The Loss of Economic Freedom in Maine, in the US

Economic Freedom – what is it based on? What are the indicators? The monthly meeting of the Knox County Republican Party discussed what economic freedom meant. Carol Weston was the speaker and representative from Americans For Prosperity (AFP). During this discussion Carol pointed out that economic freedom is measure by the following:

1. The size of the government – policies that grow our government take away our freedom away. The more money goes to fund the Federal and state governments mean that there is less for our families.
2. Regulation that comes about with the increased size of government – as our Federal and State governments grow more regulation is created to justify the increased size and cost. This leaves less for our families to survive on.
3. Having a Sound Currency (Sound Money) – when our government is printing money at the rate it has been our currency becomes devalued. It becomes less sound.
4. Being able to trade with whomever brings about benefits for our national and local economies. Regulation will restrict what we can trade and limit opportunities and job growth.
5. Then there is the rule of law. Without a sound Judicial and court system. Without a process of a fair trail (for instance) there is a lack of a rule of law that diminishes the economic freedom we supposedly enjoy.

In 1999 the United States ranked number 5 in economic freedom. In 2012 the United States had fallen to 18 – behind such countries as Singapore, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, Qatar and the United Kingdom. The ability of our families to do better is being crippled by the bureaucracy surrounding us. There is less that we are able to do. Yet we are being asked to do more. We are told that the rich should be taxed more and that tax breaks should be taken away from them. Yet taxing those that make more than $1 million a year at a rate of 129% still would not close the gap and would only manage to run the government for a couple of weeks. No one wants the poor or down trodden to suffer. No one – not Republicans not Democrats. Neither do we want to lose the freedom we have – to make our own choices and not have others make them for us. Yet our economic freedom is quickly eroding away.

Carol Weston was engaging and mesmerizing in the message she delivered. Yet that same message was one of concern. Concern with the policies that our various levels of government are enacting are hurting the people. This hurt is at every level – rich, poor, families and single people. The economic freedom that is being stripped away hurts everyone and no one gains from the experience. To the audience Carol Weston invited anyone with questions to contact her. For up to date happenings in the RepubliCAN party please like us on Facebook. Or contact us at RepubliCANof ME@gmail.com.

What can we do for Our Country

John Kennedy January 20, 1961

"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

Barack Obama

"Ask what your country can do for you; not what you can do for your country."

 
In essence the State of the Union address last night 02-12-2013 was about what your country can and will do for you. Not what you should be doing for your country. The United States is able to do many things - but it does not have a bottomless pit of resources to give out to its citizens or the world. We have to handle our limited resources as best as we can. Our government does not have the ability to distribute the limited resources available better than the free market.

For more information please contact us at RepubliCANofME@gmail.com or like us on Facebook for up to date information on the RepubliCAN party in Maine.

Where Not to Die In 2013

It is nice to know that Maine is part of an exclusive club of hitting your estate up after you die.


Yahoo! News

Think you don’t have to worry about estate taxes because of the new generous federal estate tax law? Not so, for families in 21 states and the District of Columbia where separate state levies are still a big concern. “For the vast majority of people who are wealthy, the fear factor of the federal estate tax is gone, but many still need to focus on state estate and inheritance taxes,” says Martin Shenkman, an estate lawyer in Paramus, N.J.

Full story: Yahoo! News

Is this whats coming to America?

There is growing anger being displayed in Europe over austerity measures. People are upset with spending cuts by various governments and the threat of increased taxes.

There are budget crisis and governments no longer have the resources needed to cover the expenses associated with years of very generous entitlements. The protests that we are witnessing are coming about because many that will be impacted claim their livelihoods will be compromised by these changes. Unions are showing solidarity with the protesters - often encouraging them. They claim the protests are necessary to show the scale of opposition to these austerity measures. Governments are feeling the squeeze between what they know has to happen and what the protesters are demanding. There is not a lot of room to maneuver.

Is this what we can expect to happen here in America? Today we find ourselves on the edge of a cliff - teetering one way or another. Come January America will either fall over the cliff or get pulled back. In either case we as a country will find ourselves having to make some very unpleasant decisions. We run the very real risk of taking the path that Europe is going down. We cannot, though, continue upon the path that we find ourselves on. Raising taxes and cutting back so that we can live within our means is the only way to get us out of the hole we are slipping into.

There are going to be some very tough decisions that our leaders will be making. Decisions that will affect the entitlements that many in this country have become dependent upon. Pensions that can not be funded in the manner that they once were. There seems to be three options available to us:

1. Raise taxes on those that are still paying taxes. Do this across the board. There should not be any segment that gets a free ride. Raising taxes will in theory keep the entitlements that are out there and would cause the least harm to those receiving them.

2. Raise taxes and reduce entitlements. Do this across the board. As above no segment of society should get a free ride. Everyone will feel the pain.

3. Raise taxes, reduce entitlements and encourage job growth. The idea of getting more people on a payroll and paying taxes means in theory that taxes would not have to be raised as much and entitlements would not have to be reduced as much.

There are many ideas that could work - what is not working are the current ideas because it is only delaying what is inevitable - what we are seeing in Europe. If that is what this country wants then I suspect we will be seeing it soon. America is not like this - I hope