Did you know that Poland is “the only country in the European Union to avoid recession in 2009 and has been the fastest-growing EU economy since”? Wanna know why?
Americans for Prosperity Blogger of the Month – Steve Mac Donald!
Yesterday, Steve let us know that AFP had selected him as their Blogger of the Month – my immediate response was:
YAAAAAAAYYYY!!!!!!!! Way to go Steve!
Absolutely tickled pink! In my estimation, well deserved. Just about every day, Steve has made sure to let us know what his opinion is on a whole range of topics from those here in NH to national ones. In all cases, he writes from a Conservative / Libertarian viewpoint and always trying to show how these pertain to the enhancement of personal Liberty and Freedom (or not) and free markets. He has always amazed me with how he brings in different issues to his main point – and he wields his keyboard as a virtual stiletto in skewering the object of his disdain. In each of his posts, there is almost always a “line to remember”.
Data Point – salary growth, 2007 – 2012
(H/T: AEI)
Well what do you know, there may be hope yet?
Seen over at The Corner:
So the question is, can you have a liberal, progressive America without unions? History says no. For 200 years the existence of the union movement has been wedded to the rise of democracy, to the rise of liberalism. We saw this here, in South Korea, in Spain, in Africa. But now America is moving toward an experiment with whether it can have liberalism without unions. I think the answer is no. But we’ll see.
Interesting thought. Certainly we have seen, more and more, the major unions (especially the SEIU) forming alliances with Progressive / Socialist organization that are certainly in step with Obama’s “fundamentally transforming” the United States. Their stated goal is to move away from the democratic Republic of the Founders and to that Progressive version of ruler-ship first begun by Von Bismarck as he rolled up the Germanic city-states into a unified Germany (and in the process, creating the foundations of the trappings of the modern welfare state to “sidestep” the real Socialists). The unions, once focused on improving unsafe working conditions, have gone well beyond that to the acquisition of power and the enrichment of a few relative to the many.
When Life Gives You Unions…You Make Unionade!
Every time I buy a new vehicle–my newest one is eight years old, its driveway companion is twelve so this does not happen often–I suddenly find myself noticing how many other people drive the same car (Truck, Van, or SUV.) It probably works the same way with sweaters or Democrats who cheat one their wives…
So given recent events in Michigan I am not surprised to find myself “finding” more stories with a labor union theme.
Once upon a time there was a violent pipe-fitter named Vinnie who blamed his abuse of counter-protesters on his wife Collette for not being there for him to beat on instead…(/where is he going with this?)
Bwahahaha! The 2012 “Apology of The Year” Award Goes To…
This is Democrat Rep. Hank Johnson, Georgia, apologizing…sort of…badly. How bad? I can’t do it better justice than Rep Johnson himself. Hot Air
MYTH 3: We have a “revenue” problem
You can read Myth’s 1, 2 and 4 here should you care to; my purpose for the moment is to mug and pummel the idea that spending is not the problem and this helps illustrate that.
The revenue problem refers to the notion that revenues are too low. Typically, special attention is drawn to the tax rates paid by the “wealthy.” However, taxes are not too low. In actuality, taxes are too high. Once again, take a look at the last 20 years. In 1992, federal tax revenue totaled $1.642 trillion in 2012 dollars. In 2012, revenue skyrocketed to $2.435 trillion in 2012 dollars. While federal spending has eclipsed revenue by more than $1 trillion each of the last four years, too little revenue has not been the culprit!
Put another way, imagine that you are earning 793 billion more dollars today than you were twenty years ago and yet your lifestyle still exceeds your income by more than a trillion dollars a year.
Do you think the someone with the Name tag that reads ‘Hello My Name is: Federal Government” could use a little intervention?
Announcing HEL—Hatred, Envy, and Lies—the basis of Socialist Statism
It is said that you need to know your enemy and how s/he thinks, to effectively respond and counteract. So the following cartoon is instructive.
Footage from Inside AFP Tent In Michigan
This is footage shot from inside the AFP tent in Lansing as the tent was overrun by angry union protesters and began to come down. It’s very shaky but here it is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0NUGfR4cWkM
Witness To Union Thuggery
Breitbart is posting a series of statements by people who observed or were objects of Union thuggery in Michigan. I’ve posted one here on the front and several more on the jump. They are each relatively short so take a few moments to watch them. It is important to understand that this was not just a bunch of toughs flexing, people who followed the law were denied the right to peaceably assemble for no other reason than that they had an opinion different from that of the union protesters.
Oh, and then there’s the profanity, spitting, threats, and physical abuse. And make sure you watch the last video with Tim Bos. He’ll tell you about the Lansing Union cops who watched the whole thing unfold…and did nothing.
Stu Sandler
Tweet of the Day – Week – Ever? on Unions Vs Right to Work?
Fellow Grokster(ette?) Susan Olsen dropped this into our email this morning. No, not ‘the royal ‘Our’ as in the royal ‘we,’ as in ‘We are not amused.’ I mean “Our” as in our Grok group email. Anyway, this hits it out of the park on Michigan and Right to Work, and the Unions and Democrats and Obama (oh, My!), or anyone for that matter, squawking about benefits for those who accept the choice to not have to pay dues…
This guy is officially Our hero. I am embarrassed that We didn’t think of it first.
Rand Paul on taxes, government, and freedom
From a recent column in The Wall Street Journal by Senator Paul: There is an implication, he observes, “that raising taxes—that is, extracting and confiscating more income from workers and businesses—is harmful to the economy.
I am easily persuaded of this truism. As Milton Friedman said, nobody spends someone else’s money as frugally or as wisely as they spend their own.
But if raising taxes would lead us toward trouble…
Terie ‘Scrooge’ Norelli – Fires Staffer weeks Before Christmas
Incoming New Hampshire House speaker Terie Norelli (D- Grinch), is taking heat for her abrupt termination of longtime House receptionist Betty Lichty. Betty was apparently hired by Norelli back in 2006 and has worn out her usefulness in the position. Perhaps answering the phone for Speaker O’Brien for two years was more than Terie’s delicate … Read more
Notable Quotes: On Current NH-GOP Leadership
In my honest opinion the amalgam of Establishment Republican Leadership in New Hampshire, which includes the shadow party “leadership” that makes the phone calls behind the scenes, decides whose turn it is, puts pressure on people to do their bidding or get out, and claims to control the money, are about as effective politically as … Read more
Michigan AFP Tent Truthers?
You’ve heard by now, I hope, that the American’s for Prosperity (AFP) Tent in Lansing, Michigan (State Capital), was knocked down and overrun by angry Union protesters–while some activists remained trapped underneath? (You can find Grok Coverage on that and more here, here, here, and here.) AFP was there on the front lines to educate and … Read more
Has Jeanne Shaheen Had A Come To Jesus Moment on Taxes?
Eighteen Democrat US Senators have sent a letter to Harry Reid requesting that the Medical Device tax portion of Obama-Care be delayed. The letter does not say it directly, preferring to dance around the issue, but it is obvious that these 18 Democrats, New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen among them, believe the Medical Device tax … Read more
Ignoring Threats Invites Aggression and Raises the Death Toll
Without warning, Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor seventy-one years ago. Because of this sneak attack, President Roosevelt said that December 7, 1941 would be remembered as a “day of infamy”.
December 7th revealed our naivety and our lack of preparedness that unnecessarily caused many tens of thousands of American war deaths. Despite years of war in Europe and Asia, our country’s leaders refused to accept the fact that war was imminent and failed to counter the modern weapons, tactics, and skills that would be used to kill Americans.
Failing to face reality, the United States entered WWII surprised and unprepared, just like we entered WWI, Korea, and the war on terror. People died unnecessarily because we extended “peace dividends” too long.
Data Point – Why Work? Welfare pays better
Yep. As the chart clearly illustrates, total welfare spending in the U.S. (if converted into cash payments) equals approximately “$168 per day for every household in poverty,” higher than the $137 median income per-day.
From the senator’s office:
Update AFP -Michigan
Right to work Bills have passed both Houses of the Michigan State Legislature and the governor has already said he’d sign them into law.
Earlier today Tim Condon updated us with the video of union protesters knocking down the Americans for Prosperity tent in Lansing, trapping some activists under it. It’s sad but none of us were surprised by this. Nor are we surprised by this from a recent email blast by Tim Phillips, President of Americans For Prosperity…
Right now, the Left—union bosses, special interest groups, and even President Obama himself—is ramping up pressure for him to not sign these necessary workers’ rights reforms.
Tim Phillips continues…