Posted on 03/23/2010 4:39:59 PM PDT by Federation 2005
Much has been made over the recent developments in the United States and the growing dysfunctionality of its "representative" body, its looming insolvency and the progressive loss of credibility of its governing institutions.
Though cast in the language of "Us versus Them", each side pointing the fingers at one another; this isn't about partisanship. The issue runs far deeper than the latest topic of the day, whether it be health care, the bank failures, the Republicans' spending splurge c. 2004-2008 or the Democrats' splurge c. 2006-now.
Like most other nations on Earth, the United States has gone deeper into debt; having done so (according to the Bureau of Public Debt) every single year since the Eisenhower Administration. This has taken place over the course of all combinations of administrations of its two parties and ideological polarities; Republican & Democratic. It has taken place in the midst of revolutions on both sides of the conservi-liberal spectrum, be it the 1960's era Johnson war on poverty, the 1980's "Morning in America" polyannish nonsense. The Public Debt has gone up 10-fold, almost like clockwork, nearly every 20 years since the early 1900's.
During that time, particularly in the last few years and decades, we have seen the rise of registries throughout the land for scarlet-letter "deviants", the ballooning of a small "pay as you go" (and voluntary) contribution to social security into a regressive 15% tax, the rise of de-facto citizenship ID's, the imprisonment of a larger portion of the adult population (mostly on non-violent offenses) than in any other major develped country by far, the rise into prominence citizen registries (e.g. the credit bureau) run by unelected authorities and other unelected bodies holding substantial power, the recent legalization of broadcasting of advertising by what are little more than legalized drug dealers (commercials for prescription medications that are forbidden in nearly every other developed nation), the erection of de facto prison walls around the borders, the erosion of privacy rights, the implementation of legalized torture, courts that have lost their credibility selling away the public airwaves to the large collectives (be they unions or corporations), the threat of citizen registries for those merely accused of being "deviants" (as nearly happened recently in Ohio), and so on.
Now, the latest in the long litany of indignities includes a measure that will impose a Life Tax on the population of the United States. Unlike other taxes, this is not a tax levied against you based on how much you have or make. Rather, it is a tax imposed on you simply for being alive. Like the rent a sharecropper pays for being allowed to farm his or her land, or the cost a serf pays simply for staying on a manor in the Middle Ages, the United States is now ordering you to pay a fee simply for existing.
Whether it is paid to the plutarchy that the corporate elite have become in this country, or paid as a fine to what would otherwise be a socialist oligarchy is irrelevant. It means the same thing in both cases, and it IS the same thing.
No legitimate government anywhere on this earth has the right to impose a Life Tax on its people. You may take this as the acid test for and definition of legitimacy, itself.
A government with a Life Tax is a government that has given up its right to exist.
References:
1. The Public Debt, 1789-now, The Bureau of Public Debt
The Public Debt has gone up each year since 1959, including during the time of the so-called "surplus" near the turn of the century.
2. "On Being the Right Size", J.B.S. Haldane, The World of Mathematics, Volume 2, 952-957
Discusses the break-down of scale-symmetry in animals, societies and political institutions.
3. The Third Wave (aka Future Shock II; 1979, Toffler)
(The chapters "The Political Mausoleum" and "21st Century Democracy" are early presages of this article)
4. Revolutionary Wealth (aka Future Shock IV; 2006, Toffler)
Links and Notes:
1. Revoke Congressional Budgetary Powers.
talk.politics.misc, 2008 November 4
Introduces the concept of Popular Mandate Democracy
2. The US as a 0 Party State: Revoking public recognition of all political parties
talk.politics.misc, 2008 November 3
3. The Parables of the Torn Fabric and the Two Ropes,
talk.politics.misc, 2009 April 24
4. World War III,
sci.econ, 1995 April 19; 2010 March 22
The budgetary collapse as an after-effect of World War III (aka the Cold War).
I think I have a Red Hat (though I quit using Red Hat Linux many years ago - Fedora Linux became too nasty, ugly and unworkable). Hat is snap-brim Goretex. Goes with my Red Jacket. Both bought in the 80s. Not worn since.
I like red clothes. Red shoes, red hats, red boots, red jackets, red sweaters....the list goes on...
Hm. You never struck me as being a Red. *\;-)
As you know, I’ve been working on my genealogy and just recently found some more South African ancestors. I printed out the ones I thought were in my lineage just before I left for NC.
When I got back, I began to input the data. Lo, and behold! I found I have (drum roll, please) some Zulus who showed up in the late 1600’s to early 1700’s.
What I want to know is why I didn’t get some curly hair???
You didn’t know me when my hair was copper-color in the sunshine!!
But Red, I am. But not Red Communist. Or red bleeding heart liberal. Or red Cuban.
Just RED.
OK...I’m off to bed!
'Face has Zulu ancestry??? Outside of her Amazonian height and presence and love of fun and one or two other things, why am I not surprised?! (This is the short, stocky, pale, boring and totally peaceable Scot speaking. *\;-)
Curly hair is another matter though. My straight-haired blonde sisters envied me my curls'; long since gone, the remnants of which today only mess up my beard.
'Face, you are a true-blue red-blooded American! I will attest to that. And I know LoM will say the same.
But my evening is drawing nigh -- we have to be up early tomorrow for the first of my trips through May. I will be back when I can.
Good luck!
Good morning!
Ironically, sion, TC loaned me a book on South Africa, and I’ve found several names in it (only to page 56 for now) that are in my genealogy. This stuff is so addictive!!
The computer is FINALLY online, though I spent the last 2-1/2 hours waiting for the modem to remember its job. A techie is supposed to come out this afternoon, but I have a feeling I’ll be looking for a new computer when my TV is paid for.
TC, mah Southron Sistah, tell Master Thomas that the wind uprooted trees here yesterday (not tornadoes, just wind) and that we are still in the vacuum of whatever front is messing up the state.
After I got home, I learned one of my favorite nephews has relocated to SC “somewhere on the coast” and that had I known, he could have visited me. Ah well...maybe I can convince him to get cracking on the NC, SC, TN, and KY ancestors.
I miss everyone!!
Anywhere on the coast is 3-6 hours from my casa.
Back from the library and bank. Bill was holding onto a check OldTax-lady sent for his birthday, and it was lousing up her bank-rec. Now it’s deposited, and I’ll give him the money when he wants it, or pay for something he wants to buy. Something about a “better” skateboard, I think.
hi. in sfr on bart.
BART? I hated BART!!
Perhaps Tom should skateboard in lieu of running? Then it won’t seem like work!!
This morning’s project is packing away soft, bulky items into the big storage bags so I can box them up and put them on the patio under the tarps. When I get the brakes paid for, I’ll get a larger storage unit and get it all in there.
At least I’m making more room in this place so I won’t feel so closed-in. :o]
Winter stuff out, summer stuff in!!
(I’m lonely for all the little/big huggy bodies!)
I was on BART in the early 70s when it was new. I was disappointed that the train didn’t actually run *through* the bay so you could see the water out the windows ;-).
I was claustrophobic because the BART ran UNDER the Bay on it’s way to the Opera House. (Whatever its name was...I only recall we went to see “The Nutcracker.”
It was such an awesome event...7th Row, Center.
I just watched “Kite Runner.” (Netflix) Afghanis. The book was depressing (to me) but the movie was beautiful!!
It inspires HOPE! (Of all things....)
You in bed, yet? Or is it time for a Restorative with DP and the Frankenbaby? (I sure wish the latter would have let me snuggle with him! He is so awesomely, fatally CUTE!!!)
Hello?
Have we found a new home for May? FYI, my birthday is in May, and I could use a really silly thread!!!!
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