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Claire McCaskill has loaded up her mom in the RV and is beating the bushes for rural votes. The word is out that Claire likes to lay on the corn pone while out in the sticks by saying "MissouRAH" as opposed to the standard "Missouri" that she uses 'round them city slickers.
Link: Democrat rolls across rural Missouri in bid to unseat GOP senator.
Occasionally, the ACLU does something worthwhile.
Green Party candidates and other third-party office-seekers have unconstitutional obstacles to ballot access in Arkansas, attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court asks a federal judge to order the state to comply with a 1996 federal court decision stating the rules for ballot access for new political parties and for independent candidates should be the same.
Presently, Arkansas requires independent candidates to collect 10,000 certified signatures to be put on the ballot. New (third) parties must obtain signatures equal to 3% of ballots cast in the last gubernatorial or presidential election, which would be over twice the amount an independent needs this election cycle.
The only reason, of course, is that the two major parties conspire to limit the choices voters have at the ballot box.
Link: Arkansas News Bureau - ACLU sues for Green Party ballot access.
by TD of The Right Track
With any proposal, sooner or later the naysayers start their doom-and-gloom predictions. The FairTax proposal is no exception. There are those out there whining and crying about how "it won't really work that way", despite the fact that the current income tax system isn't working the way it's supposed to work. I suppose their fear is exchanging the devil they know for the devil they don't know. In this article, I'll highlight some of their worries and attempt to dispel them.
A national sales tax will create a huge black market.
Among all the arguments to be made against the FairTax, perhaps this one holds the least water. Arguments are made that this "black market" will spring up, with people "illegally trading DVDs, cigarettes, canned foods" yada yada yada. OK, illegally trading? What's illegal today about trading those items? Nothing! So what's the problem?
"They'll be avoiding the tax!”
And that's bad, why? My wife buys romance novels at a used book store now. She'd be avoiding the tax, too. She's also reading books that everyone else read weeks or months ago. I say, "Come on, black market!" Only the market won't be black. It can be right in a store front, advertising used books, consignment shops for clothes, furniture, camping equipment, you name it! A whole new type of business will emerge! That will be great for the economy, right? Right!
The national sales tax will give government another reason to make cash purchases illegal.
Those making this argument claim that paying with cash will make it easier to avoid paying the tax. This is simply ridiculous. Number one, most businesses are run by honest, dependable people. It's not the business owner that's being taxed, remember, it's the purchaser of goods and services. With penalties for those who attempt to cheat the system, the onus is on the business to be open and above-board in collecting and paying the tax. The businesses will keep a small percentage of what they collect in order to offset their expenses in collecting and reporting the tax! While the consumer might hope for a break from the tax, it would be the rare businessman who would collude with the consumer in his scheme to avoid the tax!
The tax will be used to track your entire financial life.
Coming so closely after the previous argument, you have to laugh. First folks are going to pay with cash to avoid the tax, then the tax will be used to track your entire financial life. Unbelievable. How so? You're not filing a return, are you? To do this, the government would have to:
But remember, the tax applies to new goods and services only. Don't want the government to know you bought that new Humvee? Get last year's model from a used car dealer. Want a couple of evening gowns? Hit the new consignment shop that just opened up a few blocks from your work. But do you know why the government won't track your entire financial life? Simply put, you're not that big a deal. Sorry to deflate your ego, but why would the government care to delve into your personal finances? They don't care what you spend money on, as long as they get their cut!
Simply put, any tax scheme can run rampant over the American people without diligent and unceasing attention on the part of the American taxpayer. It is up to you and I to keep our government on a short leash. We must realize that there are no free rides. When the government gives you something, they have to take something away from you first in order to do so.
As author Edward Abbey said, "A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against its government."
TD
The FairTax Blogburst is jointly produced by Terry of The Right Track Blog and Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous. If you would like to host the weekly postings on your blog, please e-mail Terry. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll.
Gov. Schwarzenegger won't send the National Guard to protect our border, but he will ask American taxpayers to pay for sending over 48 firefighters 300 miles into Mexico.
"This is believed to be the first time that CDF personnel have traveled so far beyond the border to assist its neighbor," said CDF Fire Capt. Jesse Estrada. "Under longstanding agreements through the Border Agency Fire Council response agreements are in place for assistance for one mile over each side of the border. A response this far into Mexico required thorough planning and logistical support."
Link: WorldNetDaily: U.S. firefighters in Mexico as American West burns.
A group of thieving drag queens has been plaguing shop owners in New Orleans.
New Orleans police have been of little help, so the shop keepers have started their own warning system. The first business owner that sees them on the prowl starts a chain of calls that alerts everyone down the street.
A salesman at one of the stores, Eric Ogle, says the transvestites appear to be drug addicts.
Desperate for new pumps? Cry me a river. Some of the shop owners have guns. Use them.
A substantial cache of WMD, found in Iraq, gets some press. These aren't new findings, so the question is, why didn't we hear about it sooner?
I asked my son that question when he told me that he had seen WMD while in Iraq. He couldn't answer that, so I guess we have to ask Bush WHY DIDN'T THIS COME OUT EARLIER?
Link: Captain's Quarters.
The mother of a 14 year old girl in Austin, Texas is suing Social Internet giant Myspace.com for $30 Million because her 14 year old daughter was molested by a pervert she met on the website.
According to the lawyers representing the family, myspace doesn’t do enough to verify the age of its users nor does it take adequate measures to thwart sexual predators online.
What? My duty didn't end at giving birth?!
I'm not quite sure exactly how Myspace is supposed to be certain what age its users are, but I'm sure it would be much easier for parents to take responsibility for knowing what their kids are up to.
Not too comforting, considering the Saudis' number 2 export (behind oil) is terrorists...
The Ministry of Higher Education and the General Authority of Civil Aviation are offering scholarships to Saudi men and women to study various majors related to civil aviation in the United States.
The scholarships are for a variety of majors related to the airline industry: engineering, systems analysis, etc.
One of the requisites is that the applicant scored well in committing the Koran to memory.
Link: Saudis Offered Scholarships for Aviation Courses in US.
Hat Tip: Michael Savage
Oh yeah. I had AOL at one time. When I called to cancel it, I had a very similar experience.
Listen as this "customer service" rep tries everything in his power to not accommodate this man.
Link: NBC10.com - Local News - On Tape: Rep Won't Let Customer Quit AOL.
Hat Tip: Drudge
Chris Crowley: Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy—Until You're 80 and Beyond
Chris Crowley: Younger Next Year for Women: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy—Until You're 80 and Beyond
Andrew P. Napolitano: A Nation of Sheep
Judge Napolitano urges Americans to reject profoundly the satanic bargain that less freedom equals more safety. Less freedom equals slavery.
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