Hello everyone

Thank you for your support. Now I invite you once again to a new forum. A forum for short stories and poems where you all as well as I will be writing. I look forward to reading your stories and poems. Please feel free to participate. The address is http://wp.me/p2g5Ph-5 

Taxes!

     Taxes! Liberation from England was inevitable, unfair treatment and over taxation the people wouldn’t stand for it. The irony is apparent the turmoil in today's America is similar unfair tax laws.

"The orthodox British view dating back from the Glorious Revolution of 1688 was that parliament was the supreme authority throughout the empire and so anything parliament did was constitutional imposing higher taxes as a result of the seven year war of 1763 and their devastated financial state”. Does this sound familiar

Our tax code has been tailored to benefit those financially privileged. The same scenario is playing itself out in our time. The people are over taxed over worked and under valued. The modern day sheriff of Nottingham is knocking at our proverbial doors and asking us for more and more to fill the couphers of the wealthy. Isn’t this the reason we liberated ourselves from England taxes.

Robber baron:  Widely used in the 19^th century to describe powerful business men who amassed their wealth by unethical and unsavory means. Some may say this describes the business man of today the modern day capitalist. Manipulating government for personal gain and profit.

Mortgage and rent due, fridge empty light bill overdue. These are some of the things you hear daily from the average American. The working class not on any kind of public assistance and in fact doesn’t qualify but they continue to fight on hope is weaning but they don’t give up. And the richest 1% is reaping what they sew benefiting from their hard work. The American dream is still alive in their eyes but they can’t achieve it because the richest 1% refuses to release the stranglehold on the economy.

Is it fair that the average american work 50-60 hours a week make 40,000 thousand dollars a year and pay twice as much in taxes as someone who makes 20 million a year? Is it fair that I can’t find a job because those same people send jobs overseas downsize companies to raise profits and abuse the tax code? Why do the American people have to suffer because of corporate greed?

They call themselves capitalist but the real capitalist strengthen their communities uplift their people and encourage growth not by tax manipulation and corporate downsizing. The true capitalist such as Henry Ford and Thomas Edison made many advances in our country but they didn’t move production to another country to cut cost. Bill Gates A capitalist shares a large part of his wealth as a philanthropist. That is the meaning of a capitalist not just taking from the people but returning to the people in the form of jobs, good paying jobs that enable the people to grow the economy.

Now I don’t believe you have to give your money away, but I do believe you have to be taxed at a relative rate per financial bracket as everyone else. Now groups such as citizens for America and people like Grover Norquist Believe differently. With the passing of the Super Pac law by the Supreme Court there is no limit on contributions or any restrictions on political attacks slander or head hunting. Now With investments of 300 million at a time and I say investment because a (ROI) is expected in the form of political favors you can typically buy a politician. The rules in politics have forever changed.  

What we have to realize is that everyday there are rules being changed and laws being passed by the leftist conservatives. Rules that will forever effect us and our children, and if we don’t pay attention to what’s going on and begin to fight together their will be less than scraps left for the future generations. Through education cooperation and community activism we can begin to affect a change. But we can only do it together….

                

JOBS BILL NOW!!!!

Hello my fellow Americans. This installment of Realistically Speaking is a very special one and I hope it reaches further than before.  As you may know our President is attempting to pass a $447 billion jobs bill, which has been stopped twice by Republican senators, and a few Democrats. The bill is projected to stimulate job growth, especially in the construction industry, as well as prevent teacher layoffs and home foreclosures; provide tax cuts for small businesses; offer tax incentives to hire veterans; a $4,000 tax credit for employers to hire the long-term unemployed; payroll tax cuts; funds to rehab roads, railways and airports; and an overhaul of unemployment insurance.

Now the revised bill is just about six pages long and outlines these initiatives:

1. Tax Cuts to Help Small Businesses Hire and Grow-- To drive companies to hire more workers, the bill would cut payroll tax in half for 98% of businesses, in addition to, completely eliminating payroll taxes for companies hiring workers or increasing wages. States will also be empowered to implement wage insurance to help reemploy older workers and programs to make it easier for unemployed workers to start their own businesses. These steps provide incentives for new investment in the U.S.

2. Putting Workers Back on the Job-- This initiative is long overdue. The ability to put veterans back to work—the “Returning heroes” tax credit will reward businesses with $5,600-$9,500 per veteran hired.  The bill will also keep 280,000 teachers employed and modernize 35,000 schools across the country. To prevent close to 5 million Americans looking for work from losing their benefits, the proposed innovative work-based reforms will prevent layoffs and give states flexibility to use unemployment funds to support job-seekers. The bill is slated to also expand job opportunities for low-income youth and adults through subsidized employment, innovative training programs and summer/year-round jobs for youth.

3.       Rebuild America-- To promote fair and even contract awards, Project Rebuild, will put blue collard workers back on the job rehabbing communities, businesses and homes, helping to breathe life back into desolate neighborhoods.

4. Tax Relief for Every American Worker and Family—During this recession families have been struggling to make ends meet.  The President’s plan will cut payroll taxes in half for 160 million workers next year-providing a $1,500 tax cut to the typical American family, without negatively impacting the Social Security Trust Fund.  To stop foreclosures, Americans would be allowed to refinance their mortgages at today’s near 4 percent interest rates, which can put more than $2,000 a year in a family’s pocket.

Now upon looking over this bill you would believe the President is pro big business because the majority of this bill is geared to stimulate growth and reward businesses for hiring employees. But looking deeper it is written with our needs in mind, potentially returning 2 million people to work by next year in hopes of jump starting the economy by injecting new taxpayers.  With the tax dollars generated from the returned workers and the pension, social security and Medicare taxes it would tremendously assist the suffering economy.

 Keeping first and emergency responders employed is very important. They are the ones charged with our safety. Firefighters needless to say are responsible for countless lives saved outside of fire related catastrophes. Keeping teachers employed and upgrading schools will ensure our future generations are equipped to compete on a global scale.

Realistically speaking, a good amount of Republicans and Democrats are unhappy with the way the President is handling the economic recovery and feels he has not done enough for us, but ask yourself this, “What Have You Done to Support our President?”  By this I mean collectively we the public have the power to choose our senate leaders governed by the 26^th Amendment we are tasked with the job of choosing who represents our interests as a whole. So far our senate leaders have not been operating on our behalf, but by their own agendas. We have the power to choose who represents us, and how they represent us. Our communities suffer when we let things happen and willingly hand over our rights. Grab a hold of yours and exercise them.  Call, write, and send emails to your Senator to support the Jobs Bill now!

               

No light at the end

The average person in America does not hate capitalism. We strive to become the embodiment of the American dream “Capitalist”-- to build something out of nothing, to become successful, to become wealthy and leave an abundance of knowledge and financial stability in a legacy that teaches without words, but with actions and life experiences.

The perversion of capitalism has destroyed America and vilanized the concept of free enterprise. The love for money over all else has corrupted the sacred American dream. Blatant disregard for human well-being along with corporate greed has changed the landscape forever.  The mass deregulatory initiatives imposed throughout the last two decades, has only helped to plunge this country into a recession and enable corporate wrongdoing.  With agencies put in place to oversee fair and legal operations disbanded, there was no safety net for large scale corporate scandals such as, Enron and the mortgage calamity, to name a few.

 Led by Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and the powers that be on Wall St., this country fell to a new low.  They corroborating with lobbyist to force federal deregulation of the financial industry and in turn encouraged people to refinance with complex derivatives, and promoted predatory lending from Countrywide bank and collaterized debt obligations (CDO) from AIG, ultimately destroying the economy and the America we love.

The CDO and Complex Derivative scandal, where Wall Street placed bets on both growth and loss of securities and mortgages and used our pensions and savings to hedge those bets, dismantled most of working-class Americans retirement savings, and their was no plan to cover the losses. Social Security is dissipating and Medicare and Medicaid on the chopping block.  The future of America is looking bleak.  But with all the Wall Street scandal no one feels safe handing over their hard earned money to effectively save for an adequate retirement.

Now unemployment nationally is over 9% leaving countless Americans struggling to make ends meet , living week to week. Why hasn’t it improved?  Because Congress is fighting internally for power and the Tea Party is gaining more control over the Republican party with their vow of not raising taxes for the richest 1% of America, even though taxes have been at their lowest in the past 50+ years.  I see no end in sight. Mass outsourcing has decimated cities like Detroit-- once known as the flourishing area at the forefront of automobile production is now hit with high unemployment, struggling to reinvent from an industrial town hurt by jobs sent overseas.  Look closely at our communities; they’re trying to dismantle our only fighting chance to fair, equitable wages, and decent employment by abolishing unions. Victories like the Flint sit-down shows the power we have if we unite as one, utilize our voting power to demand change.

In addition to the economic downfall of our country, Rising college costs coupled with continuous budget cuts to education reduces  the chances of our youth receiving a well-rounded, high-quality education that will prepare them for a growing, global 21^st century economy and workforce.  They’ll be forced to take out high-interest student loans with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (also victims of corporate greed), leading to a cycle of debt and poverty.

How long will we stand by and watch as just the richest 1% of Americans continue to prosper, while the remaining 99% of people live in less than acceptable situations—caught up in government scams, not being able to afford or maintain the simplest luxuries like a home to call their own, which is part of the ‘American dream.’  We need to instill the values we were raised on back into our communities. One value highlighted in the book, “The Magic Ladder to Success” written by Napoleon Hill says, “Love people more than you love money.”

It is commonly said that the people always left behind to suffer are the poor, but I don’t believe that… it’s the uninformed and uneducated who are left behind to be poor.  Learning starts at home.  I beg each one of us to take the initiative and inform the people around you so they can inform their friends and family about the failures and inadequacies of our government. Start asking questions about what’s going on in your community, and stop just letting things happen because you think you don’t have a voice. Did you know that because President Clinton signed into law the Anti terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 which, “reduced new trials for convicted criminals and sped up their sentences by restricting a federal court's ability to judge whether a state court had correctly interpreted the U.S. Constitution," that it has been cited as one of the reasons why Troy Davis was denied a new trial.

Realistically speaking, I have brought all these facts up to help everyone become more visibly aware of what’s really going on in our society and to spark an awakening of sorts. Highlighting the need to not only pay attention to just your daily responsibilities, but becoming aware of what’s going on in the world around you which will ultimately affect your future as well as your children’s.  

Sorry for the delay.

Hello to all that follow. I am currently working on the next edition to the blog and once again I will try to make it as thought provoking as possible. I appreciate all the support and I am also looking forward to the  upcoming replies. Thank you for your patience.

Waiting for Superman

Waiting for superman; but not even his ice cold breath can not stop the melting scholastic system, nor can his super speed catch every falling child before they hit the bottom. If superman can’t save us…then who can?

A couple years ago when I heard of the city and state leaders closing schools I was appalled and confused as to why they would do such a thing, not knowing the intricacy behind it or understanding how they can place these children’s future in jeopardy. But after watching a documentary called “Waiting for Superman,” it became clear and more evident of the need for drastic change in our educational system. We have heard many pledges of education reform before, but none has taken hold, and why you ask…because of a myriad of bureaucracy and the two teachers’ unions around the country; a union that protects teachers even though NYC schools are at a 34% reading level, how absurd.

Although I am a union supporter I cannot stand by and just accept this especially from the people that are charged with molding the future leaders of America. In a world where the U.S. ranks 14^th in reading and 25^th in math, why is it that our teachers’ unions do not see that something is wrong with this? The movie also noted that 1 in 57 doctors lose their license; 1 in 95 lawyers are disbarred; but only 1 in every 2500 teachers loses their tenure. Now if my math serves me correctly our failing schools exponentially outweigh that statistic.

Michelle Rhee, former chancellor of the Washington DC school system, which has the lowest reading scores at 14%, offered a radical idea for change. She would almost double the teacher’s salary from around 73k to 123k if the teachers give up their tenure.  And as often as teachers say they don’t get paid enough many thought that would fix two problems; the unions’ stranglehold on disciplinary action for underperforming teachers; and the increase in teacher’s salary. To our dismay, the union convinced the teachers not to vote on the bill saying it would divide the teachers. As our most valuable people on the planet, it is the teachers responsibility to make sacrifices for the betterment of our nation.

Unlike many other unions the teachers’ union is the most difficult to fire unsuccessful teachers. There’s a 24-step process filled with paperwork, observations and meetings that has to be completed before any disciplinary action can take place. Nevertheless, there is a sliver of hope to creating innovative public schools that are accountable for students and results…it’s called Charter Schools. Exempt from union control, the teachers in charter schools perform at a far higher level partially because they have to work to keep their jobs. The outcome being a higher percentage of students who are academically equiped to transition into higher education. Within these charter schools the reading average has increased to 60% while the math has also increased to 80%.

Alas, the downside to these charter schools are that there aren’t enough, so children are placed on waiting lists or entered in a lottery to be accepted. With the staggering statistics and the long wait what’s going to happen to the students who don’t get in? Where’s their superman? We  normally see statistics that highlight the disparities in suburbs and the urban schools, but the stats of charter schools have surpassed those of the suburban schools. So the stigma that bad communities produce bad schools are not true because the charter schools are located in some of the worst urban neighborhoods in the nation and have proven to be effective in providing children with quality education that prepares them for the 21^st Century.

Parents, we are our children’s ‘Superman.’ We are their voices and advocates. We have the responsibility to spearhead action in support of education reform for our children. Do your part, get involved, put the pressure and hold the system (local school boards, city officials, school administration, and union reps) accountable for the success of our children.

State of the world

I came across this weeks’ topic while watching a documentary called Prophets of Doom on the History Channel. As we all look forward to a new year and all the possibilities a fresh start offers, watching this documentary struck a cord because it basically gives a realistic account of how our nations’ current problems, trends and events might be signs of demise and tribulation in the near future. Case in point, the global financial crisis to technological meltdowns to catastrophic oil spills and massive bird and fish deaths around the globe, we are facing serious times and will be in peril for years to come if we don’t take action now.
One issue raised in the documentary that really caught my attention is how the diminishing water supply will be the single most devastating event to ravage the world. If we think of it rationally we cannot survive without water. It is the one natural resource that we cannot reproduce any remote replacement for, so it’s shocking to know that in today’s society there are still some powerful figures who continue to ration and destroy the water supply. Take for instance the natural gas excavation process and the astonishing revelation in a Pennsylvania town where chemicals seeped into the water supply and contaminated the tap water to the point where residents were able to light their drinking water on fire--see documentary “Gasland.”[Cmnt:R1] With the spike in population and the limited natural resources, this is just one example of the disasters that lay ahead of us.
Realistically Speaking, what can we do differently this year to combat the prophets who predict peril for our country. What changes or steps will you take this year to help sustain our country and improve the quality of life for not just ourselves, but the generations to come. I’ve started by creating this blog to raise consciousness and lend a voice to these issues that affect our everyday lives. Sound off and share how you plan on making a difference this year?