Here we go again, more federal dollars on the way. Seems to be no end to the money flowing out of Washington DC for little Bridgeport's water system. The 52% of us that pay any federal income tax are again paying for an aspect of the needed water system. Nevermind that Bridgeport had artificially low water rates for decades and that the city failed at performing even basic maintenance on the existing system. No accountability, no consequnces - just more money to fix things up. Way too much dependancy on the federal government to take care of a local issue. Not much more to say on this one - here is the article: http://www.kneb.com/news/index/36ab64f3-30df-4898-92c3-d6133322005b.

The administration and some leaders in the house are currently in an all out push to get passage of the proposed Health Care reforms before August. Remember the Stimulus bill?? These same folks kept telling us that it needed to be passed quickly. So quickly that most of the nation's law makers did not have a chance to read the details contained in the 1000+ page bill. We (the people) were told that the money was critical or unemployment might rise above 9%. We needed swift action to save or create four million jobs this year alone. Now, 6 months later - unemployment is well over 9%, the CBO (congressional Budget Office) estimates no more than 100,000 jobs have come from the stimulus and all economic indicators continue lower. Now some in congress and the administration admit that they did not fully understand the economic situation, others plead for more time to see results of the stimulus. In other words, the stimulus isn't working as expected. But recall how we were told over and over again how quickly it was needed. Then it was the car companies. Swift action was needed to "save" them from filing bankruptcy. The government now owns them. And don't forget we started the current mess by rushing to send money to banks and insurance companies. Now the government owns that too. Its July, now its Government run Health Care. We are told it is "urgent". A pressing need. Obama told us on the radio that quick passage was necessary to "pull in control of government spending". The stimulus bill cost taxpayers almost 800 billion dollars. The Health Care Bill has an estimated price tag of 1.4 trillion. Does anybody in their right mind actually believe that government run and controlled health Care will actually "save" money? Lead to greater innovations? stimulate the economy?

Urge the congress to slow way down for once. Really take time to read the bill. Understand it. Let the public hear details and make decisions. Take time to hear feedback from the home folks. After all what we have isn't really broken. It just needs some tweaks. Take a deep breath - Our nation will survive if this actually gets debated well into the fall. Or maybe - just maybe the actual goal is something else - after all - why the hurry??

This seems like it is a very easy concept to grasp. You wouldn't think that we should have to try and convince anybody of the facts. Yet, congress just keeps spending. So here it is in as simple a format as I can: if you spend more than you take in and then borrow for 25+ years and keep spending more then you are broke. Now you have some choices to make. First you could increase the income via new and/or much higher taxes or two - you could decrease spending. Of course the third choice is some combination of choices 1 and 2. What has congress consistently voted for?? Choice xx - spend more, borrow more, increase taxes, increase welfare. Makes no sense at all.

This week alone, I am told congress wants to pay us up to $4500 for our old cars that get less than a combined 18mpg. Sounds like another auto industry bailout to me. Also, I am seeing real estate ads pushing the $8,000 available for first time home buyers. Nevermind all of us that already own a house and have payed our mortgages on time each and every month - we now get to subsidize other people's houses. I see a few hundred million was approved for some overseas vaccination program from congress. Apparently the 2 year plan for the stimulus funds isn't "fast" enough so now the administration is going to spend all the money yet this year. Tax credits for wind farms have been extended - again. New tax brackets have removed even more Americans off the income tax rolls. Government sponsored ads taut the earned income credit as being some kind of "refund" instead of the the clear redistribution that it is. You would think the coffers were just overflowing in Washington. In the middle of this, the new administration actually had the gall to make some sentimental statements about a "pay as you go" rule that would force the government to shuffle funds from one program to another.

The solution is clear, we have to cut spending. Dramatically. That means each and every one of us will have to see cuts to our favorite "pet" projects. Education, social security, defense, road projects, tunnels all need to see cuts. But before we cut those, lets cut bailout monies, wasteful spending, unnecessary projects, foreign funding and the like out completely. In addition, though it pains me to say so, we need to raise more tax revenue to start paying off this national debt. Start by making certain all working Americans are contributing some small amount to the system. It is time to change. There is no time to waste.

Recently it has struck me while reading through the newspapers and news web sites that we as a country are getting too dependent on the federal government. Check out your own local news source and I'll bet within just a day or two you will see at least one article about "funds available". A few local samples from the past 2 weeks include: "Nearly $2M available for organic farming in Neb." - http://www.kneb.com/news/agricultural/2f31a578-5d44-4154-b9e1-d90c88f817ef; "Scottsbluff Sheriff's Office to receive funds"; "Nebraska to Rely more on Stimulus funds" http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/28/ap6348553.html.  I know all of these local entities are all thrilled to get the "free" money. The problem is - Our Country is BROKE!! All well and good to fund these things if we are flush with tax revenues but the very simple fact is that all the above and much more are being funded by borrowing money. Someday, it will have to be repaid plus interest. We are borrowing against our future generations.

Too often when I attend meetings from a wide assortment of groups, the topic of fund raising for some worthy project comes up. Almost immediately, somebody will suggest looking to see if some federal program will help. Or they start looking for federally funded block grants. Or they turn to a politician to ask for funding. Cities looking to improve roads, build parks, upgrade water systems or whatever are all turning to the federal government to kick in some money to help them out. School districts, county and State projects as well. The politicians in Washington are all too eager to create a new department or tuck in an earmark to help out. Nobody even tries to fund these projects locally. They claim that no local resources exist or that rates will be too high for local citizens. Where exactly do they think the feds get money?? The answer is in new or higher federal taxes. More income tax, more corporate taxes (passed on in product charges), higher surcharges, fees, tarrifs. Then we all pay. This is a cycle that needs to end. We need to start relying on our own hard work and ingenuity to solve local problems rather than asking Uncle Sam to fix everything. This is an attitude that must start locally. We need to approach our elected officials and tell them to reject the idea that Washington should help pay for our local problems. If the community can't afford it - maybe we really don't need it.  If such a movement grows nationwide - the federal budget can start to fall and we as a country can get spending in check. Think about it.

I got an email today that could really hurt the message of Tea Parties. It is an important reminder to cite credible sources in facts and figures and to check out myths before forwarding things along. Do a google search on things you hear and get at least 2 or 3 credible sources before forwarding information and emails you receive. Include links in your messages and cite those sources. The email I received was covered by the following snopes article: http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/memorial.asp and here http://hnn.us/articles/7899.html

Forwarding anything that asks in bold text for you to do so is a sure sign that you need investigate.

Be careful out there!!

I saw these recently and wanted to share. I think these are both very fitting for our time as well as the time they were written.

"The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money." – Alexis de Tocqueville

"Government never furthered any enterprise but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way." – Henry David Thoreau