Bailout - Dogwalk Style

I listened to the White House press briefing this morning and of course the majority of the questions surrounded the withdrawal of Tom Daschle and Nancy Kellifer, the Performance Officer nominee. Interesting point about Ms. Kellifer is that she once actually worked for the IRS!

Some of the questions revolved around the vetting process. The answer was always, "The President believes in the process." Then came praise for how these tax evaders have served their country so ably.

That being the case, I've got the solution. Greed has been discussed as part of the housing crisis. Lenders lending to those who couldn't afford the payback. Buyers buying above their means. Now think about this. Maybe it hasn't been your experience but any time Hub and I applied for a new mortgage or to re-finance one, we've had to submit our tax returns as proof of income. Of course in Daschle's case he'd have had to actually report the income on which he neglected to pay taxes.

The vetters should take a page from the mortgage application book and demand tax returns for all potential administration hires and appointees. This could deter future embarrassment assuming, unlike Daschle, actual income was reported.

Over and above that have each and every appointed official and elected member of Congress undergo an IRS audit. My guess is that would make raising taxes to help restock the treasury unnecessary. Just collect them!

I can remember when my Mom was audited after my dad died because of a discrepency. She had inherited some stock from her father back in the '50s but could not provide the cost basis to provide the value of the gains. We searched everywhere knowing my Dad was a meticulous record keeper but they were no where to be found. That exercise cost her somewhere around $8,000 she could ill afford. This was a 79 year old widow.

The point of the story is the Tax Man can dig, if so motivated, until it hurts. No documentation, pay up plus penalty. Maybe the Tax Men should remember they too pay taxes and in turn are contributing to all these bailouts brought about by greed. Not oversight. Greed.

What I'd now like to hear from our new President, one who I strongly supported, is that he withdrew the nominations. Not that he regrets them. What he should regret is not knowing in the first place, if he actually did not. I hope he gets it right before I start regretting my support.

If The Shoe Fits!

We expend a lot of energy trying to get the rest of the world to see itself as we would have them. What we sometimes don't do well is lead by example. We're a very self indulgent people.

The news has been full of the story about a single mother of six who just gave birth to an additional eight - all conceived by vitro fertilization. The ethics issue involved here is a book yet to be written as well as the idea that we tax payers will undoubtedly foot the bill until the children reach the age of responsibility. The mother obviously has not at age 33!

Other countries in the world are concerned about their over population problems. China, for instance, one child per family. I am not an advocate of this degree of big brotherism but with economies suffering to the extent that children cannot be fed, housed, cared for nor educated, maybe the restrictions make some sense.

Now, it would seem the Brits are suggesting that couples having more than two children are creating a huge burden on the environment. A study claims each child born in Britain will burn carbon roughly equivalent to 2 1/2 acres of old growth oak woodland in its lifetime.

The global population is expected to be 9.2 billion by 2050. Multiply that out! Does the world have that much acreage in woodland? Are we killing ourselves here or what?

There has been a great deal of controversy about U.S. tax dollars going to support family planning efforts around the world if they include contraception and/or abortion. It's bad enough that teenage pregnancies are still outrageously high and that no matter what the country may be, someone other than the mother will bear the financial burden.

It's even worse when in this country an unmarried mother stockpiles embryos just because she wants babies! And she is able to do so! She's adding to the environmental problem on my dollar. Enough.

Use my tax dollars if you must but at least let them go to stem cell research! Not the old lady in the shoe.

What's The Point Of Suing?

It has been announced that Barnes and Noble has canceled proceeding with a new store in Coeur d'Alene. Considering they reported a third quarter net loss of $18.4 million it should have come as no surprise. How many companies are closing stores and laying off employees? Too many to count.

The developer, however, has decided to sue. I'm not sure to what advantage other than to add to both his own financial burden, Barnes and Noble's and retailers who have leased space in anticipation of Barnes and Noble being an anchor store from which they could draw. It reminds me of the kids poem "This is the House that Jack Build".

This is the house that Jack built!
This is the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the rat that ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the cat that killed the rat
That ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the dog that worried the cat
That killed the rat that ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built...

You get the idea. Where does it stop?

I don't know the answers. If I did I'd not be sitting around blogging. However, if an over ambitious developer couldn't see indications of bad times ahead and have contingencies in mind that would be fair to both him, his tenants and potential tenants, then shame on him. As for Barnes and Noble and the other retailers, I would hope that they have contingencies in their lease agreements that will preclude the further financial drain of a lawsuit.

It just doesn't seem to make sense in this financial climate to be quick to sue. As with politics, why not try a negotiated settlement? Ill will could preclude a Barnes and Noble in the area when times get better.

Though we have both a Hastings and a Borders, is a law suit really worth it?

How to Avoid Paying Taxes And Get A Pass

Get appointed to a high level Obama administration post! Okay. I'm now thoroughly disgusted. The media has lionized Obama. He promised us hope and change. What I hoped for was change! Instead it looks like the good old boy network of that private club called the U.S. Senate is alive and well. And boy, am I disappointed in Obama.

Last week on Chris Matthews, as I mentioned in a previous post, Bob Woodward let it be know that the tax issues concerning Obama appointees wasn't over. The week wasn't out before the next name came to the surface. Tom Daschle. Not only is he a former Senator, but was the majority leader and had served in the Senate for eons!

I'm sorry, but owing back taxes amounting to $128,000 is inexcusable. Geitner, as our new Treasury Secretary, was bad enough. Now Daschle. The Senate has given them both a gentleman's pass. Rather like the passing grades Bush got at Yale and Harvard! And don't tell me it was an "honest" mistake! Especially Daschle - he helped make the very laws he has chosen to scoff! Plus the fact, no matter how many "people" he has, he has to sign the return. Just like the rest of us.

I'm even more disappointed with the idea that Obama has allowed these passes to be given. Poor Bill Richardson must be scratching his head in wonder.

If Geitner and Daschle are the only men capable of handling the jobs to which they've been appointed, this country is in a far bigger mess than we realize. It also makes me wonder how many winks were exchanged in Hillary's confirmation regarding Bill's financial dealings for his Library and Foundation.

I'll give on one point - transparency. To a degree. It has been made public. No one on down the road can say "we had no idea". But in so knowing, that they they are still allowed to serve tells me "politics as usual" is flourishing in the Obama administration and I am extremely disappointed.

The Fragility Of Life

As Bacchus and I were taking our morning stroll I watched as he climbed the highest snow berm he could find. He was my old mischievous pooch, his lips and gums were a nice bright pink and he had a familiar twinkle in his eye. It got me to thinking of the fragility of life.

In thinking about Bacchus's situation I realize how unprepared I was, even at his age, for the possibility of his instant demise. We don't always get the chance to prepare that I have been given. On the human level facing death, even if it's not our own or a loved one's, can have devastating results.

There has been a lot written lately about the increase in suicides in the Army and Marine Corp such as the article in the Chicago Tribune .

Even more disturbing was a story in this morning's Spokesman stating that the suicide rate at West Point has reached historic proportions.

While tragic, I think it tells us a lot about who we are as a people. Long and frequent deployments are being suggested as part of the reason for the unsettling statistics in the regular military. Stress and hazing at the Military Academy.

I think it is more than either. I think it's the nature of Americans. Unlike the people we are fighting, we have not grown up in a culture of war. Killing humans, for any reason, is not part of our mind set. Yet we ask our young men and women to do just that.

What must it be like the first time you realize a rifle round of yours has killed another human being. Do you ever get used to it? What must it be like the first time you see a buddy blown up or shot dead. Do you ever get used to it?

From the numbers of soldiers coming home with mental health issues I'd say not.

As for the West Pointers, hazing may be a part of it. Yet I wonder if anticipation of what they are likely to face isn't a greater part. Anticipation can grow within like a cancer and it can be just as deadly. One can steel oneself to the point of doing what is required, but getting over it once done is not so easy.

Unlike our furry friends who live in the moment, we humans do not have that luxury. We have to deal with anticipation and memories and all the emotions that fall in between.

Yes, we need a strong military for a strong defense. We don't need one for aggression. The youth of our nation is it's strength and future. The last thing they should have to face before they've had a chance to live is a "dead" end.