Build up instead of tearing down!

I see many articles in the periodicals tearing down existing laws, court cases, items to consider: What I don't see in these articles is something to replace what they want to tear down with workable material.
Somewhere beforehand, elected officials, bosses, whomever, saw a need for such an action.  Perhaps after using the action for several years there are flaws apparent.  Most of the pundits give reasons to do away with the item all together.
What they should be writting about is the flaws they see, and possible SOLUTIONS to those flaws, perhaps with avenues to make the corrections in the fastest way possible. (i.e. word changes, cuts in the budget for obsolete items, etc.)
It is very easy to criticize someone's work, because they have already done the hard work; to research, write, gain passage, help with regulations, etc.  When you add how to correct the flaws, the critics do not want to go through the hard work the original "author" did to gain passage.

Republicans want tax increase!!

In last Friday's Arizona Republic, there was an article about the Republican party desiring a tax increase.  Wouldn't that ruin their "Pledge" ?  In their pledge, they say they will not accept any tax increases.  The tax increase they are espousing is the increase on wages--of course on the common man only!!  This is the kind of material you need to dig up to see which side you want to vote for, be sure of your vote.

Loopholes, not for everyone, just the rich

Loopholes, according to New Webster's Dictionary is: "a textual basis in a document or law for escape or evasion of taxes, legal commitment, or obligation".
For those who would like to read a book about "loopholes" in the Internal Revenue Department, I recommend David Cay Johnston's book" Perfectly Legal--the covert campaign to rig our tax system to benefit the super rich--and cheat everybody else.  This book discusses and explains the various dodges the super-rich and their accountants take to insure they do not pay any taxes.
Perhaps you have heard in the Debt Ceiling discussion, the Democrats saying they want to eliminate the private jet exemption.  What they are talking about is an exemption for the super-rich, that the normal person does not have the option to take.  First, the super-rich can afford a passenger jet, and they get to write off the cost/ maintenance/pilot expense/fuel/ repairs/ you name it, right off their Income.  Second, they get to have many houses in different areas, and get to write it all off because they have to entertain their potential clients, same with athletic tickets. 

Perhaps you or your parents have participated in the mortgage interest deduction, it brings down your gross income down to less of a tax to pay, that one you get to participate in, " however the strategy to broaden home ownership has instead morphed into a vast subsidy for the best-off Americans.   The more the house cost, the bigger the tax subsidy.  And the more owners earned, and thus the higher their tax rates, the bigger the subsidies.  Combining these two factors created a huge benefit for highly affluent Americans but only a minuscule one for those most in need of help to buy their home."

The "Recession" we are in today comes as a result of lending to people who desired that tax "subsidy", however, did not have the money to pay for any increases in interest raises, nor the backup funds to cover them if they should be laid off.

Currently the debt ceiling discussion has talked about eliminating the "Mortgage Deduction" from the tax code.  President Obama mentioned to Boehner that it could be put on the table.  That would really hurt the lower 90% of the population, but not the affluent.  That looks dead now, because the Republicans would not budge on tax increases.

I won't go into all the loopholes discussed in the book.  He has another one out that is newer, I have to get a copy.  I would recommend reading this book as a minimum, then get the next one if you want.

Compromise - settle by mutual agreement

As an educated citizen, you follow the discussions on TV, radio, media.  One of the biggest political problems that is facing America at this date, is raising the deficit limit.  America has a good credit rating to this point, however, if the deficit limit is not raised so America can continue to write checks to pay bills, America could be faced with defaulting on interest payments to the bond holders that have been supporting our economy.  That would be very bad for America.
Currently the Republican Party has a majority in the House of Representatives, the body in Congress that is the only one that can initiate revenues for the government.  The President and the Senate are in the hands of the Democratic Party.  There is an impasse between the two majorities about the deficit limit.  The Republicans are unwilling to have any taxes raised on the wealthy, nor taking away subsidies to corporations, or tax breaks for the wealthy.  The Republicans desire the Democrats to make spending cuts in Medicare and Welfare, of which there is starting to have some movement towards Compromise.
The date for the settlement must be struck by August 2nd.
Both sides of this "battle" seem to be weakening, which is what is necessary to reach a compromise. It is up to you as an educated citizen to search out both sides of the issue, study them and be able to support your position to neighbors, letters to the editor and Congressmen, and friends.  Up to this point the Republicans have been adamant they were not going to compromise in any way.  They are taking a second look, can you find out what they are looking to compromise on?  The Democrats? Once they try to "Compromise" can either side get everything they want?  Both sides will be able to go back to their constituencies and explain that they fought hard for their positions, however the compromise included what was good for the entire population and the economy.  They will have to attempt to get what they were trying to get in their original ideals at some later time.

Best System of Government in the World

Becoming an educated citizen, takes a long time. Your frame of reference must be large. Your beliefs must be well earned, not just latched on to on a whim. In an article in the local paper, Robert J. Samuelson, Washington Post writer, explains, "Our huge national pride which often strikes others as arrogance--rests on economic accomplishments and even more on what scholars call the American Creed: the faith in freedom; the rule of law; equal opportunity; and democratic ideas and political institutions. What defines us (and this differs from most societies) is not ethnicity, race or religion but our bedrock beliefs." (AZ Rep Jul 4, 2011, page B7)
Because our society is so vast, well-educated and ever diligent watching over the government activities, people have tended to move in two basic directions.
Conservatives: "those people who respect existing institutions and traditions that anchor the social order, to them, Change--especially radical change is a last resort, not because today's world is perfect, but because efforts to improve it might make it worse."
What has occured in current politics is the Republican party, the Conservatives, have been endowed by their followers with enough money to legislate, to use their weight in select committees to tip the balance of "tax breaks to their followers, thus the wealthy few are making most of the money, while the remainder are slipping further and further behind in economics.
Liberals: (Reactionaries), "those that desire a return to an earlier system, or order." This is the view of the normal citizen. " They have more confidence in a large government to enhance social justice." "They defend virtually all Social Security and Medicare benefits. Everything can be financed, they suggest by cutting defense or increasing taxes on the rich.
I have just touched the surface about politics in America. You need to start thinking about which way you think, do you want to change? Do you want to stay the same? Are you willing to help the side that you have chosen? Will you go door-to-door to help explain those things you advocate? The only way a Democractic-Republic can change or leave things as they are is in the voting booth. Your vote is very important, but can you convince others to vote the way you support? It takes "bedrock beliefs" to convince people to your way of thinking.

Senator Bernie Sanders: Calling for Shared Sacrifice

Senator Bernie Sanders gave a wonderful speech in the Senate. It outlines how the United States got into the mess we are in, George W. Bush, then outlines how we can remedy the situation. It is done in outline form and makes perfect sense, however, everyone needs to work for the common good. Please read,or, if you want to see the video you may click into: http://www.commondreams.org/video/2011/06/27-1
The print copy would be a good one to print off and help guide your representatives in Congress to strive for their corrective legislation:  http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/06/27-11
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Frame of Reference Example

Several blogs ago, Frame of Reference was the topic.  I received an email from a friend about Thomas Jefferson.  It is such a good example of building a frame of reference that I thought it would be good to include it in this blog.
                              Who Was Thomas Jefferson?
Over the years the world has seen many brilliant people-and then there was Thomas Jefferson.  Here is a snapshot of his background.  Brilliant does not begin to describe him.
Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life, and never stopped...

• At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.
• At 9, studied Latin, Greek, and French
• At 14, studied classical literature and additional languages.
• At 16, entered the College of William and Mary.
• At 19, studied Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.
• At 23, started his own law practice.
• At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.
• At 31, wrote the widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights of British America" and retired from his law practice.
• At 32, was a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.
• At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.
• At 33 took three years to revise Virginia's legal code and wrote a Public Education Bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.
• At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.
• At 40, served in Congress for two years.
• At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations with Ben Franklin and John Adams.
• At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.
• At 53, served as Vice President and was elected president of the American Philosophic Society.
• At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of Republican Party.
• At 57, was elected the third president of the United States.
• At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size.
• At 61, was elected to a second term as President.
• At 65, retired to Monticello.
• At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.
• At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president.
• At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence along with John Adams.

Thomas Jefferson was the finest mind in the colonies, his "Frame of Reference was extensive.  How did he obtain such a frame of reference?  First, he was fortunate to come from the upper class and had time to read, take part,travel, use his mind, body and senses. When he looked at a situation, because he had worked so hard in his research, his frame of reference engulfed what ever he was receiving and he could weigh the strengths and weaknesses better than anyone, people relied upon his judgement. Jefferson amassed the largest "library" in the colonies( his library would later become the beginning of The Library of Congress)  Remember, books were expensive and hard to obtain.  A person of wealth could spend that kind of money and he had the time to read and strengthen his "Frame of Reference".
He also studied previous failed attempts at government.  He understood actual history, the nature of God,his laws and the nature of man. 
John F. Kennedy said it best:
He held a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time.  He made this statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligent people ever to gather at one time in the White House, with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

Being a citizen in a democratic republic takes education, constant updating of knowledge, travel--America is beautiful, but it also has physical problems that it's citizens need to engulf, an active curiousity and the ability to get involved in civic events.  Learn to serve as a volunteer, join a service club,  group that helps the homeless , get to see all your neighbors.  There is much more, however this example of Thomas Jefferson shows you what made up his Frame of Reference--it took a great deal of work.  Are people going to rely upon your decisions?