112th U.S. Congress – Missouri Delegation Report Card

Even though Heritage can sometimes be questionably conservative, here is what they are:

Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

They recently released their unapologetic scorecard for the 112th Congress.  Below is the report card for Missouri’s U.S. Congressional Representatives.

When I went to High School in Steeleville, IL, an “A” was 94-100, a “B” was 87-93, a “C” was 77-86, and a “D” was 70-76.  For Missouri’s Congressional Delegation, no one got an “A” OR “B”, and Akin barely gets a “B” under the grading scale I faced at SEMO.edu.

• Senator Roy Blunt – FLUNKED
• Representative Sam Graves – FLUNKED
• Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer – FLUNKED
• Representative Jo Ann Emerson – FLUNKED

.

(Click here for details on the study)

Now, I’m sure they all have explanations about how they voted on all the measures for which they were rated negatively.  It might be a good time to publish that reasoning for the voters to decide… …that is… if they want the votes of an informed electorate.

Obama: A Danger To America

When in conflict, one who purposely reduces the amount of resources necessary to resolve the conflict is a danger to your position in the conflict.

If you’re stranded on an Irish island and growing potatoes to survive, someone who wouldn’t let you dig up the potatoes would be a danger to your survival… …especially if the reason was ‘eating potatoes’ gives off ribosomes that might harm the Earth 500 innovation-filled years from now.

That person is a danger to your survival.

And, that is exactly what President Barack Hussein Obama is to America.  Over the 3 years of his administration, as Terrorist Islam has spread like locusts over the Middle East, the President continues to increase our dependency on the same Middle East to provide us oil.

Every step of the way, Obama and is radical environmentalists have fought to enslave the American citizen to the whims of Eurasian despots, dictators, and Islamic fundamentalists in their opposition to developing American Energy sources like Oil, Natural Gas, Coal and Nuclear.

Liberals and Democrats, are you really telling me that you’re going to continue to support the man that takes away your shovels when you need to dig up potatoes to survive?!?!

It’s time to call him what he is — A Danger to America.

From the Gulf Of Mexico to the Virginia Coast to the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge to the Keystone Pipeline, the Obama Administration and its radicals have prevented America from becoming energy self-sufficient.  Billions of hours of labor and trillions of American Dollars are being handed over to the likes of Ahmadinejad, the Saudis (home of Wahhabism and 15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists), and the Muslim Brotherhood (who can’t wait for Iran to Nuke-Up and drop their wares on Israel)… …all in the name of protecting the environment.  Where on Earth is a more responsible place than America to develop Oil, Natural Gas, Coal and Nuclear?!?!  Where?!

So, when Iran closes the Straits of Hormuz, America goes to war, gasoline and oil inventories plummet, gasoline prices spike, GDP drops, and you lose your job… …be sure to thank Barack Obama and his radical environmentalists.  Also, be sure to thank all the people (Democrat, Independent, and Republican) who ignored their own values and mores to vote for a radical environmentalist abortionist Marxist… …because he is black.

Ask yourself, on energy, has he made America more safe?

Consent Of The Governed Rally – Jefferson City – 1/4/12

Rally Day: Wednesday, January 4, 2012 — Jefferson City, MO — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Join Us at the Consent of the Governed Rally Please mark your calender and pass the word on! Does it really matter if you stay home? YES! It matters because there is no way for our elected officals to know the citizens are watching unless they see us at the Capitol! You know that old saying: “out of sight; out of mind.” Are the citizens of Missouri still awake? Are they watching? This rally is organized to help people like YOU be seen and heard. A large turnout shows that it’s not just a few “squeaky wheels” in Missouri whining about government spending. YOU can be part of real change in Missouri. Will YOU be heard this year? Jefferson City on January 4  Opening Day of the Missouri Legislative Session 10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Come Early The program will include a review of key issues of concern to conservatives and a variety of guest speakers.  Attendees will be given a packet of information and encouraged to meet and get to know their representative and senator while they are at the Capitol. We will rally on January 4 to celebrate the Missouri Constitution and send a message of encouragement to our lawmakers.  Each Senator and Representative will be given an 11 x 14-inch framed and matted document that has the Preamble to the Missouri Constitution and the first four sections of Article 1. (Read framed language.) Will you help support the cost of providing one of these beautifully framed and matted document to our legislators by making a small donation to help us cover the cost? You can do this by going to www.mocc.spruz.com. For liberty, Sponsors of the Consent of the Governed Rally … Thank you to our financial sponsors: Missouri Campaign for Liberty Concerned Women for America of Missouri Warren County Patriots Mid-Missouri Patriots Coyne Agency Inc. Callaway Patriot Tea Party Todd Isaac Skelton (Ike) If you would like to donate, go here. Please forward this information to your list and invite other groups to participate.  We want to help start the new session with a strong message of unity and support for the cause of liberty. Speakers Dave Roland Rep. Ed Emery David Linton Ed Martin January 4, 2012 1st. Floor Rotunda, Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO Itinerary: 9:30 – 10:30:  Come Early for Assistance locating your Rep. & Senator 10:30 – 11:30:  Speakers 11:30 – ?:  Presentation of Documents Visit with your senator and rep in their office.  Organization Sponsors Franklin County Patriots Missouri Campaign for Liberty Missouri First Concerned Women for America Mexico Patriot Tea Party Sullivan 9/12 Missouri Precinct Project Crawford County Campaign for Liberty Cooper County Patriots Branson Tea Party Coalition Eureka Tea Party Mid-MO Patriots St. Louis Tea Party Coalition Lebanon Tea Party Sikeston Tea Party I Heard the People Say Capital TEA Party God and Country Show Me Patriots National Eagle Forum Cape County Tea Party Macon County Patriots

If your group would like to co-sponsor this rally, please email ruthlcarlson@gmail.com for more information.

The Growing Frustration

Below is an excerpt from an e-mail sent to me by a CCTP Steering Committee Member:

Isn’t there some way we could impeach the President for using executive orders to supercede the Congress?

What can we do about George Soros influencing the United Nations when he is not one of our representatives?

There are so many things happening it is hard to keep your attention on what direction we are being attacked:  Education, Firearms, Freedoms of Speech and the Right to Bear Arms

People are disgusted with our choice of Conservative Candidates – we can’t afford for people not to vote and give the election away.

Here is some of my reply:

I agree his outright usurpation of the other branches of the Federal government is impeachable. Add in his willful negligence in enforcing the laws made under the constitution and the grounds for impeachment grow. Unfortunately, I believe the House has little desire to Impeach him knowing that they’ll never get a 2/3 majority conviction in the Senate. They impeached Clinton, but didn’t get the majority in the Senate, so it never resulted in his removal from office.

As far as Soros is concerned, I hope he rots in hell, but I’ll stand by his constitutional right to petition the governments/UN to get what he wants. If they take that right away from him, they can take it away from us. That’s the libertarian in me speaking.

You’re right that there is too much for one person or group to fight; that’s why I’m fighting to grow the CCTP so we can organize groups to work on various topics and take the fight where it needs to be. We need manpower to fight on all these fronts.

And, I should have added:

It’s equally terrifying that the Establishment GOP wants Romney as the nominee.  They guy who couldn’t beat the guy who couldn’t beat Obama is what the GOP wants to ram down our throats.  Great!

Growing and activating the Conservative / Libertarian groups (Cape County Tea Party, St. Louis Tea Party, Americans For Prosperity, Concerned Women of America, etc.) is the only way to win this war on our freedom and liberty — the freedom and liberty of our children!  The OTHER SIDE is MEETING and WORKING EVERY DAY to find new ways to take away your freedoms while enslaving pretending to help the less fortunate.

We need MANPOWER to win this war; we need it now!

The Reason For The Season

The Gospel According to Luke: Chapter 1

Introduction

¹ Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, ² just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. ³ With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ⁷But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. ²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

²³ When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ²⁴ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[b] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

⁴⁶And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

⁵⁷ When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, ⁶⁰ but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

⁶¹ They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

⁶² Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. ⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” ⁶⁴ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. ⁶⁵ All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. ⁶⁶ Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

⁶⁷His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸ “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
⁶⁹ He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
⁷⁰ (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
⁷¹ salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
⁷² to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
⁷³ the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
⁷⁴ to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

⁷⁶ And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
⁷⁷ to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
⁷⁹ to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

⁸⁰ And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

The Gospel According to Luke: Chapter 2

The Birth of Jesus

¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

The Gospel of Our Lord

Teaching Math

Received Via E-mail:

I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried…..Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1960’s….follow the progressive thinking in each decade below.

1. Teaching Math In 1960s (when I was in school)

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit ?

 

2. Teaching Math In 1970s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

 

3. Teaching Math In 1980s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit ? Yes or No

 

4. Teaching Math In 1990s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

 

5. Teaching Math In 2000s

A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers, and if you feel like crying, it’s ok).

 

6. Teaching Math In 2010

Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?

 

ANSWER: His profit was $375,000 because his logging business is just a front for his pot farm.

 

 

A Discussion of the Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act – Part 3

I appreciate Mr. Epps’ fervent defense of eliminating the sales tax on food. He is not altogether off-base but John McMillen has it right. It’s very much like a whack a mole game, you address one issue and they simply choose another to attack.

Mr. Epps is correct that the food sales tax is an emotional issue. He is incorrect that farmers will oppose it because of the food sales tax. We know through extensive polling, surveys and focus groups that with the production of agricultural goods being tax exempt with no sales tax applied until the sale at final consumption that the agricultural community as a whole does not oppose the proposal.

One counter argument to the emotional appeal of the opponents regarding the food sales tax is that it is highly likely the Catholic Conference and the bishops may in fact come out in support of this measure. This would go a long way to offset the emotional argument.

The proposal to place a sales tax on internet sales is actually already in place, it just can’t be implemented. There is nothing in the measure that would prohibit anything that is not exempted from being taxed. In fact, everything not exempted will be taxed. The problem with internet sales is that states cannot require a vendor who does not have a physical location in the state to collect and remit state and local sales taxes. It’s an interstate commerce issue that the federal government must resolve. Once they do, this measure is able to handle the outcome.

As I told Mr. Epps, the food sales tax is not the predominate issue being used against the proposal. The predominate issue is that the opponents are saying that it will cause a shortfall of $2.5 – $3.5 billion to the state. That is why the proponents and opponents have both brought legal action against the fiscal note summary of the initiative petition. Once that is resolved and we have every reason to believe it will be resolved in favor of no shortfall, the opponents will reach for other issues. The food sales tax may well be one of them but that simply illustrates the point that if not food sales taxes it WILL be some other excuse.

It is inaccurate to suggest that the proposal as exists is not in-tune with the best interest of the people of the state of Missouri. Mr. Epps has failed to show that to be the case. He has demonstrated his opinion that the food sales tax is a problem to the measure’s passage via an emotional argument. He has not demonstrated and cannot demonstrate that the measure is not in the best interest of the people of the state because it is. Income taxes are the worst form of taxation you can assess.

I found the new to me twist on history that our patriot predecessors rejected a tax on food to be interesting, knowing that the Boston Tea Party was the culmination of many grievances and the tax on it and the way it was accomplished represented the last straw. If there are specific writings from our patriot predecessors that they did in fact specifically oppose tax on food I would be interested in reading them. Is there a body of work similar to the Federalists papers that show that to be the case?

I am always glad to engage in discussion on the measure. At this point, the measure is already in place and approved for circulation. The court decision will clear the final barrier to full petition gathering. Until then, I believe the sponsors of the initiative, Let Voters Decide, will cautiously collect signatures as they have in the 7th CD. As I stated last evening they do so at risk since any change including the want they would want to be the outcome will result in the disqualification of any signatures gathered to that point.

Best regards,

Carl Bearden

Executive Director United for Missouri

(314) 560-4597

http://www.UnitedforMissouri.org

http://www.twitter.com/United4MO

A Discussion of the Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act – Part 2

By John McMillen:

David, thank you for your opinion.  We all have our own opinion of how we would like things to be, and an opinion on what would best sell to this special interest group or that special interest group, etc.  That is why we now have a 72,536 page federal income tax code and a state income tax code that mimics the federal. Both are onerous burdens to the working man and the small business entrepreneur.

I won’t try and debate you on an academic scholarly level, as I can see you’re well school in that area.  And, I am not as well qualified as Carl of course to defend the features of the “Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act.”  But, as a common layperson who has followed this effort from the very beginning. I can assure you there is no magic formula in coming up with an “income tax replacement” measure that can’t be demonized to death by opponents who want to exploit emotions, and play fast and loose with the facts.

The current measure has exempted dozens of categories as is pointed out in the handout I gave you last night.  (Since there are many who were copied on this email that weren’t present last night, I’ve attached a copy)  Here

But even though they’ve been exempted, the opposition still lies and says they are taxed when they are not.  The opposition won’t even talk about a specific measure; they just refer to some vague “tax everything” tax in recent articles in area newspapers and radio spots which have been enlisted to perpetrate that lie. The opposition are the ones who are really scared. They are scared of the facts, so they get emotional.

In the beginning there was a proposal to rebate back all taxes spent on food and all sales tax spent on the basic necessities, but that didn’t keep the opposition from ignoring that fact and lying to scare people by telling them basic necessities are going to go up, and it will “hurt the poor.”

A straight sales tax is regressive by nature. But the people working to replace the income tax with a sales tax have been very conscious of that fact and have crafted numerous mechanisms to alleviate that negative impact on the poor.  The opposition has always twisted the facts to caricature us as rich and greedy offspring of Simon Legree or Ebenezer Scrooge, even though there are thousands of working class families like mine across the state of Missouri and millions across this nation who want this more than the ‘so-called rich”, and would be benefited more by it than the “so-called rich.”

If the opposition truly wanted to tax the wealth of the rich, they would be behind this measure 110%.  The reason a Warren Buffet can spout off about his secretary being taxed at a higher “INCOME tax rate than he is, is because he doesn’t report his mega millions and billions as ‘income.”  The working class have no choice in the matter under the current income tax system.  The income tax does nothing to tax wealth.  It taxes the symbiotic driving forces of a free economy, wages and profits.

Facts have got to control our emotions or we will all become emotional cripples totally dependent on the state, which is what the opposition’s strategy truly is.

Here are some facts http://www.ilfb2.org/fff06/51.pdf  in the 1930’s Americans were spending over 20% of their income on food.  In 2004 Americans were spending about 10% of their income on food.  I’m sure it is much the same today.  All the other basic necessities under the “Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act” are not taxed such as shelter, medical, education, childcare, nursing homes, etc… all the things they say we’re taxing but actually aren’t.

An $800 per week wage earner today gives up about 3% of gross pay in Missouri state income tax after working through the standard deductions and arriving at taxable income on a typical Missouri tax return.  Now that’s 3% of his gross. In the case of an $800.00 per wk income earner in this case is about $42,000.00 per year.  ($42,000.00 X .03 = $1,260.00.)

This is about the same annual amount as the “social security tax relief cut” for working families being fought over in D.C. right now and being hyped as a “HUGE FACTOR IMPACTING OUR ECONOMY” by the same camp who oppose replacing the income tax, with a sales tax…for some reason they don’t see this same amount of money as having that same amount of impact, or as a the same significant increase in spendable income for working families.   Hmmmm.

The increase in sales tax on Food under the “Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act” would be about 3% more than present when local sales tax rates are adjusted under the act: 10% of $42,000.00 = $4,200.00.  $42,000.00 X .03 = $126.00

Now which would I rather have… your emotional $126.00? or my logical, factual $1,260.00?  I can get highly emotional about that $1,100 difference!

I think I can get a lot more emotional over losing$1,260.00 than $126.00 if given a choice.

Even if you spend more than 10% of your gross income on food, there’s a wide buffer there before one can scream he has been ‘hurt’ by the “Missouri Tax Relief Act” sales tax.

And, don’t forget the poor who purchase food with food stamps, ARE NOT TAXED.  So the people who are not taxed now won’t be taxed then either; a key fact to keep in mind.

Tennessee has a 5.5% tax on food, and there is no cross boarder shopping as Carl pointed out last night.  Tennessee is the best model this measure could adopt.

Missouri is 48th in the nation for economic growth.  We must change to a system that stimulates a dynamic positive response in our economy.  The “Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act” does just that.

The ‘scare talk’ about taxes on food is just that, a scare tactic.  We can’t avoid the opposition using scare tactics by dropping the sales tax on food and increasing the rate over all, or finding another category to tax.  Scare tactics is all the opposition has.  They will just target something else, lie about it, twist it out of context, blow it out of proportion, and scream to the media and the media will come running like a bunch hogs to a slop a trough like always.  They’re political bedfellows, that’s their shtick, that’s the alliance they have formed, and we can’t change that tactic be giving in to it. We have truth and logic on our side. And eventually truth and logic will win out over time.

If we really want to come together as a the good hearted sincere honest citizens that I know most of us are, we are going to have to quit being manipulated by their lies, slander, and deception regardless of how pervasive it is.  We have got to all step back out of the looking glass and not accept these distorted perceptions created to make right, wrong; and wrong, right…backwards, forward and forwards, backward. We can’t save our state and our nation playing tit for tat in a game of emotional symbolism.  We must look our opponents squarely in the eye, honestly, and come to agreement on solutions based on fact and logic, and what actually works.  That’s the way this country was founded, that’s the only way we will survive as the America we inherited.

John McMillen

 

A Discussion of the Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act – Part 1

By David Epps:

I attended the Tuesday December 20th, Cape County Tea Party monthly meeting!
John McMillen – Fair Tax / Carl Bearden – Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act were the guest speakers.

John McMillen illustrated how the faith in God is being replaced by a faith in statism. Is not The Tea Party an attempt to replace statism with a belief in individual freedom and empowerment of self? The whole fair tax debate should be about restoring control of the government purse strings to the individual at the check out line. The joining of the two efforts is a natural coalition.

I was very disheartened by the inclusion of food being subject to a sales tax increase! I am really getting tired of running with the Turkeys when they could soar like Eagles! Appeals to prejudice win more arguments than logic! Carl Bearden appealed to the logic and on that score the Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act will win the debate. That’s Eagle Soaring! But it will lose the argument because the Act will cause food prices to go up and there is not an equally emotional counter argument. That’s Turkey running.

When the topic of food tax increase came up, Carl Bearden used rational debate points; food stamps are excluded, the Act needs the additional revenue stream from the tax on food. And of course the increase in sales tax is offset by no income tax. I suspect, however, on a deeper level that Bearden does not want to use emotional arguments because in his mind that would not be according to Hoyle. The opposition does not play according to Hoyle and will use the emotional argument and Carl Bearden and the ACT have nothing on that score. You can’t win a debate or an argument if you have nothing.

To win against community organizers you have got to appeal to the emotion. Accept it, do not turn the other cheek, that is the way today’s game is played.

According to Hoyle:
A Logical Fallacy is a false argument that appeals to emotion or prejudice rather than to logic, facts of the issue, or reason. These fallacious arguments sometimes can win arguments quickly. But most importantly an emotional argument based on truth will always win.

The false argument is that food prices go up. Well no they don’t because the income tax offsets the increase. But because food prices are emotional subject all other factors are ignored.Unfortunately, the decisions arrived at through such false arguments are sometimes poor ones. Not all appeals to emotion are false arguments, however The real world abounds with both examples.Ethanol wins because the arguments that it eliminates pollution is stronger than corn is a food.

• The Ohio’s Issue 2 Anti-Union Law was defeated because policemen and firemen were included!
• The House republicans are losing their 1 year tax reduction argument which they passed.
• Herman Cain withdrew based on accusations of womanizing even though the evidence was hearsay!
• Farmers will balk if food prices go up because they take all the blame regardless of the reason.
• Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act will go down in defeat because it increases the cost of food.

Each of the arguments could have been turned around if you follow simple rules:

1. Never concede the emotional argument.
2. Always supply an emotional argument in favor of the proposition.

• Ethanol eliminates pollution, the EPA says so!
• As long as policemen and firemen come to our rescue let them get whatever they need.
• The House bill included JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! Boehner should have pressed that point home.
• Cain should have fessed up to associations and leaked even more to the press.
• Farmers will love anything that is perceived as reduction in food prices!

The people will vote for anything that reduces their living expenses.To counter Carl Bearden debate point, It is irrelevant if a proposition cannot work incertain of its details. The Senate just passed a 2 month tax reduction even though the government says that it is impossible to implement. The Senate Republicans sabotaged their House brethren effort by voting for the Senate 2 month extension, that can’t be implemented.Now are John McMillen and Carl Bearden in it to win, or not? When they propose an increase of taxes on the basic necessities of life, food, housing, and energy, I think not.

I propose that since they are going to all the trouble to change the Missouri tax system. Supply an emotional argument in favor and let it soar like an Eagle. The necessities were never subject to a tax after we dumped the tea in the harbor. The American people have always supplied their own food, shelter, and energy. We neither want the government to provide those for us nor do we want the government to take those from US.

Eliminate all state sales taxes on food, rentals, and energy, the necessities of life! After all, an appeal to emotion against the tax on tea,  morphed into a cry for revolution and the founding of a new country!

Women, by the way, will decide the fate of the Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act!
Why? Because Women know, The way to a mans heart is through his stomach!

David Epps
Cape Girardeau, MO

PS.

1. Add Missouri state sales tax on internet sales to make up the revenue lost by elimination of sales tax on food. This will create an even playing field for Missouri’s merchants.
2. Also, to counter the Realtors objection to the Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act just point out that they too made money, and lots of it, through out the lead up and during the housing market collapse. They were present when the property sale closed to get their commission check and knew exactly what mortgages were being signed and by whom and they said nothing!

REFERENCES:

• John McMillen is a Fair Tax Nation Community Coordinator http://www.fairtaxnation.com/group/missourifairtax
• Carl Bearden is the Executive director of United for Missouri http://www.unitedformissouri.org/about

The Tea Party Failed in 2010

From an e-mail written by Jim Durbin and posted by one of the founders of the St. Louis Tea Party… …The Tea Party Failed in 2010:

The Tea Party experienced failure in 2010.

The Republican party did alright.  They saw enormous gains, wiping away Democrats  in Republican leaning districts, reaching deeply into state legislatures and governorships, and adding new blood like Kelly Ayotte, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Ron Johnson, and Mike Lee, without having to deal with Senators named Miller, O’Donnell, and McMahon.

The Republicans got to claim the Tea Party mantle, without having to deal with real challenges to the Establishment authority.  Most important, they learned not to be afraid of us.

We were convenient shock troops against ACORN and SEIU and the unions, all of which had terrorized Republican politicians over the years.  With the rise of the Tea Party, the blue bloods had their rabble to throw into the media grapeshot.

Continue reading here.