Murtha is going to be challanged in 2008 by career army soldier

Representative John Murtha, the anti-war poster child of the democrats will be challenged in 2008. He is being challenged by William Russell a career army soldier. Murtha's constant anti-war message has caused a backlash among conservatives in his district that has man defense related jobs. While Murtha has cited his experience with wounded veterans as why he is in favor of a full withdrawal from Iraq, Russell has the opposite outlook. Russell feels that cutting and running would make the sacrifice of the soldiers in Iraq pointless. On the campaign trail Russell refers to Murtha's views on the war as just flat wrong. He also condemns Murtha's reliance on earmarks and pork barrel budgeting.

While William Russell may not have a real chance at unseating the Democratic chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, at least someone is willing to challenge this corrupt Member of Congress who was once an unindicted co-conspirator in a corruption case.

Sphere: Related Content

Edwards Plans for America, not all they're cracked up to be

John Edwards has been releasing a barage of ideas on policies that he would like to implement if he became President. John Edwards wants the government to pay for Universal Pre-Kindergarten, have the government provide matching savings accounts, mandate a minimum wage of $9.50 an hour, and a government run program called "College for Everyone" to provide college educations for everyone. He believes this should all be government funded and be paid for by higher taxes. Edwards goes on to say that, "There are no free meals," but that is exactly what he wants to provide.

Universal Pre-K

Universal Pre-K is one of those things that sounds good on the stump, but in reality is just not a great idea. First, we are not even getting K-12 correct yet. Why expand the education system when we can not even face the failing of the current systems we have in place. This is a move to create a new free lunch program to pay for babysitting for children instead of education. We as a country do not have a duty to provide for every child from birth to graduation from college. This is a family responsibility.

Government Matching Savings Accounts

Edwards proposes another free lunch program here also. American does not have any Constitutional power to do such a thing. We as a society should do everything we can to encourage saving. It is not the job of our government to provide matching funds for those that do so. This is a gross injustice to the federal governments taxing power. Money should not be taken from some just to be given to other people for the sake of doing it.

Minimum Wage Increase

John Edwards loves the idea of increasing the minimum wage. The problem with this proposal is that it really does not help people. Artifical floors and ceilings on prices do not work in the long run. The fact is that such an increase in the minimum wage will do more to destroy the middle class than anything else. Most in the middle class are salaried employess who make very modest salaries. When the minimum wage is increased prices also increase by the same amount because costs are passed through to the consumers. These middle class salaried employees do not see an increase in their salaries and if they do not by the amount of the increase in prices. So the middle class salaried employees are pulled closer to the poverty line while the workers who see the increase in wages have no more purchasing power.

College for Everyone

John Edwards proposal for College for Everyone is good for publicity but nothing more than pandering. Here in the United States we already have a system that allows people aid to go to college. Our Financial Aid system provides government subsidized loans to those who need assistance to pay for college. Second, the idea that everyone should go to College is a fallacy in operation. By having everyone go to college you just devalue the advantage of a college degree. You create a domino effect where a high school diplomia is even more devalued and a college degree is the basic starting point. So now those who want to get ahead need to get a masters degree. Those that would have gotten a Masters degree before get a PHD instead. This just removes any advantage to these degrees. Instead we should instead focus on improving our High School system. Those who would like to pursue a vocation that does not require a college degree should be encouraged and provided vocational training that they need. Those that plan on going to college should recieve the college preperation they need. This is a realistic approach not a one size fits all of a College for Everyone program.



John Edwards likes rhetoric and pandering. How else could he advocate that there are no free lunches while pushing proposals creating them. John Edwards has taken an platform of running for President by raising taxes and creating massive new government programs. This traditionally has not worked. Walter Mondale has been here and done that and We must assume and hope the results will be the same. It always sounds good when government gives things away, but someone has to pay and the effect of that will destroy and economy and create a larger government that our Constitution never intended. Always Remember a Government powerful enough to give you everything is also powerful enough to take your freedoms away.



http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071026/FRONTPAGE/710260384

Sphere: Related Content

Rep. Charles Rangel proposes the largest Tax Increase in US History

Chairman Rangel proposed the Largest Tax Increase in the history of the United States last night. He wants to increase taxes 3.5 Trillion over the next ten years. Lets break down how Charles Rangel and the Democrats want to destroy the United States economy and move us towards a Nanny State.

4% Surtax on Americans earning over 150,000 a year and 200,000 for couples

Allow the Expiration of the Bush tax cuts that have spured economic growth

Raise the top Marginal tax rate from 35% to 44%

The details of the proposal make it even worse. The surtax on income is not on taxable income it is on gross income, something that is has never been taxed like this before. It also provides for the worst marriage penalty we have ever faced. Two sucessful spouses will be overly punished just for getting married because if a spouse makes as little as 50,000 a year they face higher taxes.

The joke that the paygo system is, gets exposed in this measure. Rangel insists that he must pay for AMT tax increases that were never inteded to happen. He believes that the 3.5 Trillion of a mistake that everyone agrees the AMT has "accidently created" has to be paid for. Money that has not been collected by the government is not a loss to government and should not have to be paid for. This just shows the shallow thinking of the Democrats. The could never handle not allowing the Government Revenue to increase by unreasonable means. What is the goal of this. Wealth Redistribution! How else do we expect the Democrats to pay for all their unreasonable proposals?

Sphere: Related Content

After the war discussion, the investigation, and the grandstanding Congress still has not done their job

Congress has spent countless hours talking about useless measures and ammendments on the War that dont accomplish their goal of getting out. They have spent even more hours investigating the Bush administration. The remainder of the time has been spent grandstanding on the previous two issues and a myriad of other items. Lost in the shuffle they forgot to do their job. Congress appropriates the money the nation spends. Yet Congress seems to not have found to do their prinicpal job. I for one am outraged they have yet to pass final versions of even one appropration bill and wonder why this outrage is not getting more attention.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/washington/27budget.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=washington&adxnnlx=1190923701-IZC+09B4zmA/VlcGjBfsGw

Sphere: Related Content