Cops Continue to Build Upon Their Great Reputation

An off-duty Atlanta police officer "got into a scuffle with a woman" at IHOP the other night.  Translation:  an overly aggressive thug with a uniform, badge and weapon punched a (probably drunk) woman in the face at a restaurant and as far as I can tell, has not charged the victim of his aggression with any crimes.  

I used to almost automatically side with the police on situations like this, assuming that they were in the right.  No longer.  I know there are honorable police officers, but it seems as though we are confronted more and more with their incompetence, belligerence and misconduct.  Police officers used to be called upon to keep the peace.  What this officer did was the opposite of that -- he basically instigated a brawl.  Could he not have managed the situation with this woman (whatever it was, because again - no charges as far as I can tell) in a less aggressive way?  Why is a cop entitled to put his hands on a private citizen in a private establishment when there is no apparent crime?

Was That So Hard?

President Obama finally released his long form birth certificate and as far as I can tell, there's nothing weird or suspicious about it.  I just don't understand why it took so long for him to deign to show it to us when we are living in an age when presidential candidate routinely release documents ranging from college transcripts to military records to medical records.  We know Al Gore's and George W. Bush's college GPA's (2.2 and 2.35, respectively) and that John Kerry received four Ds in his freshman year of college. Given that you have to produce your official birth certificate for a whole range of activities, I find it odd that it is not simply required paperwork for any presidential candidate.  Anyway, I digress.  Thank you to President Obama for putting this issue to rest.  Now we can focus on how he is facilitating America's great decline.

Big Business, Big Government -- BFFs

GE posts a 77% increase in its Q1 earnings and apparently, paid no corporate taxes in 2010.  You see, it doesn't matter what the tax rates are -- corporate tax rates are currently 35% -- because wealthy and connected companies and individuals will always find the loopholes to avoid paying what our president often refers to as "their fair share".  

So, please remember that the conversation about taxes shouldn't be about raising the rates on "the rich" -- it should be about lowering tax rates for everyone, closing loopholes and simplifying the tax code.  That is how to protect the middle class and ensure that everyone pays their fair share.  Unfortunately, it's also an honest and straightforward way of dealing with the issue, so the government will be very reluctant to do it.  Big Business will also be reluctant because they like their funky, little tax breaks and Big Government likes using those loopholes as bargaining chips when it comes time for favors and political donations.  

Yeah, That Makes Sense

Dozing off to the local news last night, I heard a report on the recent push for Sunday alcohol sales in Georgia.  As I understand it, the state legislature has allowed for cities and counties to decide the issue for themselves.  In the course of this report, one gentleman -- who I assume is some sort of councilman or government official -- expressed his concern that we need to approach this issue very carefully because we could have a situation where a county approves the Sunday alcohol sales before the city does and that could be "frustrating" and "confusing" to people.  Yes sir, it could.  That is quite a reason to continue this Sunday Prohibition until that issue gets worked out.  We citizens are a "confused" and "frustrated" lot.  Why, I might do something crazy if the Decatur Kroger refuses to sell me my Miller High Life -- in my frustration and confusion, I might even drive down the road to the other Kroger that's not in the city limits!  The horror.

This guy is just some low level state (or city) bureaucrat, but can you see the contempt and disdain he has for us regular folk?  The paternalistic sensibility that he needs to protect us from feeling confused or frustrated?  Now, multiply that by about 1,000 and you approach the contempt and disdain that those in the federal government feel for us.  

Obama: Class Warrior

Is defense the only government spending Obama is willing to cut?  Doesn't that seem kind of crazy coming from the man who just put us right in the middle of a civil war in Libya?  

He's also back to calling for tax increases on "the rich".  Oh, the nasty rich.  Does anyone remember a time when it was conceivable that all Americans could be rich owing to their own hard work and productivity?  A time when our nation aspired to success and prosperity?  Who would want to succeed in business now when the president of our country vilifies people for daring to prosper.  

The notion that "the rich" aren't paying their fair share is absurd.  "The rich" pay considerably more than their fair share -- the top 1% of taxpayers pay 38% of the income taxes in this country; the top 5% pay 58%, and the top 10% pay 69% of the income taxes!  What more does Obama want from them?  He wants everything.  He wants to redistribute wealth from those who make money to those who don't.  

I am nowhere near the top 10% and I don't want their money.  I want an economic climate (i.e. limited and logical government oversight) where I can put myself into the top 10%.  And I want that for everyone.  

Surprise in the WSJ Poll for GOP Primary Hopefuls

Everyone's talking about Donald Trump's 2nd place finish in the WSJ poll.  I'm more shocked at Mike Huckabee's 2nd place tie with Trump.  Who are these people who would vote for that buffoon man?  I'm reasonably confident that he would never win the nomination, but the results in the poll show that he also is not fading into obscurity as quickly as I would have liked.  

PS.  I'm actually warming to the idea of a President Trump.  Don't judge me.  Just listen to what he says.  Plus, there's the possibility that upon meeting President Obama before the inauguration, Trump will shake his hand and say, "You're fired."

Be Afraid -- Be VERY Afraid

From the Wall Street Journal:

More Americans work for the government than work in construction, farming, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, mining and utilities combined. We have moved decisively from a nation of makers to a nation of takers. Nearly half of the $2.2 trillion cost of state and local governments is the $1 trillion-a-year tab for pay and benefits of state and local employees. Is it any wonder that so many states and cities cannot pay their bills?

Awesome.