Posted on 04/12/2002 12:24:05 PM PDT by Big Dan
I've always wondered about the huckster named Matthew Lesko, who has made a living find free stuff you can get from the government. Since I just finished my taxes last night, I was particularly incensed at a "build-your-business"-type email featuring an article by Lesko.
So here's what he wants people to use YOUR AND MY money for. He calls it "Other Taxpayer's Money" and has no qualms about this.
A thought just occurred to me: Notify some taxpayer's watchdog group and have them buy his books and go through the entries page by page as a complete blueprint for what we might be able to CUT from the Federal Government. I'm not talking about eliminating free brochures for children's bike safety, for example, but I believe the "millions" of dollars that are available could be better spent, well, by the people who earned it.
I removed the links so he doesn't get free publicity from this. If you really want to know how to get the free money, then I made a mistake posting this here.
Big Dan
I've coined a phrase for this source of money: I call it "other taxpayers' money" - OTM for short. The federal government has millions of dollars of taxpayers' money allocated to funding businesses like yours.Here are a few great sources of OTM:
1) If you want to get training and/or money to start your own business, millions of dollars are available at [...] They'll also show you how to find alternative sources of financing, how to protect your invention, how to sell your idea, how to license your product, how to write legal contracts, how to sell overseas, and how to buy business equipment.
2) If you want money to export and sell products to foreign countries, you can obtain it from the Export-Import Bank of the United States at [...] Or you can go to The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) at [...]
3) If you want to obtain government contracts, then access the Procurement Assistance Offices online. Here, you'll learn how to draw up a business plan that will get your business noticed. They can match the product or service you're selling with the appropriate agency, and then help you market to them more effectively. You can find these programs at [...]
4) If you need venture capital for a new or existing business, then you need to go online and access the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC). These are privately-organized and privately-managed investment firms that are licensed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). With their own capital and with funds borrowed at favorable rates through the federal government, SBICs provide venture capital to small independent businesses, both new and established. You can access them at [...]
5) If you need free help or want to learn how to do your own personal or business taxes? All you have to do is access [...]
About The Author:Matthew Lesko is a New York times syndicated columnist, and author of 2 New York Times best-sellers. He is regularly featured as the nation's top expert on government freebies on TV programs such as Larry King, Oprah, David Letterman, Jay Leno, the Today Show and Good Morning America. His latest book, "Free Money for Entrepreneurs on the Internet" identifies hundreds of little-known sources of free government money for "net-repreneurs" and reveals the secret formula for easily obtaining the money for your business. Go to: [...]
I think Lesko should rename his books, "Getting your Piece of the Welfare State"
So here's what he wants people to use YOUR AND MY money for. He calls it "Other Taxpayer's Money" and has no qualms about this.
Hey there's 70% of the voting public clamoring for more from government looking for the top 40% of income earners/producers to foot the bill.
They seem to figure it's ok and politicians are more than willing to help them believe in the government toothfairy. Afterall:
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
-George Bernard Shaw
That's been a well known political fact for centuries:
Sir Alex Fraser Tytler (1742-1813). Scottish jurist and historian:
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury. From that time on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the results that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.
All yah have to do is hide or disguise the real taxburdens from the eyes of a majority of voters (less then 25% of the voting age public), and an instant spending constituency will keep you in office.
Why do you think Congress Critter's love business and payroll taxes so much, just gives em extra shells to hide the pea under and keep the marks coughing up votes.
Lesko is evil incarnate.
Lesko is just an opportunist taking advantage of a business opportunity. Evil incarnate are those (Congress Critters) that have created the opportunity and foster the illusion of a free lunch.
What do you expect to happen when over half the electorate is snookered into believing they don't pay taxes, and only "contribute" to their very own retirement fund and medical disability insurance.
Walter Williams, World Net Daily, 10-25-2000
According to the most recent U.S. Treasury Department figures, in 1997 the top 1 percent of income-earners (those with income of $250,000 and higher) paid 33 percent of all federal income taxes. The top 5 percent of income-earners ($108,000 and over) paid 52 percent, and the top 50 percent ($36,000 and over) paid 96 percent of income taxes. Guess what the bottom 50 percent of income earners paid?
If you're among those who pay little or no federal income taxes, what do you care about tax cuts? Moreover, if you think tax cuts pose a threat to government handout programs, you might be openly hostile and support Al Gore's silly "risky scheme" talk. So many Americans paying little or no federal taxes makes for a natural spending constituency. It's like me in the restaurant: What do I care about extravagance if you're footing the bill?
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