Sunday, 28 June 2009
The High Cost of Cap and Trade
From the Heritage Foundation
The EPA Is Wrong
- False Assumptions: Proponents of cap and trade point to the low cost estimates by the EPA and CBO as a reason to pass Waxman-Markey. The EPA underestimates that the bill would cost households an additional $140 a year.
- Based on Consumption: The EPA's numbers are based on consumption changes, which are typically less than income changes, as families respond to income losses by saving less.
- Uses Discounting: Discounting is a reasonable approach for comparing costs and benefits that occur at widely different times. However, costs of climate change rarely use a discounted rate this high. Without discounting, the impact per household is $1,288 in 2050. Adjusting household size to reflect a family of four raises this cost to over $1,900.
- Assumes Rebates: The EPA assumes all the allowance proceeds will be rebated directly to consumers. This clearly isn't the case, since most of the allowances have been promised to industry.
- No New Taxes?The loss that the EPA calculates doesn't include the cost of the energy tax to consumers, since the EPA assumes that all of the money is rebated. The cost of the energy tax is actually $4,600 per family of four in 2035.
The CBO Is Wrong
- False Assumptions: CBO underestimates that the bill would cost households $175 in 2020. They assume that the carbon tax isn't a tax if the government spends the money. When have Americans ever seen all of a tax returned to them? It's like suggesting your tax rebate will be as large as the amount taken from your paycheck every year.
- Numbers Don't Add Up: The CBO's allowance cost numbers don't add up. They say the allowance price will be $28. Since there are 5.056 billion tons of CO2 equivalent in the cap that year, that implies a $141 billion gross cost. They list $91.4 billion.
- Hard to Believe: In the CBO's June 5 analysis, they projected allowance revenues of $119.7 billion, $129.7 billion, $136 billion, $145.6 billion and $152.9 billion for the years 2015-2019. It's hard to believe that the next number in that series would be $91.4 billion.
- Ignores Economic Damage: The CBO doesn't include the decrease in GDP as a result of the bill. The GDP hit in 2020 would be $161 billion (in 2009 dollars) according to our analysis. For a family of four, that is $1,870 that they ignore.
Cap and Trade Is Wrong
- It's a Massive Energy Tax
- It Will Not Make a Substantive Impact on the Environment
- It Will Kill Jobs
- It Will Cause Electricity Bills and Gas Prices to Sharply Increase
- It Will Outsource Manufacturing Jobs and Hurt Free Trade
- It Will Make You Choose among Energy, Groceries, Clothing and Haircuts
- It Will Be Highly Susceptible to Fraud and Corruption
- It Will Hurt Senior Citizens, the Poor, and the Unemployed the Worst
- It Will Cost American Families Nearly $3,000 a Year
- President Obama Admitted "Electricity Rates Would Necessarily Skyrocket" Under His Cap-and-Trade Program (January 2008)
Friday, 26 June 2009
From Precint CR-10
One of the functions of Precinct Facebook Groups is communication
Gina Cooper From
Precinct CR-10 has some observations on the state of affairs today
What is in a name? What do people think when they hear "republican?" To some, it's enemy number one. To others, it's their parents' party. They stick with it and vote for it, but only because they were raised with it.
Then there are some (and I believe this number is growing rapidly) who are disgusted with the name.
It used to stand for solid conservatism. It was the party for people who believed in smaller government interference, people's rights, the Constitution, and The Bill of Rights.
Now we have RINOs and moderates and spineless politicians who don't even know what conservatism is! Our party is in shambles. There is a solid conservative base out there, but they have all but ceased to speak or be involved. It seems hopeless or not worth the effort any longer. Corruption is rampant (okay, so when has it not?), even to the lowest levels of the party.
This name, republican, used to stand for something good. It stood for people who stood together
. For people who knew each other and cared for each other. It stood for a group of people who believed that government should start with the people!
Men and women who were involved, who knew the issues and felt strongly about them.
We have lost our connection with each other. And worse than that, we've lost our passion.
In this modern world, we don't connect with each other on a personal level anymore. We text, email, chat, post, and of course call....We don't know our neighbors the way our parents did. Neighborhoods aren't close-knit families any more. Maybe that's a generalization, but in many cases, it's the truth.
Do you know your neighbors?
I don't.
So, the challenge. We need to take up our name and make it great once more.
Make it a name that people want to be associated with. How do we do that?
We need to connect with our neighbors.
Connect with our co-workers, our communities.
With all this technology has come a loss of personal, face-to-face relationships. Technology is not a bad thing. It has also given us the means to connect with more people than ever before possible. Whether it's your neighbor down the street, or your neighbor across the nation, we need to re-connect with them.
This party should be a haven for people who have become disenchanted, disillusioned, downright disgusted with what's going on in the country today.
Our platform should be solid, not wishy-washy
. We aren't going to attract people by trying to please every one.
This name needs to stand for solid values and beliefs! People will come when they see that we are not reeds blowing in the wind of politics. People will come when they see that we are deeply rooted in what we believe and are willing to stand up and vote for it!
So, what are you going to do about this name?
Are you going to walk away from it?
Are you done with it?
The party as it stands now is pathetic.
Do we have what it takes to fix it?
Or will we continue to watch silently while our party rushes down the drain?
It's up to you. And me. And our neighbors. Do you know your neighbors?
Anyone feeling like giving Gina an Answer?
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Junction Jabber
Well the Precinct Junction Post has only been up a short time and the number of Precincts that have formed Facebook Groups has DOUBLED!
From one to two, Dontcha just Love statistics? - 
Seriously there are about 6 more I expect to be online shortly.
We have also been getting great feedback and suggestions for content.
A photo of the polling place? Dynamite idea and would be a great icon for the Groups.
A map of the Precinct. Also a good idea, and maybe also maps of the legislative districts the Precincts are within,
For those who happen on a Group by accident, maybe a Link to the County Auditor's Find out what Precinct you are in tool.
I shall try to incorporate these into the Precinct 38 Group site and keep the feedback rolling.
Handy Tools are Find Your Polling Place Which will also give you the name and acronym of your Precinct
Precinct Maps that address also has the Iowa House District Maps. While the State Legislature website also has the District Maps, I think these will be handier as the map also includes a list of the local Precincts in the District.
Precinct Junction will have a table of all the Precinct Facebook Groups
THAT should come in handy for local candidates. If the Precinct Initiative is successful, the Precinct Facebook Groups will enable then to contact individuals in the voting area in which they wish to campaign.
Traditional campaigning includes speeches before citizen groups, literature drops, door knocking and those are time worn and worthwhile endeavors.
But you cannot avoid placing yourself in the manner of a sales person, or lecturer.
Compare that with an afternoon spent with people who think like you do, not giving a speech just enjoying the weather and conversation.,
Brandon Marsh is running for the 38th Iowa House district.
Picture if you will a nice Iowa weekend afternoon,
Folks are sitting around enjoying the weather and the company of those they have gotten to know or are getting to know.
The conversation is spirited but not rancorous.
Someone looks over and says, "Brandon-- what do you think about---?"
With a cold beverage in one hand and a tasty braut in the other, he replies
"I have given that a lot of thought and --"
And so it goes until the afternoon draws to a close.
The ladies are puttering with the dishes and one hears, "Such a NICE young man,"
The OFs like me are stretched back and one takes a thoughtful draw on a cigar, looks at his fellows and declaims, "The boy has his two feet firmly on the ground he will go far. Guys we all need to do a few more of these events in our own blocks and give our neighbors a chance to get to know him."
You can't buy connections like those. There are politicians who would sacrifice their firstborn to be able to do so.
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
What Cost?
Interested in how much the Administration's new brain storm is going to cost your State and YOU?
and
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, urged on by President Barack Obama, announced progress on Tuesday toward quick passage of legislation to fight global warming by reducing industrial emissions of carbon dioxide. At a midday White House press conference, Obama said the "historic" climate change bill moving through the House would "transform the way we produce and use energy in America."
With incentives to encourage utilities, manufacturers and other companies to switch from higher-polluting oil and coal to cleaner energy alternatives, Obama said the legislation would spark a "transformation that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and confront the carbon pollution that threatens our planet."
I bet we have to do it NOW. Like we will get to see the text one night and it will need to be passed before the following evening, otherwise the public might wake up and realise how much they are being lied to, AGAIN.
Friday, 19 June 2009
Precinct Junction
There has been some talk about a Precinct Initiative.
An enterprise I full heartedly endorse. There will be many plans and information forthcoming,'
Here are some of my ideas and what I hope will be useful tools.
Those who have been following my posts, may recall sometime back I posted a table with links to maps of the County Precincts.
Later I used the same format to post the Form As for all the Precinct Caucuses from last year.
Here I present that same format to be built into a table of Facebook Groups where residents of Precincts may communicate and inform each other.
I have started such a group for I ecourage you to form such a group for your precinct, send me the link and I will post it in the table.
So once we have such a group how do we find real live people to join?
I have some suggestions. A journey of ten thousand miles starts with a single step.
Do you know anyone in your precinct who is a Republican, or Conservative?
How about inviting them over for a backyard cookout?
I ask you, which would you be most likely to repsond positively to:
We are trying to organise Party Members in the Precinct in order to be more effective in Volunteer, Election and Fund Raising initiatives
OR
We are inviting a few families who have the same values and desires as we do by for a backyard cookout and we would like your family to join in?
I think FIRST we get to know each other.
That is a sound foundation for a politically healthy Precinct.
There will be other ideas and I am certainly not trying to tell anyone NOT to do anything,
But how about trying this? I think it will work. Why?
Because it would be FUN.
You spend a nice afternoon, with some good food and fellowship with folks that think like you, and you will ENJOY yourselves.
It will make you FEEL GOOD
If there is anything I have picked up over the years it is this:
You give someone something that makes them Feel Good?
They are going to want to do it again.
Precincts Marked Green Have Facebook Groups
Marion Precincts Linn County Precincts |
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Let Freedom Ring
Can YOU identify?
Say AMEN.
We keep hoping they will change, but sometimes things seems hauntingly familiar.
In June's Linn County GOP Central Committee Meeting, a Precinct Initiative was discussed.
I STRONGLY support Precincts being organized. But one phrase kept popping up.
To Elect Republicans.
Now of course I ALSO want to help Elect Republicans,
But my interest in Precinct development has a different primary focus.
This system of political organization that has served Iowa so well for generations, has broken down.
IT needs no change but WE certainly need to change.
In the Past the Precinct Caucus was your neighbors, you KNEW your neighbors, Your families knew each other, possibly for generations.
When the Caucus met, it was an assembly of citizens who knew each other and chose from their numbers people they respected to represent them on the next level of political organization.
Today when we go to a Caucus few know anyone else in the room, They have no basis with which to gage anyone who wants a political position,'
So how to we fix this gapping wound in the Body Electorate?
We arrange for Republicans in a Precinct to meet and become acquainted.
Backyard cookouts.
Picnics in the Park
Neighborhood coffee meetings
Using the new Social Networking systems such as Face book.
Creating a PRESENCE in our neighborhoods.
Form a sense of Community and Connection.
THOSE are the reasons I find the topic of a Precinct Initiative energizing.
Not simply to Elect Republicans in the next Election cycle and then let them go to sleep until awakened for the following cycle
But to BUILD a PARTY.
Give Power to the People on the basic levels of Politics.
Because they are in fact the Foundation of Democracy.
The Party is not the officers at the County, State and National Levels.
Not our Elected Officials.
It is WE who are the Party.
They exist to serve and fulfill OUR wishes.
It is said
If He Knows and Knows that He Knows
He is Wise Follow Him
If He Knows Not and Knows Not that He Knows Not
He is a Fool Shun Him
If He Knows Not and Knows that He Knows Not
He is a Child Teach Him
But if He Knows and Knows Not the He Knows?
He is Asleep Waken Him.
Friends.
We have been asleep.
And In our Slumber?
Things have not gone well.
It is time in the words of Yamamoto Isoroku
For the Sleeping Giant to Awaken
and perhaps be filled with a Terrible Resolve.>
We must take back our Government.
The Battle lines are drawn and the War is not to be fought or won
in distant Capitals but on the sidewalks of our Blocks and Streets.
Gather together, Talk to your Neighbors,
All the other desires, Election Republicans, Gathering Volunteers
Collecting Donations?
They will FOLLOW as Healthy byproducts of a Political Base that rests on a Sound Foundation rather than the Shifting Sands of we must do anything, we must ignore violations of our basic Core Beliefs just to amass numbers.
For if we continue to follow those sorts of Paths?
Instead of Elected Officials to whom we can look with Pride?
We may get, and deserve rather than healthy sound leaders the
ghostly image of a
Specter
| |
| |
| Click here to play Senator Specter's welcome message |
So I say to you
Aux Barricades mes Amis
To the Barricades my Friends
For your Homes
For your Families
For the Souls of Your Party and Nation
Fiat justitia, ruat coelum
Let Justice Be Done,
Though The Heavens May Fall
My Friends this struggle is not for the faint of heart,
There are always those who value, Tranquility over Disruption,
even if the disruption leads to a better, Freer Life
They are with us now, as they were at the Birth of this Republic.
Those who do not wish to enter into a Stuggle for Democracy
To Them one of Our Founding Fathers said.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
How Things Are Done
Politics IS the Art of Compromise.
But not all things with the same label are Equal.
There is compromise on issues to find a common ground.
Then there are things that should be carved in Stone.
Lines that cannot be bent, because they become broken.
Constitutional Mandates and the Rules of Law are among
the latter.
Once a Compromise is made in those areas, the next compromise
becomes easier.
Until finally there are no Boundaries, no Rules, because that is
The Way Things are Done.
Tonight we have a Meeting of the Linn County Central Committee.
I will sally forth with my 4 Aces.
If for some reasons of your own, you disagree with the points I have raised in previous posts?
Then you have the obvious Duty, to attend and support those ideals you find important.
It will be here.
| | LCRCC June Business Meeting |
Dear Daniel,
We invite you to attend our next regular business meeting on Tuesday, June 16 starting at 7:00 p.m. Jeff Boeyink, Executive Director for the Republican Party of Iowa, will be our guest. A copy of the agenda and treasurer's report will be posted here. Registration will start at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Cedar Rapids Marriot1200 Collins Road NE Phone: 319-393-6600
Sample the many tasteful options and enjoy your favorite beverage in the newly renovated Cedar Grille.
|
| The Night of the Rising Stars
| You're invited to the blockbuster GOP event of the summer!
Thursday, June 25, Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines
Chairman Matt Strawn and the Republican Party of Iowa present "The Night of the Rising Stars" with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and
the Rising Stars of the Iowa Republican Party. Two of the Rising Stars are our own Linn County Representatives Renee Schulte and Nick Wagner.
Sponsor one of our Rising Stars for $1,000 and receive 10 general admission tickets to the event.
Individual tickets are available for a $100 donation.
RPI would like every Republican to have the chance to meet our Rising Stars, so they are offering discounted $50 tickets to people 35 and younger.
To reserve your spot at the Night of the Rising Stars, click here! |
| If you have any questions please contact Dawn Brown via email or phone (319-533-2289). Sincerely, Dawn Brown
Secretary, Linn County Republican Central Committee
Paid for and authorized by the Linn County Republican Party
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee
|
|
|
|
|
Fiat justitia,
ruat coelum
Friday, 12 June 2009
The Elephant in the Room
Of the cuff, one might think Republicans would approve of Elephants and for the most part you would be correct,
Magnificent beasts emanating strength, grandeur and dignity, A fitting symbol for our Party
But no one would want an elephant in the living room parked on their sofa.
The Elephant in the room is an English idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed. It is based on the idea that an elephant in a room would be impossible to overlook; thus, people in the room who pretend the elephant is not there might be concerning themselves with relatively small and even irrelevant matters, compared to the looming big one.
We in Linn County have an Elephant in our room, not our living rooms but in the rooms we hold our monthly Central Committee Meetings.
There is a basic disconnect between the Present Executive Committee and the Central Committee at large.
It is derived from some in my opinion, flawed assumptions.
The New Executive Board came into office with a large amount of enthusiasm and plans for what they were going to do.
It turns out they did not disclose some of those plans to us, until after the fact,
Anyone who was at one of the previous meetings where vigorous debate ensued whether to change the meeting day from the first Tuesday of each month to the third Tuesday, or not, might understand the reasoning./
They might not have wanted to bother the Central Committee's little heads with such a weighty decisions,
They probably did not want the Fuss, so they made the decision for us.
Their attempt may have been taken in "Good Faith" bit I am sorry that is NOT the way the Linn County Republican Central Committee is supposed to work.
Not if you want it to function in accordance with legal founding documentation.
the Constitution of the Linn County Central Committee and the By-Laws of the Linn County Central Committee.
The above links are to PDF files, if you do not have a PDF viewer a simple Freeware PDF viewer can be obtained HERE
So how did we arrive at this crossroads?
My journey began this February when the first objections were raised about who was or was not a voting member.
I was confused and in that reaction it seems I was not unique.
I have since investigated the situation to the best of my ability and the reactions in large seem to have been.
Don't make a Fuss, we want to Elect Republicans, how does that help???
My answer has been, But we are NOT in Compliance with the Election Codes, the Constitutions of the State and County Party and the County By-Laws,
Why not FIX this mess.
Now as possibly a result of this attitude that seems to say, if we Act in Good Faith and we have everyones Best Interests at Heart, just leave things alone and we can deal with it later.
We have an Executive Board that does not think it needs a Central Committee,
Rather like a Head that does not like the direction the Body is taking so it wants to be Cut off so it can go it's own way.
Let me make one point Crystal Clear it is the EXECUTIVE Board that Constitutionally works under the direction of the Central Committee and not the reverse.,
The last few months that detail has had all the attention of an Elephant in the Room, which everyone pretends is not there and refuses to talk about.
And REALLY it is the GOP which is supposed to stand for individual citizens making their own decisions NOT just marching to the orders of some Centralized Control;
Isn't it?
The Republican Party is in the mess it has landed itself in , partly because we started acting like Democrats, We do NOT need a Newer more modern way to act like Democrats.
So it was not without careful thought and even more careful consideration of the principles involved that I have composed a motion to address this situation, the Text will be in a second post to follow this one immediatly
Folks we need to Fix this
Problems like Elephants in the Room do not go away just because we don't want to see them.
The pile just gets Higher
Like A Christian Holding Four Aces
There are those who disagree with many of my positions.
They certainly have that right and I should always be ready to listen to the Reasons for their opposition.
But when it comes to matters of Procedure, Rules of Order and Law, I wish to see their Evidence and Proof, instead of their Feelings.
In the May Linn County Central Committee Meeting, when asked How the Executive Board could close down the Permanent Linn County GOP Central Committee Office without consulting or gaining the approval of the Central Committee,
The answer seems to have been. I am the Chair I can do that if I wish to.
Smacks of Obama's answer to queries concerning the lack of Bi-partisan activity,
But in this case the statement was not made to just a disaffected minority that lost an election,
but to the Entire Body of the Central Committee.
Assertions are NOT Proof or Evidence of Legal Authority.
Pertinent Sections from the Legal Founding Documents of an Organization ARE.
Which I will now present to the Body.
Taking Note of: Article IV of the
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
LINN COUNTY
Which States:
The general management of the affairs of the party in Linn County is vested in the Linn
County Central Committee, subject to direction from time to time by the County convention of
the party.
And taking Note Of:
Article VIII
Which States:
The Executive Committee shall transact the routine business
of the Linn County Central Committee during the interim of the meetings of the Linn County
Central Committee. Any business transacted or action taken shall be reported to the Linn
County Central Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Executive
Committee is subject to the orders of the Linn County Central Committee, and none of its acts
shall conflict with actions of the Linn County Central Committee
And Taking Note that:
Longstanding Agreements and Contractual Obligations of the Linn County Central Committee have been voided by the Executive Board. Such actions being on the order of General and Not Routine Business and in Conflict with Actions Enabled by a Vote of the Central Committee as a Body.
Being:
Dissolving our Agreement with the Longbranch Hotel and Convention Center as a Monthly Meeting Place
and
The Closure and Termination of the Lease for the Linn County Central Committee Permanent Office which was Established by a Vote of the Linn County Central Committee.
I Move:
That it is the Consensus of this Body
That the Executive Board has Exceeded it's Constitutional Authority and Encroached on those matters which are within the purveyance of the Linn County Central Committee
and that the Body as a Whole
Requests:
IN THE STRONGEST TERMS
That henceforth
The Executive Board shall restrict itself to
Routine business of the Linn County Central Committee
During the interim of the meetings of the Linn County Central Committee
and REFRAIN
From making decisions and or taking actions in
The general management of the affairs of the party in Linn County
As is Mandated by the
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
LINN COUNTY
To conclude and respond to those who may be in disagreement with the above, show us your Legal Authority for those actions.
As for myself I sit here in the words of W, C Fields
with
"The Calm Confidence of a Christian holding Four Aces"
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Some Assembly Required
There are few things that can send a chill down the back of a man,
A man who is a father and husband, that is,
As the sight of this dreaded phrase.
Some Assembly Required
In the Cartography of the Family Landscape
It is the indication of Tera Incognito
Quite similar to the areas on Ancient Maps inscribed with
"Here be Monsters"
It is the signal that you face a gauntlet, which if not traversed successfully will result in the wrathful glares of wives and mothers, the teary eyes of toddlers and
The knowledge that Daddy has RUINED Christmas or a Birthday, whichever the case may be.
But be of Good Cheer Fathers and Husbands, for there IS Hope.
There is a simple Binary, Two Step Program of Recovery, which will enable you to sail through those troubled waters and emerge on the other side victorious and the Family Hero, instead of the Family Villain
They are
1) READ the Directions!
and what is more Important
2) FOLLOW the Directions!
These two Rules will carry you in good stead all the Days of your Life and in any Trials you may encounter.
The correct assembly of a County Central Committee has some characteristics in common with the ordeal of putting together the annual Christmas or Birthday gifts.
We started off with Central Committee 2007 it was to some extent complex, but not unduly.
It had a 4 part Executive Board much like the current model and a Central Committee Body composed of various and sundry Sub-Committees, a single Meeting Location and County Party Office.
Now Central Committee 209 Build A was much streamlined,
It had the same 4 part Executive Board, but an attempt was made to run that as a Stand Alone system. The single Meeting Location was replaced by a menu of options and the County Party Office was eliminated for the sake of steam lining.
There were some problem that arose. The isolated Central Committee Body and the Standalone Executive Board developed a VERY severe feedback problem resembling the situation that arises when a microphone is placed too close to a speaker.
A very high pitched angry sounding squeal arose and the functionality seemed to be lacking.
That to do?
I suggest the same thing the Wise Husband and Father decides when he realizes that Tab A will NOT fit into Slot A because Tab B seems to be already inserted.
That is take the device apart spread out the constituents and READ the Directions!
In the case of assembling County Central Committees, the directions we need to concern ourselves with are :
Newer | Latest | Older
If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude
