The title of this blog is inspired by a Bjork song of the same name. I'm not a big fan, but my husband is and we went to two of her shows last week. On this tour, she ends every show with her song "Declare Independence", in which she shouts "Don't let them do that to you" and encourages her fans to "raise your own flag". It resonated with me in light of what is currently going on with our government.
We learned several weeks ago about the IRS targeting conservative groups. They can deny it all they want, but we know the truth. This is clearly a violation of our 1st Amendment rights to free speech. As if that wasn't bad enough, we recently learned that our 4th Amendment rights were being violated by our own government having full, unadulterated access to our cell phone records (luckily it was Verizon...I'm glad I use AT&T). This is HIGHLY disturbing. People may say "well, I have nothing to hide" and the truth is most of us have nothing to hide. If the government was to read my text messages, they would mainly find me chatting about nothing with my friends, what's for dinner with my husband, and they would be exposed to countless pictures and videos of my incredibly adorable dog. Just because we have nothing to hide, doesn't mean the government should have access to it. It is a very slippery slope from perusing phone records to the police showing up at your front door and demanding to look inside your home. It has to stop here or we will be living in a police state with no right to privacy.
Our country was founded on the basic principles of freedom from tyranny. If we let the government stomp all over our 1st and 4th amendment rights, what's next? Many pro-gun people have argued the same beliefs regarding the 2nd Amendment, and while I do believe in some gun control, I do agree with 2nd Amendment advocates in this regard. In the last two weeks, we heard a story of an elderly woman who defended her home from a burglar with her handgun. We also heard about a disturbed young man who killed several people in Santa Monica, CA. It's pretty clear...someone like him shouldn't have access to any kind of gun (handgun or AR-15), but someone like this elderly woman should have a gun. She's a law abiding citizen and she used a handgun to protect herself, her husband and her home. That is the kind of gun ownership and use I firmly believe in and support. I believe that limitations on guns like the AR-15 and background checks to prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands are necessary and do not violate the 2nd Amendment. Law abiding citizens absolutely have the right to own a gun for protection.
When I started this blog, I did it with the hopes of bringing our party a little closer to the center, so we can win the next election. Obama's actions of stomping all over three amendments are basically handing us the next election. If he keeps this up, we will surely win, but I hope that this doesn't cause us to remain a party of extremes. We are a party that stands up for the rights of all people and I really hope we move towards that path. 2016 is still three years away and a lot can happen between now and then. I will leave you with one of my favorite Thomas Jefferson quotes. "When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty."
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/UrbanRepublican
Follow me on Twitter @TheUrbanGOP
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Life or Death
Like many other trial watchers, I've been glued to HLN the last few weeks as the Jodi Arias trial was coming to an end. I was relieved and thrilled when the jury handed down a guilty verdict of murder in the first degree. Shortly after that, they found that extreme cruelty existed, making her eligible for the death penalty. The circumstances of the murder made that verdict a very easy one to reach. Then came the penalty phase...
After last minute, desperate motions and antics by Jodi's attorneys, the penalty phase went forward. Travis' sister and brother gave heart wrenching victim impact statements. Jodi, on the other hand, had no witnesses testify on her behalf (some say this is a strategy for her appeal), but she did give an allocation statement. While she talked about all the things she could do if she lived and accepted responsibility for her actions (in a roundabout way), she showed no remorse and it was all about her. Then the jury got the case and late in the day on Thursday, the shocking news that they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict was announced. The Alexander family was understandably devastated. Not only did they not get the death penalty (yet) for their brother's murderer, but in Arizona, it means the penalty phase must be tried again, so this horrible chapter in their lives is not over.
In most other jurisdictions, like California, if the jury is hung on the death penalty issue, the sentence defaults to life without possibility of parole. Unfortunately, this phase has to be tried again in Arizona unless the DA and the defendant agree to a plea for life (likely without parole). My heart goes out to the Alexander family as they have to suffer through this night mare for at least a few more months. This brings me to my own, personal opinions on the death penalty.
My whole life, I had been 100% in favor of the death penalty and always believed that if I was on a jury, I could easily sentence someone to death. I used to argue that id rather kill murderers than innocent babies (coupling the death penalty issue wi abortion). In 2004, while clerking at the Orange County DA's office, I had the opportunity to watch a death penalty case. Leslie Abramson represented the defendant. There was no question that the defendant was guilty, and the jury reached a quick verdict...guilty of murder in the first degree. Then came the penalty phase...
The victims' families gave heart wrenching victim impact statements. There was not a dry eye in the courtroom. Then, the defendant's mother and sister got on the stand. His mother was a tiny little Vietnamese woman. She cried and cried and begged for her son's life. There was not a dry eye in the courtroom. The jury hung and he received the default sentence of life without parole. As I watched the defendant's mother and sister on the stand and looked at the jury, I realized, at that very moment, that I don't know if I could sentence another human being to death. It's one thing to say it, but until you're in that room, feeling that emotion and faced with the realization that your decision would lead to the death of another human being, it's hard to know what you would do.
At first, I was very upset with the hold out members of the Jodi Arias jury. I thought they should have known they couldn't sentence someone to dealt, but the truth is...maybe they were like I once was. Maybe they thought they could until they got in that room, felt the emotion and were faced wight the realization that their collective decision would lead to the death of another human being. True, Jodi's allocution wasn't remorseful and her parents and siblings didn't get on the stand and beg for her life, but undoubtedly some jurors must have felt their pain and couldn't bring themselves to do it.
Don't get me wrong...the pain of the Alexander family is far greater and Travis never had an opportunity to plea for his life. I believe Jodi Arias is a monster and deserves to die for what she did, but I don't know if I could be the executioner. I try to imagine if the defendant was someone who tortured and killed innocent animals and children. I might have an easier time, but it doesn't change the fact that one's decision to sentence another person to death means, in a sense, that person becomes a killer. I don't ever want to be a killer, therefore I will never serve on a death penalty jury.
Whatever happens, I hope the madness of this case comes to an end soon, so the Alexander family can have some closure and find some kind of peace. I've never been in their position and hope I never am. The families of murder victims have the right to want the murderer dead and I will never question that. They're the ones dealing with a horrific loss. Whatever the outcome...life or death...it won't bring Travis or other victims back...and that is what is so sad about these circumstances. They still have to pick up the pieces and put their lives back together. Justice only helps with a part of that process.
While many people feel that getting life (instead of death) is getting off easy, I couldn't disagree more. Yes, prisoners get used to their lives, but imagine knowing that will be your life until the day you die, which will be 40-50 years from now. Imagine spending the last half century of your life missing out on the simple pleasures of life...no more days at the beach, no more dinners at your favorite restaurant, no more movies at state of the art theaters, no more sporting events, no more 50" flat screen televisions, no more iPads, no more pillow-top king size beds, no more 800 thread count sheets, no more vacations to Disneyworld, Hawaii or Europe, no more playing in the snow, no more swimming in a pool, no more showers everyday, no more privacy, no more safety, no more freedom. It's no picnic, but it is well deserved for people who kill.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Follow me on Twitter @TheUrbanGOP
Like me on facebook www.facebook/UrbanRepublican
After last minute, desperate motions and antics by Jodi's attorneys, the penalty phase went forward. Travis' sister and brother gave heart wrenching victim impact statements. Jodi, on the other hand, had no witnesses testify on her behalf (some say this is a strategy for her appeal), but she did give an allocation statement. While she talked about all the things she could do if she lived and accepted responsibility for her actions (in a roundabout way), she showed no remorse and it was all about her. Then the jury got the case and late in the day on Thursday, the shocking news that they couldn't reach a unanimous verdict was announced. The Alexander family was understandably devastated. Not only did they not get the death penalty (yet) for their brother's murderer, but in Arizona, it means the penalty phase must be tried again, so this horrible chapter in their lives is not over.
In most other jurisdictions, like California, if the jury is hung on the death penalty issue, the sentence defaults to life without possibility of parole. Unfortunately, this phase has to be tried again in Arizona unless the DA and the defendant agree to a plea for life (likely without parole). My heart goes out to the Alexander family as they have to suffer through this night mare for at least a few more months. This brings me to my own, personal opinions on the death penalty.
My whole life, I had been 100% in favor of the death penalty and always believed that if I was on a jury, I could easily sentence someone to death. I used to argue that id rather kill murderers than innocent babies (coupling the death penalty issue wi abortion). In 2004, while clerking at the Orange County DA's office, I had the opportunity to watch a death penalty case. Leslie Abramson represented the defendant. There was no question that the defendant was guilty, and the jury reached a quick verdict...guilty of murder in the first degree. Then came the penalty phase...
The victims' families gave heart wrenching victim impact statements. There was not a dry eye in the courtroom. Then, the defendant's mother and sister got on the stand. His mother was a tiny little Vietnamese woman. She cried and cried and begged for her son's life. There was not a dry eye in the courtroom. The jury hung and he received the default sentence of life without parole. As I watched the defendant's mother and sister on the stand and looked at the jury, I realized, at that very moment, that I don't know if I could sentence another human being to death. It's one thing to say it, but until you're in that room, feeling that emotion and faced with the realization that your decision would lead to the death of another human being, it's hard to know what you would do.
At first, I was very upset with the hold out members of the Jodi Arias jury. I thought they should have known they couldn't sentence someone to dealt, but the truth is...maybe they were like I once was. Maybe they thought they could until they got in that room, felt the emotion and were faced wight the realization that their collective decision would lead to the death of another human being. True, Jodi's allocution wasn't remorseful and her parents and siblings didn't get on the stand and beg for her life, but undoubtedly some jurors must have felt their pain and couldn't bring themselves to do it.
Don't get me wrong...the pain of the Alexander family is far greater and Travis never had an opportunity to plea for his life. I believe Jodi Arias is a monster and deserves to die for what she did, but I don't know if I could be the executioner. I try to imagine if the defendant was someone who tortured and killed innocent animals and children. I might have an easier time, but it doesn't change the fact that one's decision to sentence another person to death means, in a sense, that person becomes a killer. I don't ever want to be a killer, therefore I will never serve on a death penalty jury.
Whatever happens, I hope the madness of this case comes to an end soon, so the Alexander family can have some closure and find some kind of peace. I've never been in their position and hope I never am. The families of murder victims have the right to want the murderer dead and I will never question that. They're the ones dealing with a horrific loss. Whatever the outcome...life or death...it won't bring Travis or other victims back...and that is what is so sad about these circumstances. They still have to pick up the pieces and put their lives back together. Justice only helps with a part of that process.
While many people feel that getting life (instead of death) is getting off easy, I couldn't disagree more. Yes, prisoners get used to their lives, but imagine knowing that will be your life until the day you die, which will be 40-50 years from now. Imagine spending the last half century of your life missing out on the simple pleasures of life...no more days at the beach, no more dinners at your favorite restaurant, no more movies at state of the art theaters, no more sporting events, no more 50" flat screen televisions, no more iPads, no more pillow-top king size beds, no more 800 thread count sheets, no more vacations to Disneyworld, Hawaii or Europe, no more playing in the snow, no more swimming in a pool, no more showers everyday, no more privacy, no more safety, no more freedom. It's no picnic, but it is well deserved for people who kill.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Follow me on Twitter @TheUrbanGOP
Like me on facebook www.facebook/UrbanRepublican
Monday, April 29, 2013
Basketball and my Blog
I apologize in advance for doing two basketball related blogs in a row, but it is the NBA playoffs and Jason Collins did come out of the closet today, so 'tis the season.
First, I want to continue my discussion from the last post about how Mike D'Antoni destroyed the Lakers. I compared him to Obama destroying our country. I still contend both are probably nice guys with good intentions, but they're just not the right leaders for their respective teams. It occurred to me last night, when the Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Spurs, that the Lakers are kind of like the Republican Party.
They are a team with a rich history of championships, superstar players and unmatched greatness. The Republican party is very much like this. We are a party with a rich history of achievements (abolished slavery, ended the Cold War, prevented terrorism on U.S. soil after 9/11), superstar presidents (Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, etc.) and unmatched greatness (I still think we're pretty great). Like the Lakers, in recent years, we have lost our way. Those who hate our party (like those who hate the Lakers) are quick to jump up, point fingers, ridicule, mock, and dance on our graves.
Anyone who follows sports knows that truly great teams don't stay down for long. Anyone who follows politics knows that truly great political parties and candidates don't stay down for long either. I think, as a party, we've made some poor decisions...just as Laker ownership made a poor decision when turning away Phil Jackson and hiring Mike D'Antoni. That said, mistakes can be corrected.
I may sound like a broken record, but I can't stress enough how much we need to be more progressive on social issues like gay marriage. Today, a very brave NBA player, named Jason Collins came out as openly gay, while still an active player in the NBA. 10 years ago...hell, 5 years ago this never would have happened. This is a sign of how much things are changing. So many prominent Republicans have come out in support of gay marriage just as top NBA players came out in support of Jason Collins. If these macho athletes can do it, so can our party. The party platform on this issue has to change. Homosexuals may only make up a small part of the population, but their heterosexual supporters are increasing everyday.
Let's get on the right side of this issue.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Follow me on Twitter @TheUrbanGop
Like me on facebook www.facebook.com/UrbanRepublican
First, I want to continue my discussion from the last post about how Mike D'Antoni destroyed the Lakers. I compared him to Obama destroying our country. I still contend both are probably nice guys with good intentions, but they're just not the right leaders for their respective teams. It occurred to me last night, when the Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by the Spurs, that the Lakers are kind of like the Republican Party.
They are a team with a rich history of championships, superstar players and unmatched greatness. The Republican party is very much like this. We are a party with a rich history of achievements (abolished slavery, ended the Cold War, prevented terrorism on U.S. soil after 9/11), superstar presidents (Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, etc.) and unmatched greatness (I still think we're pretty great). Like the Lakers, in recent years, we have lost our way. Those who hate our party (like those who hate the Lakers) are quick to jump up, point fingers, ridicule, mock, and dance on our graves.
Anyone who follows sports knows that truly great teams don't stay down for long. Anyone who follows politics knows that truly great political parties and candidates don't stay down for long either. I think, as a party, we've made some poor decisions...just as Laker ownership made a poor decision when turning away Phil Jackson and hiring Mike D'Antoni. That said, mistakes can be corrected.
I may sound like a broken record, but I can't stress enough how much we need to be more progressive on social issues like gay marriage. Today, a very brave NBA player, named Jason Collins came out as openly gay, while still an active player in the NBA. 10 years ago...hell, 5 years ago this never would have happened. This is a sign of how much things are changing. So many prominent Republicans have come out in support of gay marriage just as top NBA players came out in support of Jason Collins. If these macho athletes can do it, so can our party. The party platform on this issue has to change. Homosexuals may only make up a small part of the population, but their heterosexual supporters are increasing everyday.
Let's get on the right side of this issue.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Follow me on Twitter @TheUrbanGop
Like me on facebook www.facebook.com/UrbanRepublican
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Poor Management Destroys Greatness
I haven't written or a few weeks...not for a lack of trying, but because inspiration hasn't struck me and I don't believe in writing just for the sake of writing. Last night, inspiration struck, though under the circumstances, I wish it hadn't.
Most of you have probably heard by now that Kobe Bryant was injured last night and it is believed that he tore his Achilles' tendon. This, unfortunately, is a season ending injury (hopefully not a career needing injury) for one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball.
If you follow basketball, then you know the Lakers have had a very difficult season and are struggling just to make the playoffs. This is not typical of this team and it is especially not typical for a team that has four potential Hall of Famers (Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol). It is downright shocking that they have struggled as much as they have and I can only blame one person...Mike D'Antoni. Without getting into the mechanics of basketball, he's been an awful coach, who seems to know absolutely nothing about defense. He has run this great team into the ground and he has run its greatest player into the ground, because he let Kobe play just about all 48 minutes of the last several games in a desperate attempt to make the playoffs.
If you're wondering where I'm going with this...here it is. Kobe Bryant and the Laker are the United States of America and its people. Mike D'Antoni is Obama. I know it's a stretch, but it's how I see it. Kobe struggled and sacrificed only to endure a devastating injury doing a basic move he's done thousands of times, because he was fatigued from being overworked. Hard working Americans struggle and sacrifice only to have our efforts stifled by a government that seeks to penalize (tax) success and greatness. D'Antoni is probably a good coach and a decent guy, but he just doesn't know how to coach this caliber of a team. Barack Obama is a smart guy and probably well-intentioned, but he just can't lead a nation of this caliber. The lakers had an opportunity to rehire Phil Jackson last Fall. They didn't. The American people had the opportunity to rehire the Republican Party last Fall. They didn't. I doubt the Lakers will ever make a mistake like this again and I hope the American people won't either.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanrepublican
Follow me on Twitter @The UrbanGOP
Most of you have probably heard by now that Kobe Bryant was injured last night and it is believed that he tore his Achilles' tendon. This, unfortunately, is a season ending injury (hopefully not a career needing injury) for one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball.
If you follow basketball, then you know the Lakers have had a very difficult season and are struggling just to make the playoffs. This is not typical of this team and it is especially not typical for a team that has four potential Hall of Famers (Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol). It is downright shocking that they have struggled as much as they have and I can only blame one person...Mike D'Antoni. Without getting into the mechanics of basketball, he's been an awful coach, who seems to know absolutely nothing about defense. He has run this great team into the ground and he has run its greatest player into the ground, because he let Kobe play just about all 48 minutes of the last several games in a desperate attempt to make the playoffs.
If you're wondering where I'm going with this...here it is. Kobe Bryant and the Laker are the United States of America and its people. Mike D'Antoni is Obama. I know it's a stretch, but it's how I see it. Kobe struggled and sacrificed only to endure a devastating injury doing a basic move he's done thousands of times, because he was fatigued from being overworked. Hard working Americans struggle and sacrifice only to have our efforts stifled by a government that seeks to penalize (tax) success and greatness. D'Antoni is probably a good coach and a decent guy, but he just doesn't know how to coach this caliber of a team. Barack Obama is a smart guy and probably well-intentioned, but he just can't lead a nation of this caliber. The lakers had an opportunity to rehire Phil Jackson last Fall. They didn't. The American people had the opportunity to rehire the Republican Party last Fall. They didn't. I doubt the Lakers will ever make a mistake like this again and I hope the American people won't either.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanrepublican
Follow me on Twitter @The UrbanGOP
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Does tearing down Obama build us up?
Last week, Michele Bachmann made some comments about President Obama's budget for his chef(s), projectionist, dog walker, etc. There is some debate as to the veracity of these statements, but even if they are 100% true, is this a good use of our time? Yes, some of these expenses may be lavish, but I'm sure past presidents (including Republicans) did the same. It's part of the perks of having the job as "leader of the free world", which comes with a salary nowhere near that of a CEO of a Fortune 500 company. $400,000.00 per year, plus travel and other expenses makes for a very comfortable lifestyle, but it is a far cry from the $10 million salaries CEOs earn. (As an aside, my own dog walker doesn't charge much, so I'm sure the cost is not that excessive).
The point is, yeah, it's not great that we as taxpayers are paying for this, but we have bigger fish to fry. We need to get our economy back on track and get a Republican in the White House in 2016. In order to win favor with the American people, we need to show them the good that our party can do. Constantly putting down Obama and other democrats may be fun, but does it really do anything to help us? I think it makes us look petty and like sore losers. If we're really going to change our party's image, we have to take a long hard look at ourselves and understand why we lost in 2012. All of this negative finger pointing does not offer the one thing the people really need...solutions.
I'm a fan of a particular basketball team who has a long time rivalry with another team. Once a year, the rival team comes to town and I wear my favorite t-shirt in my team's colors, which states that the opposing team sucks. I get a lot of pleasure from wearing this shirt and "in your facing" fans of the opponent. My husband hates that I wear this shirt. He says I should wear a shirt that promotes my team for them being great, not criticize the other team for...well...sucking. I think this is what our party has been doing. We've been wearing our "democrats suck" and "Obama sucks" t-shirts instead of wearing our "republicans rule" t-shirts. Continuing on this path is not going to lead us to a win in 2016. Let's start showing the American people what we can do right instead of focusing on what the democrats are doing wrong.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanrepublican
Follow me on Twitter @The UrbanGOP
The point is, yeah, it's not great that we as taxpayers are paying for this, but we have bigger fish to fry. We need to get our economy back on track and get a Republican in the White House in 2016. In order to win favor with the American people, we need to show them the good that our party can do. Constantly putting down Obama and other democrats may be fun, but does it really do anything to help us? I think it makes us look petty and like sore losers. If we're really going to change our party's image, we have to take a long hard look at ourselves and understand why we lost in 2012. All of this negative finger pointing does not offer the one thing the people really need...solutions.
I'm a fan of a particular basketball team who has a long time rivalry with another team. Once a year, the rival team comes to town and I wear my favorite t-shirt in my team's colors, which states that the opposing team sucks. I get a lot of pleasure from wearing this shirt and "in your facing" fans of the opponent. My husband hates that I wear this shirt. He says I should wear a shirt that promotes my team for them being great, not criticize the other team for...well...sucking. I think this is what our party has been doing. We've been wearing our "democrats suck" and "Obama sucks" t-shirts instead of wearing our "republicans rule" t-shirts. Continuing on this path is not going to lead us to a win in 2016. Let's start showing the American people what we can do right instead of focusing on what the democrats are doing wrong.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanrepublican
Follow me on Twitter @The UrbanGOP
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Inequality of Wealth....so what!
There's this godawful YouTube video floating around on the Internet right now, called "Inequality of Wealth in America". This is nothing new. We all know some are wealthier than others. Some are poorer than others. It's the luck of the draw. It's the way the cookie crumbles. That's life.
A friend of mine suggested I watch and blog about this video, because it provides no factual backup for the statements it makes. It has a lot of cute little graphics, with color bars moving up and down and even cute little stick figure people, but there are no facts. I looked at all of the websites listed as "references" at the end of the video, but they are all blogs and articles, not actual statistical sources, like the IRS, for example. Sure, as a blogger, I get it...I don't offer cites for my claims, but my blog is an opinion piece and I can provide cites if requested.
Even if there was a factual basis for the claims made in this video, there's one point the producer of this video fails to make. In America, you can start out as one of the poorest Americans and you can end up as one of the wealthiest. The opposite can happen, too, if you make poor decisions. Sure, there are the people born into wealth, who inherit a name, a company, or just money, but there are many people who start from nothing and end up with millions or even billions. Dr. Jerry Buss, the late owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, is an example of this. He came from humble beginnings, got his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Souther California and then turned a $1,000.00 investment in an apartment building into a multi-million dollar empire. He bought the Lakers in 1979 for $20 Million and now they are worth $1 Billion. This is just one example of many of people who created something from nothing.
Another point this video fails to acknowledge is how much of our nation's tax revenue is paid by the wealthiest 1% to 10%. Most people don't realize that the top 10% pay 71% of the taxes in our nation. The top 50% pay 98% of the taxes in our nation, which means the bottom 50% pays 2% of the taxes. In fact, according to IRS Data for 2010, of the 1.35 million taxpayers that make up the top 1%, they earned 18.9% of the gross national income, but paid 37.4% of all federal income taxes paid in 2010. The bottom 95% earned 66.2% of the gross national income and paid 40.9% of all taxes paid in 2010.
So when everyone cries about tax cuts for the wealthy, they need to understand that the wealthy pay the most in taxes, therefore they need the most tax cuts. Some people say "well they should pay more, they have so much". Well, they have so much, because they worked hard for it, or they inherited it from someone who worked hard for it, or they managed it well, or they were just plain lucky. The wealthy even get taxed when they die and money is passed to their heirs. The producer even refers to dreaded socialism as "dreaded" and says "We all know that won't work. We have to encourage people to work and work hard to achieve that good old American dream." Do I detect a bit of sarcasm in his voice? Sounds to me like he thinks socialism is a pretty good idea.
Now, I'm not standing here as a middle class woman defending the wealthy. No, I often envy the ladies who lunch, the "Real Housewives", so to speak, who can workout, pamper themselves, lunch and shop all day, while I stress out going to court and negotiating divorce and custody settlements. There are days I wish that their life was my life, but hey...my life is my life and it's not a bad one. Yeah, I have to get up in the morning, drive to work and deal with angry people all day, but that's the luck of the draw, that's the way the cookie crumbles....that's life.
Over 4 million people watched this video. Perhaps, if that many people spent their time working or trying to do something innovative, they'd be part of the top 10% and not part of the bottom 50%. Success is there for those who want it and are willing to work for it. I wonder how much the producer of this video has made from it. I wonder what percentile he falls in now.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbanrepublican
Follow me on Twitter @The UrbanGOP
A friend of mine suggested I watch and blog about this video, because it provides no factual backup for the statements it makes. It has a lot of cute little graphics, with color bars moving up and down and even cute little stick figure people, but there are no facts. I looked at all of the websites listed as "references" at the end of the video, but they are all blogs and articles, not actual statistical sources, like the IRS, for example. Sure, as a blogger, I get it...I don't offer cites for my claims, but my blog is an opinion piece and I can provide cites if requested.
Even if there was a factual basis for the claims made in this video, there's one point the producer of this video fails to make. In America, you can start out as one of the poorest Americans and you can end up as one of the wealthiest. The opposite can happen, too, if you make poor decisions. Sure, there are the people born into wealth, who inherit a name, a company, or just money, but there are many people who start from nothing and end up with millions or even billions. Dr. Jerry Buss, the late owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, is an example of this. He came from humble beginnings, got his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Souther California and then turned a $1,000.00 investment in an apartment building into a multi-million dollar empire. He bought the Lakers in 1979 for $20 Million and now they are worth $1 Billion. This is just one example of many of people who created something from nothing.
Another point this video fails to acknowledge is how much of our nation's tax revenue is paid by the wealthiest 1% to 10%. Most people don't realize that the top 10% pay 71% of the taxes in our nation. The top 50% pay 98% of the taxes in our nation, which means the bottom 50% pays 2% of the taxes. In fact, according to IRS Data for 2010, of the 1.35 million taxpayers that make up the top 1%, they earned 18.9% of the gross national income, but paid 37.4% of all federal income taxes paid in 2010. The bottom 95% earned 66.2% of the gross national income and paid 40.9% of all taxes paid in 2010.
So when everyone cries about tax cuts for the wealthy, they need to understand that the wealthy pay the most in taxes, therefore they need the most tax cuts. Some people say "well they should pay more, they have so much". Well, they have so much, because they worked hard for it, or they inherited it from someone who worked hard for it, or they managed it well, or they were just plain lucky. The wealthy even get taxed when they die and money is passed to their heirs. The producer even refers to dreaded socialism as "dreaded" and says "We all know that won't work. We have to encourage people to work and work hard to achieve that good old American dream." Do I detect a bit of sarcasm in his voice? Sounds to me like he thinks socialism is a pretty good idea.
Now, I'm not standing here as a middle class woman defending the wealthy. No, I often envy the ladies who lunch, the "Real Housewives", so to speak, who can workout, pamper themselves, lunch and shop all day, while I stress out going to court and negotiating divorce and custody settlements. There are days I wish that their life was my life, but hey...my life is my life and it's not a bad one. Yeah, I have to get up in the morning, drive to work and deal with angry people all day, but that's the luck of the draw, that's the way the cookie crumbles....that's life.
Over 4 million people watched this video. Perhaps, if that many people spent their time working or trying to do something innovative, they'd be part of the top 10% and not part of the bottom 50%. Success is there for those who want it and are willing to work for it. I wonder how much the producer of this video has made from it. I wonder what percentile he falls in now.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
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Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Sandy, CPAC and Suicide
My inspiration for this blog was an interview I saw with Congressman Peter King of New York on The Situation Room on Friday, March 1st. Congressman King said a lot of things in this interview that I've been saying as I decided to start this blog.
First, he called out Senator Marco Rubio for voting against the Sandy Relief act that recently passed in the House and Senate. What's even more offensive is that Senator Rubio had the nerve to travel to New York recently for his own fundraising events, but he voted against aid to New York. He not only singled out Senator Rubio, but he pointed out how most Republicans in the House and Senate voted against the bill. What is so shocking about this is that many of the senators and representatives that voted against the bill are from states who have needed relief from the federal government for disaster relief in recent history. Here is the breakdown:
The Senate
First, he called out Senator Marco Rubio for voting against the Sandy Relief act that recently passed in the House and Senate. What's even more offensive is that Senator Rubio had the nerve to travel to New York recently for his own fundraising events, but he voted against aid to New York. He not only singled out Senator Rubio, but he pointed out how most Republicans in the House and Senate voted against the bill. What is so shocking about this is that many of the senators and representatives that voted against the bill are from states who have needed relief from the federal government for disaster relief in recent history. Here is the breakdown:
The Senate
- 52 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, 0 voted against it, 1 did not vote.
- 9 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, 36 voted against it, 4 did not vote.
- 1 Independent voted in favor of the bill, 1 did not vote.
The House
- 192 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, 1 voted against it, 7 did not vote.
- 49 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, 179 voted against it.
Of the 36 Republican senators who voted against the bill, many have come from states who have had devastating hurricanes and needed federal aid in recent years. Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, is one of them and we know how often Florida gets hit with hurricanes. Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott of South Carolina voted against it, yet South Carolina has also needed federal aid for hurricane relief in recent years. Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts of Kansas voted against it. Didn't Kansas recently need federal aid after being leveled by tornadoes?
On a positive note, Senator David Vitter of Louisiana voted in favor of the bill. I guess he doesn't suffer from short term memory loss and knows what it means to have his constituents in need of the basic necessities of life.
As for the House, the numbers are staggering. All of the Republican representatives from Kansas, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee and many of the Republican representatives from California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania voted against the bill. It's interesting that coastal and gulf states and states in Tornado Alley would vote against such relief. As a resident of Los Angeles, I sure hope New York and New Jersey don't retaliate when California needs aid when the big one hits...because anyone who lives in earthquake territory knows, it's not a matter of "if", it's a matter of "when" the big earthquake hits.
Personally, I am highly offended by the Republican congress' overwhelming abandonment of New York and New Jersey. I grew up in Staten Island, NY, one of the hardest hit areas. My parents now live near the Jersey Shore, another area devastated by Sandy. My loved ones are all okay, but I have friends who lost their homes in Staten Island. The people of these affected areas are honest, hard-working, blue-collar people. They pay into the system and they deserve their government to be there for them when something tragic like this happens. These are not people that take from the government on a regular basis. These are people who support themselves and their families.
Why did the House and Senate Republicans feel it was okay to ignore the needs of Northeasterners when they jump to aid those in the South and Midwest. Is there a divide between the rural and urban areas? Is that divide so strong that spite overpowers moral conduct? Does our party take the northeast for granted as Congressman King suggested in his interview? Have we become a party of north vs. south, coastal states vs. inland states, big city vs. small town?
Another topic covered in Congressman King's interview was CPAC's failure to invite Chris Christie to the CPAC convention, because he asked for aid for his state. He called CPAC's snub of Governor Christie "a suicidal death wish." He pointed out that Christie is a successful, conservative, pro-life Republican governor who has balanced the budget and has a 74% approval rating in a blue state. He stated that if the Republican party doesn't think he's conservative enough, then the party is doomed to lose again in 2016. I couldn't agree more. This is why I started this blog. It was nice to hear a member of Congress agrees and is standing up to the extreme right that has hijacked our party.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
As for the House, the numbers are staggering. All of the Republican representatives from Kansas, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee and many of the Republican representatives from California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania voted against the bill. It's interesting that coastal and gulf states and states in Tornado Alley would vote against such relief. As a resident of Los Angeles, I sure hope New York and New Jersey don't retaliate when California needs aid when the big one hits...because anyone who lives in earthquake territory knows, it's not a matter of "if", it's a matter of "when" the big earthquake hits.
Personally, I am highly offended by the Republican congress' overwhelming abandonment of New York and New Jersey. I grew up in Staten Island, NY, one of the hardest hit areas. My parents now live near the Jersey Shore, another area devastated by Sandy. My loved ones are all okay, but I have friends who lost their homes in Staten Island. The people of these affected areas are honest, hard-working, blue-collar people. They pay into the system and they deserve their government to be there for them when something tragic like this happens. These are not people that take from the government on a regular basis. These are people who support themselves and their families.
Why did the House and Senate Republicans feel it was okay to ignore the needs of Northeasterners when they jump to aid those in the South and Midwest. Is there a divide between the rural and urban areas? Is that divide so strong that spite overpowers moral conduct? Does our party take the northeast for granted as Congressman King suggested in his interview? Have we become a party of north vs. south, coastal states vs. inland states, big city vs. small town?
Another topic covered in Congressman King's interview was CPAC's failure to invite Chris Christie to the CPAC convention, because he asked for aid for his state. He called CPAC's snub of Governor Christie "a suicidal death wish." He pointed out that Christie is a successful, conservative, pro-life Republican governor who has balanced the budget and has a 74% approval rating in a blue state. He stated that if the Republican party doesn't think he's conservative enough, then the party is doomed to lose again in 2016. I couldn't agree more. This is why I started this blog. It was nice to hear a member of Congress agrees and is standing up to the extreme right that has hijacked our party.
Thanks for listening,
The Urban Republican
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