did not get anything. In truth I am being asked to sacrifice as a federal employee but they are asked to have fun spending their bonus. When won't Congress tax the rich a little more? Why are the rich protected and the middle class and poor left to pick up the bills?
With our current economic problems no business should be getting subsidies, not oil, not agro business, not anyone. These people are making billions and yet Congress wants to help them. Congress wants to cut back on EPA standards that protect the environment to assist their big business friends, but want to do away with Planned Parenthood, because uneducated girls and boys can take care of themselves.
Finally, Foreign Aide. Its time we wake up to the fact that we are not the policeman of the world. Our days of empire are coming to an end. The billions sent out in foreign aide need to stay home and take care of Americans. How many billions went to Egypt are sitting in Mubarak's Swiss account? The people of Egypt went looking for their independence on their own and have inspired the Middle East. The billions wasted in Iraq will never pay for our service men and women who died there. Afghanistan drags on and no one has seen bin Laden, which is why we went in the first place.
Bring the foreign aide money home. Put it in our schools so we can compete with the rest of the world. Put in our small businesses, so we can stop outsourcing and build things in America. Bring it home so we can give our citizens affordable health care they all deserve.
Accountability - Congress needs to be accountable to everyone. Government shut downs shows the world American leaders are school kids fighting in the playground trying to be tough regardless of the outcome. If you feel America is the world leader other countries need to look to, then start setting the example and lead. Make hard choices across the board for everyone. If all pay, it's fair, if you let the rich and "powerful" off, then its politics as normal in this country.
Thank you.
Michael Wolfe
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Washington DC - Stop Spending Now!!
I am sure the following letter I sent to my Senators is going to cause some anger, especially from the unemployed. I know they are hurting, have bills etc, but how much debt must the government go into? Seems to me the government should be pushing job creation by forcing banks to offer low interest loans to new businesses, especially those hiring from the ranks of the unemployed.
Secondly, let's clear out the illegals and force those employers to hire out of work Americans at legal salaries with benefits. Congress can make the changes, if they just get off their lazy butts.
Its Common Sense!
Dear Senator
I have been watching the news about extending unemployment benefits for the unemployed. Although I sympathize with their plight I have to ask, when does the national borrowing stop? Just how large a deficit can this country sustain? What happens when our creditors call in their notes?
This country is trillions of dollars in debt. If I ran my household in the same manner I would be on the street with nothing.
The time has come to stop borrowing. The government needs to learn how to survive with what it has, not what it wishes it had.
Fight unemployment by offering incentives to those creating new jobs. Help those starting businesses to get low interest loans from the banks - we the people bailed them out, it's about time the banks showed some appreciation by helping reverse the crisis they created.
Our current debt will not be paid in the life time of my great grand children. That is an unfair burden to put on any generation - much less the next five generations in this country.
As the government, you have to start spending responsibly, within the limits put on you by the revenue collected through our taxes. When the money is gone, then it's gone.
Our government's current practice of throwing money everywhere is turning our nation into a welfare state. People are becoming accustomed to the government taking care of them without them giving anything back.
The current budget deficits in the majority of our states shows that the people can no longer be dependent on the state to support them, they have to support the state.
Please stop the spending, fight for a balanced budget and do not allow our nation to continue in a downward spiral.
Thank you.
Michael Wolfe
Secondly, let's clear out the illegals and force those employers to hire out of work Americans at legal salaries with benefits. Congress can make the changes, if they just get off their lazy butts.
Its Common Sense!
Dear Senator
I have been watching the news about extending unemployment benefits for the unemployed. Although I sympathize with their plight I have to ask, when does the national borrowing stop? Just how large a deficit can this country sustain? What happens when our creditors call in their notes?
This country is trillions of dollars in debt. If I ran my household in the same manner I would be on the street with nothing.
The time has come to stop borrowing. The government needs to learn how to survive with what it has, not what it wishes it had.
Fight unemployment by offering incentives to those creating new jobs. Help those starting businesses to get low interest loans from the banks - we the people bailed them out, it's about time the banks showed some appreciation by helping reverse the crisis they created.
Our current debt will not be paid in the life time of my great grand children. That is an unfair burden to put on any generation - much less the next five generations in this country.
As the government, you have to start spending responsibly, within the limits put on you by the revenue collected through our taxes. When the money is gone, then it's gone.
Our government's current practice of throwing money everywhere is turning our nation into a welfare state. People are becoming accustomed to the government taking care of them without them giving anything back.
The current budget deficits in the majority of our states shows that the people can no longer be dependent on the state to support them, they have to support the state.
Please stop the spending, fight for a balanced budget and do not allow our nation to continue in a downward spiral.
Thank you.
Michael Wolfe
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Gulf Spill Telethon?
Last night on the news I saw families in Louisiana receiving food boxes from Feed the Children. That really hit home. Normally, when I think of relief agencies I picture them outside our shores, in places like Haiti or Thailand or Indonesia. But the sight of those boxes brought home a cold reality to me. The destruction along the Gulf Coast is going to be more devastating than the earthquake in Haiti or the tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
Both of those were natural disasters and man comes back from natural disasters. We morn and bury our dead, rebuild our towns and get on with our lives.
But in the Gulf rebuilding may never be possible. If the oil continues unabated the Gulf wetlands will be destroyed forever. There will be no more shrimp, crabs, fish or birds. A way of life will be over for thousands of people. And that's only one side of it. The illnesses and destruction that the oil contamination is causing cannot be measured. How many people will be ill for the rest of their lives due to the oil and all it brings with it?
This Gulf oil spill is the worst man made disaster this country has ever faced. Valdez was bad and its effects are still felt along the coastline of Alaska, but the Gulf Spill is so much worse it cannot be measured at this time.
Which leads me to a question one of my coworkers asked this morning - where is the relief telethon for the Gulf Coast?
After Katerina the TV networks and celebrities came out for New Orleans. After the earthquake in Haiti "We are the World" got a second life. But what about this man made disaster on the Gulf Coast that may never end? What are the networks and celebrities doing to draw attention to the plight of those Americans in danger of losing so much and never recovering?
I learned today that CNN and Larry King sponsored a telethon Monday night. Not knowing anything about it, I did not watch. Why didn't the other networks at least share the word, even if they didn't want to broadcast it?
BP does not believe the relief wells will be on line until August. What will happen during the month of July? How many tropical storms and hurricanes can hit the Gulf and knock BP totally off schedule?
The Gulf Spill is worse than any natural disaster we have seen in our life times, and it is time for we the people to force the government to take a strong line, insist that BP put out thousands of skimmer boats, get the governors of the states involved the money they need to save their wetlands and beaches.
Thus far the Federal Government has been slow to act and has actually hindered the plans of many of the local governments. We need to get the Obama Administration and the gang on the Hill involved NOW!!
As you know from my two previous postings I have been writing to the folks in DC. One voice isn't enough, all of us need to get involved.
If we don't get the government to act forcibly with this man made disaster, God knows what will happen with the next. (And mark my words, there will be a next.)
Write and be heard.
Its Common Sense!!
Both of those were natural disasters and man comes back from natural disasters. We morn and bury our dead, rebuild our towns and get on with our lives.
But in the Gulf rebuilding may never be possible. If the oil continues unabated the Gulf wetlands will be destroyed forever. There will be no more shrimp, crabs, fish or birds. A way of life will be over for thousands of people. And that's only one side of it. The illnesses and destruction that the oil contamination is causing cannot be measured. How many people will be ill for the rest of their lives due to the oil and all it brings with it?
This Gulf oil spill is the worst man made disaster this country has ever faced. Valdez was bad and its effects are still felt along the coastline of Alaska, but the Gulf Spill is so much worse it cannot be measured at this time.
Which leads me to a question one of my coworkers asked this morning - where is the relief telethon for the Gulf Coast?
After Katerina the TV networks and celebrities came out for New Orleans. After the earthquake in Haiti "We are the World" got a second life. But what about this man made disaster on the Gulf Coast that may never end? What are the networks and celebrities doing to draw attention to the plight of those Americans in danger of losing so much and never recovering?
I learned today that CNN and Larry King sponsored a telethon Monday night. Not knowing anything about it, I did not watch. Why didn't the other networks at least share the word, even if they didn't want to broadcast it?
BP does not believe the relief wells will be on line until August. What will happen during the month of July? How many tropical storms and hurricanes can hit the Gulf and knock BP totally off schedule?
The Gulf Spill is worse than any natural disaster we have seen in our life times, and it is time for we the people to force the government to take a strong line, insist that BP put out thousands of skimmer boats, get the governors of the states involved the money they need to save their wetlands and beaches.
Thus far the Federal Government has been slow to act and has actually hindered the plans of many of the local governments. We need to get the Obama Administration and the gang on the Hill involved NOW!!
As you know from my two previous postings I have been writing to the folks in DC. One voice isn't enough, all of us need to get involved.
If we don't get the government to act forcibly with this man made disaster, God knows what will happen with the next. (And mark my words, there will be a next.)
Write and be heard.
Its Common Sense!!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Who's in charge in the Gulf?
After watching the news this evening and an commercial by BP that indicates it was their idea to pay out the $20 billion in relief, I felt I needed to get verbal and sent the following missive to the President. I doubt if it will do any good or if I will get a response but at least it allowed me to vent, and they haven't taken that right away yet.
The letter follows.
Dear President Obama,
When are you going to take charge in the Gulf? BP is looking out for BP they have no interest in the fate of thousands of Americans or the precious natural resources their greed is destroying. Watching the news tonight raises the questions - where are the skimmer boats, there should be thousands but the few seemingly available are spread out.
How effective are the booms? Why did it take so long for Louisiana to receive permission to send out the barges to protect the outer islands? What is being done to block the oil invasion of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida not to mention Louisiana? Please do not say everything is being done because if that is the case all is lost.
Your administration has to prevent our nation's Gulf States from losing their livelihoods, their history and their uniqueness, not to mention their natural resources and ecosystems. Lack of leadership will only lead to the USA becoming dependent on others for all matters of seafood, the destruction of an entire unique ecosystem, and once again showing the American people that the folks in D.C. are big on talk but slow on action. Its time to take the initiative away from BP and take control.
What immediate steps is your administration going to do to protect the Gulf? Thus far you have held back on the initiatives and plans of the governors and mayors of the area, what do you have to offer that they haven't?
I would greatly appreciate a response.
Thank you.
Michael Wolfe
The letter follows.
Dear President Obama,
When are you going to take charge in the Gulf? BP is looking out for BP they have no interest in the fate of thousands of Americans or the precious natural resources their greed is destroying. Watching the news tonight raises the questions - where are the skimmer boats, there should be thousands but the few seemingly available are spread out.
How effective are the booms? Why did it take so long for Louisiana to receive permission to send out the barges to protect the outer islands? What is being done to block the oil invasion of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida not to mention Louisiana? Please do not say everything is being done because if that is the case all is lost.
Your administration has to prevent our nation's Gulf States from losing their livelihoods, their history and their uniqueness, not to mention their natural resources and ecosystems. Lack of leadership will only lead to the USA becoming dependent on others for all matters of seafood, the destruction of an entire unique ecosystem, and once again showing the American people that the folks in D.C. are big on talk but slow on action. Its time to take the initiative away from BP and take control.
What immediate steps is your administration going to do to protect the Gulf? Thus far you have held back on the initiatives and plans of the governors and mayors of the area, what do you have to offer that they haven't?
I would greatly appreciate a response.
Thank you.
Michael Wolfe
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