America is a mess, Democrats blaming Republicans blaming The Tea Party. It is getting us nowhere. We are going deeper in debt. We have a problem with spending and a problem with revenue. We are all in this together so we should all be part of the solution, and the solution is

BALANCE THE BUDGET.

I’m tired of hearing that the “rich” should pay more in taxes. I was talking to a person who said this, so I asked the person “how much more should the “rich” people pay” to which he replied at least 10% more. This would make the maximum income tax rate at 45%. I said OK if you want them to pay 10% more it’s only fair that everyone pays 10% more, so I figured out what 3 families with varying incomes would pay with a 10% increase in the progressive rates with all other factors remaining the same. I’m not overhauling the tax code just tweaking it a little. Earned income credit stays put, because it only makes sense that we want people to work rather than be on welfare. A top bracket of 45% is not unheard of in Americas past, it was once as high as 80%. I remember when the Beatles were paying 97% in England.

On the revenue side.

Presently 2011 Income Tax in the US is on an increasing progressive scale starting at

10% for income from $0 – $17,000 and increasing to

15%,for income from $17,000 to $69,000 to

25% for income from $69,000 to $139,350 to

28% for income from $139,350 to $212,300 to

33% for income from $212,300 to $379,150 to a maximum of

35% for income over $379,150.

Let’s look at 3 different families, all are married and have 2 children.

Let’s assume that we raise the marginal tax rate 10% for all marginal brackets.

The lowest progressive tax rate would be 20% and raise to the maximum of 45%.

Family “A” makes $49,000

Family “B makes$140,000

Family “C” makes $400,000

With the standard deduction and earned income credit and two dependent deduction

Family A will now pay $984 in income taxes

Family B will now pay $34,350

Family C will now pay $142,224

So after figuring out the increases we looked at the figures.

The richest family will pay $38,100 more than at the 35% rate and the poorest family will now pay $984.

My friend, Since he was in the lowest bracket he thought that to help balance the budget he could accept the fact that he would now pay $984 (he paid NO taxes without the increase) as long as everyone else paid their 10%. I also agreed that the figures looked pretty fair if we are to ever balance the budget.

We also decided that to be fair the Capital gains tax should also be raised 10%, and possibly add a progressive revenue increase for Capital Gains to the maximum of 45% to stay in line with working incomes. This should make Warren Buffet happy. Naturally the corporate rate also would be raised 10%.

This 10% increase has adjusted the revenue side of the equation with all parties except the lowest of earners paying at least something.

Now on to the real problem, the expense side of the equation.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

We also said that to be fair all expenses should be cut 10%, ALL.

My friend now said that this should balance the budget, I said I was not so sure, but the people with all the computers should be able to figure out if the increase in taxes and decreases in expenses that we proposed accomplish the goal of a Balanced budget. Before I said anything else he piped in that he was now paying enough taxes already and was not willing to pay anymore and if the Budget was to be balanced we would have to cut more expenses. Bingo, he finally is thinking like a working person paying taxes. Since his enlightenment with a tax increase maybe we need to put a minimum $100 special tax on even the lowest of earners and even welfare recipients that presently do not pay any taxes. This special tax would be in effect until the Budget is balanced. I’d be willing bet that even a $100 tax will make them believers that we need to balance the budget, not by more tax increases but by lowering expenses.

It’s true, most people stink at driving, and most of them believe that they are the best most courteous driver on the road. How can our different perceptions be so drastically different from actuality.

I drive locally by car, auto and motorcycle and I also drive Nationwide in a large Class A motor home. I have seen drivers that are ignorant, uncaring, unfocused and even stupid and dangerous.

I found out that driver’s education classes are not producing drivers capable of  handling today’s traffic situations due to the fact that some students do not even drive a car on a road, some students never leave the practice parking lot, yet they get a license. I see drivers that do not know how to use a blinker. I see other people who believe doing 45 mph in a 70 mph zone is acceptable. This does not make for a Happy commute.

My list of things to do and not to do when driving.

1. Don’t use your phone while driving. Put your phone on silent, you can check any messages or text when you are not driving. The cellphone has become our biggest driver distraction that causes accidents. No matter how smart or capable you think you are, no one can do this without the potential for an accident.

2. Slower traffic keep right. Even if you are doing the speed limit in the left lane, move to the right and allow traffic to pass, if you don’t you create the potential for road rage. No “Cock Blocking”, go ahead Google it.

3. Use your blinker, I know it’s hard to lift up or down on that little stick thingy but it helps other drivers know what your intentions are. Don’t forget to turn it off.

4. Emergency flashers are for emergencies when you are stopped, not for when it is raining and you are driving.  

5. Red lights mean stop, yellow lights mean prepare to stop not floor the accelerator, green lights mean go if the intersection permits.

6. Motorcycles are not targets, they are entitled to the road as much as you, Look twice when turning (especially left turns) or lane changing.

7. Stop signs are not where you check your cell phone messages, the people behind you do not care about your messages. Stop means stop, some stop signs should be yield signs but that’s another story.

8. Don’t block intersections, let turning traffic turn,  you might even get a thank you wave.

9. Big vehicles can neither accelerate nor stop as fast as you, move over so that they have room to merge on the highway and when you pass them don’t pull immediately back into their lane. Big vehicles can easily squish you.

10. Knowing how to park is a part of driving. If it’s a simple pull in spot, park evenly within the lines, and hold your door carefully so that it does not ding the car next to yours. If it requires parallel parking, which most drivers education classes do not even teach anymore,  park evenly in the space front to rear and within 6 inches of the curb.

11. Radio volume, other drivers don’t want to hear your music so if you must play it loud roll up your windows.  Sirens and horns are a warning that you may not hear. Dirty looks and finger salutes you will receive.

12. Check your mirror often, what’s going on behind you is sometimes more important than what’s ahead.

13. Be courteous. Everyone makes mistakes or “needs a break” sometimes, don’t take it personally next time it may be you that accidentally pisses off another driver.

We went to school we studied hard and learned our lessons, we went to college to secure a better life for ourselves and our families. We worked, we paid our taxes and social security and medicare. What the government did not take we lived on, within our means, without running up unnecessary debt, we knew the difference between needs and wants. We saved for our retirement, knowing that we would not have a pension, figuring on living off our savings and  interest in safe investments and social security. We paid off our house, we paid off our debt including credit cards. Our financial house was in order. We did what our parents did but it is NOT working out well for boomers. We only thought we were ready for retirement.

We are told that social security may be reduced, delayed or in some cases not available, that it is an entitlement. Our safe investments in certificates of deposit return almost nothing due to the government influenced low-interest rates. We spread our saving into some stocks that have not only not returned a profit but most have decreased in value. Our house equity has been cut in half. Our private health insurance rates go up every year, even if we could afford the insurance premiums the health insurance companies refuse to insure us due to having survived cancer or some other disease. Our health, car, homeowners, sinkhole and flood insurance premiums go up exponentially every year while our income remains the same or is decreasing. Taxes on our homes, fees for registrations and anything else that the government can raise they have raised. We see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is a freight train bearing down on us.

Like the horse with the carrot suspended in front of it our dream retirement remains just out of reach. I see the government bailing out financial institutions, huge corporations because they are too big to fail. I do not see them subsidizing CD rates for seniors so that we don’t have to go into risky investment schemes. Retirement like everything else has and is changing from what we envisioned, what we prepared for and what the government promised to us.

I see the people who did not complete school, the people who did not work hard their entire life getting government hand outs. Free health care, free housing, free food, free cash.

They are living my retirement without having done the work. They are enjoying the sweat of my labors while I worry about daily needs, the government is giving my money to the slackers. What’s wrong with this picture.

It is time for the Government to stop giving away our money. It’s time for fiscal responsibility. I see and have read many stories about how modern families today that do not live within their means, I see the government not living within its means. I see that my living within my means has let others have what I no longer can afford. I see this needs to CHANGE.

As always please feel free to scroll to the bottom of the comments and click the “Leave A Reply” below and please leave you own comment. Thanks Brian

Just what has become of the American Work Ethic. Is everyone on Government assistance of some kind? Is being FAT, LAZY and IGNORANT now regarded as a disability? Why is a fabricated disability now becoming a retirement plan for lazy people. Is no one planning for their future, is anyone planning for even 6 months down the line, how about 2 months, how about tomorrow.

I am pretty well fed up about hearing and reading about how everyone is on the take from the government, the same government that I have paid TONS of money into through Taxes and more Taxes and then they give it to people who have not even come close to making a contribution to our society.

Don’t get me wrong there are some people that we need to help, the person that has worked and paid their taxes and then becomes seriously ill and is no longer able to work, well brother I am glad to see you get help, sometimes life deals you a bad hand and you should be taken care of because of your past contributions. People that work “off the books” are also a problem, not only because they do not pay in, they are likely to be future beneficiaries of OUR benefits. As for Social Security, if you paid  in according to the scheduled government payment plans you should be paid back according to the present benefit plans. New rules for new workers, not a reduction on long time workers who have paid into the fund for decades. Reap what you sow.

To give you an idea about my work ethic, I have never NOT had a job of some type since I was 12 years old. I have paid into Social security every year since my 16th birthday. I have never taken a day off of work except for when I was undergoing Chemo therapy and the associated operations. For 6 months I went to work with a bag pumping chemo into me after spending 3 hours with an IV pumping caustic chemicals into a  port in my chest. I asked the government for nothing.

I see people who are afraid of doing a hard days work. Not wanting to take a job because it was not good enough for them. To them I say, you are not hungry enough. If you want something, go out and work for it. When I was the President of my companies there was not a job in the company that I could not or would not do.

When an employer gave me a job, I not only did my job but I wanted to learn about every job that I was in contact with.  I wanted to know exactly what the subs, the suppliers and other employees were doing so that I could be a better employee.  I worked 6 days a week, we used to kid around that we worked half days, 12 hours a day. This is no lie, I made my employer money and because of that my employer could afford to reward me with bonuses. I see people just passing time at work, many times bored, many times just waiting for the day to finish. Step up to the plate and ask what else you can do if you can’t figure it out for yourself. If you want more, work more. Get another job, do what you have to do to take care of yourself not only today but in the future.  As my High School teacher, Mr. Mathews, used to say “Failure to plan is planning to Fail”.

So I’ll pass on 10 ways to make yourself a better life through working:

1- Get a job, any job, if you have to start at the bottom and work your way up so be it, America is built on Americans succeeding through hard work.

2-An education is just a license to learn. You have the basics but not the details of how to do a job, learn how to do your job and to exceed your employers expectations. If you don’t have at least a High School education get one or be prepared to be a nobody for the rest or your life. If you have a college degree or better that does not mean you are done learning or that you know how to make a living, you have only scratched  the surface of knowing what puts cash in your employers pocket so they can put money in your pocket.

3- Unlike stealing pens from your employer, It is OK to steal knowledge from your employer. They have taught you your job, if you are smart this knowledge and contacts will stay with you for the rest of your life. It’s just business.

4-Show up on time, dressed properly, ready to give 100% everyday.

5-Work is not Fun. Your job should be interesting and rewarding to you, if it’s not you should look for another job or work harder to move up to another job in your company. Fun, challenging and rewarding is the perfect job.

6-Work is not Easy. If it was easy everyone would be doing it.

7-Do more than is expected. No matter what your job you should be doing more, not just to be rewarded monetarily but because you will feel better about yourself and your accomplishments. The day goes by a whole lot faster and you go home feeling satisfied ready to have more quality time with your family and friends. Work hard play hard.

8-Save for your future. Save, save, save. Unexpected things will happen in your life. Save up rather than spending everything you make. If you can’t seem to save any money work overtime or get another job.

9-Ever year reward yourself with a vacation and with a self-evaluation. This will allow you to rejuvenate both your body and mind. If your employer thinks vacations are for wimps it’s time to find another employer.

10-OK so you have learned well Grasshopper, if you chose, you are ready to start your own company and ready to hire workers just like you. Trust me you will not pick the losers. If you chose to stay where you are you will be appreciated and rewarded for the valuable employee that you are.

Today I had to capture 7 cats and bring them to animal control where their chances to be adopted are about 1% which leaves a 99% chance that they will be euthanized. These cats were living in a small area in my front yard that I leave natural. I noticed them a couple of months ago, these are wild Ferrel cats. At first they did not get my attention, then I noticed that they were climbing into the engine compartment of my motor home. Obviously, they had to go before I started the motor and they were caught in the serpentine belt and suffered fatal injuries; from previous experience I know that this is not a pretty site nor an inexpensive one.  I purchased a cat trap from a farm store, put a can of cat food in it and within 15 minutes I had two starving 4 month old kittens trapped inside. Now I had to drive to Animal control to drop them off. There is a sign that says “26,000 animals are killed each year here”. I figured that number is now 26,007. While I dropped them off I watched 6 other people dropping off animals. Two loving stray dogs that went quietly away without a care in the world and not knowing their terminal fate. The 4 cats were all trapped, wild, and screaming at the top of their lungs, always fighting, somehow they were aware their freedom and life were soon to be ended. Oh yeah, it broke my heart knowing that these animals would be killed. I thought more than once about not bringing the other 5 cats to animal control.

Then I realized that if I did not, they would keep breeding and I would be overrun with cats.

 
I realized that some non caring person let their un-spayed and un-neutered pet out to breed and breed, until they became someone elses problem. They did not care enough to pay $10 to take care of their cat so that it could not breed and continue this vicious circle. The more I sat watching the cats taken away, the more angry I became at the owners of the pets that created this problem. How dare you make a living creature die, how dare you make me feel bad for having to bring your cats and their offspring to animal control.

I continued to trap the other 3 kittens and the parents of the kittens and all were taken to animal control. For now my problems are over and I hope not to have to do this again, I hope that the people who have animals get their pets fixed.

To the Stupid, uncaring people that don’t take care of their animals I say “How Dare You!” 

How Dare You Not Take Care Of Your Pets.  How Dare You Make Your Problem My Problem.

Jerry is the manager of a restaurant. He is always in a good mood. When someone would ask him how he is doing he would always reply, If I were any better I would be twins. Many of the waiters at his restaurant quit their jobs when he changed jobs, so they could follow him around from restaurant to restaurant. Why? Because Jerry was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was always there, telling them how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, I don’t get it, no one can be a positive person all of the time, how do you do it? Jerry replied, each morning I wake up and say to myself, I have 2 choices today I can choose to be in a good mood or I can choose to be in a bad mood. I always choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be the victim, or I can choose to learn from it. I always choose to learn from it.  Every time  someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I always choose the positive side of life. But it’s not always that easy, I protested. Yes it is Jerry said. Life is all about choices when you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood. It’s your choice how you live your life. Several years later. I heard that Jerry did something that you are never supposed to do in the restaurant business, he left the back door of his restaurant open. And then in the morning he was robbed by three armed men. While Jerry was trying to open the safe, his hand shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found quickly and rushed to the hospital. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullet still in his body. I saw Jerry about 6 months after the accident. When I asked him how he was he said, If I was any better I would be twins. Want to see my scars? I declined to see his scars but did ask him what went through is mind as the robbery took place. The first thing was that I should have locked the back door, Jerry replied. Then, as I lay on the floor after they shot me, I remembered that I had 2 choices, I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I choose to live. Weren’t you scared, I asked? Jerry replied that the paramedics were great, they kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the operating room and I saw the expression on the faces of the Doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes I read, He’s a dead man. I knew I needed to take action. What did you do?, I asked. Well, there was a big nurse shouting questions at me, Jerry said. She asked if I was allergic to anything, I replied, “bullets”. Over their laughter I told them, I chose to live. Please operate on me as if I am alive, not dead. Jerry lived, thanks to the skill of the doctors, but also because of his positive attitude. I learned from him that everyday you have the choice to either enjoy your life or hate it. The only thing that is truly yours, that no one can control or take from you, is your attitude, so if you can take care of that, everything else in life becomes much easier. Remember everyday that you have 2 choices to make, make the positive one.

You may notice that I have changed some of my initial Primary choices, if my first choice was not available I have chosen the next best, I have also added why the candidates selected are the best for the office without denigrating their opponents. There are a LOT of candidates that are running for some positions (There are 17 just for U.S. Senate),  and with all of the amendments I would strongly recommend going to early voting if at all possible. It should only take a minute for you to Vote if you have your selections ready ahead of time. You  can go to    http://votehillsborough.org/precinctfinder.aspx     to get your exact ballot for your precinct. Just type in your address and you will know exactly everything and everyone you can vote on. Fill it out ahead of time and it will decrease your voting booth time.

I believe that all Americans have not just the right but the responsibility to vote and let their voice be heard. Lately a lot of groups are pushing an agenda that may be contrary to our founding fathers and your beliefs, it is time for everyone to be counted. I hope all of you are planning on Voting. I have listed my selections for the candidates that I believe will serve us the best. I have neither favored any Political Party nor have I voted out all incumbents. I have weighed the candidate’s experience in both public and private sectors and also their chance of success in helping America. I hope that this final listing helps you in your choices.

 Brian’s Picks For Voting 2010 Elections

U.S. Senate– Marco Rubio – If you like Obama and his excessive spending, you will Hate this guy.

Governor– Rick Scott - He knows how to cut the expenses and increase the jobs, my 1st Choice and better than a clogged Sink.  He is for Drug testing for welfare recipients, like that will happen, but I see Hope.

Attorney General– Pam Bondi – Hillsborough Counties Hardest working prosecutor.

Chief Financial Officer- Jeff Atwater- will fight fraud and waste for the consumer.

Comm. of Agriculture and consumer services -Adam Putnam – The farmers and consumers watchdog.

STATE and U.S. House Races

U.S. District 9– Gus Bilirakis – Supports an Arizona style immigration law, his opponent wants a way to make ILLEGAL immigrants citizens.

State Senator, Dist 10- Rhonda Storms - I have nothing good to say about her but she is better than the write in.

U.S. District11— Mike Pendergast - his top goal is to eliminate the deficit.

U.S. District12—Denis Ross – you get what you earn in America, no one owes you anything.

State District16–Jack Latvala- If we want alternative energy sources, let those that install them share in the profit.

State District 47- James Grant – Cut costs, and eliminate services that are duplicated.

State District 56–Rachel Burgin – scrutinize the budget to reduce waste and spending

State District 57– Dana Young – enforce immigration, cut government spending, review all budgets for waste.

State District58 – Joe Redner - a business man who is not afraid to fight anyone for the good of everyone.

State District 60–Shawn Harrison- opposes ALL new taxes including the Health Care plan by Obama.

State District 61–Will Weatherford - cuts in spending will be needed, school choice, vouchers, flexible on class size according to teachers needs.

State District 67–Greg Steube – no more wasteful spending, education comes first, unions come 2nd

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY COMMISSION

District 1– Sandy Murman - No increase in sales tax, 5% budget cuts, cap spending.The golden goose is dead so quit wasting money.

District 2– Victor Crist – Party lines are ment to be crossed when necessary, Cultivate jobs. Light Rail: maybe later maybe never.

District 5–Ken Hagan – Voted to put sales tax to be voted on but oppose it, Jobs and economic growth.

District 7– Neil Cosentino – No sales tax increase.

HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL BOARD

District 4-Richard Bartels- Retired teacher and administrator, visit schools often and root out inept administrators.

District 6–April Griffin – College prep is great but some people need career and vocational training during High School.

Florida Supreme Court-  Retain all Judges.

Florida District Court Of Appeals- Retain all Judges.

Amendments

#1 – Yes

#2- Yes

#4- No

#5- No (Ihad originally voted Yes but have changed)

#6- No(Ihad originally voted Yes but have changed)

#8- No(Ihad originally voted Yes but have changed)

County Wide Transportation-  Against

Should the provision for veto powers for an Elected County Mayor be eliminated-  No

Economic Development Property Tax Exemption – Yes

Amend The Reportionment Provision to require an Additional Public Meeting-  Yes

Provisions For Internal Performance Auditor- Yes

Don’t just sit there,       Get Out And VOTE.       Early Voting starts October 18th.