August « 2008 « i-rant

Politics – sparring on VP’s again, isn’t this about the President?

Jim Charanis | No Comments » Posted on August 31, 2008

My bile is up – I have to post this here as I have in other people’s face-book (my mom and sister, oye)!

Vice in GoGo Boots was the article I commented on: That was a really stupid editorial. The Times continues to go down-hill. If you can’t look for good here you don’t get it. I’m disappointed you couldn’t find a better bit of writing to do your satire. How fun it is to degrade a woman for being a woman. How odd it is to compare a potential VP to a First Lady. How stupid it is to focus on shopping and a breast-pump then execution on the job. It may be satire but its just like the satire about Obama’s race – stupid and it lingers.

I know my mom and sis think this is an insult to women – that the republicans just picked her for the woman vote. The conspiracy theory people all think the religious right is forcing him to do things. Who the hell knows, its all crap anyway. Mom makes a point that Liz Dole would have been better, that Palin should focus on Alaska and her family. Okay, good point - I agree Alaska needs her. Sis believes Hillary is a brilliant, educated, dedicated, person who best represented her views. I guess I wouldn’t have voted for Clinton because she is nothing like me, I’m not brilliant, barely educated and she doesn’t represent my views. Neither does Obama. I’m not thrilled with McCain and I don’t know enough about Palin and Biden is not my kind of politician. What the hell am I going to to. I’ll tell you this…

I give up – you both win. I will only vote for ugly women who don’t love their children from now on. Never mind the the many women I come in to contact every day who’s husbands take care of their children while they help change the world. Case in point – I work with 5 women, 3 have children, they are loving mothers who’s husbands keep house or work as well, and they are better salespeople then me. Imagine that.

Had it been Hillary I would have thought twice, Obama scares me. He is a demagogue and a populist, he will make ignorant people follow blindly and intelligent people afraid to speak their mind out of guilt. Its all wrong. You know what really bothers me, people love to judge from a bias point of view with the Republican party. Perhaps Liz Dole didn’t want to be VP, maybe she is tired of all this crap? I’m sure he would have picked Colin Powel in a heart beat but he and his wife don’t want him in the race anymore. And every time the Republicans put an African American or a Woman or an African American woman in a position of power she is a "Token" or a Frumpy Old Woman. Bush has put more blacks and women in appointed roles then any other administration, including Clinton. He has silently done more for Africa and Aids then any other president. I’m a pragmatist more then a staunch conservative but I feel the pressure to be "conservative" as they are the only ones being practical these days.

The Democrats continue to shift so far to the left and destroy even keeled thinkers like Joe Liberman with ignorant policies based on guilt and condescension. I want my kids to think about the environment and to care about the poor; but I want them to do it by contributing to our economy, changing the way we do business, contributing jobs and helping others to stand up on their own. Its not about redistribution of wealth, its about expansion of wealth. Its not about feeling sorry for the poor black man, its about the idea that three of the top four executives in my company are woman and we are one of the best run companies that I’ve ever been exposed to let along a part of. I don’t know everything about her but I went out and read both sides (as you saw in my post) – good and bad if you didn’t like the Bush administration, this certainly won’t be business as usual:

New York Times: Governor Palin "Took Intense Criticism From Members Of Her Own Party For Turning The Spotlight On The Failures Of Alaska Republicans." "But Ms. Palin ran as a change agent when she was elected as governor of Alaska in 2006, and in a move that might have appealed to Mr. McCain, she took intense criticism from members of her own party for turning the spotlight on the failures of Alaska Republicans, some of whom had been beset by corruption scandals." (Michael Cooper And Mitchell L. Blumenthal, "McCain Chooses Palin As Running Mate," The New York Times, 8/29/08)

If you want change – there it is, from within. Obama should have picked Hillary, McCain should have picked Liberman or Romney. There is too much change in this race.

Obama’s always been a senator – debating and legislating. And only on the national stage since 2006. He has been in our US Senate for 2 years and campaigning for the last 8 months (or more). I "hope" if he becomes president that he will know how to run things, will pick a cabinet that helps him and that he doesn’t debate over things, defer to other countries, do the "right" thing all the time – at the expense of our country as a sovereign nation. He has power over our youth because he says things, he is handsome, he is a preacher. I don’t like that – I want kids to be thinking not following. Kennedy was a wonderful leader -but he became paralyzed in so many of his decisions and did some pretty stupid things along the way. I’m sorry his life was ended so soon as he might have had time to learn from those mistakes, and changed things with his actions rather then his death.

I’m not sure and I haven’t been sure from the start the McCain was the right man for the job. But I’m getting closer with these conversations. In the end I think Obama will win, we will become a part of the European union and pay a VAT and Income Tax – I won’t have any money for retirement but it won’t matter because the state will take care of everything for me and my kids.

Tax Brackets (Federal Income Tax Rates) 2000 through 2008

Jim Charanis | No Comments » Posted on August 30, 2008

From 2000 to 2002 most brackets dropped by one percent, and there was a new low bracket added for the "lucky duckies" at the very bottom. In 2003 most brackets got an additional cut of two percent with a special gift for the "other" lucky duckies, the ones at the top. But note that the rich still paid more in 2003, and everybody else paid less, than was the case in 1992.
Will Obama take us back to 1993? Will McCain hold the line? Try this out:

Tax Brackets (Federal Income Tax Rates) 2000 through 2008

Single

	1992	1993-2000	2001	2002	2003-2008
$0 to 8,025	15%	15%	15%	10%	10%
8,025 to 32,550	15%	15%	15%	15%	15%
32,550 to 78,850	28%	28%	27.50%	27%	25%
78,850 to 164,550	31%	31%	30.50%	30%	28%
164,550 to 357,700		36%	35.50%	35%	33%
357 – above		39.60%	39.10%	38.60%	35%

Married

	1992	1993-2000	2001	2002	2003-2008
$0 to 16,050	15%	15%	15%	10%	10%
16,050 to 65,100	15%	15%	15%	15%	15%
65,100 to 131,450	28%	28%	27.50%	27%	25%
131,450 to 200,300	31%	31%	30.50%	30%	28%
200,300 to 357,700		36%	35.50%	35%	33%
357 – above		39.60%	39.10%	38.60%	35%

Add in state tax and you have to make a lot of money these days, but the more you make, the more you don’t make. If I owned a business and employed people I would think twice about expanding my business and hiring more – but if this wasn’t here, the sky is the limit. During the Clinton administration, more then 60% of every dollar a married couple made over $200K went to uncle sam, FICA and state taxes. 35-40% for those single people making less then 78K – I don’t want to go back to that.

Okay, we have our VP’s!

Jim Charanis | No Comments » Posted on August 29, 2008

Oh Brother, what is John thinking? Let her stay and finish the job in Alaska and she can come back at 52 to run the country. I said the same thing about Obama – I wish he had run for Governer of Illinois or Hawaii rather then taking this on with so little experience.

Sara Palin should stay Governor. I knew nothing about her but she certainly has done great things for the state in the short time she has been there. But it is a short time. Sara Palin on Wikipedia

Joe Biden? What’s this do for Obama – he gets someone that knows the Sentate and Washington as well as McCain does. But to me, that’s a liability not an asset. I guess his foreign policy work helps but this just doesn’t excite me. Still no experience running anything on this ticket. And this country needs someone who can run it, not just fix it. Joe Biden on Wikipedia

All the jokes about her looks and baby and whatever. Politics is politics. She is beautiful and had a "crazy youth" a popular athlete who became a news anchor and mayor. Then elected Governor in a tough race, God bless her! I imagine at this point Bill Clinton is trying to find a way to get in her pants either way, although she doesn’t have the same relationship with her state troopers as he did. Obama – he is eating this up, a demagogue ready to rule the world, because he knows better.

Many of my friends think Biden will kill her in debate. I’ve never heard Palin speak so I don’t know her debate skills. And I think she is too inexperienced to be president but:

If Obama had done as much in two years as a senator as she has in her short time as governor he would be a viable presidential candidate. I think its a long shot but I think that is the point. Read them both and you decide:

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/29/mccain-to-name-running-mate-on-friday/

http://egan.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/29/ms-alaska/

The Democrats will undoubtably make the leap to McCain dying in office and an inexperienced VP running the country. They must think Obama is going to die in office too because his inexperience is irellivent as Bidin can run the country when it happens. What the heck?

What, do you think you are the center of the universe?

Jim Charanis | No Comments » Posted on August 22, 2008

So I’m in the movie theatre and 4 girls walk in and sit one seat away from me in the same row. Its Batman – The Dark Knight. The kind of movie I like to get lost in. 30 minutes to go in the movie and the girl closest to me pulls out her blackberry with a backlight and starts tapping away. I figure – important message from her boyfriend that his wedgie got stuck and he needed help. Then 15 minutes to go and she pulls it out again, the freaking climax of the movie and what the hell is so freaking important!? I actually got up and moved over 5 seats (away from the awsome center seat I had).

When the lights come on we all leave, only one girl leavs her slurpie cup and empty bag of popcorn on the seat.

Generation Y? Generation Why? Generation Me! Well, we were just as bad – my father was right.

Study finds students narcissistic

These kid’s parents were the "boomers" – the original ME generation. My parents were one each – before and after the boom. I think the difference is that the Boomers were much more physically connected to each other (in many ways) and that led to much more empathy and consideration where the mood of this generation is social but disconnected as they communicate via technology rather then woodstock, wine bars and anti-war rallies. The boomers did end up a bit too selfish during the 80’s and 90’s but they did create a boom in the economy – maybe this generation will help us tweenies get out of the dip we are in now. I hope, there aren’t enough of me right now to support all those retiring boomers!. But first, they have to get their heads out of their computers, read less and get a little dirty. Its one thing to talk about hope, rail in your blog (smile) and complain about the evil empire; its another thing to contribute to the economy, walk among those of us actually working for a living and to give leadership to the next generation by creating wealth and prosperity through something more then temporary fixes and wealth redistribution. In too short of a time there won’t be much to redistribute – it will all be in India and China.

I hope he does!

Jim Charanis | No Comments » Posted on August 21, 2008

Republicans Worry That McCain Pick Will Rile Party Base

The exchange illustrates the concern within the Republican Party over Sen. McCain’s No. 2. While the senator has said he will pick someone who shares "my principles, my values and my priorities," he has also often done as he pleases rather than as he is told.

You know, I hope he does – GW started out that way and quickly became Chaney’s patsey. The last real man in the white house was Regan – man up John, do what is right not what is expected.

Capital G

Jim Charanis | No Comments » Posted on August 21, 2008

Is this about giving in, giving up – making fun, being real-istic. What do you think?

ARE YOU GENERATION Y KIDS THAT ARE NOW MAKING MONEY IN THIS PLACE?

Capital G YOUTUBE AUDIO

Nine Inch Nails – Lyrics

I pushed the button and elected him to office and a
He pushed the button and he dropped the bomb
You pushed the button and could watch in on the television
Those motherf**kers didn’t last too long

I’m sick of hearing about the have and have not’s
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we are doing things is
The more we let you have the less that I’ll be keeping for me

Well I use to stand for something
Well I’m on my hands and knees
Turning in my god for this one
and he signs his name with a capital G

Don’t give a shit about the temperature in Guatemala
Don’t really see what all the fuss is about
Ain’t gonna worry about no future generations
And I’m sure somebody’s gonna figure it out

Don’t try to tell me that some power can corrupt a person
You hadn’t had enough to know what its like
Your only angry cause you wish you were in my position
Now nod your head cause you know that I’m right..alright!

Well I use to stand for something
But forgot what that could be
Theres a lot of me inside you
Maybe your afraid to see

Well I use to stand for something
Well I’m on my hands and knees
Turning in my god for this one
and he signs his name with a capital G

POST: Tilting at T. Boone Picken’s windmills

Jim Charanis | No Comments » Posted on August 01, 2008

www.windaction.org | Tilting at T. Boone Picken’s windmills

I’m not sold on this windmill thing either. T. Boone is a terrific capitalist but this post makes a really good point, you can’t strap a windmill on a car – and that’s where the oil is going. What’s one got to do with the other?