Tag: Policy

Closing Thought–20Oct21

In little over a year the polls will open and we Americans will vote…..I have been waiting to see if the GOP has decided to have actual policies over wedge issues….the below is a flyer from my Congressman (who I would NEVER vote for because he is a mental midget political hack)……

Sorry I could not get the image to copy…..these are three areas that Palazzo wants to  champion….

Stand up for law enforcement—Really?

Restore Honest, Patriotic Education To Our Schools–that means continuing to teach the whole myth of the “Lost cause”…..

Protect Our Borders–from whom…Alabama, Louisiana or Tennessee?

If you would like to see why I could never vote for this tool then check out his stance on the issues……

https://www.ontheissues.org/House/Steven_Palazzo.htm

These are going to be the major points of the next couple of elections.  Nothing about the economy or social strife or climate change or….well you get the point….the GOP has NOTHING to offer the voter other than vague wedge issues that do NOTHING to help this country heal and prosper.

What does the voter have as a choice?

The vague babbling of a party in a downward spiral or a party that has big ideas that go nowhere?

Some choice, huh?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Donald Trump’s policy problems

I know that there are a few of my readers that support the Donald (I believe there is a pill for that…LOL) and I would like to post something on this candidate to help people understand where he is coming from on the different policies…..

I personally, do not support his in any way but there needs to be more information on his thoughts on the different policies…..most of us know the rhetoric and the applause lines but just where does he stand on the policies that are pressing the country?

Donald Trump rode a tidal wave of populism to the Republican nomination, but a President Trump would face a different reality: major limits on executive power and a stingy Congress that would block him at most every turn.

POLITICO deployed its policy experts to study a week’s worth of Trump commentary and decipher what he’s saying, how his ideas would work and how far he could really go with positions that are unorthodox at best, and often heretical to his party’s ideology.

Source: Donald Trump’s policy problems – POLITICO

It is possible that Trump will have an about face and actually grasp the problems and the policies of this country…..so far his rhetoric does not bode well for the nation.

But he is having a private meeting with the GOP’s Mr. Neocon, Kissinger….will it bring him around to their way of thinking?

Cannot wait to see how Trump “apologists” (how you toads like your fave label being used against you?) have to say about this…that is if they can think that fast.  My guess is that coherence is not one of their strong suits.  Most have no original thoughts they just follow the moron with the biggest mouth…yeah that is always best for the country, huh?

How the Rich Control Policymaking

It is election time and we Americans are doing what we always do……we blame the rich for all the bad decisions that this country makes.  Even though we hear that we have a voice and we can be heard if we interact with our representatives…….well sports fans that is damn right FALSE!

How many times have you heard your Congress person say that they need to hear from you so that they may lay out the proper tract for any issue?

The truth is that your voice is very low and almost none existent…..the rich control the policymakers…..I know we all know this already……but how do they control the process?

New research shows the power of the wealthiest Americans to impose their preferences….

The United States of America is a democratic country. Over the past few decades, however, important questions about policy and budgets have been decided overwhelmingly against the interests and preferences of the middle and working classes. When the preferences of the rich and the middle class come into conflict, the rich tend to win.

Matt Grossmann, a political scientist and the director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University, is working on a project to expand upon the work of Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page, whose bombshell paper last year revealed the impact of economic inequality on public opinion in the U.S. As part of his research, Grossmann examined 50 proposals in the Gilens data set on which opinions between the wealthiest Americans and the median voter diverged the most.

Source: How the Rich Control Policymaking | Al Jazeera America

We can bitch about this from now until the cows go to Benghazi……for it will not change….why?  Americans do not truly want it to change.  Proof?  Just look at the voting for the last 25 years….your answer is there.

Want The Country To Save money?

Every year we have a Hell debate on where the country can save money….all in an effort to balance a budget that NO one wants to balance.

Yes, I support Bernie…..granted there are parts of his platform that I do not agree with, mostly on foreign policy, but overall his policies are 100 times better than anything from his party or that other party.

There has been lots of lip bumping about Bernie’s policies being too expensive and expansive….well then let us look at what his policies will do for the country…..

 

Granted these figures may be a bit optimistic….but at least it is a start.

As soon as the Clinton campaign issues a break down similar to this one then I will pass it on to my readers.

You see I like candidates that show me where the money will come from and where it will go…..not just babble on some subject that will get my fires stoked….any fool can play to emotions …….I prefer reason…….sadly it is not that popular these days.

Until then …..Feel The Bern!

Government By Management

Inkwell Institute

Subject:  Federalism/Governance/Management

Paper #21

Public policy is simply the programs that a government pursues…..I did say …”simply”.

Governmental policies should be properly managed and for the last 25 or more years they have not…..management has been replaced with control by private enterprises…the theory being that a well managed company can run the government more efficiently than anyone……I would say this is an erroneous belief considering the shape of the country and especially the public policy…..but for proper management there must be rationalism….and there is the key!

Yes, that is correct, I believe the key to good governmental management is rationalism….a rational government is a good government.  In my years in grad school I studied public policy and there are ways to actually approach government in a rational way……

Please forgive me but I am working on this with an “old” brain and I may have a lapse or two of memory…..if government is rational then it will also be efficient and is that not what we all are looking for in our government?

To approach public policy in a rational way, there a a few things that must be followed…..I am talking about our reps as well as our presidential staff….everyone involved must have a rational perspective……but what makes a rational public policy?

There are a few things that policy makers must take into account for any policy to be rational….

1–know what is important in society and weigh their impact

2–know ALL policy alternatives that may be available.

3–know the consequences of all policies and their alternatives.

4–select the most efficient policy

5–go for it

Above are simple things that can make government good and efficient….but it takes accurate information, not the lame promises that have NO validity once they start to govern…….in other words prepare public policy from information not slogans.

Take the last big election for “change”……..and what did we get incrementalism.  In other words, we got NO change, just a continuation of the past government with a few minor revisions.

Now look at Obama’s public policy…….is it efficient or for that matter….rational?

Palin On Specifics

First of all there are none…not ever…nowhere.

From MSNBC’s First Read

At last night’s town hall meeting in Michigan, NBC/NJ’s Matthew E. Berger reports, Palin offered to be quizzed on foreign policy issues, but did not give her specific qualifications on international affairs. She was asked what “specific skills” she would bring to the White House on international issues. She responded by saying she was prepared and has the confidence to be vice president, but did not enunciate them. “I have that readiness and if you want specifics with specific policy or countries, go ahead, you can ask you can play stump the candidate if you want to,” she said. “But we are ready to serve.”

McCain picked up where she left off, reminding the audience that she is commander of the Alaskan National Guard and had been involved in the construction of the natural gas pipeline in Alaska. He also mentioned that her eldest son is being shipped to Iraq, but mistakenly said he was going as part of the Guard. Track Palin enlisted last year in the Army.

His stay in the army should solve all the economic probs, huh?

What About The Alternative Minimum Tax?

Congress is finishing work begun in 2006 to remedy an unintended consequence of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)–the treatment of a form of employee compensation called incentive stock options (ISOs).

The House of Representatives passed legislation in May 2008 as part of the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 (HR 6049) fully restoring the economic incentives and benefits Congress intended for ISOs when it allowed companies to offer them beginning in 1981.

Under AMT, thousands of workers who received ISOs have faced enormous unintended tax liabilities. (See “Taxpayers Cry Foul as AMT Affects Millions of Americans,” Budget & Tax News, May 2007, and “Congress Moves to Fix Tax Penalties Against Incentive Stock Options,” Budget & Tax News, January 2008).

Due to an unintended flaw in the tax code, ISO AMT victims–employees of small and large companies across America–were forced to pay taxes sometimes exceeding 300 percent of their annual salaries, based on phantom “income” they never received. In many cases, families were unable to pay, leading the IRS to seize their houses and savings and garnish their wages.

The ISO correction and relief provision in HR 6049 was based on the AMT Credit Fairness and Relief Act, HR 3861, introduced by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and lead co-sponsor Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX), with original co-sponsors Reps. Richard Neal (D-MA) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN).

“The goal of this legislation is to restore a basic sense of fairness to a provision in the tax code that has gone tragically awry,” said Van Hollen in a press statement. “While everyone should pay a just and proportionate amount of tax on money they actually make, no one should lose their homes, savings, and retirement to a wildly disproportionate tax on phantom income they never saw, because our tax laws failed to anticipate the circumstances in which a number of our citizens now find themselves.”

What Is This Election’s Industrial Policy?

Every year there is an election the Parties come up with a way to fight the deficit and one of those techniques is an Industrial policy for long term growth. Can you guess what it is in this election cycle? Sure you can, just think about it. Want another clue? It is the policy that the government will use as a direct role in the influencing the development of a specific industry that they see as needed for long term growth.

Time is up—Green Industries. Each candidate has had some form of grand plan to stimulate the economy and provide long term growth package built around green industries. Regardless of which of the two parties we are talking about the techniques employed will be the same. These are tax incentives, direct assistance, research support or other forms of subsidies. Any of this sound familiar?

Obama has promised to throw his weight behind green technology to stimulate the economy and bring back those jobs that have left the country for overseas. McCain has also thumped his chest with promises of green jobs and technology. Both candidates are linking the institution of green jobs with other forms of long term growth.

Both of the major candidates are putting all their apples in the green technology cart. Personally, on one hand I think it is about time that the government got involved with the seriousness it deserves on the protection of the environment and if jobs come along with it, so much the better. On the other hand, I see this falling by the way side once the election is over and we have our new president. Makes me think of the idea Clinton had back in 1993, when the government entering into a joint effort with the major American automakers, to develop a low energy car…..that attempt was pretty much a bust and wasted time and money.

Another problem that I foresee is the industry itself, the government does not have a crystal ball on which sector of green technology will be the most successful. There is another problem, industries chase profit and if there is no profit then the program will shut down. Then it brings the problem of what ifs. This push for green technology can also waste much needed resources that could be spent on the crumbling infrastructure.

Green is good….but at what cost?

SEIU Sends McCain a “Dear John” Letter

SEIU today sent a fourth “Dear John” letter to Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president. SEIU members are offering their assistance in the absence of any economic blueprint from McCain that puts working families first. The letters will continue until McCain personally meets with members.

In the letter, Iris English, a Medical Billing Specialist at the University of Illinois Medical Center from Chicago and member of Local 73, asks McCain how he would use the money currently being spent in Iraq here in America.

“Dear John,

“Let’s set aside for a minute that we have a fundamental disagreement about the war in Iraq.  While you think we should stay there anywhere from one to 100 years, I think we need to bring our troops home now.  But for now I want to look past that and focus on how you would spend those resources here when it does end.

“It is reported that Iraq spending amounts to more than $10 BILLION every single month. Those billions would help fix the problems we are facing here at home, especially now that we are facing a growing recession.

“My question is how would you spend the more than $120 billion? That much money could provide health care coverage for every American that needs it. Would you do that? Here in Illinois, we are facing a $2 billion deficit. Would you use the money to help states like mine so they don’t have to cut back on services like educating our kids or fixing our roads? The cost of gas is hitting my family’s budget hard, causing us to scale back not just on luxuries but also on necessities. Would you use it to invest in alternatives so America can break its addiction to oil?

“Or would you use it as a partial payment to fund your proposed plan for a corporate tax cut, which your campaign admits will cost us $300 billion and do nothing to help a hardworking taxpayer like me?

“It seems to me that while you don’t believe in tax dollars going to fund domestic programs, you have no problem driving America further into debt for Iraq. I am afraid that as president you will continue the current Bush policies because you are out of touch with the problems facing American families like mine.

“How about giving us some straight talk and release an economic plan that actually helps working families, not just the Washington lobbyists that staff your campaign from top to bottom.”