Paying Taxes is Patriotic

Yep. Call me a fool or stupid. But I'm proud to pay my taxes. I live in one of the most beautiful and blessed countries in the history of the world. That doesn't just happen. It takes money. The IRS collects federal taxes that helps to make it possible to defend against foreign threats and makes it possible to form a more perfect union, insure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity. We need to strengthen, not cut, the resources of the IRS. The wealthiest citizens of the United States need to pay their taxes and not use the 77,000 pages of the tax code to avoid taxes. Corporations and the wealthiest Americans should not seek additional tax cuts at the expense of damaging Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. But to cut the staff and resources of the IRS is just another way of making it easier for tax cheats to avoid audits and getting caught when they try to evade paying their fair taxes. Our deficit is over 36 trillion dollars and the solution is not to hurt the IRS but to strengthen it and to praise those who pay theit fair taxes. So yes, you can call me a fool or stupid but I love our country but it needs the resources to execute the goals of our Preamble to our Constitution.

The World Today As I See It

The World Today As I See It I'm just a middle class citizen of a country that I have always loved. I am so blessed. The 2024 Presidential Election presented a situation that is so similar to other situations in world history where so many people supported a person who would be so destructive to everything they held so dear. The list of reasons I feel that way will be the basis for my future posts. I will also include reasons for hope as people, institutions and organizations step up to challenge efforts to destroy our beautiful country. There aren't many, if any, people who follow this blog but it sure does present a way for me to address my concerns as I see them and be prepared to talk about them when opportunities arise.

One Week! Will Character Matter?

Wow! Kamala Harris is a good person. She cares about people and really does want to help others and make the United Sates an "even batter" place to live. I previously talked about her experience and qualifications to be President and there is no douybt in my mind that she possesses everything needed to lead our country. But her greatest asset is her character. She will look to help all U.S. citizens thrive in this economy. She is an expert in foreign policy and will build alliances with our allies. Finally, she will make decisions with ethical and moral foundations that will lead to more effective results that will benefit all U.S. citizens and global allies. I am proud of Kamala Harris and look forward to seeing our entire country thrive during her presidency!

Why Is It So Clear To Me?

I really do think I'm an average American. I love my country and I know the United States is GREAT now and is the envy of every country in the world. It is unbelievable to me that a candidate for President would call the country I love a garbage can. But that really happened and so many people in our country still support him. Based on the facts, Vice President Harris is the clear choice for me! Facts matter. Nobody thought our economy could have a soft landing after the total mess handed to the Biden-Harris Administration by Donald Trump. Unemployment was in double digits, inflation was very high and Covid was killing Americans with over one million people losing their lives. Unemployment is now at record lows and inflation and Covid is under control. The stock market is also at record highs and our nations infrastructure is being improved. Wow! You rarely hear any of those facts on any of the news networks. These facts simply touch the surface of why the choice for President is so clear!!! We are far from a garbage can and anyone who says something like that should never be supported by any U.S. citizen. We are a great country. Kamala Harris believes that and will keep us that way!

Two Weeks

Two Weeks I love our country. I'm not happy about many of the things our country has done in our history but I think our actions and accomplishments have far surpassed our shortcomings. But the Election of 2024 is so hard for me to understand. Kamala Harris stands for everything our country and the U.S. Constitution is all about. As a former District Attorney and Attorney General of California, she stood up for the "rule of law." She was an outstanding U.S. Senator and is Vice President of the United States and part of a Biden Administration that is the envy of the world. The stock market is at record highs, we have one of the lowest unemployment rates in our history, inflation continues to go lower and we continue to have the strongest military in world history. The polls show the election as a virtual tie. I scratch my head. Our country is thriving and people don't even recognize that. Our troops are not directly engaged in war and we are peace brokers in many parts of our world. People who support Trump are suually people who are doing well financially under Biden and Harris. It just doesn't make sense to me but with two weeks to go I'll hope that good people realize that the best path to a bright future really is to vote for and support Kamala Harris and the slate of Democratic candidates.

Democratic-Republican Platform Comparisons

I love politics. Politics, in my opinion, is the way that we lay out the policies that can help to make our communities, cities, counties, states and our country better places to live for all our residents. We have many great individuals who run for office and we have, for the most part, a two party political system that lays out the policy positions that voters can use to select the person(s) they will vote for. I'm going to lay out basic positions of the parties and candidates as we head into the 2024 election. I think that most of the policy positions are clear cut but invite anyone to identify and correct any of these positions that misrepresent in any way. I hope that information(and maybe my opinion) like this will help people use facts and logic to guide them in voting as opposed to blindly supporting a candidate or party that misrepresents, fabricates and lies to our citizens. Boarder Security Democrats Republican Seek bipartisan legislation that will develop a comprehensive immigration Opposed bipartisan developed legislation earlier this year because and boarder security law that would greatly improve boarder security. it might hurt chances of a Trump presiency. Social Security Have attempted to weaken it and reduce benefits. Democrats They are committed to keeping and strengthening Social Security. Ukraine Support Ukraine's efforts to defend itself against Putin's invasion. Cut off support of Ukraine and appease Putin Taxes Strengthen IRS so that it has the tools to do ite job. Higher taxes on the Much lower taxes on the very wealthy and modest decrease for middle class. Record high deficit. very wealthy and lower taxes on the middle class. Reduce the dficit.

Twenty Five Days

Twenty Five Days Food prices are high. Yep. They are. But "context" and "perspective" need to be essential considerations in determining who to vote for in 2024. I know that few, if any people, will even read this blog post. Heck! I don't even know if any people read blogs. But you never know so here I go. Former President Obama spoke in Pittsburgh last night on behalf of Vice President Harris. He brought up the point that he handed over a pretty good economy. He really did. The stock market was high, inflation was under control, interest rates were low and the United States was working with international partners to tackle the global challenges to help make our world a better place for all people especially people in the United States. The Affordable Care Act was all about helping all p[eople afford health insurance. Climate change was being worked on and he was leading the international community to stand up to Russia after the invasion of Crimea. President Trump really did inherit a good situation as he took office. Fast forward to January of 2020. Covid was at its peak. Dealing with Covid was a Trump disaster. We laugh about using bleach to get rid of the virus. But he really said it. The list of screw ups is too long for me to cover here but it led to record high unemployment, extremely high inflation, a nine trillion dollar deficit in his four years in office. Biden and Harris have lowered unemployment to record lows, brought inflation down and established a "soft Landing" that most experts never thought possible and is on track to reducing the defiscit in his four years compared to Trump. Are you better off now than four years ago? By every measure, most of us are and many still support Trump. Many are doing much, much better as the stock markets are at record highs. Yes! Context and perspective are critical as we decide who to vote for. Somebody might read this blog and consider these as we get ready to vote. That is my hope and I hope I'll take the time to do a blog a day until election day. I also want to thank anyone who might read this post.