The Time to do Something is Now!

The federal government borrowed 46 cents of every dollar it has spent so far in fiscal year 2013, which began Oct. 1, according to the latest data the Congressional Budget Office released Friday. It's apparent neither the president nor congress have the courage nor will to do what MUST be done to save the country from its own pending financial disaster, and since they cannot agree on the kind of cuts in spending and increases in revenue that need to happen to stop the insanity of the reckless spending, I say just let the "fiscal cliff" happen. It will for a time slow the economy for sure, but far less than waking up one day and not having the credit to borrow the money to pay it obligations, much like most of Europe is now facing. Ask nearly anyone on the street and it seems like most Americans know we can't borrow money forever, but sadly the only ones that seem to understand that are the ones that aren't in charge of this countries purse strings. The government is poised to post another $1 trillion deficit in fiscal year 2013, which would mark the fifth straight year. Before that, the record was $438 billion, which came in 2008, President George W. Bush’s last full year in office. With the National Debt increasing every second of every day maybe it's time to rip the proverbial "band aid" off and do something about it now.

It's All About the Money, Not the Planet

President Obama may consider introducing a tax on carbon emissions to help cut the U.S. budget deficit after winning a second term as president, according to HSBC Holdings Plc. A tax starting at $20 a metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent and rising at about 6 percent a year could raise $154 billion by 2021, Nick Robins, an analyst at the bank in London, said today in an e-mailed research note, citing Congressional Research Service estimates. “Applied to the Congressional Budget Office’s 2012 baseline, this would halve the fiscal deficit by 2022,” Robins said.

Make no mistake Obama will pass this off carbon taxes as necessary to save the planet from global warming when, in fact, he openly admits it is about generating revenue.  Beyond the generating of revenue to offset our own budget deficit, world wide, carbon taxes are also on the UN's radar as a way to spread the wealth of wealthy nations to the less fortunate. Of course in the end the real winners in the carbon tax debate will be the banks, as usual. The biggest problem with the whole "man made" global warming theory is that the science used to explain it was/is flawed and has been misrepresented for years. The FACTS about global are clear, and the science against it being "man made" are real...

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING

MYTH 1:  Global temperatures are rising at a rapid, unprecedented rate.

FACT:  The HadCRUT3 surface temperature index shows warming to 1878, cooling to 1911, warming to 1941, cooling to 1964, warming to 1998 and cooling through 2011. The warming rate from 1964 to 1998 was the same as the previous warming from 1911 to 1941. Satellites, weather balloons and ground stations all show cooling since 2001. The mild warming of 0.6 to 0.8 C over the 20th century is well within the natural variations recorded in the last millennium. The ground station network suffers from an uneven distribution across the globe; the stations are preferentially located in growing urban and industrial areas ("heat islands"), which show substantially higher readings than adjacent rural areas ("land use effects"). Two science teams have shown that correcting the surface temperature record for the effects of urban development would reduce the warming trend over land from 1980 by half.

There has been no catastrophic warming recorded.

MYTH 2:  The "hockey stick" graph proves that the earth has experienced a steady, very gradual temperature decrease for 1000 years, then recently began a sudden increase.

FACT:  Significant changes in climate have continually occurred throughout geologic time. For instance, the Medieval Warm Period, from around 1000 to1200 AD (when the Vikings farmed on Greenland) was followed by a period known as the Little Ice Age. Since the end of the 17^th Century the "average global temperature" has been rising at the low steady rate mentioned above; although from 1940 – 1970 temperatures actually dropped, leading to a Global Cooling scare.

The "hockey stick", a poster boy of both the UN's IPCC and Canada's Environment Department, ignores historical recorded climatic swings, and has now also been proven to be flawed and statistically unreliable as well. It is a computer construct and a faulty one at that. 

 

MYTH 3:  Human produced carbon dioxide has increased over the last 100 years, adding to the Greenhouse effect, thus causing most of the earth's warming of the last 100 years.

FACT:  Carbon dioxide levels have indeed changed for various reasons, human and otherwise, just as they have throughout geologic time. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, the CO₂ content of the atmosphere has increased. The RATE of growth during this period has also increased from about 0.2% per year to the present rate of about 0.4% per year ,which growth rate has now been constant for the past 25 years. However, there is no proof that CO₂ is the main driver of global warming. As measured in ice cores dated over many thousands of years, CO₂ levels move up and down AFTER the temperature has done so, and thus are the RESULT OF, NOT THE CAUSE of warming. Geological field work in recent sediments confirms this causal relationship. There is solid evidence that, as temperatures move up and down naturally and cyclically through solar radiation, orbital and galactic influences, the warming surface layers of the earth's oceans expel more CO₂ as a result. 

 

MYTH 4:  CO2 is the most common greenhouse gas.

FACT:  Greenhouse gases form about 3% of the atmosphere by volume. They consist of varying amounts, (about 97%) of water vapor and clouds, with the remainder being gases like CO₂, CH₄, Ozone and N₂O, of which carbon dioxide is the largest amount. Hence, CO₂ constitutes about 0.039% of the atmosphere. While the minor gases are more effective as "greenhouse agents" than water vapor and clouds, the latter are overwhelming the effect by their sheer volume and – in the end – are thought to be responsible for 75% of the "Greenhouse effect". (See here) At current concentrations, a 3% change of water vapor in the atmosphere would have the same effect as a 100% change in CO2.

 

Those attributing climate change to CO₂ rarely mention these important facts.

MYTH 5:  Computer models verify that CO2 increases will cause significant global warming.

FACT:  The computer models assume that CO2 is the primary climate driver, and that the Sun has an insignificant effect on climate. You cannot use the output of a model to verify or prove its initial assumption - that is circular reasoning and is illogical. Computer models can be made to roughly match the 20th century temperature rise by adjusting many input parameters and using strong positive feedbacks. They do not "prove" anything. Also, computer models predicting global warming are incapable of properly including the effects of the sun, cosmic rays and the clouds. The sun is a major cause of temperature variation on the earth surface as its received radiation changes all the time, This happens largely in cyclical fashion. The number and the lengths in time of sunspots can be correlated very closely with average temperatures on earth, e.g. the Little Ice Age and the Medieval Warm Period. Varying intensity of solar heat radiation affects the surface temperature of the oceans and the currents. Warmer ocean water expels gases, some of which are CO2. Solar radiation interferes with the cosmic ray flux, thus influencing the amount ionized nuclei which control cloud cover.

 

 

MYTH 6:  The UN proved that man–made CO2 causes global warming.

 

FACT:  In a 1996 report by the UN on global warming, two statements were deleted from the final draft approved and accepted by a panel of scientists. Here they are:
1)     “None of the studies cited above has shown clear evidence that we can attribute the observed climate changes to increases in greenhouse gases.”
2)     “No study to date has positively attributed all or part of the climate change to man–made causes”

To the present day there is still no scientific proof that man-made CO2 causes significant global warming. 

 

MYTH 7:  CO2 is a pollutant.

FACT:  This is absolutely not true. Nitrogen forms 80% of our atmosphere. We could not live in 100% nitrogen either. Carbon dioxide is no more a pollutant than nitrogen is.  CO2 is essential to life on earth. It is necessary for plant growth since increased CO2 intake as a result of increased atmospheric concentration causes many trees and other plants to grow more vigorously. Unfortunately, the Canadian Government has included  CO2 with a number of truly toxic and noxious substances listed by the Environmental Protection Act, only as their means to politically control it.

 

MYTH 8: Global warming will cause more storms and other weather extremes.

FACT:   There is no scientific or statistical evidence whatsoever that supports such claims on a global scale.  Regional variations may occur. Growing insurance and infrastructure repair costs, particularly in coastal areas, are sometimes claimed to be the result of increasing frequency and severity of storms, whereas in reality they are a function of increasing population density, escalating development value, and ever more media reporting.

 

MYTH 9:  Receding glaciers and the calving of ice shelves are proof of global warming.

FACT:  Glaciers have been  receding and growing cyclically for hundreds of years. Recent glacier melting is a consequence of coming out of the very cool period of the Little Ice Age. Ice shelves have been breaking off for centuries. Scientists know of at least 33 periods of glaciers growing and then retreating. It’s normal. Besides, glacier's health is dependent as much on precipitation as on temperature.

 MYTH 10:  The earth’s poles are warming; polar ice caps are breaking up and melting and the sea level rising.

FACT:  The earth is variable. The western Arctic may be getting somewhat warmer, due to cyclic events in the Pacific Ocean, but the Eastern Arctic and Greenland are getting colder. The small Palmer Peninsula of Antarctica is getting warmer, while the main Antarctic continent is actually cooling. Ice thicknesses are increasing both on Greenland and in Antarctica. 

Bend Over This Won't Hurt a Bit

As we begin  a new year, and enter into the new era of socialized medicine, lets take a look just at how it is going to be funded, well at least at first....

 

1. Individual Mandate Excise Tax(Jan 2014): Starting in 2014, anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance must pay an income surtax according to the higher of the following

	1 Adult	2 Adults	3+ Adults
2014	1% AGI/$95	1% AGI/$190	1% AGI/$285
2015	2% AGI/$325	2% AGI/$650	2% AGI/$975
2016 +	2.5% AGI/$695	2.5% AGI/$1390	2.5% AGI/$2085

Exemptions for religious objectors, undocumented immigrants, prisoners, those earning less than the poverty line, members of Indian tribes, and hardship cases (determined by HHS)

2. Employer Mandate Tax(Jan 2014):  If an employer does not offer health coverage, and at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit, the employer must pay an additional non-deductible tax of $2000 for all full-time employees.  This provision applies to all employers with 50 or more employees. If any employee actually receives coverage through the exchange, the penalty on the employer for that employee rises to $3000. If the employer requires a waiting period to enroll in coverage of 30-60 days, there is a $400 tax per employee ($600 if the period is 60 days or longer).

Combined score of individual and employer mandate tax penalty: $65 billion/10 years

3. Surtax on Investment Income ($123 billion/Jan. 2013):  This increase involves the creation of a new, 3.8 percent surtax on investment income earned in households making at least $250,000 ($200,000 single).  This would result in the following top tax rates on investment income

	Capital Gains	Dividends	Other*
2010-2012	15%	15%	35%
2013+ (current law)	23.8%	43.4%	43.4%
2013+ (Obama budget)	23.8%	23.8%	43.4%

 

*Other unearned income includes (for surtax purposes) gross income from interest, annuities, royalties, net rents, and passive income in partnerships and Subchapter-S corporations.  It does not include municipal bond interest or life insurance proceeds, since those do not add to gross income.  It does not include active trade or business income, fair market value sales of ownership in pass-through entities, or distributions from retirement plans.  The 3.8% surtax does not apply to non-resident aliens.

 

4. Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans($32 bil/Jan 2018): Starting in 2018, new 40 percent excise tax on “Cadillac” health insurance plans ($10,200 single/$27,500 family). For early retirees and high-risk professions exists a higher threshold ($11,500 single/$29,450 family).  CPI +1 percentage point indexed.

5. Hike in Medicare Payroll Tax($86.8 bil/Jan 2013)

6. Medicine Cabinet Tax($5 bil/Jan 2011): Americans no longer able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin)

7. HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike($1.4 bil/Jan 2011): Increases additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.

8. Flexible Spending Account Cap – aka“Special Needs Kids Tax”($13 bil/Jan 2013): Imposes cap of $2500 (Indexed to inflation after 2013) on FSAs (now unlimited). There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children.  There are thousands of families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education.  Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington, D.C. (National Child Research Center) can easily exceed $14,000 per year. Under tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for this type of special needs education. 

9. Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers($20 bil/Jan 2013): Medical device manufacturers employ 360,000 people in 6000 plants across the country. This law imposes a new 2.3% excise tax.  Exemptions include items retailing for less than $100. 

10. Raise "Haircut" for Medical Itemized Deduction from 7.5% to 10% of AGI($15.2 bil/Jan 2013): Currently, those facing high medical expenses are allowed a deduction for medical expenses to the extent that those expenses exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI).  The new provision imposes a threshold of 10 percent of AGI; it is waived for 65+ taxpayers in 2013-2016 only.

11. Tax on Indoor Tanning Services($2.7 billion/July 1, 2010): New 10 percent excise tax on Americans using indoor tanning salons

12. Elimination of tax deduction for employer-provided retirement Rx drug coverage in coordination with Medicare Part D($4.5 bil/Jan 2013)

13. Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tax Hike($0.4 bil/Jan 2010): The special tax deduction in current law for Blue Cross/Blue Shield companies would only be allowed if 85 percent or more of premium revenues are spent on clinical services

14. Excise Tax on Charitable Hospitals(Min$/immediate): $50,000 per hospital if they fail to meet new "community health assessment needs," "financial assistance," and "billing and collection" rules set by HHS

15. Tax on Innovator Drug Companies($22.2 bil/Jan 2010): $2.3 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to share of sales made that year.

16. Tax on Health Insurers($60.1 bil/Jan 2014): Annual tax on the industry imposed relative to health insurance premiums collected that year. The stipulation phases in gradually until 2018, and is fully-imposed on firms with $50 million in profits.

17. $500,000 Annual Executive Compensation Limit for Health Insurance Executives($0.6 bil/Jan 2013)

18. Employer Reporting of Insurance on W-2(Min$/Jan 2011): Preamble to taxing health benefits on individual tax returns.

19. Corporate 1099-MISC Information Reporting($17.1 bil/Jan 2012): Requires businesses to send 1099-MISC information tax forms to corporations (currently limited to individuals), a huge compliance burden for small employers

20. “Black liquor” tax hike(Tax hike of $23.6 billion).  This is a tax increase on a type of bio-fuel.

21. Codification of the “economic substance doctrine”(Tax hike of $4.5 billion).  This provision allows the IRS to disallow completely-legal tax deductions and other legal tax-minimizing plans just because the IRS deems that the action lacks “substance” and is merely intended to reduce taxes owed.

 

 

 

What would They Say Now?

Law enforcement groups have asked the US Senate to require wireless carriers to store text messages for up to two years citing a current lack of federal requirement to do so, "can hinder law enforcement investigations". Congress is in discussions now over updating a 1986 privacy law for the cloud computing era. Using an argument like "can hinder law enforcement" to force the changing of laws to suit them would be setting an eerie precedent, were would it all end? Once we start down that road anything in the future law enforcement deems "hinders law enforcement" could be deemed illegal?

In drafting one of the most unique and important documents of modern times, our constitution, the founding fathers put great emphasizes on both protecting our personal rights and limiting the power of the federal government.  The 9th Amendment..  

"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

As part of the "Bill of Rights" supreme court justices have long used it as the binding authority in protecting the right to privacy, the right to travel, and the presumption of innocence.  Taken with the 10th amendment...

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

States have used this amendment for years to argue that the federal government does not have rights beyond what is granted it in the constitution. The supreme court has ruled laws unconstitutional for violating the 10th amendment when the federal government compels states to enforce federal statutes. The founding fathers in writing the constitution, a document that had stood the test of time, knew the importance of protecting one's privacy and limiting the power of the government but what would they say now?   

Why Amending The NDAA Is Not The Answer

This week Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced, and approved by the Senate, an amendment to the NDAA. Her amendment sought to address concerns about the provision in the NDAA that allows for indefinite detention of citizens without due process, in direct violation of our 5th Amendment rights.

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

The idea of restoring our 5th Amendment rights by amending the NDAA seems like at least a step forward but, either on purpose or by ignorance, her amendment proves to be little more than smoke screen to quiet the masses that have issues with the various provision of the NDAA. Her amendment includes the language...

“An authorization to use military force, a declaration of war, or any similar authority shall not authorize the detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States apprehended in the United States, unless an Act of Congress expressly authorizes such detention.”

That last phrase, "unless an act of congress expressly authorizes such detention" is the catch that makes the whole amendment not worth the paper it's wrote on or the time it took to vote on. The NDAA  (National Defense and Authorization Act) is by definition an authorized act of congress already! Amending the NDAA is clearly not the answer and the very fact that no one in the senate is stepping forward with any type of meaningful changes to the NDAA clear shows congress supports it, and has no real desire to reign in on its power to strip us of our rights. At this point the only real answer is to apply enough pressure on our elected officials, or vote in new ones, that will push to fully repeal the NDAA.

 

It is not , nor has it ever been, America's job to make the world a democracy

Yesterday President Obama warned President Assad and his supporters not to unleash the "worst weapons of the 20th century" in the 21st, capping a day of alarming American warnings on the Syrian regime's intentions. He went on to finish by saying, " If you make the mistake of using these weapons, there will be consequences and you will be held accountable."

What does all mean for America? For months the Obama administration has been hinting at becoming more involved in the Syrian conflict but has met with resistance from both inside the military and with the public. The pending election made dragging the nation into another armed conflict too risky as public opinion poles showed Americans were/are not ready to be dragged into another middle east conflict. The election now behind the President and clearly he is demonstrating his new found "flexibility" to throw caution to the wind.

Clearly he has "drawn the line in the sand" with Syria, almost daring them to cross it, he has opened the door to dragging us into a conflict most Americans have no  interest in and that we cannot afford. Many believe that the timing now is right for a "red flag" event. Don't be surprised if in the very near future a WMD is used in Syria with that government denying it belongs to them and Obama sending troops on the ground, just as he's wanted to do for months. It's in these times I remember clearly the statement made by former president Gerald Ford in one of his last interviews. He was asked what he thought about our involvement in the middle east conflicts and he paused and replied, "It is not , nor has it ever been, America's job to make the world a democracy"

I've Been Remiss in My Duties

It's been awhile since I have blogged, the elections got me down a bit, and the world has been passing by without the benefits of my vast opinions.  We are speeding along to all kinds of news worthy events, Dec.21st, the fiscal cliff, and of course the second term of a president with ,"more flexibility", all of which are scary as _____. My YouTube channel "Nativerobin" is growing in leaps and bounds and I'm still fine tuning Nativerobin.com. Of course my media empire includes "Nativerobin" on twitter, blogtv, my personal Facebook page is pretty active, and I'm considering BlogTalkradio soon. All in all if the world doesn't come to end either by natural causes or by the actions of the NWO, 2013 very well could be an exciting blogging time!  

Merry Christmas!

Robin