Taxing The Rich
Socialists are correct that the rich have a greater obligation to the state than either that of the middle class or the poor. But they are wrong in concluding that that obligation is reduced to greater taxation.
Is it not becoming obvious to the rich in America that the current American system of government by which it spends more than the revenue it receives has resulted in insolvency and will ultimately lead to bankruptcy? Of course they have. And if that is true, why have they hunkered down ignoring the signals of disaster and have, in effect, remained silent while the rent seekers, unions, grant applicants, corporate welfare enthusiasts and the raft of parasites who demand government largess for every inane project that can be conceived, continue unabated while the ship of state is sinking? Do they believe that they will survive the certain rebellion by the poor and the middle class? Are they not looking across the Atlantic and observing the future and knowing that not only can it happen here, in time it most certainly will. But unlike the United Kingdom Americans own guns, and in large numbers. And if such a rebellion were to happen here, the British variety will look like a walk in the park.
All of America’s past rebellions were led by its wealthy. They, more than any other economic group, understood the nature of our country and its people. They were in the forefront of the Civil War, on the battlefield, in our financial institutions and they ran our factories. They were the leaders in World War II and their sons fought bravely in that war. Today they hide while the poor grow restless.
The United Kingdom & Socialism
Filed under: Health Care, Presidential Watch, Social Commentary
How many times does a socialist have to find he is wrong before he gets it right? The riots in the United Kingdom may provide the answer to that question.
After World War II a victorious Britain threw out the conservative government lead by the revered Winston Churchill and replaced him with the socialist Clement Atlee who promised that full employment would be maintained in accordance with socialist principles. Atlee greatly enlarged a system of social services much of which exist today throughout the country. The socialist government undertook the nationalization of major industries and public utilities as well as the creation of the National Health Service, which today in America we might call Obamacare. Notwithstanding a strong attempt by the Conservative Party to defeat this socialist Keynesian fiscal policy, it was broadly accepted by the British people. Even with the election of Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher many of the socialist, cradle to grave programs are still very much part of the United Kingdom.
Unlike the aperiodic urban rioting in the United States which occurred during the last half of the 20th Century the current rioting in the U.K. is not race related but rather reflects some undefined dissatisfaction with the lives of the rioters who live in a society of permissiveness. And what does this have to do with Socialism? Everything!
Jewish Liberal Orthodox Christianity
Filed under: International Reflections, Social Commentary
I really don’t know what it is about Jewish Liberals who get their underwear in a twist about Christian Fundamentalists.
Modern Orthodox Christianity has long abandoned its anti-Semitic dogma which began to appear during the European Middle Ages right into the middle of the 20th Century. Its main characteristic was hateful violence upon a small minority of people whose only crime, if you want to call it that, was their refusal to accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah. The irony is that the very concept of a Messiah was a long held belief among Jews long before Christianity even came upon the scene. And therefore if some alien came to earth and observed Jews and Christians today, at least with respect their interpretation of the universe and their ethical prescripts, he would be hard pressed to recognize any differences whatsoever. In the aftermath of World War II, observing the results of their anti-Semitic dogma, Christians adopted the view that Jews were in fact their older brothers, somewhat intransigent, perhaps imperfect, but a people to whom they owe their fundamental beliefs and find joy in their connection. Today Israel is a Jewish State and many Christians throughout the world, especially Christian Fundamentalists strongly support Israel and the Jewish people. If you believe that people have the capacity to learn and change, as I do, then here we have the perfect example. It is probably at this point, being a Jew, that I part ways with many of my Jewish Liberal brethren since I accept the hand of friendship and love of those Christians who offer it. We share the same book and the same stories. We share the love for the God who created the Universe for us and together we shall lie down in green pastures and together we shall fear no evil.
Caught Between The Ax and the Anvil
In the world of international affairs must Americans accept hypocrisy as the underlying dominant force if freedom and liberty are to be achieved?
From the very birth of our nation it has been the guiding light for freedom loving humanity throughout the world. But before freedom and liberty are achieved in any society, no matter its religion or its ethnicity, the society must first obtain infrastructure and order. More often than not this can only be achieved with brutality and injustice. Modern history is replete with such examples: Germany and Japan at the hands of the Allies before the end of World War II, South Korea, Bosnia, Bangladesh, Iraq and now Afghanistan. And there lies the hypocrisy. This is a bitter pill for any free people to take but especially for us Americans who believe that the means determine the ends but who love liberty and hate, truly hate, violations of human rights and brutality.
Do we close our eyes and raise the ax? If not do we stand by and watch millions live in darkness and despair? Whether we like or not and uncomfortable as it is our history as a nation is to choose the ax and hypocrisy be damned.
The Dark Art Of War
Filed under: International Reflections, Social Commentary, Terrorism, United States at War
One of the most cleaver strategies in prosecuting a war against an intractable enemy is for the aggressor to cloak his actions so that the enemy is not aware that he is at war at all. The result is that deaths and destruction’s are viewed by the enemy as matters of serendipity, inadvertence, accident, happenstance, miscalculation and yes, even denial.
This Roger Madon and this is what I think.
How can this happen? How can a nation or a people not know that it is being attacked by an aggressing, devilish enemy? It’s quite simple really. The aggressor relies upon that group within the enemy nation which denies the reality of the events surrounding them, and is all too ready to blame everybody but the aggressor for the current misfortune of the nation. And why does this group deny the reality? That also is quite simple. To accept the fact that the nation is at war, that the nation may be irrevocably destroyed, that sacrifices beyond imagination will have to made, that loved ones may die horrible deaths and that all that is near and dear may exist no longer are facts beyond which the group can accept. And if the group is large enough, defeat is imminent.
Examples of this phenomenon run rampant throughout history: The English in response to William the Conqueror; During the American Rebellion against Britain nearly two thirds of the colonials refused to join the Revolutionary Army; The vast majority of American Indians were thoroughly unaware of the imperialist intentions of the white man on this continent; France at the beginning of World War II; European Jews in the late 1930′s and right up into the end of World War II when the victors and survivors began to count the millions of missing Jews throughout Europe, the Jewish leadership in Europe, at least what was left of it, finally got the idea. The examples are many. I only hope that America’s current conflict with radical Islam does not result in just one more example on the list of those nations and peoples that didn’t know they were at war.
This is Roger Madon and that’s what I think.
Who Will Save Your Political Soul?
Filed under: Local Party Politics, National Party Politics, Social Commentary, U.S. Economics, United States at War
As the consequences of the American Civil War ended 75 years later with the Great Depression of the 1930’s so the consequences of the Great Depression ended 75 years later, this year and specifically yesterday on September 14, 2010.
This is Roger Madon and this is what I think.
After years of traveling in the wilderness, from the late 1800’s into the early 20th century progressives, hawking a brand of government alien to the American people, finally convinced them in the 1930’s that government control and government planning was the answer to dealing with economic equality. Oh, and one more thing. What would be required to accomplish this alleged equality was the trashing of the American Constitution, by decreasing liberty and enhancing the power of government, both state and Federal.
In 1947, 2 years after World War II, 19% of the American people received some government benefit. This year that amount is now over 50%. And to fuel this government largess requires that 2% of the wealthiest of our citizens pay 50% of the tax burden while 50% of our citizens pay no tax at all. And while all this been going on our career politicians in Washington and the capitol cities of our states have been oblivious to this creeping darkness upon our economic freedom, our political liberty and our national soul.
September 14, 2010, primary day in America, will be remembered as the day the American people, having been pummeled by the political, educated and professional classes for over 75 years and who have viewed the rest of us as nothing more than yahoos, have bellowed to the incumbents of both parties, “ENOUGH.” Show up at the polls on November 2nd boys and girls, this revolution is just beginning.
This is Roger Madon and that’s what I think.
The World’s Policemen
Filed under: International Reflections, International War, Presidential Watch, Social Commentary
Based on recent events the American people are learning what it’s like when the U.S. is no longer the world’s policeman.
This is Roger Madon and this is what I think.
Remember the good old days when no one, no country on this planet would cross America’s path without giving strong consideration as to how we would respond. During World War I for example, Germany’s greatest concern, and rightfully so, was keeping America out of the conflict. The war started in August 1914 but American forces didn’t arrive on the European continent until April 1917 and the war ended in November 1918. So within 17 months America had 2,000,000 soldiers in the conflict. Germany collapsed.
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 resulting in the start of World War II. Japan calculated that America would respond by seeking a settlement. Some settlement. In 1945 America dropped 2 atomic bombs one on Hiroshima and one on Nagasaki. That ended that conflict. By the way by the end of that war America had nearly 15 million men under arms.
Then in 1950 North Korea planned to overrun South Korea. We all know how that ended.
Then in 1965 North Vietnam attacked South Vietnam. North Vietnam experienced over 1 million North Vietnamese deaths representing nearly 80% of its entire armed forces. America left the field of battle and its soldiers returned home to a country that within 10 years experienced an economy that went through the roof. On the other hand all of Vietnam was decimated. And since the American people didn’t think they won the war Vietnam received no aid to repair its broken country.
So where am I going with this history lesson. Let’s see. North Korea decides it wants to build a bomb in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty which it signed. It does so and the Obama administration looks the other way. Iran wants to build a bomb…and will do so by the end of the year. The Obama administration does little to stop it. The Bush administration planned to place defense missiles in Poland and other central European countries directed against Iran’s anticipated nuclear aggression. The Obama administration reneged on the deal. Turkey, once a strong ally of the U.S. and Israel is now a strong supporter of Iran, Hamas and an enemy of Israel. The Obama administration says nothing. Got the picture? China and Russia…they got the picture too.
This is Roger Madon and that’s what I think.
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