Congress may actually pass an economic stimulus bill this week, which is good news for the short-term needs of the country. There is no question the economy is tottering, and could easily tip over from recession to depression, so a bill that focuses on saving jobs and creating jobs is desperately needed. The good news is that the bill will definitely help achieve some of those aims. The bad news is that it will lay a crushing debt burden on taxpayers for the future, which can only be addressed if government becomes far more efficient in the use of tax dollars than it has in the past. That could very well force, down the road, what many of us have wanted for years, a smaller, more efficient government. But somehow, that doesn't seem likely. Because Congress hasn't figured out that the model for government is, and should be, changing. And the best example is the stimulus package. Despite billions of dollars in cuts, it still contains way too much pork. And some of the cuts (to make way for that pork) seem to make no sense, such as dropping $40 billion to help keep schools from having to fire teachers. That's counter-productive. The bill is supposed to save or create jobs, not leave them threatened. Both sides of the aisle bear the blame. The Democratic leadership rolled over on way too many pet projects among its members, losing sight of the long-term goal of the bill. And Republicans kept insisting on sticking to the same failed policies of the past, and playing the same old games where personal and party political power carried more weight than the needs of the nation. One GOP leader actually admitted his goal for the bill, and the amendments he introduced, were designed to divide the Democrats and make them look bad. So much for caring about the people of this country. Both parties should be ashamed. It is time for Congress to look up from its myopic and petty party power games, and its proclivity for pork, and look at the desperate state of the nation, focusing solely on programs that stand a good chance of meeting the goal of keeping people working. Making things work should be a bipartisan issue. This bill should be about America, not the Republican or Democratic parties. -- Kelly Everitt

Any hope for the new year?

Posted Thursday, December 27, 2012, at 8:32 AM

"Peace on earth, good will toward all men."

Every year we're reminded of that adage, perhaps even a request from God, just before the New Year.

If only it would work.

New Years is an entirely artificial dividing point. But it serves its purpose. It gives us a framework to look back upon, and a blank canvas to paint a new future.

Looking back wasn't all that pleasant. At least eight major episodes of gun violence that stood out this year among the background noise of "just normal" gun violence that's a daily occurrence in this country. The extremes of ban them or give them to everybody don't seem to be real useful approaches. Somewhere, there's a compromise position that makes common sense and might just slow down the carnage. That assumes politicians can understand the words compromise and common sense, which we've begun to doubt.

After a year in which Congress impressed this nation with its stupidity, the birds of inaction and ideological purity will soon come to roost -- and watch the rest of us go over the fiscal cliff like Thelma and Luise. When ideology ruins the economy, we think it's time for a new ideology.

A lot of good things happened, but those two issues seem to be on everyone's minds today.

So, what will the new year bring? A drawdown of forces in Afghanistan as we wind down our nation's longest war will be greatly appreciated by those who have to fight it -- and those of us who have to pay for it. And it looks like Congress is promising us one economic crisis after another, just so we won't get complacent. How fun. Happy New Year.

-- Kelly Everitt

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The New Year will bring exactly what we deserve and this is so unfortunate.

It is our own selfish desires to have it all that has destroyed families and the very fabric of our nation's true values.

Our children cannot see a future for themselves and give into a darkness that results in suicide or worse yet, crime or mass killings.

All this patting ourselves on the back for moving into "modern" thinking has not brought lasting happiness.

We could stand our ground on the most tried and true principals that has worked for more than 2000 years. And we could also love the sinner and hate the sin.

While I feel discouraged at times, I know in my heart that it is our personal relationship with God that will be the ultimate life preserver . Like I said in my blog, we are all God's children whether we want to be or not.

How we choose to utilize that gift and blessing is up to us. If you reject it because it doesn't fit with your personal choices, that is on your head. I won't be judged by your actions, only my own. If a person is content to have the scraps instead of the entire banquet, so be it. However, it is still my responsibility to tell you what is on the menu if you choose to come to the table.

I don't presume to have all the answers. Nor do I expect everyone to agree with me. Our common ground is that we live in the greatest nation in the world. We have been blessed beyond measure. And we belong to an awesome God.

The good news is that we can change our hearts and our minds. Just don't take too long, time is running out.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Thu, Dec 27, 2012, at 11:03 AM
We have been blessed beyond measure and we're all responsible for our own actions, but unfortunately we'll be getting a collective comeuppance? That's got to bum some kids out.

I believe the fear our children see in us contributes to a fear that drives them to terrible acts.

"...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself ..."

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/peacemeal/201008/avoding-the-fear-fear-itself

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Thu, Dec 27, 2012, at 4:40 PM
A New Year with new challenges.

Everything's Gonna Be Alright

Happy New Year!

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Thu, Dec 27, 2012, at 6:00 PM
Don't drink. Don't smoke or do drugs. Maybe I should if I keep seeing the elephant in the room but no one else does.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Thu, Dec 27, 2012, at 9:03 PM
Ha! It was prob one of those "high capacity" pocket knives with more than one blade. Why would any normal citizen need a knife with more than one blade anyway? It only takes one to skin a buck or clean a fish. They are clearly only made for stabbing multiple people!!! BAN THEM!!

-- Posted by sixguns on Fri, Dec 28, 2012, at 7:16 AM
Here's a piece I stumbled on while doing some other research.

http://www.aspergermanagement.com/shaking-off-doom-gloom

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Fri, Dec 28, 2012, at 10:21 AM
Perspective.

My wife's grandmother lived in Oklahoma during the dust bowl. Her story reminds me a bit of Mattie Ross in "True Grit", but grandma didn't go on a manhunt.

Grandma's dad was shot on a Christmas Eve when she was just a baby. A man her dad worked with and considered as a friend, shot and killed him because her dad didn't have a cigarette to give. The murderer was drunk.

Many years later, after the murderer had died, the family had to go to court to prevent the murderer from being buried right next to the man he had killed.

A few years back, my wife's sister gave their grandmother a book that asked a few questions about her life. One of the questions was "What is your earliest memory of being hurt?" Grandma remembered smashing her thumb when she and her mother were building a cabin somewhere in the Arbuckle Wilderness along the Texas/Oklahoma border.

I think I'll watch "The Dust Bowl" too.

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Fri, Dec 28, 2012, at 11:00 AM
Years ago there was a shooting at one of the local watering holes where the owner of the bar was shot and killed over an argument about Custer's Last Stand. The killer went out to his truck and got his gun and stood in the doorway of the bar and fired.

Another watering hole, a man was killed with a knife in the mens bathroom, over drugs.

Another watering hole a man was shot and killed, I don't remember what that one was all about.

There's more but I can't think of them right now

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Fri, Dec 28, 2012, at 11:11 AM
If the first of the year comes and goes without an agreement to and we go over the cliff, no one can say they didn't see it coming.

Budget act 2011 was agreed on by Congress and signed by the President.

They've already agreed on what must be done.

We should not have been waiting around for an agreement or compromise that would modify what has already been enacted.

We'll get by and do what we've got to do.

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Fri, Dec 28, 2012, at 1:46 PM
Here are just a few links I've found over the past several months.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-112publ25/pdf/PLAW-112publ25.pdf

http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2011/08/01/full-text-budget-control-act-20...

www.cbo.gov/publication/41626

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/legislative_reports/sta...

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Fri, Dec 28, 2012, at 7:00 PM
So what part of the Budget Control Act do you find most troublesome?

Is it that caps are established on discretionary spending through 2021?

Is it that the House and Senate will be required to vote on a joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution?

The debt ceiling issue shouldn't be an issue if sequestration goes into effect on the first of the year. The debt ceiling issue was resolved in the BCA.

That's the way I read it.

They've taken the action many advocated must be taken to get our budget under control.

Who can't like that?

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/11/the-long-story-of-us-debt-fr...

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Sat, Dec 29, 2012, at 10:16 AM
So if the debt ceiling was resolved by the BCA, why does Mr. Obama now want to UN-RESOLVE it?

-- Posted by wh67 on Sat, Dec 29, 2012, at 11:54 AM
When I was kid, the best part of a school day was recess. I'm beginning to think that may be the best part of a session of Congress as well.

-- Posted by wh67 on Sat, Dec 29, 2012, at 12:26 PM
I see where the House and Senate Ag committees have agreed on an extension of the 2008 farm bill. If it does get voted on and passes, it would prevent milk prices from doubling.

Gotta subsidize those "doers".

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Mon, Dec 31, 2012, at 7:16 AM
You don't suppose any of those subsidies would be going to corporate dairies do you?

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Mon, Dec 31, 2012, at 8:46 AM
If you're wondering where the farm subsidies go, take at the attached link. Enter your local zip code and see if you recognize anyone.

http://farm.ewg.org/

-- Posted by TundraRat on Mon, Dec 31, 2012, at 11:55 AM
Thanks for that useful link TundraRat

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Mon, Dec 31, 2012, at 12:41 PM
H4A

Their pay raises are in conjunction with our tax increases. What a great deal for us.

-- Posted by skeeter on Mon, Dec 31, 2012, at 3:50 PM
http://www.chcoc.gov/transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=5199

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Mon, Dec 31, 2012, at 4:29 PM
Patrick, the pay freeze you referred to, was that the 2010 pay freeze?

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Mon, Dec 31, 2012, at 4:35 PM
Don't forget they brought us the Budget Control Act of 2011!

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Mon, Dec 31, 2012, at 5:23 PM
I was just reading that after less than 4 years, Obama has been rated the 4th best president ever:

Reagan and 9 others tied for first, 15 presidents tied for second, and 18 other presidents tied for third. Obama came in fourth.

-- Posted by wh67 on Mon, Dec 31, 2012, at 6:01 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhJNJgjpuWk

Straight from the source.

-- Posted by wh67 on Mon, Dec 31, 2012, at 8:07 PM
They not only defend him, they want more of him as we have seen. Military cuts, more gun control, more taxes, and more government control of our lives. They are there to govern, not rule but they prefer ruling and too many people agree.

I heard Obama say after Sandy Hoook that the least we can do is protect our children, and right away I thought he had changed his mind and became pro-life but I guess not.

Very funny one WH67, I'll have to pass it on.

-- Posted by skeeter on Tue, Jan 1, 2013, at 7:16 AM
Over the course of the last 60 years, I have found that a little humor can sometimes lower stress levels. Thus the "joke".

The video link DOES indeed show the President stating his fourth place status.

Please share your source as to the "comic" that coined the last sentence of the joke.

All research I have done, indicates the author may have been an opinion writer for a DC newspaper.

-- Posted by wh67 on Tue, Jan 1, 2013, at 9:33 AM
President Obama never stated he only wanted to tax those making more than $250,000/yr.

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Tue, Jan 1, 2013, at 9:07 PM
Don't change your mind on what you said now.

Your original post stated "he only wanted to tax those making more than $250,000/year"

Which doesn't convey the same meaning as the headline from your sodahead link, which says, "Obama Claims Taxes Will Only Go Up For Those Earning More Than $250,000"

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Tue, Jan 1, 2013, at 9:44 PM
Compromise that increases taxes effective immediately and postpones spending cuts for another 60 days. Oh, and keeps the price of milk down.

Yep, that's the kind of hope and change I've been looking for.

-- Posted by wh67 on Tue, Jan 1, 2013, at 10:41 PM
The points you bring up in two separate posts say two different things.

To equally define two contradicting models and occupy the same space in our mind, we are operating on the irrational -- a lie.

http://www.mountainhomenews.com/story/1921926.html

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Wed, Jan 2, 2013, at 5:06 AM
And Idaho's delegation is owning up to it to.

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2013/jan/01/labrador-calls-fiscal-cliff-bil...

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Wed, Jan 2, 2013, at 9:02 AM
I hope the changes to the AMT work out. We've come awfully close to getting hammered with that the past couple of tax years.

-- Posted by Dave Thompson on Wed, Jan 2, 2013, at 9:16 AM
My son told me Cabela's sold out on AR's last week after 22 minutes, but they only got 15 in. One person bought nine of them and I imagine he is in it to make some money. Imagine powder and reloading supplies will be hard to find soon too.

-- Posted by skeeter on Fri, Jan 4, 2013, at 5:27 PM
Our country spoke back in November. Right Wing will be a thing of the past. The GOP is re-grouping and trying to get back to the middle of the road. They know if they don't, there won't be a Republican President for a long time to come.

If Hilary Runs in 2016 its a sure thing she will win if the Republican Party don't change their idealism. Right now they're the party of ignorance!

Not all Republicans are right-wingers. Change is coming!!

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Sat, Jan 5, 2013, at 10:13 AM
I like Chris Christie and I think he could give Hilary a challenge. I feel he is very fair and he doesn't lean right.

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Sat, Jan 5, 2013, at 11:27 AM

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