Fighting continues in Gaza, with Palestinian civilians taking a heavy toll. Neither side wants to talk cease-fire - the Israel military is slowly but surely gaining ground and Hamas continues to defiantly fire missiles into Israel. Both talk about the innocent civilians, but the sad truth of the matter is that neither side really cares about innocent civilians, because if they did a cease fire would be in effect.
Both sides are committed to achieving their goals. Israel, to insure their country will never be threatened from Gaza again and Hamas, showing the world that they will not be dictated to by their enemy.
For both to achieve their goals, the Palestinian citizens of Gaza have to pay the price. As all too often is the case, when zealots and radicals meet, innocents pay the price.
I do not understand why the United Nations has not gotten off its butt and sent in a peace keeping force, that will actually keep the the peace and hold both sides accountable to the agreement made in 2007. The peace keepers should have the right to take the necessary action to enforce the peace.
Okay, I know that our own beloved country is one of the reasons no peace keepers have been sent. George W believes Hamas is guilty because of their rocket attacks on Israel and I agree. I believe that as soon as Hamas broke the peace agreement, UN peace keepers should have entered Gaza and sealed the smuggling tunnels, arrest the Hamas militants responsible for the violations and allowed life to continue as normal as possible.
Of course that did not happen. The world had to wait until the situation escalated out of control and then were forced into calling for a cease fire.
The United Nations is a good idea in theory, but it has allowed itself to become so bogged down with politics, diplomacy and keeping face, that it has failed as an institution for international peace. To be effective, the UN has to be pro-active, anticipate the problem and act. Coming in after the fact will always be too little too late.
If the UN had sent peace keepers in six months ago, there would be no need for the massive relief effort that will be needed once the Israeli troops return home.
Death and destruction could have been avoided if the UN had acted quickly and effectively.
That's my opinion. Now, maybe I am hoping for too much from the UN, maybe I am a dreamer and not a realist, at least in this situation.
What should the UN do? How should they act? When should they step into a crisis?
Let your voices be heard.
Its Common Sense!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Ask the Senate about the Stimulus Package
After writing the blog yesterday I decided that I should followup and send a letter to my representatives in hopes of getting some answers regarding how the stimulus package will be financed and just what is really going to happen with taxes. A copy of the letter follows.
As always, feel free to use all or any part of the letter to contact your representatives in hopes of getting answers from them.
We need to let those who represent us know we are not sheep who will passively go where ever they say. Our voices need to be heard and our desires respected.
Its Common Sense!
Dear Senator
I understand that on Monday January 5, 2009 President-elect Obama is scheduled to meet with congressional leaders to discuss a stimulus plan he wants waiting for his approval on January 20.
The stimulus package will cost around $800 billion dollars.
Where is the money coming from? Is the plan to increase our international debt? What interest rate will we be paying? What deals will the USA be making with China for the money or at least part of the money?
Then the question about taxes has to be raised. I know President-elect Obama has promised not to increase personal income taxes, but what about other taxes?
I read that both at the federal and state levels the plan is to increase gasoline taxes by at least 50%. Will that kind of increase also be added to electronics, telephones, automobiles, travel, lodging, etc?
We Americans are not stupid. We know the government needs money to run its programs. What we want is an honest explanation as to how the government plans to raise the money.
Do not boast that you did not raise my personal income tax when you raised the tax on everything I buy. A tax is a tax, a tax increase is a tax increase.
Be honest and tell us where and when the increases will occur. Better we pay additional taxes than stay indebted to China forever.
Tell us the plan - the whole plan.
Let's start this new Democratic Administration with a fresh concept - total honesty for the American public. Tell us the truth, let us know what we have to do, what burden we have to accept, lay it all out for us. Forget the lies, forget the smoke and mirrors - honesty - let that be the watch word of the Obama Administration and the Democratic Congress.
Now is the time to set the example for the world, show what true democracy really is all about.
Thank You.
Michael Wolfe
As always, feel free to use all or any part of the letter to contact your representatives in hopes of getting answers from them.
We need to let those who represent us know we are not sheep who will passively go where ever they say. Our voices need to be heard and our desires respected.
Its Common Sense!
Dear Senator
I understand that on Monday January 5, 2009 President-elect Obama is scheduled to meet with congressional leaders to discuss a stimulus plan he wants waiting for his approval on January 20.
The stimulus package will cost around $800 billion dollars.
Where is the money coming from? Is the plan to increase our international debt? What interest rate will we be paying? What deals will the USA be making with China for the money or at least part of the money?
Then the question about taxes has to be raised. I know President-elect Obama has promised not to increase personal income taxes, but what about other taxes?
I read that both at the federal and state levels the plan is to increase gasoline taxes by at least 50%. Will that kind of increase also be added to electronics, telephones, automobiles, travel, lodging, etc?
We Americans are not stupid. We know the government needs money to run its programs. What we want is an honest explanation as to how the government plans to raise the money.
Do not boast that you did not raise my personal income tax when you raised the tax on everything I buy. A tax is a tax, a tax increase is a tax increase.
Be honest and tell us where and when the increases will occur. Better we pay additional taxes than stay indebted to China forever.
Tell us the plan - the whole plan.
Let's start this new Democratic Administration with a fresh concept - total honesty for the American public. Tell us the truth, let us know what we have to do, what burden we have to accept, lay it all out for us. Forget the lies, forget the smoke and mirrors - honesty - let that be the watch word of the Obama Administration and the Democratic Congress.
Now is the time to set the example for the world, show what true democracy really is all about.
Thank You.
Michael Wolfe
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Obama's Stimulus Plan
President-elect Obama meets Monday with high ranking Congressional leaders from both parties to push his stimulus plan so that it will be on his desk for signature on Inauguration Day. My understanding is that the stimulus package will cost close to $800 billion. Included are tax breaks, loans for states, and the creation of infrastructure jobs of one kind or another.
Sounds nice. Of course the question is - where the hell is money coming from? It sounds good that Obama continues to promise to lower personal income taxes. But, the reality is that to pay for any stimulus package, the money has to come from somewhere.
Unfortunately that means the USA will be going out with hat in hand in getting loans at ridiculous interest rates from foreign countries. How deep in debt do we want to be to the Chinese?
We will eventually have to pay the debt. So, if personal income taxes aren't raised, other taxes will be. Already there is talk that Federal government and State governments are planning to increase the gasoline tax by at least fifty percent. After all, people were willing to pay almost $4.00 a gallon, so if the price of gas is down they figure to raise taxes to bring the overall cost back up to $4.00 a gallon.
What about "luxury" items? In addition to tobacco, alcohol, and certain kinds of foods, where else could taxes be raised?
Have you ever looked at your phone bill and realized you are paying a luxury tax for using the phone? When telephones were initially used, they were considered a luxury item for the well to do and were taxed. Even after the phone became part of everyday life for everyone, the luxury tax remained. Don't be surprised to see that tax raised, along with taxes on any variety of electronic equipment.
Other places taxes could be increased are on automobiles - again at both federal and state levels -, travel - air, rail, water -, lodging and dining.
Before we get all excited about "tax cuts" let's find out just where the taxes are going to be cut and where they are going to be increased.
President-elect Obama needs a plan to raise $800 billion for his stimulus. Let's ask for some straight answers. Let's not be faked out by a lot of smoke and mirrors.
Its our future and our money - let's get the facts.
Its Common Sense!
Sounds nice. Of course the question is - where the hell is money coming from? It sounds good that Obama continues to promise to lower personal income taxes. But, the reality is that to pay for any stimulus package, the money has to come from somewhere.
Unfortunately that means the USA will be going out with hat in hand in getting loans at ridiculous interest rates from foreign countries. How deep in debt do we want to be to the Chinese?
We will eventually have to pay the debt. So, if personal income taxes aren't raised, other taxes will be. Already there is talk that Federal government and State governments are planning to increase the gasoline tax by at least fifty percent. After all, people were willing to pay almost $4.00 a gallon, so if the price of gas is down they figure to raise taxes to bring the overall cost back up to $4.00 a gallon.
What about "luxury" items? In addition to tobacco, alcohol, and certain kinds of foods, where else could taxes be raised?
Have you ever looked at your phone bill and realized you are paying a luxury tax for using the phone? When telephones were initially used, they were considered a luxury item for the well to do and were taxed. Even after the phone became part of everyday life for everyone, the luxury tax remained. Don't be surprised to see that tax raised, along with taxes on any variety of electronic equipment.
Other places taxes could be increased are on automobiles - again at both federal and state levels -, travel - air, rail, water -, lodging and dining.
Before we get all excited about "tax cuts" let's find out just where the taxes are going to be cut and where they are going to be increased.
President-elect Obama needs a plan to raise $800 billion for his stimulus. Let's ask for some straight answers. Let's not be faked out by a lot of smoke and mirrors.
Its our future and our money - let's get the facts.
Its Common Sense!
Friday, January 2, 2009
To Seat or not to Seat, that is the Question!
To seat or not to seat Roland Burris of Illinois? - will be the question facing the US Senate on Monday January 5, 2009. What a way to get things started in the new year. Who would have thought that Barack Obama's replacement would end up being an individual of controversy, regardless of color, sex or religion?
In my opinion the Illinois Governor should have bowed gracefully out of the picture based on his recent indictment, and allowed the state legislature to appoint an individual to carry out what was left of Obama's US Senate term. Of course that did not happen, and now we are faced with what will probably turn out to be a mess.
I hope that Mr Burris does not use the race card when his right to be seated is questioned. Anyone following the news knows that whoever Blago selected was going to be rejected, regardless of their credentials and qualifications. In truth, Blago could have selected Michelle Obama and even she would not be accepted.
Monday the USA will once again be on the world stage and we can only hope that the gang in Washington will act with dignity and decorum and that things will not turn into an ugly name calling brawl.
Illinois needs to get its house in order. The State Supreme Court and Legislature need to move now to take over and control the situation to avoid becoming an international laughing stock.
What does this tell the world about Illinois politics? What questions will this raise about Barack Obama's quick rise to the US Senate and his supporters for his presidential campaign? Will the world conclude that the USA is just as bad and corrupt as anywhere else and has no right to consider itself a world leader any longer? What will happen to the world view Obama was hoping to create?
A lot of things to consider. We'll just have to wait and see how it plays out on Monday.
In my opinion the Illinois Governor should have bowed gracefully out of the picture based on his recent indictment, and allowed the state legislature to appoint an individual to carry out what was left of Obama's US Senate term. Of course that did not happen, and now we are faced with what will probably turn out to be a mess.
I hope that Mr Burris does not use the race card when his right to be seated is questioned. Anyone following the news knows that whoever Blago selected was going to be rejected, regardless of their credentials and qualifications. In truth, Blago could have selected Michelle Obama and even she would not be accepted.
Monday the USA will once again be on the world stage and we can only hope that the gang in Washington will act with dignity and decorum and that things will not turn into an ugly name calling brawl.
Illinois needs to get its house in order. The State Supreme Court and Legislature need to move now to take over and control the situation to avoid becoming an international laughing stock.
What does this tell the world about Illinois politics? What questions will this raise about Barack Obama's quick rise to the US Senate and his supporters for his presidential campaign? Will the world conclude that the USA is just as bad and corrupt as anywhere else and has no right to consider itself a world leader any longer? What will happen to the world view Obama was hoping to create?
A lot of things to consider. We'll just have to wait and see how it plays out on Monday.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Necessities of Life
Last night around 7pm we lost our water. I called the Public Works Department and was informed that the high winds that had been blowing all day had knocked out the power lines for the pumping station that supplies water for my area. I thought it strange that they did not have a back up gas or diesel generator and it is something I will look into. We went to the a grocery store that was still opened and with several others bought water to take home, because no one was offering a time when the station would be pumping. Around 1am the power was restored and the water is once again flowing.
As is so often the case, it is not until you are missing something that you realize how accustomed you are to having it every day of your life. Electricity, running water, sewage control. trash collection, all things the majority of us take for granted and when we lose them we go into a panic.
I wonder what it is like for those in the United States who do not have those "necessities" on a regular basis. I am not talking about people who have been cut off due to not paying their bills, I am talking about those in remote areas, Indian Reservations, and slum tenements who are ignored by society and the government in general.
President-elect Obama should make one of his priorities to insure that all Americans have access to the "necessities". Plans need to be developed to assist those who currently are facing financial difficulties in paying their bills. Availability to all the "necessities" should be a priority. After all in important areas such as this, all Americans have the right to be treated equally.
No one should be deprived of the basic "necessities". They are very persons' right in a nation that is supposedly the leader of the world. Equal rights for all, and it needs to start here at home.
Its Common Sense!
As is so often the case, it is not until you are missing something that you realize how accustomed you are to having it every day of your life. Electricity, running water, sewage control. trash collection, all things the majority of us take for granted and when we lose them we go into a panic.
I wonder what it is like for those in the United States who do not have those "necessities" on a regular basis. I am not talking about people who have been cut off due to not paying their bills, I am talking about those in remote areas, Indian Reservations, and slum tenements who are ignored by society and the government in general.
President-elect Obama should make one of his priorities to insure that all Americans have access to the "necessities". Plans need to be developed to assist those who currently are facing financial difficulties in paying their bills. Availability to all the "necessities" should be a priority. After all in important areas such as this, all Americans have the right to be treated equally.
No one should be deprived of the basic "necessities". They are very persons' right in a nation that is supposedly the leader of the world. Equal rights for all, and it needs to start here at home.
Its Common Sense!
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