Musings On The Past Two Weeks

I had intended that I would post a short video as per my usual holiday tradition.  Alas, the government has recently been up to so much I feel the need to comment on the happenings during the past couple weeks.  My own schedule has prevented me from from my usual research so this is largely an opinion piece.

The Obama tax compromise was a true compromise in that there are parts that each side finds deplorable and other parts that each side are happy with.  I'm disappointed that the Republicans didn't hold out until the "Zombie Congress" (a term I much prefer over "Lame Duck Congress") left Washington and an invigorated Republican House took office but it does make sense to extend the cuts for all tax brackets.  By extending them for two years, this ensures taxes will be the main issue in the presidential election.  I predict this will help the Republicans because tax cuts are more palatable than social issues to the electorate.

The defeat of the omnibus bill was a  victory for America.  Normally, appropriation bills fund the government but the previous Congress has pass continuing resolutions, basically running government without a budget. This, in and of itself, is shameful.  The omnibus bill would have funded government but also included over 6,000 earmarks.  Everything from studies of bugs, bridges to nowhere (sooner or later we're going to run out of nowheres to build bridges to), light rail, and other sweeteners for various congressmen trying to get a few million to take back to their district in time for Christmas.  The Republicans deserve credit for killing the bill and leaving the Democrats hoping that Santa will give them their Christmas wish list rather than the American taxpayers.

The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a good thing.  America is one of the few countries which does not allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military.  Although there will be some effect on unit cohesion, anyone who tells you otherwise is naive, any soldier who acts out regardless of sexual orientation will be reprimanded.  When such reprimands occur, we need to remember that soldiers are held to a higher standard because their job is truly a matter of life and death.

The defeat of the DREAM act, a bill which would give illegal aliens tax subsidized in-state tuition to colleges in whichever state they claimed residence in (who could check?), was also heartening.  The supporters of this bill tearfully claim its defeat means that college is out of reach for millions of children who had little choice in choosing to cross the border.  When one looks at the plethora of free services from social to governmental to medical that illegal aliens get for free while contributing nothing in taxes, the question is not what more can we do for these people but how can an American renounce his citizenship to cash in on all these benefits!

And since I already had a couple videos picked out for today it seemed a shame to waste them.  Does Joe Biden hate Christmas?  This edited video says yes:





Most people don't think of Santa Claus as a business owner but this video reveals his struggle to make toys for kids all over the world while still not knowing what the tax rates will be long term:



Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my readers,
Conservative Ken