Maybe They Have a Money Tree?

Today the Senate passed a bill to extend unemployment benefits...yet again. To get the bill through, the Democrats had to break a Republican filibuster, which they succeeded at today.

Contrary to the way the Democrats and their loyal media portrayed this, the Republicans weren't opposed to extending unemployment benefits. In fact, they were in favor of it. However, they were opposed to adding to the deficit to extend the benefits. This was a puny $34 Billion dollar bill, and the Republicans dared to suggest that $34 Billion in cuts should be made to free up the money for this bill. The Democrats, who like much of their base, are afraid of hard work, refused to make any cuts to existing spending and instead chose to pile more money we don't have on the debt.

This is sad and pathetic...$34 billion is less than 1% of the federal budget, and if those we elect can't make decisions about small amounts like this, then how can we trust them to solve any of the really big problems that we have? The Democrats have proven once again that they have no interest in real reform in Washington or in solving any of our country's money problems. In fact, all the Democrats appear to be interested in is demonizing the Republicans to secure a longer reign in power.

Well, November is fast approaching. If you are at all concerned about our national debt, remember today when the Democrats continued to pile on the debt, rather than make a simple decision to shave $34 Billion off the budget to fund the needed unemployment benefits. Remember it and vote anyone with a D next to their name out of office...really any incumbent should go, but definitely those with a D next to their name.

Movie Review: Alice In Wonderland

I watched "Alice In Wonderland" last week, but due to busy family circumstances I'm just finally getting around to reviewing it. This is the Johnny Depp version from earlier this year.

In this version of the story, Alice Kingsley is now 19 years old and is contemplating some life changing decisions. All her life she has lost sleep due to dreams about falling down a rabbit hole into a strange world. While chasing a white rabbit, she does indeed fall down a rabbit hole into a strange world called Underland, where everyone knows who she is, but she doesn't know anyone. In this strange world, she meets the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the evil Red Queen, and the good White Queen. But, can she become the hero that Underland needs her to be to save Underland from the grips of the evil Red Queen and her Jaberwocky?

I actually enjoyed this movie, though I wondered for a long time if I was going to. Alice is played by Mia Wasikowska, who I didn't know before this movie. She took a very long time to develop a personality in the story. Johnny Depp plays his usual weird self...he never does a normal role, have you noticed that? I was really happy to see Crispin Glover as the Red Queen's right hand man. He hasn't gotten enough action since "Back to the Future". Helena Bonham Carter was just average as the Red Queen, while Anne Hathaway was airy and semi-mysterious as the White Queen.

One thing I liked a lot was the vocal talent that the movie provided for the animated characters. Alan Rickman was awesome as the blue caterpillar...can't remember it's name right now. Rickman's voice is so distinct. The other voice I was glad to hear was that of Christopher Lee (a.k.a Count Dooku). See if you can find him...I won't tell you the character.

Overall, "Alice in Wonderland" was a good movie. It wasn't so great that I wanted to save it for my kids to watch, but it's an entertaining 2 hours.

It Makes No Sense

As I write this, the unemployment rate in the country is hovering close to 10%. I could go look up the exact number, but it's about 10%, and that's good enough for this blog. During the Bush years, when everything was horrible according to the media, unemployment dropped to less than 5%, which is considered full employment. What did George W. Bush, who's not very smart, according to the media, do nearly right away? He lowered taxes. One could make a compelling argument that the Bush tax cuts were at least partly responsible for the economic recovery following 9/11.

Now we have a really smart President, at least according to the media, in Barack Obama. What does this super smart awesome guy plan to do in the midst of 10% unemployment? He plans to raise taxes in 2011. That's right, he's going to let at least some of the Bush tax cuts expire for the higher income brackets. Now before you lecture me on civics, I know that the Congress passes legislation so Congress could extend the tax cuts and is choosing not to so far. However, with no pressure from El Presidente, Congress has chosen not to act. Presidential pressure goes far...after all that's why it's called Obama-care, even though Congress technically passed the legislation.

In addition to letting the Bush tax cuts expire, all of us who get company paid health care will begin to face a tax on our health benefits in 2011, as part of the Obama-care package of joy. That's another new tax...which we should be happy about according to our really great President.

I admit, I'm no economist, but I can think a problem through. We have 10% unemployment, and we still have a sluggish economy. Next year, the government is going to start taking a bigger piece of everyone's income (or at least those that actually pay taxes). So, they will start taking a bigger cut of 53% of the country's income (thank you liberal policies). These people will be forced to spend less because they will have less. That means that businesses will have to make cuts to survive, which will probably lead to higher unemployment as businesses lay off people to survive the lean times. Since less people will be working and businesses will be making less money, that means the government could actually take in less tax income, even with the higher tax rates.

You know, I think the media might be exaggerating how smart our President is. It seems to me that his economic policies are designed to actually make the economy worse. I would bet we could see 12-15% unemployment and the dreaded "double-dip" recession if these policies are allowed to go on unchecked. Maybe our current President should check his ideology at the door and take a lesson from his predecessor. You don't raise taxes in lean economic times, you lower them to get the economy going again. But then again, I've never done any community organizing, so what do I know?