The taxing of the People into not affording to be poor

 

Comment to the linked article, read first.

R. George Dunn Susan Demas,

Your attitude betrays you. Your tea bag comment points to your arrogant elitism that is destroying this State and Nation. Grow up and join We the People.

You ever wonder why we are losing jobs which means less money for the projects you speak to? Would more tax on a dying State save it from itself?

First fix the death march Michigan and the USA is in and then the rest will come. How is that so you ask? Michigan has one of the highest production tax in the Nation on goods manufactured here and it makes for the inability to compete with other States not to mention foreign imports. Throw on top of that the monstrous DNR, DEQ and the self-centered Zoning commissions and you end up with employers saying why would I move to Michigan or stay when I can be profitable in another State or Country?

con't in comment

 R. George Dunn at 10:55pm May 22

Many of Michiganders cannot afford the demand on them now, with the insurances, the inflation that is not being spoken to by our so trusting government. Now you want to add more to the burdens of taxing without an option to being poor? Shame. You are willing to take food out of the mouth of children and the clothes and shoes they need, for what...? To feed a bureaucracy?

The tone I have tended in this response to your article depicts yours, but even more is the blind and government greed of power basing by the use of the current production tax system. If you want Michigan to prosper and to have enough people to utilize the roads and the repairs needed, change the tax system to consumption and watch how worn the welcome mat will get from jobs flooding in to take advantage of one of the Worlds most educated and mechanically/technically advanced people of any Nation.

Fair Tax please.

 

Michigan paved with short-term thinking - Capitol Chronicles - Susan Demas

Source: blog.mlive.com

It's summer - OK, for a couple days it felt like summer - the time of year that even nerds like me long to fling aside their copies of "The Economist" and hit the open road. Truth be told, I'd do just about anything to be summiting Avalanche Peak right now.

" My God, it's a perfect storm! " HELP ( enact the MI FairTax ) !

 

Dear R George, On April 2nd, the Detroit News headline exclaimed,   "Leaving Michigan Behind: Eight-year population exodus staggers state" Reporters French and Wilkinson ferreted out some shocking facts,   "Since 2001, migration has cost Michigan 465,000 people, the equivalent of the combined populations of Grand Rapids, Warren and Sterling Heights-- the state's second-, third-, and fourth-largest cities." A local demographer understood, "These numbers -- my God, it's like a perfect storm -- the education, the income, the young people, everything is going in the wrong direction."

The "sea change" - ignored by Michigan's lawmakers!  Michigan's perfect storm has been in the making for years.  Yet, those in control of Michigan's government chose to shift the existing tax burden, rather than cutting spending. They've passed the Michigan Business Tax, selling it to the gullible public as a "tax on business." Because taxing business income provides politicians with a tax code to play with, Lansing routinely cuts deals that favor some businesses (like that media darling, the movie industry) while damaging others.   When they can, businesses cope with the MBT by passing their costs on to you and me in higher prices. When they can't, they move out of the state, or go out of business. The rate at which business is not coping is alarming. That same news article goes on to tell us,   "The state loses a family every 12 minutes, and the families who are leaving -- young, well-educated, high-income earners -- are the people the state desperately needs to rebuild."         WHO will navigate Michigan to safe, prosperous waters?    Our current political leadership in Lansing has an unyielding attitude when it comes to tax simplification, and making Michigan more attractive to business.   With the help of legislative leaders, Gov. Granholm intends to place a proposal on the November 2010 ballot to make the Michigan income tax more progressive, using the same deceptive (and divisive) rhetoric of "soak the rich," and "tax business."  Despite failed initiatives to engineer the economy, Michigan's current political leadership continues to place their faith in their own ability to pick winners and losers.  And they maintain this power as long as there is an income tax code that powers the buying and selling of tax favors to special interests (at our expense).   The Michigan FairTax Association believes we - the People of Michigan - must take hold of the "ship of State," to relieve our government of the tools of mischief that have enabled them - and the special interests - to distort and destroy our economy.  We must do this by placing the Michigan FairTax proposal on the November 2010 ballot. This will require us to obtain 1/2 million voter signatures.   A Michigan FairTax will pay for government when we spend our money, not when we earn it.  It will do away with the income tax code, so coveted by our elected representatives, and put an end to their manipulation of economic behavior by both businesses and individuals.  It will end the wasteful, and costly, slavery that is imposed upon us by an income tax system that requires us to keep records, file income tax returns, and needless subjects us to audits, interest, and penalties - all in order to prove that we're entitled to keep what we earn! Imagine!    We, the people, have the power to move Michigan away from the income tax system - where politicians and lobbyists have control...   to a consumption tax - where power is restored to individuals, as our Founding Fathers intended.    Enacting the Michigan FairTax will turn Michigan into a safe harbor of security and prosperity for businesses, jobs and families.  Once accomplished, Michigan will become a lighthouse to the country.     New member - or not - let's get OUR "engines started" - NOW!   In order to turn our "ship of State" on a new course to prosperity, your Michigan FairTax Association must ramp up membership and donations through member presentations across the state. It, frankly, is up to you and me to both spread the message (members) and fuel the message ($$).  Begin by helping to . . .     1) "Spread the message" - Email us a DATE.  Right NOW!    Sponsor a MI FairTax presentation.  Include your NAME + CITY and email it to: calendar@mifairtax.org. (Don't worry about TIME or PLACE just yet.)   This is the date we're going to present the MI FairTax to a group of your family, friends, neighbors, and associates.  (You can work out details of WHERE, and WHAT TIME, after you email us. In fact, you can even change the DATE, if you need to.)    Then, look for your NAME on our Events Calendar. Say your name is Chris Smith from Detroit, your presentation will list under the  DATE you emailed us:  Your Calendar entry will appear white on red, like this (where "14" is your Congressional / MI FairTax District number):     14 Detroit - Intro Presentation (Smith)  <= Details to be provided After you send us the TIME (say 7 pm) and PLACE (building address) we will complete your entry with details and note you (or your designate) as the "RSVP to" contact.  It will then appear like this on our Events Calendar:  7p 14 Detroit - Intro Presentation (Smith)  <= Completed w/TIME, etc.   2) "Fuel the message" - Make a donation.  Right NOW!    Commit to a small, monthly donation.  How much is it be worth to you, each month, in order to save Michigan's economy?  We suggest "10 bucks a month" (but don't let us limit you!) If you, like so many, are just  trying to "stay afloat amidst the waves," sending any amount, monthly, can make a big difference when many people get involved!  Gonna wait to give until times are better? Regrettably, waiting may short-circuit the very thing we desire.     By funding the effort NOW, you'll help us support our "Spread the message, Fuel the message" campaign with the media support we'll require in order to successfully collect 1/2 million petition signatures to place the Michigan FairTax on the ballot.       3) Taking the MI FairTax plan VIRAL - across the state.   "Spread the message, Fuel the message!" Talk to friends where you work, play, and/or worship. Place an ad in your local paper, community or club newsletter. Hold a presentation, then identify those of your attendees who will do the same.    MFTA will assist with presenters and will provide you with the back-up to organize those you bring into this "Spread the message, Fuel the message" campaign.      Our Support Must Be More Than "Lip-Service" - Make It Meaningful !   The Buck STARTS Here. The idea is that if each of us, does even "a little," financially, on a recurring basis -  taken together, we will generate substantial revenues to educate and advertise this important message state-wide. Help unleash this powerful message, sign up for our: 10 bucks a month club   Or, if you utilize a bill pay service through your bank or credit union, you may elect to set up "MFTA" as a payee on an automatic $5 bi-weekly remittance, scheduled after your paycheck is deposited. (Set-up information at the above link.)   While not the largest financial commitment you'll ever make, this commitment will be the most important!  Ultimately, passage of the Michigan FairTax will let YOU decide when - and how much - the State benefits, based on when YOU benefit from purchasing goods and services for your family.   Give muscle to our message!  Contribute "just a little" every month - Right Now!         Appreciatively,

Roger Buchholtz, State Director Michigan FairTax Association   MFTA seeks to educate the public - without respect to political party affiliation - about the Michigan FairTax plan (pdf) and the benefits of taxing consumption instead of income.  The progressive Michigan FairTax will untax all family spending to the poverty level, then increase - as an effective rate - as retail spending increases thereabove.  It removes business taxes and compliance costs from retail prices, and will make Michigan THE growth destination in America for business, jobs, and families.

This email was sent to rgdunn@veionline.com by roger.buchholtz@mifairtax.org. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by Michigan FairTax Association | PO Box 703 | Sterling heights | MI | 48311

Call to Action~Hate Crimes & the Sedition Act of 2009-American Thinker=Senate Bill 909

 

Hate Crimes and the Sedition Act of 2009

By John Griffing

HR 1913, The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and its companion bill S. 909, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act threaten us with targeted censorship, attacks on religious freedom, and outrageous protections for pedophilia and other deviant behavior.  Even prominent gay activists like Andrew Sullivan say that this legislation is unnecessary and dishonest.  But if these arguments aren't enough to cause you to grab a pitchfork and march on Washington (or at least call your Senators), then perhaps you need a bigger perspective about what's really at stake.

As a reminder, the bill has been passed in the House, and is now in process in the Senate.  The legislation contains provisions that will increase the penalties for acts committed against certain protected groups, punishing motives as well as acts, and giving special legal stature to homosexuals and those with sexually-related "disabilities".  The language of the bill arguably undermines Fourteenth Amendment "equal protection of the law," making some groups more equal than others.  Pedophiles are elevated to a protected class, but a mother who slaps a child rapist can go to jail for a hate crime.  Rep. Alcee Hastings was even so brazen as to align the purpose of the bill with acts of sexual deviancy, saying that it is time to protect "'philias and fetishes.'"

At the same time, amendments that would have protected faith-based groups from antagonistic prosecution were voted down.  This has caused many advocates of religious expression to fear this legislation, drawing on examples of hate crimes laws in Britain and Canada where pastors and other persons of faith have been arrested for religious speech in public places.

These are all good reasons to oppose this bill.

But S. 909 must be stopped for reasons that go far beyond the issues attached to this particular legislation.  This proposed law will set a precedent that can be broadened to encompass potentially any idea, belief, or viewpoint.  Today hate, tomorrow fill in the blank....

 

...If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.  In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself. 

The question is, who will watch the watchers?  Thomas Jefferson explained:

Confidence is everywhere the parent of despotism...In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.

S. 909 isn't just about hate or homosexuality or religious views.  At the center of this bill is the question of liberty.  Will we continue to be a nation that protects freedom of thought, or will we prize conformity above all else?  Defeating this bill should be every American's battle.

"And then they came for the Jews, And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew...."

Freedom itself is in danger if this bill is not defeated.  If even one idea can be criminalized, then no idea will be safe.  Government seldom gives up power, and once that power is established and the precedent set, there will be no limit to the ideas that can be outlawed.  Every idea, every belief will be a possible candidate.    And once that door is opened, it will not be closed in our lifetimes.

 

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children what it was once like in the United States when men were free.
Ronald Reagan

***

My comment:

 

Can we return from such a broad stroke against our liberty, when liberty itself is succumb?  Let not this chain of unconstitutional law prevail one day.  Demand Respect of the Constitution and note that in the first Supreme court case, the question was on accepting challenges before the highest court.  Let not that moment of trivia bind us from the absolute tyranny to be allowed unchecked.

 

Saint Augustine, "An unjust Law is no Law at all."  Let not our individual Sovereignty be stilled, but forever let freedom from Government reign supreme with Justice for all, not  decay!

 

R. George Dunn