We hire teachers to do a job. The job is to teach students to read and write, to teach them math skills, to teach them science, to teach them history and civics. The teachers of California (and nationwide) are failing in their responsibility. Instead of focusing on core curriculum, the teachers of this state continue to push a radical liberal agenda. Instead of teaching students to read, they want to teach gay marriage. Instead of teaching the scientific method, they want to teach junk science and the cult of global warming. Instead of teaching the historical and philosophical foundations of this country, which make it the best country on the planet, they want to teach that America is to blame for all the world’s problems. I am sick of it.
Think I’m wrong? Yesterday, the California Teachers Association gave $1,000,000 to the campaign against Proposition 8, the Defense of Marriage Act. Why would teachers give so much money to support gay marriage? What does gay marriage have to do with reading, spelling, algebra, chemistry, etc.? Nothing. One could argue it has everything to do with biology, but in that case the teachers should be for Prop 8, not against it. (read more…)
Will Obama raise my taxes? I don’t know, and neither do you. Believe me, I’ve tried to figure it out. I’ve read his plan, as well as McCain’s. I’ve read the analysis of both campaigns. I’ve watched all 4 debates. I’ve even read the neutral analysis of the Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center. Any objective analysis points to the fact that taxes will be lower under McCain than Obama, but how much and for whom is an unknowable. Both campaigns have proposed so many convoluted strategies that it is next to impossible to determine the net effect for an individual taxpayer.
Here’s what I do know:
1) Obama plans to raise the top 2 marginal tax rates. This is his personal version of Robin Hoodness, or in his words, an attempt to “spread the wealth around.” High marginal tax rates are a staple of Liberal/Socialist policy, and Obama is no exception.
2) Obama plans to raise taxes on capital gains and dividends. He intends to make these rates graduated, like ordinary income taxes, so high income individuals would pay a higher marginal capital gains rate of 20%.
3) Obama plans to raise tax rates and reduce tax loopholes on “large” (think public) businesses.
4) Obama plans to raise death tax rates to 45% on estates larger than $3.5 million.
5) Obama plans to freeze income tax rates for other income levels, and cut taxes through targeted tax credits for various activities.
6) Obama supports changing the FICA tax limits (currently capped at $102,000), so higher income individuals would pay higher FICA as well as higher income, cap gains, and dividends. (read more…)
I love California for many reasons. One of the best (and worst) is that the Proposition system allows for a modicum of true democracy to occur. Every election the people get to vote directly for measures the legislature is either unwilling or unable to address on its own. Unfortunately, this means the citizens need to wade through the language of many bills to get educated on what they will really do. Since most people, unlike me, have a life, they rely on voter guides. Well here is mine:
1A Bond Measure for High Speed Rail — NO
2 Cage standards for livestock — NO
3 Bond Measure for Children’s Hospital — NO
4 Notification for Underage Abortions — YES
5 Lighter Sentences for Drug Criminals — NO
6 Minimum Funding for Police — NO
7 Renewable Energy Requirements — NO
8 Define Marriage as 1 Man 1 Women — YES
9 Victims’ Rights — YES
10 Bond Measure to Subsidize Hybrids — NO
11 Bi-Partisan Redistricting Commission — YES
12 Bond Measure to Provide Loans to Vets — YES (read more…)
After 2 years of focusing exclusively on technology, I’ve decided to add politics to the menu of this blog. The reasons are simple. This country is headed down a dangerous path. The likely victory of Obama is a hard turn to the left. The next 4 years will be rocky, and there will be much that outrages me. I feel the need to rant, and this is my place to do it. As usual, all posts here will be my personal opinions. Feel free to disagree.
