Mr. Richard Nugent got back to his roots as he states after reading to first graders at Weeki Wachee K-8.  He read a book about our system of legislating using the characters in the book as House Mice and Senate Mice. What he didn’t realize is the portrayal used exemplifies most representatives in Washington mice or in some cases rats.

Mr. Nugent (Mr. Mouse) sponsored a bill with no co-sponsors to take away federal funding from National Public Radio a service which educates the American Public. (H. Res 174) in consideration of HR 1076 which had already accomplished this without the additional expenditures for newly purchased radio content. Passed 236-181 this legislature would have no effect on our deficit.

Mr. Nugent (Mr. Mouse) voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act HR 2 PPACA (Obama Care). Apparently, Mr. Nugent didn’t read the Congressional Budget offices letter to speaker of the house John Boehner or he couldn’t understand the affects of HR 2 would have on the deficit. In a letter dated Feb. 18^th 2011 the congressional budget office and the joint committee on taxation stated that “Impact on the Federal Budget in the First Decade CBO and JCT estimate that, on balance, the direct spending and revenue effects of enacting H.R. 2 would cause a net increase in federal budget deficits of $210 billion over the 2012-2021 period (see Table 1).1 By comparison, last March CBO and JCT estimated that enacting PPACA and the health-related provisions of the Reconciliation Act would reduce federal deficits by $124 billion over the 2010-2019 period”. He voted to increase deficits.

Mr. Nugent (Mr. Mouse) voted in favor of a Fair Tax legislature HR 25 eliminating the Income tax an average of 4.7% on a medium household income of 32,572 a year in Hernando county and Payroll tax 4.25% currently and establishes a 23% national sales tax on all goods and service but excludes taxes on intangible property such as copyrights, trademarks, patents, goodwill, financial instruments, securities, commercial paper, debts, notes and bonds, and other property deemed intangible at common law. What Mr. Nugent fails to tell the public that this bill will increase taxes on families considered middle class and at the poverty level? This tax will be in addition to the current 6.25% State and Local sales tax paid in Hernando County, School and Fire District Real Estate Taxes. If you add The National Sales Tax State and Local sales tax only it’s a 29.25 % tax on what you spend including food, rent, and all services. But if you have a big portfolio with dividends and capital gains you won’t pay a dime. Thankfully, this bill did not pass and was sent to the Ways and means committee (file 13).

The conversation began with we got to get rid of Obama, now you must realize that because of my political liberalism I thought this conversation could have been a set up for me by those who know me. So, I took the bait and asked why, for the sake of writing this I will assign a name to the person this conversation took place with. Rush will be appropriate in this case because Rush said he never listened to the news I figured Rush was making up the news. Rush said that Obama was going to turn the United States into a Socialistic Country. I expressed to Rush that the United Sates is both a society of democracy and a society with socialistic programs such as social security, Medicare and Medicaid. We also are a socialistic society with Civil Servants at all levels of government, Federal, State, City and County of which you a teacher are part of that socialistic system.

Rush than told me that Obama was a Muslim and that when he was sworn in as president he didn’t us the bible but the Koran. I asked what facts do you have to prove this and Rush said it was on the news and that there were pictures. What can I say but Rush became to me a wall not to be penetrated by facts or any logic. Because of this I asked if Rush believed Obama was a citizen. The look on Rush’s face while shaking his head no told the story. So I asked if he believed the Governor of Hawaii manufactured his birth certificate again his look told me the answer. Rush went on to tell me that Obama went to Muslim schools and spent many years in Muslim countries. After this I realized that when attempting to speak logically and factually with someone with very little ability to think outside the box and discern over opposing information my time was being wasted and any attempt to educate Rush was fruitless.

After this I realized that there must be something wrong with our educational systems when such narrow minded individuals are being turn out in a world that has become so complex. We are turning out well train text book readers and test takers. But, we are not turning out thinkers who can rationalize, gather facts, discern and than make a logical decision. Let’s just say to Rush there are no cliff notes in real life.

Just a final thought Edward R. Murrow warned us about the influence of the television media. “To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful.” Edward R. Murrow Rush in my opinion has been brain washed by Fox and the EIB network.

The eight years from 2000 to 2008 were comparable to the  1920’s and set the tone for the first wave of economic default. Enron, and WorldCom  its officers, its deceptions and their decent to bankruptcy exemplifies  commerce gone wild. Yet, we have not learned that unregulated commerce and its  supporters is our enemy within. The opposing view is that regulations prohibit  growth and expansion. This would be true in an idealistic capitalistic system which  is not manipulated. The reality is that we do not have a pure capitalistic  system based on supply and demand.

We have a system that is manipulated by special interests,  and lobbyists who have historically controlled our political systems since  Truman. Today they have invaded Washington  and taken the place of our politicians. These are the men and women who are  loyal not to the nation but to a minority of campaign donors and organizations  seeking one thing, a return on their nvestments in these politicians. Their  tactics are to prevent our nation from moving out of a recession into a new  prosperity. Stonewalling and obstruction of legislature which would be  beneficial to the people and our nation is being held hostage to passed  idealistic party rhetoric. The media is the communication tool used to portray public  opinion polls reflecting a false sentiment of support for specific issues and  candidates. Lastly, labels terms like liberal, conservative, right wing, left  wing which has manifested among our voting public appeals to our prejudicial emotions.  The combination of all of these tactics has created a voting population  confused and apathetic to any change that may be beneficial to progress. A  majority of our voting public is uninformed when dealing with the facts  pertaining to the issues. We are voters who are too lazy to research the  issues, voters who succumb to the short labels to voice their uninformed  position on the issues and a tool of division. We have become a nation of  complacent voters who are looking for the shortcuts, a nation of selfishness  who feel that if it doesn’t affect me why should I care.

Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized the suffering endured by  the people of United States  in the 1930’s. He also recognized the human factor that when a people are  repressed they must take care of themselves for survival before they can help  others. He knew that the only way to move our economy and help people was  through government work projects and assistance by providing people with jobs, an  opportunity and a sense of accomplishment while providing for their families. He  was quite successful until the Second World War broke out when we fought our  way out of the great depression. His unifying rhetoric and truth on the issues  solidified our nation at a time when we had so little hope. The deciding factor  was found in a population who voted for a unified Congress and Senate who  supported his realistic vision. There was no party of no.

Today there is little hope. The statistics are unclear, it  has been reported that 16 million people are unemployed or underemployed  another survey puts those estimates at over 20 million. The question is why are  they still unemployed or underemployed? The answer is very clear. Look in the  mirror and ask yourself did I vote for the right congressman, senator,
commissioner, state representative or mayor. Did I put in office candidates who  are intelligent enough to recognize legislation which will benefit the people  rather than a special interest or organization, a candidate who will help my  neighbor instead of me if I am not in need. We have heard about Judeo Christian  virtues by many of these political figures who propose to live by them, are  their platforms based in them? Do they separate and divide our nation instead  of unifying it? The answers can only be spoken by you the voter at the polls.

His response to many questions in general was we did the best we could under the circumstances, including the
Debt Ceiling bill S365. What he hasn’t answered is why 12.9 percent are still unemployed in Hernando  County and why his party has not sponsored one jobs bill since he has been elected on a platform to create jobs.

When asked why he signed Grover Norquist’s pledge not to raise taxes he said he didn’t sign it for Norquist, he signed it for the gentlemen sitting in the audience. Sure he did? A retired school teacher tried to express her fears about the budget cuts that would affect her, Nugent’s response was that each of us has to choose how much we will be willing to give up. My question is why he is willing to ask us to sacrifice and not the wealthy he is trying to protect who earn taxable income over $250,000 a year. (The Norquist signing.)

Since the election of Barack Obama in 2008 the Republican agenda has been to discredit and inflict much pain on the people of the United Sates. They blame President Obama and the common man for the Great Recession not the Bankers on Wall Street. They blame President Obama and the common man for Governments spending not themselves and the previous Bush administration tax cuts for the rich, two wars, and an unpaid for drug program.

I know I’ve seen and heard this before so I traveled back in time to my child hood and realized I was watching the Howdy Doody show all over again. A wooden puppet controlled by his master.

Let us review these proposals from the perspective of logic. Cut Expenses- what we have been hearing lately is that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid need to be cut. Why? Social Security has a surplus currently being used to fund other government programs. It was fixed temporarily in 1983 a permanent fix is needed. It is true that eventually Social Security will pay out more than it takes in, yet this can be fixed easily by raising the maximum amount you would pay on earnings, which is
currently $106,800 of your annual earned income which does not include interest income, dividend income or capital gains. Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes (known as payroll taxes) are paid mostly by the bottom 90 percent of wage earners. That’s because, once you reach $106,800 of income, you pay no more for Social Security, though the much smaller Medicare tax applies to all wages. Warren Buffett pays the exact same amount of Social Security taxes as someone who earns $106,800.

Medicare and Medicaid are similar problems which need to be resolved. The problem with resolving the issue is that too many of our representatives are representing the industry rather than the insured and subsequently can not institute regulatory controls which would eventually reduce the cost of healthcare therefore reduce the cost to the United Sates Government.  A second issue in healthcare is that there are no standard pricing mechanisms for services and how much insurers are willing to pay for the same service. Doctors, Hospitals, and medical services bill Medicare Medicaid and Insurers different amounts for the same service because they all pay reduced amounts to the provider.  A visit to a specialist billed to the three insurers Medicare, Medicaid and a private Insurer would result in three different billing amounts and three different claim payments. If this surprises you don’t be. It’s all about profits. A single payer system looks good compared to what going on today. Even yet the Veterans Health Systems should be reviewed for its efficiencies as a model.

Republicans want to cap spending at 18.5% of GDP in the future. Effectively this would reduce government programs every time we had a recession, therefore, capping our Debt Limit as well which would actually force our Government into a balanced budget. Republicans are refusing at this time to increase the debt limit which if they succeed will cause a second financial crisis that would force the capital markets to dump US owned securities and throw our economy into an inflationary cycle never seen before. Yet, the hypocrisy in all of this by Republicans is that raising the debt limit to give tax cuts to the rich and conduct two wars and an unpaid drug program during the Bush Administration was fine at the time. These three Bush policies by 2019
will account for almost half the national debt. Republicans are attempting to tell the American people that they have been saved and have seen the light and wish to kick the debt limit habit. This too will pass.

I also agree that debt limit increases should be tied to cuts and a balanced budget but not on the backs of the 90% of hard working Americans who effective (No Loopholes) pay the taxes to provide the revenue for the Government.

All budgets should be balanced in America not only the Federal Government. A simple approach should prevail if you want
to buy something or provide something to someone you must raise the money to do so.

One thing the Republicans fail to mention is that when we ask Americans to sacrifice whether it for war or peace it should be a shared sacrifice by all. Those more fortunate should help and provide for those less fortunate, this we have learned in all faiths. Those who have no faith or beliefs share because it is the American way and natural to help others. It is self interest that gets in
the way of sharing. Once we see the need to give to others than there will be no need for politics.

Finally, a Two Thirds majority to raise taxes, how absurd is this. They can’t get a simply majority in either house. Their purpose is never to raise taxes again but cut, cut, cut from those who are in need. Shrewd is the word but like all Republican proposals lately they are absurd and insult the intelligence of the people who put them in office.

The Mayan Calendar doesn’t end on December 12, 2012 I believe it will end on November 6^th 2012 if Republicans control both houses of Congress in 2013.

Sixteen million Americans are either unemployed or underemployed Corporations are holding trillions of dollars on their balance sheets. Corporate profits, Healthcare profits and Banking profits are at all time highs. Bonuses are greater than ever before for top executives and those making these profits. I remember a television advertisement with an old grey haired  man saying “at Morbid Stoney we make money the old fashioned way we earn it.” Those days are long gone. Today they make money utilizing computer generated trading models to take advantage of imbalances in the interest rate markets or  the stock market. The speed of executing billions of dollars of these transactions would boggle your mind. The biggest insult to hard working Americans is that Banks and Corporations are borrowing money from our Government at 0% or as high as .25% and investing in quick money transactions while home owners struggling to refinance can’t borrow at less than 4% on  average if they qualify.

The Bush era of transferring wealth still continues on the backs of the middle class and poor. Tax breaks to the rich and the corporation loopholes in the United   States continue to transfer wealth to the top 10%. Small businesses who think they are being represented in Washington should reevaluate their loyalties before they also become a statistic of the out of business or unemployed.

Money is still moving from the bottom up. How you may ask. Tax loopholes and credits for corporations and the top 10% are still being exploited. These loopholes and credits create revenue shortages for our government. Unemployment at record levels also reduces revenues. People who are unemployed spend less therefore adding more revenue shortages to local as well as our
federal government. Not to mention the decline of real estate values to values not seen since the 90s reducing city and county revenues. The solution as expressed by the conservatives and another means of wealth transfer is to cut people programs like Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid and any program that provides for the bottom 90% of Americans.

The source for a prosperous economy has always been when 95% of Americans are gainfully employed then and only then will we stimulate growth in our economy. This philosophy has been abandoned by our leadership and leaders of corporations and industry for the quick buck and how much they can add to their own personal wealth. The era of greed must end before the era of shared growth will begin.

By: Vito J. Delgorio Sr.

“When  the going gets tough the tough get going”. Unlike this commission.

I think this commission needs to go.

This is not new of course it goes back to the beginning of our independence when men of great vision experimented in a new order in our lives called democracy. A Democratic Republic where all men, women and children were equal with freedoms to pursue their dreams in a society where their government was designed to protect and provide a playing field which would assist them in attaining their goals individually yet contributing to the overall goal for the common good of our nation and all of its citizens. These were the true objectives as outlined in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. They built checks and balances by separating the three branches of Government the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial. This same structure was set up in all the states of our union. Our founding fathers knew that power in the hands of just one branch was too absolute and would be a detriment to one of our basic ideologies of freedom from oppression and the common good.

One hundred and fifty years this system worked until 1929 when we learned that a new and powerful force threatened our freedom from oppression and the common good. We learned that unregulated commerce in our economic system of Capitalism could circumvent our Constitution and Bill of Rights and create a national hardship which could destroy all we had accomplished as a nation. Our great nation with its three branches immediately restructured and wrote regulations to prevent this from ever happening again. Fifty years later in 1980 our legislative branch led by our executive branch began the deregulation of our system of economics under Ronald Reagan “The Problem is Government” giving birth to a new ideology called Radical Republicanism. It began with Reaganomics, the trickle down theory, where the crumbs of progress would fall into the hands of the poor and middle class this is  a form of oligarchy not yet achieved or has it been achieved today. The top 1% of our nation control 70% of its wealth as of 2008. In 1999 Radical Republicanism reared its head again with the repeal of legislature that protected us from freedom from hardship since 1929, the repeal of the Glass, Steagall Amendment of 1933 and our executive branch philosophy of continued deregulation. Over the next 8 years 2000 to 2008 Radical Republicanism accomplished the transfer of wealth from the poor and middle class utilizing the three branches of our government and a new branch of government I call the Commerce branch to accomplish this transfer. In 2009 the Supreme Court in a 5 to 4 vote ratified this Commerce branch by mandating that Corporations have the same rights as people thereby re-writing our Constitution and Bill of Rights. The Commerce branch now literally writes legislature solely for the purpose for the common good of all Corporations through a now new Republican and Tea Party majority in our Congress. Traditional Republican Conservatism is dead and has been dead for 30 years. They have been run over by Radical Republicanism with irrational ideologies supporting an extreme laissez-faire policy where Corporation will continue to have free reign and control over you, me, our children and our future. So I have now added a new term to the rhetoric Radical Republicanism only this is a defining reality which we should really fear.

On Tuesday February 1, 2011 the County Commission voted 4-1 in agreement with Administrator Hamilton to become the General Contractor for the Hernando Beach Dredging Project under the supervision of Transportation Services supervisor Susan Goebel. We have spent $4.92 million on the project of which the State has reimbursed us $3.19 million of the promised $6 million this leaves a balance of $2.81 million due from the state. No one knows the cost of the project yet I will assume the project cost will be $12 million. After current expenses of $4.92 and only 6% of the project completed the balance of $7.08 million will be paid as follows $2.81 million from the state and $4.27 million from taxpayer dollars. 

If we were in an economic cycle where revenues would increase much of this money would come from excess revenues from tax payer money. But there won’t be excess revenues this year or next. The only other option is to use our overdraft protection, from where you ask our Transportation Reserves which could have been used to save The Bus and not reduce services rather than finance the Hernando Beach Dredging Project who serves the few rather than the riders who need public transportation. 

This project was ill conceived and has dragged on for over 6 years with no County oversight. Mr. Russell indicated he was a General Contractor for 28 years when referring to the comment someone should provide strong oversight to the Dredge Project to get the job done. Where has he been the last 6 years? Commissioner Russell committed us to this project when he was State Representative over 6 years ago when he lobbied for State matching Funds. Since than costs have been underestimated and a final cost still unknown and those who were paid to guide the county have been exonerated from mismanaging this project with the county assuming the lead role. Commissioner Russell is now off the hook now compliments of our County Administrator Hamilton and the new commissioners are now responsible for this project.