"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the American Government take care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian."


Henry Ford

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.

The White is Playing with Childhood Memories

The White House took a $1 million dollar hit because of budget cuts. $1 million dollars is all that is standing between the citizens of this country and being able to visit the White House.

Currently the White House spends the following on 'essentials'

1. $100,000 for a dog trainer
2. $300,000 for three calligraphers

The White House budget amounts to $500 million a year. Of this the tours is budgeted at $4.3 million. The cuts as a result of the sequester amount to $350,000 - $50,00 less than the cost of the dog trainer and three calligraphers.

To put it into perspective. The Capitol Visitors Center is taking a $2 million dollar hit. The Capitol though continues to offer visits despite these cuts. Are these cuts really a result of the sequester or are they a way for the White House to politicize the cuts resulting from the sequester? Think of it this way. What will impact the American public react to more? Cuts on aid to such countries like Egypt, Pakistan or the Sudan? Or stopping visits to the White House?

Cuts to countries will have little or no media impact on the public. Not very dramatic. Yet on the other hand – limiting or eliminating visits to the White House will. That has media impact. I remember going as a kid to visit the White House - it has a lasting impression. President Obama has decided to deprive the children of this nation of a potentially life long memory – because of the sequester. President Obama will tell us that closure of the White House is a result of the Republicans.

Let the President know that you are upset by the fact that visits to the White House are being eliminated. Is it more important for the President to continue his Golf outings then for our children to be able to visit the White House - let us remember that the White House is our house. It is self serving of the President to cancel visits to the White House. It is also the President playing politics and trying to force his oppositions hand. Let him know you are not happy.

The President can be emailed here.

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.

Bruce Poliguin speaks at the Knox County Republican Party Meeting

Bruce Poliquin was the guest speaker at tonight’s Knox County Republican Party meeting. He focused on the budget battle and what we as a state are up against in trying to balance the states books.

Although things are better than they were four years or even two years ago. We are not out of the woods yet and still have major problems ahead to tackle. Bruce told the crowd of listeners that Maine for this budget still has a shortfall of $100 million that needs to be closed. It was explained how this was going to be accomplished.

Bruce explained how the Federal Government is borrowing for $16 trillion dollars. While the interest now is low it now consumes 40% of what we borrow. The worry is what will happen when those rates start to rise. This will affect Maine and how the state will be able to handle its budget. Because when rates rise for the Federal Government the services that will be squeezed out will be passed along to the states. Maine which is in a budget crisis as a result of spending beyond our means will have to make drastic cuts in order to balance what it spends with what is taken in.

For the next budgetary cycle starting mid July 2013 and running to July 2015 the state is facing a $800 million shortfall. How do we close this gap – where are the problems. Some of the areas that Bruce talked about were uncomfortable but needed to be addressed.

1. Medicare is a huge problem. Federal reimbursement to the state is only $0.63 this is down from $0.73. Payments still have to be maintained to Hospitals. The state has balanced this portion of the budget in the past by not paying what was owed. To date the state owes for $480 million to the states hospitals.
2. Revenue sharing will be reduced to 0% for this two year period (currently at 3.5%). There has been a 123% increase in property tax and it is expected there will be further rises. The state has no money for this program and towns have become dependent on this money to cover shortfalls. The money is drying up for the state and as a result money is drying up for towns from the state.
3. School budgets are closely related to revenue sharing and represents a huge portion of any towns budget. Instead of looking for cost efficiencies towns will often vote on increasing budgets. Yet it was pointed out that budgets do not have to be passed all because they have been proposed. Bruce and members of the audience related stories of voting against budget increases. It requires grassroots action to do this. It was also recommended that we ask our superintendent of schools if they are purchasing insurance independently as example.

The point of these examples is that in the past we spent more than we took in.  That the state relied on creative accounting to push off to the future what it could not pay for today. That we relied on Federal stimulus money to help cover other debts and program expansions. That creative accounting and stimulus money has either gone away or dried up and the state is faced with some hard decisions. It has only been recently that Augusta has had a backbone in trying to accomplish this difficult task. There is going to be huge debates on the budget in the up coming weeks. The legislature is going to try and kill tax breaks as a way to counter the hard choices the Governor is suggesting. It is agreed that everyone is going to be affected but how the citizens will be impacted is going to depend on how the budget is passed. The Governor is trying to pass it so that it will have a minimal of impact on everyone. The worry is that special interest groups will start to carve out areas to protect so that in the end the burden will fall on fewer and fewer people. Let your representative know that it is time to get our house in order and work with the Governor.

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

I was channeling Republican Mitt Romney – Obama is quoted – or was he?

At a campaign speech given at Kent State University on Wednesday September 26, 2012 President Obama was quoted as saying that he was in favor of outsourcing US jobs. It was quickly stated that the President had misspoke. Or did he?

The fact that the President's policies of higher taxation and regulation, of Obama care and blocking aspects of energy production is forcing the exportation of US jobs. Exactly what he had accused Romney of doing.
Take the following outsourcing examples:

1. Fisker – the electric-car company was to use part of its $529 million federal stimulus loan guarantee to build a manufacturing facility. This facility was going to create and support 500 or so jobs. The plant was built in Finland instead of in Delaware.
2. GM who is owned by the US taxpayer is required to share the taxpayer-subsidized technology it has created with our competitors in China. This is considered the cost of doing business with China.
3. GM has also agreed to giving the technology that goes into every Cadillac to its competitor and partner in China
4. China was allowed to place a 30% tariff on excavators made by Caterpillar and other US heavy equipment manufacturers. This forced these companies to build plants in China. Part of the cost was giving away the technology behind the machinery.

Since 2010 the US has been exporting an estimated 30,000 middle class jobs to China and other countries - per month.  Is it any wonder that we – as a nation – have seen the disintegration of middle class families? The policies that Obama supports is making it more expensive for US firms to do business in the US. Other nations are more than willing to take those jobs from us.

Restored Payroll Tax Pinches Those Who Earn the Least

At the beginning of  2013 when I received my first paycheck of the year it was less than what I had been receiving. I expected this and I was making about the same as I was before my change of rolls at my job. It was okay because I want to do my part. About a week later I learned that beginning with that payroll I had received a pay raise. What was originally estimated as a $30.00 or so increase in tax per pay period now came out to almost $60.00. Like the people interviewed for the following article - I too have had to cut back. Going out once a month can no longer happen. I walk to work so that I don't have to fill up and I try and make due with less. For this sacrifice the federal government gets more of my money and the local businesses get less. Then again the feds can better spend my hard earned money - not really.


New York Times

Jack Andrews and his wife no longer enjoy what they call date night, their once-a-month outing to the movies and a steak dinner at Logan’s Roadhouse in Augusta, Ga. In Harlem, Eddie Phillips’s life insurance payment will have to wait a few more weeks. And Jessica Price is buying cheaper food near her home in Orlando, Fla., even though she worries it may not be as healthy.

Like millions of other Americans, they are feeling the bite from the sharp increase in payroll taxes that took effect at the beginning of January. There are growing signs that the broader economy is suffering, too.

Chain-store sales have weakened over the course of the month. And two surveys released last week suggested that consumer confidence was eroding, especially among lower-income Americans.

While these data points are preliminary — more detailed statistics on retail sales and other trends will not be available until later this month — at street level, the pain from the expiration of a two-percentage-point break in Social Security taxes in 2011 and 2012 is plain to see.

Full story: New York Times