Stimulus Package: Decreasing our Standard of Living
Loading ...Every day, I take the same exact route to and from work. Like most of you (who are fortunate enough to still have jobs in the state of Michigan), this route becomes routine. And you don’t really stop to think about this routine until the same road you take every day is closed for construction. Upon closer observation, it appeared that the road was in the process of being converted from pavement to gravel. Huh? Seriously? Gravel? What could possibly be the reasoning behind digressing our standard of roads? Then I saw it: a sign that is barely readable through the thick cloud of dust caused by the newly converted gravel road: Projects Funded by ARRA. That’s it. My blood is boiling, all I see is red. Everything becomes clear: this is where our tax dollars went as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009–the stimulus bill.
Paving roads is a sign of progress. So turning paved roads into gravel roads is a sign of a decreased standard of living.
Feds Raising Minimum Wage
(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the federal minimum wage will increase later this month as unemployment rises. Minimum wage will go to a minimum floor of $7.25 an hour starting July 24 from its current position of $6.55.
The ripple will be felt in 29 states and many will follow suit to surpass the new wage level. Several states already mandate the $7.25 minimum wage while others exceed the amount. Employers are required to pay whichever is the highest: federal or state.
With unemployment increasing daily, how will businesses absorb this added cost? As history has told us, businesses that are trying to preserve their profit margin will do everything they can NOT to absorb this cost. How? By simply raising prices. By passing the cost on to the consumer, an adverse effect of minimum wage occurs: people buy less. Sometimes businesses move out of state (or out of the country) to find cheaper labor. Or, businesses absorb the cost and attempt to cut where they can–in most cases–labor. In any case, all options are counter-productive to boosting the economy. A pretty simple concept to an entrepreneur but one that continuously seems to fall on deaf ears to democratic leaders and even some republican leaders today.
With unemployment at an all-time high of nearly 10% nationwide, how can businesses justify raising prices when consumers do not have the money to spend? It is interesting to note that most states that plan to raise their minimum wage above the madated wage limit (or already have this year) are led by democratic governors and also have the highest unemployment rates. Take Michigan for example. Michigan is leading the unfortunate race down the toilet with a plan to raise minimum wage above the federally required limit and a growing 14.1% unemployment rate to boot. Oregon is next in line with a 12.4 percent unemployment rate, led by democratic governor Ted Kulongoski. Ohio, D.C. and Illinios are also up there with 10.8%, 10.7% and 10.1% unemployment rates respectively. Coincidence? We at Sick of Liberals think not.
Obama Nation-Swine Flu Spending Alert
Yes, you read it correctly: another billion dollars is being spent on the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu. For those of you who missed the last swine flu spending alert, $250 million dollars has already been allocated towards medication that may or may not be effective against the virus, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control).
It is estimated that approximately 36,000 people die every year from the common flu. Since March of 2009, 150 deaths have been reported in the U.S. At a rate of 150 deaths from the swine flu every 5 months, that amounts to 360 total deaths from the swine flu yearly. So if only .004% of the 36,000 annual flu deaths are swine flu related, is 1,250,000,000 dollars towards developing a batch of vaccinations that ‘may or may not be effective’ a sound investment when our economy is collapsing around us? Discuss.
Private Health Care Gives National Health Care Run For the Money
As legislation nears for a universal health care system in America, the Obama Administration looks to neighboring Canada as a model of public health care. However, an adverse phenemonon is taking place in Canada where government health care has long been considered successful–the private health care business is booming. Patients who are tired of substandard care and long waits are seeking alternative options to public health care, even at a cost.
“The pain was already taking its toll and the wait time was terribly frustrating for me. I had to do something sooner to continue living life the way I want to,” says Geraldine Cross, a Canadian patient who was told that she would have to wait up to a year for an MRI resulting from a back injury. Geraldine was also told that she would have to wait even longer for surgery. Gladly shelling out a few hundred dollars, Geraldine was able to get an MRI scan within just a few days and experienced noticeably superior service during her appointment.
“The nurses and doctors were so helpful and thorough. I was basically pushed through like cattle before I opted for private health care,” said Cross.
Not everyone is as fortunate as Cross since the Canada Health Act forbids citizens in certain provinces to seek for-profit treatment covered by public health insurance. Patients like Geraldine Cross understand the importance of having the choice, a freedom she is not willing to give up. Still others believe that private health care facilities undermine the purpose of universal health care. Lobbyists who are pro-government health insurance cite reasons that private facilities employ government doctors causing even longer wait times for those using public insurance dismissing the fact that more competition drives prices lower and increases quality of service.
The United States has yet to pull enough votes from both Democratic and Republican parties because opposition remains strong across the board. And in light of the recent shift in public versus private health care in Canada, Republicans and Democrats alike are looking at other possible alternatives.
Powell/China Express Regrets
After breaking ranks with the Republican party to endorse President Barack Obama, Colin Powell has serious regrets that America’s in too deep.
“I’m concerned at the number of programs that are being presented, the bills associated with these programs and the additional government that will be needed to execute them,” the former secretary of state told CNN in an interview on Sunday.
Not surprising since President Obama’s rating has taken a turn for the worst in recent polls regarding the direction the country has taken since Obama/Biden took over Washington.
Powell’s not the only one who feels buyer’s remorse. China who happens to hold a very important stake in America’s recovery is also expressing concern over the excessive spending. Even though China’s government remains largely Communist, China has eased strict trade restrictions and government imposed regulations in recent years allowing business and capitalism to increase. Ironically enough, China is now a major lender to the United States armed with a harsh warning to stop the porkulous spending and focus on repairing the nation’s debt which has reached over 11.5 trillion with a staggering 1.85 trillion under Obama’s 6 months of Admistration alone. Not a warm and fuzzy message from a major investor.
“I think one of the cautions that has to be given to the president-and I’ve talked to some of his people about this-is that you can’t have so many things on the table that you can’t absorb it all. And we CAN’T pay for it all.” Powell said.
He said Obama “has to really start taking a very, very hard look at what the cost of all this is. And how much additional bureaucracy and will it be effective bureaucracy.”
Source: foxnews.com
Wall Street Journal
Obama Nation - Spending Alert
April 2009-Obama signed a bill of $250 million towards battling the H1N1 Virus or Swine Flu Virus. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), prescribed treatments may not be effective against the virus because:
“Like all influenza viruses, swine flu viruses change constantly. When influenza viruses from different species infect pigs, the viruses can reassort (i.e. swap genes) and new viruses that are a mix of swine, human and/or avian influenza viruses can emerge.”
In other words, $250 million has been allocated towards medication that may or may not be effective according to the same government that plans to “battle” this virus. In addition, the White House issued a statement Tuesday, May 5 stating that it is no longer necessary to close schools because the virus is not as serious a threat as originally perceived. Okay, good news for us hypochondriacs, but can we have our money back?
Source:
www.cdc.gov
Bipartisan Bickering and Arlen Specter
Obama has lamented several times about how he’s tired of the “bipartisan bickering.” In other words, he’s saying that everyone should just agree with him all the time.
He’s also said that he’s frustrated that change is so slow.
Sorry B.O., but that is called DEMOCRACY! Change is slow so that not just any old radical, whether right or left, can effect the kind of changes that you are without some kind of debate…duh.
Redistribution of Wealth
Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that
read, “Vote Democratic; I need the money.” I laughed. Once in the restaurant my server had on an “Obama ‘08″ shirt, again I laughed — just imagine the coincidence.
Department of Homeland Security Terrorist Watch List
According to the new report released by Janet Nepalitano, you may be a Terrorist if:
6. You loyally served your country as a member of the armed forces
5. You believe that abortion is murder
4. You believe that America is for Americans
3. You hold a gun in one hand and a Bible in the other
2. You believe that marriage is between a man and a woman
And the #1 reason you may be a terrorist is if….you are Sick of Liberals!
Obama Nation
(4 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)Abomination-loathsome, evil, hateful, disagreeable, morally reprehensive.
(Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus, 2).
Obamanation-loathsome, evil, hateful, disagreeable, morally reprehensive, wasteful spending.
(Sick of Liberals)
