Central Government Control

 

Dictators love a government with a central government, it easy to overthrow and control the populace.  All authority is consolidated in a central location and easy to manage.  Get a few cronies’ together and give the government a good heave ho and the dictator are in control. 

 

               The United States is about at that point.  A few large major corporations, control about 30-40% of the economy.  The government controls about 20-30& of the remaining economy with the health act and the federal bureaucracy. 

 

               A wannabe ruler would have a pretty easy time overthrowing the US government.  Get a few of the large corporations on board, use the Patriot Act and the bureaucrats on their side and there it is.  A new style of government is put in place and there is group of controlling elites operating behind a dictator. 

 

               To see parallels, look south of the border.  The government of Mexico controls the major companies there and they dictate how the economy operates.  The ruling Mexican Party has been power for decades.  There is an opposition party, but they haven’t had a president from their party in years.  This gives the illusion that Mexico is a democracy. 

 

               There has been a mind set of lately, that bigger is better.   As a result just a few control different phases of the US economy.  Right now, Big Tech, the silicon valley, is under scrutiny because of their control of social media and other electronic avenues.   This is a good example of how a few can manipulate the many. 

 

               So is this what’s going on with inflation, a few large corporations are pushing huge price increases.    Look at how few there marketing petroleum, these people control the price of gas.  Same is true in the food industry.  There are about a dozen giants marketing food and the control around 60% of the market. 

 

               So if you want to overthrow a government, consolidate your bureaucracy and get some large corporate cronies. 

 

The mindset of bigger is better, works in favor of tyrants that want power and control.  This is one of the reasons, the Constitution, gives us separation of powers.  To keep one government entity from telling another how to conduct their business. 

 

Yet this is happening in Colorado, with the state telling the school districts how to conduct their operation.  A school district is a separate government entity.  They have elected board members and have taxing authority.  The state sets accreditation standards for the schools.  The state provides standards for teacher guidelines and a teachers college.  The state is not to interfere in the daily operation of a school district.  A school and other government is supposed to be protected by the constitution from interference from another government entity.  Criminal activity is another matter. 

 

               By telling the schools they can not have certain type of mascot, they state has went outside its authority.   Yet if you want power and control over others, power is consolidated by telling others how to behave.  Eventually the lines of separation are blurred and the other entities disappear.  Then one point of authority is in power. 

 

               There supposed to be limits on what various government entities can do.  We don’t stop the politicians, we vote for, nor does the judicial branch always follow the constitution.  Over the years, our politicians have sacrificed for freedom in the name of safety.  Freedoms lost are hard to win back.  We need members of the legislature that can and are willing to swimn up stream and begin repealing lots of the laws that are supposed to provide safety for us. 

 

Look at the no smoking laws.  Government is telling the property owner how to conduct business.   It is no longer the choice of the owner, but the government’s choice.  Because a few few wanted it safe, in their perception, the many were punished to keep the few happy.  The few used the bully pulpit of the government to impose their will on others.  Look at all of the other laws that have been imposed, resulting in the loos of freedom of choices. 

Justice Department

US Justice Department

            With all the turmoil and politics in today’s Justice Department, I found this article interesting.  Life magazine in 1954 wrote a story about the US Attorney General.  He was listed as leading the world’s largest law firm.  This was during the Eisenhower Administration. 

            In the first paragraph, Life Mag. Noted that Brownwell was cleaning up the department.  Sound familiar, in today’s political climate.  More then 50 years ago, there were problems in the DOJ.  It also points out how easy it is for government agencies to wander outside the lines.  It is nothing new, bureaucrats operating outside of government guidelines has been a story more then a couple of centuries old. 

            Yet here is a story in a national magazine about the DOJ head trying to clean up his department.

            The DOJ wields lots of influence and power, considering they are the federal police agency.  Not only is the FBI under the DOJ, so are all the Federal US Attorney’s and their offices, Federal Prisons and today that includes Homeland Security, plus all the other agencies.  The US Attorney General also provides recommendations to the President for Judgeships to be filled.  One can see that their influence is far reaching.

            In 1950’s, the DOJ had around 33,000 employees.  Today it is about three times that many, with over 117, 0000 employees. 

            It is amazing how history rolls in circles as it repeats itself.  Different chapters, same names, just a; larger cast. 

The Slavery Of Taxes

 

The Slavery of Taxes

 

                When I first heard the use of taxes as slavery, I was taken aback.  It did make me stop and think, what was being referred to.  So I go looking for definitions of slavery.  And there a whole variety of slavery types, the closest was bondage.  Bondage meaning subject to ………… Involuntary subjection. 

 

, enthrallment. Slavery, bondage, servitude refer to involuntary subjection to another orothers. Slavery emphasizes the idea of complete ownership and control by a master: to be sold into slavery.Bondage indicates a state of subjugation or captivity often involving burdensome and degrading labor: inbondage to a cruel master. Servitude is compulsory service, often such as is required by a legal penalty:penal servitude.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

 

On that definition of being in subjection, one can see how taxes can create a form of slavery.  Being citizens of a country, there is a certain level of obligation to help the government.  It is usually done by collecting revenue.  So various types of taxes, were created to help the government to operate.  Most taxes were use taxes.  Taxes imposed on goods and or real property.  Other types of taxes were head taxes, just for being a citizen, a person had to pay a tax. Then there were taxes imposed, for nothing in particular. 

In early history, some of the most despised people were the tax collectors.  Along with royalty, these people lived a lavish life.  The tax collector developed a following of a few people who would help him collect taxes usually the local bully.  Along with the taxes, a tribute would be collected so that the bully would not damage the person’s property or self.  To become a tax collector meant riches for that person and sometimes a small empire and maybe up the ranks to a royal standing.

Over the years the tax collector has lost this status but not their fear.  For if one does not pay taxes, there are some pretty nasty consequences.  In this lies the state of slavery. 

n
2.	something that limits or restricts something else; a qualification: you may enter only under certainconditions
3.	( plural ) external or existing circumstances: conditions were right for a takeover Dictionary.com Unabridged      When the United States came into existence, taxes for the most part were voluntary.  With some people not paying taxes, laws were passed compelling people to pay taxes.  Then shop keeps and business were compelled by the government to collect taxes for them.  All these laws of compulsion carried some stiff penalties of non-compliance.   Years in prison and or large fines were imposed if people did not pay their taxes or if businesses did not collect taxes.    Much like slavery, if one did not do the job there were severe punishments.  Usually in the form of whippings and or locked away in some manner.    The parallels between tax laws and slave laws are ominous to the person who thinks they are free.
	a. to alter the response of (a person or animal) to a particular stimulus or situation
	b. to establish a conditioned response in (a person or animal)
15.	to put into a fit condition or state

Dictionary.com Unabridged

 

 

The other way tax laws are used is to control behavior and or alter certain behavior.  The sin taxes are in that category.  There are those who do not like drinking or smoking and as such these items are easily taxed.  It is hoped that by taxing these items to excess people will alter their behavior or abstain from consuming these products. 

A variety of laws have passed to make consumption of tobacco and alcoholic beverages illegal under certain conditions.  If any of these laws are violated, taxes of another kind are imposed, fines. 

When looking at taxes and laws and how they are used to subjugate people to conform to certain behaviors, one can see a form of slavery.

To control a person, there is usually some type of intimidation used.   To force one to follow certain rules, the slave master would use various punishments.  Public flogging is but one example, public executions: hanging by the neck or beheading, are but a few example of public intimidation.   These public events have also been used by various governments over the centuries.  Publishing of debts and criminal records is another example of an attempt to humiliate and control people.  

Taxes are a volatile debate, yet one had never considered taxes as a form of slavery.  Yet if I do not conform to rules that are imposed by governments, I will suffer severe consequences. 

So at what level of slavery is acceptable?  Some people were asked: would you rather be a slave or free?  Many answered a slave for they got room and board if they were slaves.  Kind of like the guy would sold his soul to the devil.

 

Who Are The Slave Master(s)?

Interesting question, the obvious finger points at the politicians, the politician controls the purse strings to a certain extent.  Next look at where the tax dollars go.  The cronies of politicians would be a good place to start.  Then there are the bureaucrats, those whose, wages are paid by tax dollars.  Some of these agencies have become very adept at manipulating the political process to funnel more money into their agencies, to expand their fiefdoms. 

A good example is the highway/roadway departments.  People like to drive on smooth roads for an easy drive and if there are problems with a road, the bickering begins.  Politicians wanting to get re-elected are quick to respond.  They meet with the citizens, hear the complaint then the political type goes to the road keepers.  The transportation people say they can fix the problem but it will cost X more dollars. 

Such begins the cry for more tax money.  This is but one example of how different agencies clamor for more taxes.  Each year there are budget hearings and each time there is a clamor for more money in their budget.  It is a part of the American fabric, bigger is better, so if there is a bigger government, it will be better. 

The government bureaucracies have grown beyond the management level of one or two people.  The cabinet heads command a large staff and the President has numerous czars to oversee the cabinet members and their staffs.  These people serve at the pleasure of the current administration and change as the political winds change.  Whereas the bureaucrats remain the same throughout their careers, their appetites ever growing, wanting more.

Like most people, they want more pay, some status, power and their base for this comes from the tax[payers.  Read somewhere that the average government worker makes 22% more than their counterpart in the private sector.  The Civil Servant has outstripped the pay of the taxpayers that support them, kind of ironic.  The other way they gain prestige and more money is by creating department heads.  Then the wages jump into the 6 figure income bracket and on up.  Sometimes these people have no more then 5-10 people under them.  Stop in at the local agency office, see how many bosses there are and how many are under them, it is surprising.

 

So if someone wants to search out slave masters, they have to look beyond the politician.  One can not just look at one political party either.  The Republicans have their favorite taxes as well as the Democrats.  For the Republicans their sacred cow is the military among others.  The Department of Defense has grown like the other bureaucracies and like them the DOD has become top heavy with administrators. 

So one can not point a finger at any particular political group and say they are the slaves masters. 

 

 

Lost Taxes

 

What would have if taxes of a certain type were discontinued or changed?  One of the excuses politicians use for raising taxes is to help the poor.  Welfare is the first to jump out of the bushes, so look at that.   

This is where money is taken from all and then sent to a bureaucracy and these bureaucrats in turn give a small portion back to certain people that are in a certain income bracket.   Now a 100% of the money does not go to these people, a portion is retained by the bureaucracy to administer the tax dollars. 

So, how to do it different?  I asked a friend once, “How would you like a raise of $200.00-$300.00 per month?  I got a quizzical stare.  I explained that if the tax rates were changed it would provide more disposable income for the household, still a blank look.

Depending on who one talks to, the poverty rate is an income of less than $25,000.00 per year.  Yet these people still have to pay an income tax, and they qualify for various welfare benefits.  So, do it differently, exempt certain income levels from personal income tax.

To get out from under the slavery of taxes, the rule of taxes need to change.  Politicians have been arguing over reforming the tax codes for years, not much has happened.  Taxes can not be eliminated, the government needs to function, at what level is the debate, which leads to what level of slavery does one want.

If those who were below $25,000.00 income were exempted from personal income tax, they would have another $200.00 to $400.00 per month to spend.  That would be groceries, a monthly payment on something, some extra disposable income.  It would also make the minim wage jobs a little more attractive. 

With the burden of personal income tax gone the person in the poverty income range could live a different life.  No longer would they be dependent for government programs, their burden of slavery would be reduced.   They would be more productive members of society and still be in support of society for they would still pay the consumption taxes.  These are the taxes that support the schools, roads and local police/fire agencies. 

For years a few have argued that personal income tax is not constitutional, that is not in question here.  What is being pointed to is the burden it places on people and how people become subjugated to the slavery of taxes. 

There is a small element in society that has control issues and occasionally they get into Congress and laws that control behavior are passed, not laws of consequences.  Personal income tax is a law of behavior and used to control behavior.  For if one does not pay their taxes or collect them there are sever consequences, including the loss of personal property and or real property.  These are the things a slaver would tend to do to control his slaves. 

Personal Income tax removes one’s freedom of choice.  Whereas consumption taxes, one has a choice on what to consume.  There is a difference, albeit subtle.  In this difference one can see why there has been such a reluctance why the people in Washington DC are so reluctant to give up the control they over people with personal income taxes. 

 

Whatever the political affiliation is, fingers point all directions.  The Republicans have their sacred cow taxes as do the Democrats. 

 

Theft By Government

 

Well I hope everybody is ready for another shut down of government.  The people in DC remind of a bunch of alcoholics.  They want more and they want more until the pass out point arrives.

Not sure when the people will wake up and see where there tax dollars are going.  Close to 50% is going to foreign powers, from interest to support of foreign governments.

So many of the taxes we pay we do not see.  Corporations pay the bulk of taxes and that is just a pass on cost of doing business for many.  All the goodies for Christmas one buys racks up the taxes that corporations pay from all those big profits we generate for them.

 

Washington can not stop their bad habits of overspending.  Like the drunken sailor said, when I run out of money, my spending stops.  Washington doesn’t grab that concept, they just go borrow more to spend more.

It would be nice to have a bottomless purse like that but my pockets are full of lint.  Not much money left over after the DC boys grab it.  If I don’t pay, I am threatened with jail and the people that arrest me, prosecute me, will be paid by tax dollars I have sent them. 

The bully pulpit of the government, uses your money to extort you and bribe you.  Aren’t we suckers and we re elect them.  We are so stupid at times.

Wonder what typed of revolution we are going to have?

Saturday Matinee

 

One of my passions and hobby is photography, in particular train photography. I go out of my way at times to follow along railroad tracks, hoping to catch a passing train.  This something I am not alone in.  There is a good sized cadre of train photographers around the world.  And like me, they like to get up close and personal with trains.

 

Often, this means traveling, walking on private property, usually the railroad right of way.  Shortly after 9/11, trains became a watched target of opportunity by various agencies.   What had once been a no hassle past time became a look over the shoulder.

Some railfans/photographers were hassled by police and security people, including me.  Even a few were arrested and had their cameras confiscated, including phones.  In some parts of the country it became gruesome.  Yet an uproar was made by various raifans and things kind of eased up. 

But as Homeland Security and TSA grew, the hassling grew again.  Cameras confiscated, fans jailed and others chased off and told not to take pictures.  Some rail photographers were labeled as a terrorist threat.  A justification for the government bureaucrats to hassle people.

Then that is not to say that some people use the guise of railfan/photographer to check things out for stealing.  Ther other thing is how many photographers use railroad tracks as a back drop for their pictures.  I have seen pictures of a couples having their wedding pictures taken while standing in the middle of the railroad tracks.  And various other poses on the railroad ROW.

No matter though, armed with my cameras, I sally forth to capture pixels.

The other part of railfanning is taking a train ride.  Sit in the car, few munchies and beverage, watch the scenery pass by, listen to the clatter of the car and wheels, a nice easy ride.

Headlines

 

Ronal Regan was called the teflon President, because they said nothing stuck to him.  Obama is going to have to be called the kelvar president, for he hasn’t even been wounded by the bullets that have been hurled at him.

There was Benghazi, then the IRS and NSA plus the economy is sour.  There are other smaller bullets flying but they seem to fall on the ground.  Lots of talk but very little action.

Each week different stories are brought up but not much happens.  Read where the people at Benghazi had to sign non=disclosure statements.  That in and of itself is an indictment of the administration that said it would be transparent.  So much for being forthcoming to the public they are supposed to serve.

Crooks, tend to hide behind mis-directed statements and twist things to give themselves favorable light. 

How many people have you heard of being fired from the IRS?  There should have been no question about terminating the people that violated the trust of the public.  There should have been suspension of pay for numerous administrators in the IRS.  If there are no consequences to the people that abused their position in the IRS, what is to prevent others from doing the same.

The NSA stuff, one can lay at the feet of Bush.  It came from the Patriot Act passed after 9/11.  Then the Republicans voted to continue the Act just a few years ago.

The Patriot Act, almost gives the administration dictatorial powers.  It is probably one scariest pieces of legislation Congress has ever passed.  Look how the present President has abused this power.

The most visible part of this was the TSA people in the airports and look how many of them mis-behaved.

Yet the president lets things roll along, by saying nothing he consents to these different abuses of the public he was elected to serve.

Right now a race war is on the back burner.  So far has been calm, but for how long.

What is really sad is how many Democrats are in denial of how their President is mis-behaving.

Yes, kelvar president is pretty good.

Off With Their Heads

 

During revolutions, this was a familiar cry.  It was a fairly common practice against political enemies.  The ruling class would also use beheading as a way to control their populace.  It is a macabre practice of man, to chop off the head of another.  Yet in the political ring over the centuries, beheading was a fairly regular practice.

Imagine what it would have been like if it was still used by politicians today.  After what the IRS, EPA, NSA and others have done.  Today rolling heads is a figure of speech, yet there probably will be a few bureaucrats that will feel the axe when all is said and done.

As we celebrate the day in Independence in the USA, consider the French revolution.  When the ruling party was ousted in France, beheading of the former rulers became a public display.  The guillotine was a French invention and the French used it on their former rulers. 

Yet after what the government agencies did to the Republicans, in particular the Tea Parties, they beheaded them.  The IRS was adroit in chopping off heads of opposition.  Wonder what kind of outcry there would be if the Tea Party people wanted to guillotine them?

Doubt if there would be any deterrence of behavior on the part of the government bureaucrats.  Laws only provide consequences for behaviors, that seldom successful in deterring behavior.  About all capital punishment does is remove people from society.

So what kind of punishment should there be for these government screw ups, those that abused their power.  Ruling out head chopping…. a bit to gruesome. 

Every time I think about the ballet about John the Baptist, I shudder a bit.  Yet beheadings are still common today, in certain parts of the world.

Seen a video, some time back, it was about capital punishment.  It showed hanging, lethal injection, firing squads, guillotine and other forms of taking another's life.  The guillotine was gruesome. the head bounced out of the basket and rolled into the crowd.  Never seen so many jumping and bug eyed.

With all these ugly forms of punishment, people still do not stop.  Ever wonder why people continue to commit crimes or heinous acts?

Throwing Bats Swinging Bricks

Been reading about the different decisions from the US Supreme court and the reactions from a variety of groups. 

One of the things that strikes me, is how quick some conservative groups throw their hands up and say they lost.  Did they really lose, I don’t believe so, they should reed and understand what is coming from the court.  Such as the AZ voting law and ID.  The court said they are to follow Federal guidelines and to vote, one has to be a citizen,   So if it is questionable about one’s citizenship a request for verification,ID, is not out of line.

Then on DOMA, never heard so much crying.  Yet the court affirmed that the states have the right reserved to them in the question of what constitutes marriage. 

This gives the states affirmation of their sovereignty and states should use this to override numerous federal mandates that are Constitutionally questionable.

Who really lost on DOMA, was the people’s imitative and that includes both sides of the isle.  Although the left tends to go to the courts to push their agenda and the right goes to the ballot not the courts.

Tow things come across to me out of these court decisions.  One is the gloating of the minuscule, special interest left wing groups.  Two is how easy the right wing conservatives are willing to concede defeat.

Take those two things and look at the debate over climate change and coal.  By executive order, the president eliminated 100’s if not thousands of jobs in the energy industry.  The Republicans have not challenged his orders or try to negate him.  The laws of the land are to emanate from congress, not the executive branch.

   ………….. What form is John Gault going to take?????

Government Programs

 

Today there is lots of conversation over the governments healthcare program, known as Obamacare.   The government has been doing programs like this for years and a few can be traced back to the mid 1800’s.  A few were successful, most were failures and almost all have run their course but still are on the books.  One of the biggest government giveaways was the Homestead Act.  Million of acres was available for those who would put forth some effort and settle in what was perceived as a desert.

The other big land give away was the Pacific Railroad act.  This one made big money for a few moneyed people in the 1860’s and is still paying big dividends to the railroads today.  A railroad has more power then most cities and towns.  It also gave big chunks of land to the barons of the rail.  Today the Union Pacific Railroad makes more money off their land holdings and mineral rights from these government giveaways. 

It was the governments way of promoting businesses to build things, dangle the carrot out there and watch people chase the money.   It became a practice that is still going on today but so few were successful.  When a program fails, it tends to stay on the books and other ones crawl out of the woodwork to fix the goofy ones. 

Yet behind all these programs is big money.  The financial money bags tend to rake in big bucks.  Recently it was reported that some financial company executives had annual incomes of over 2 billion dollars a year.  These are not investors, manufacturers, they are speculators, gamblers.  When they hit big….. it is big….. when they fail, they drag others down with them.

This is what happened to the railroad speculators in the mid 1800’s.  Numerous railroad companies were formed to get money, in various ways but only a few actually built a railroad of any type.  They got big money though and there were all types of scandals. 

 

Hundreds of people hitch their dreams only to see them die in the swarm of speculation and greed.  Railroads advertised land along their route as being great farm land and people traveled out west to settle on the dream of a new life.  Sweat was spent building a life and a few years later the dream was a figment because of failed government policies and greed.  Crop prices had soared through the roof, people farmed more land, financed more property to chase the dollar of big prices on crops,  All based on government houses of cards and fueled by greed. 

In 1929 the market crashed.  Fortunes were lost and farm prices fell right along with the market.  Behind all this was the money people and poor government policy.  The big money markets had speculated  and lost.  Resulting in lots of other people becoming losers.  Greed fueled most of the speculation, individuals get big money and the government gets more money.

Where was common sense, probably on a tropical vacation dreaming of…………..?

When I look back at the bad times, I see government intrusion as being the primary culprit and greed being a motivating factor.  Government interference in the economy has been a failure over the centuries but it is not taught that way in the colleges.

Then the little thing, how we all want just a bit more money.  Greed is a big times culprit. 

Now the big question…… How to get big brother back in his hi chair and out of lives.  The roles of various government levels in not well defined and is understood even less by most people.