Category Archives: Pensacola

Economy, Florida, Pensacola, Politics

Obamacare Is Void, Lawless Administration Doesn’t Care

2 Comments

That’s the bottom line where Judge Roger Vinson’s opinion on the State of Florida v. U.S. Dept. of HHS is concerned. Judge Vinson of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida yesterday became the second federal judge to strike down Obamacare’s individual mandate.

Drawing on the precedent of the original Boston Tea Party was not only valid, but whether intentional or not, was a nice kick in the pants balls to the political Left that non-stop demonized the ‘tea party’ of today. Attaching a vulgar sexual act to them.  ? Maybe projecting what really turns them on.

Judge Vinson writes . . .

“It is difficult to imagine that a nation which began, at least in part, as the result of opposition to a British mandate giving the East India Company a monopoly and imposing a nominal tax on all tea sold in America would have set out to create a government with the power to force people to buy tea in the first place. If Congress can penalize a passive individual for failing to engage in commerce, the enumeration of powers in the Constitution would have been in vain for it would be ‘difficult to perceive any limitation on federal power’ and we would have a Constitution in name only.”

Like Judge Henry Hudson of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Judge Vinson also found that Section 1501 of the act, which forces all Americans to buy government-approved health insurance policies, “falls outside the boundary of Congress’ Commerce Clause authority and cannot be reconciled with a limited government of enumerated powers.”

But then Judge Vinson went even further, concluding that “the individual mandate and the remaining provisions are all inextricably bound together in purpose and must stand or fall as a single unit.” Accordingly, Vinson concluded: “Because the individual mandate is unconstitutional and not severable, the entire Act must be declared void.” {emphasis added}

Judge Vinson further explained the problem with the mandate part of the bill.

For the reasons stated, I must reluctantly conclude that Congress exceeded the bounds of its authority in passing the Act with the individual mandate. That is not to say, of course, that Congress is without power to address the problems and inequities in our health care system. The health care market is more than one sixth of the national economy, and without doubt Congress has the power to reform and regulate this market. That has not been disputed in this case. The principal dispute has been about how Congress chose to exercise that power here.30

And to that point, Judge Vinson expounded on what is faulty with a federal mandate by using then Senator Barack Obama’s own words. Oh ya gotta love it. {Free cheesesteak for Judge Vinson.} Judge Vinson continues . . .

30 On this point, it should be emphasized that while the individual mandate was clearly “necessary and essential” to the Act as drafted, it is not “necessary and essential” to health care reform in general. It is undisputed that there are various other (Constitutional) ways to accomplish what Congress wanted to do. Indeed, I note that in 2008, then-Senator Obama supported a health care reform proposal that did not include an individual mandate because he was at that time strongly opposed to the idea, stating that “if a mandate was the solution, we can try that to solve homelessness by mandating everybody to buy a house.” See Interview on CNN’s American Morning, Feb. 5, 2008, transcript available at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0802/05/ltm.02.html.

{great research Judge}

Here is Obama’s quote in context. He was responding to Sen. Hillary Clinton’s idea of mandating health insurance . . .

OBAMA: Let’s break down what she really means by a mandate. What’s meant by a mandate is that the government is forcing people to buy health insurance and so she’s suggesting a parent is not going to buy health insurance for themselves if they can afford it. Now, my belief is that most parents will choose to get health care for themselves and we make it affordable.

Here’s the concern. If you haven’t made it affordable, how are you going to enforce a mandate. I mean, if a mandate was the solution, we can try that to solve homelessness by mandating everybody to buy a house. The reason they don’t buy a house is they don’t have the money. And so, our focus has been on reducing costs, making it available. I am confident if people have a chance to buy high-quality health care that is affordable, they will do so. That’s what our plan does and nobody disputes that.

Oh what a difference a couple years make.

Refusing to take NO for an answer the administration intends to ignore the Judges ruling that the legislation is VOID. Because the judge did “not order the government to stop implementing the law, a senior administration source said ‘implementation will proceed at pace.'” Legally speaking, when the legislation is considered VOID by the judiciary, the other branches have nothing to go on to proceed. They have to either appeal it or ask for a stay. Tomorrow, President Obama ought to request the senate to repeal the bill and start over. Don’t hold your breath for that to happen. Ignoring the ruling just highlights how lawless this administration is. It is the Chicago way. It’s what community organizers do.

Media, Pensacola, Politics

Keith Olbermann Off The Air

Well, at least as far as pMSNBC is concerned. Friday’s show was his last. This makes half of a Libectomy for the cable network.

A statement from NBC Universal revealed the move late Friday.

“MSNBC and Keith Olbermann have ended their contract,” it read. “The last broadcast of ‘Countdown with Keith Olbermann’ will be this evening. MSNBC thanks Keith for his integral role in MSNBC’s success and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”

It is apparent how much MSNBC appreciates Olbermanns role in the network’s success. Dang, another American in the unemployment line.

Here’s an idea. The Ring of Fire can’t get enough of you Keith. Maybe you could get a job there? Glad I could be of some help.

I’m not gloating. Am I gloating?

Link: Keith Olbermann leaving MSNBC

Economy, Pensacola

Deficit Commission And Debt Ceiling Sleight Of Hand

Hearken back to 2008. The government’s budget (yeah, they had one back then) was what it was. The debt was what it was also. Since that time, we’ve seen what we were told were ‘bailouts’ for various and sundry items that were going to save the economy from collapse. Instead, what happened was that the size of government grew.

Now, the president’s Deficit Commission dutifully omitted the part about going back to where we were in 2008, as if the new bloated government was the new starting point to work on decreasing the debt. They, through this sleight of hand, have assumed the massive growth in government in the last two years as a given, instead of the temporary booster shot that the bailouts were sold to us as being.

Putting aside all the minutiae and detail, the crux of the proposal comes down to two points: capping federal government expenditures at 22% — and eventually 21% — of GDP, and capping revenues at 21% of GDP.For virtually all of the Clinton and G.W. Bush years – and during all the Kennedy/Johnson/Nixon years – federal expenditures ranged between 18 and 20% of GDP.

The more important problem is on the revenue side. According to Office of Management and Budget figures, federal revenues have NEVER reached 21% of GDP. In fact, only in Bill Clinton’s final year in office – and during WW II – did revenues even exceed 20% of GDP. During the whole time from 1960 through 2008, federal tax revenues almost always fell between 17 and 19% of GDP, only occasionally rising above 19% (chiefly in Clinton’s second term) or below 17% (G. W. Bush’s first term). Even President Obama’s FY 11 Budget has federal revenues rising only to around 19% of GDP by 2015. So the 21% “cap” represents two full percentage points of GDP above what we have experienced even during historically “high” tax environments.

The next project for the new congress (remember we still don’t have a 2011 budget) is whether or not to raise, I said RAISE, the debt ceiling. That is a process that allows Washington to put us further into debt. It is also the process that will codify and approve the smoke and mirrors of the stimulus spending as being temporary, to being the new bloated state and size of our government as being permanent.

Question is will the American people see it this way? When Obama says we need to cut spending, he means that after increasing spending by orders of magnitude that we should be content with that, keep the size and reach of government where it is,  and then we shouldn’t be spending any more.

Which brings us to ‘put our money where your mouth is’ day. Will congress acquiesce to the current size of government and all the bureaucracy that goes with it or will they say NO to raising the debt ceiling? If they approve raising the debt ceiling, will they follow up with the drastic cuts needed so we will not have to raise our grandchildren’s debt again?

Here is something else to ponder. No matter the spin about spending out there, our national debt has now surpassed, or on its way to soon surpass, our GDP. Put simply, we’re spending, and continue to spend, more than we make.

Link: What Am I Missing?

Economy, Florida, Pensacola

Any County Can Do It, Even Escambia

Now that the election is over, there still remains a solution that, whether implemented on the state level or the county level, can turn red ink into black. And it doesn’t come from taxing more or going further into debt. It is done by decreasing cost, with little effort and no sacrifice required. A novel idea for sure. And something that no one except economist Farid Khavari has thought of. Well, except for North Dakota, one of only two states with a surplus. They’ve been doing it for about 100 years and they only have a population of 672,591 people. His explanation below ought to be a challenge to our new state, county and city leaders to really think ‘outside the box’ and move our economy in the right direction.

Florida candidate for governor Farid Khavari shows you how in the article below. You can substitute Miami-Dade County for any county you want. It will work to our advantage. And by ‘our’ I mean, the government entity as well as the taxpayers. The progression goes like this; as the revenue increases, the taxes can be reduced. It’s just that simple. Download and read Zero-Cost Economy to find out how. The solution to our macro economic problem involves more than just our bank. But the public bank solution will go a long way in reducing our costs all by itself.

AN ECONOMIC SOLUTION FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

by Farid A. Khavari, Ph.D., economist

Whether or not efforts to recall Miami-Dade County’s mayor and three commissioners succeed, MDC’s government must confront escalating unemployment, rampant foreclosures, declining property values and shrinking economic activity. Obviously, we cannot expect Washington or Tallahassee to save us. What we need are leaders and a coherent Economic Plan for Miami-Dade County’s future.

Miami-Dade County’s government faces the same insurmountable problem as a typical family today: costs are rising faster than income. When a family must pay higher costs for interest, taxes, insurance, energy, medical care, food and clothing, first they can cut back and reduce their quality of life. Eventually, the family will end up in debt and destitute. A county government can also cut back on services and employees. Of course, a county government can raise taxes to increase its income.

However, raising tax rates on declining property values and shrinking economic activity is a temporary fix at best. In the long term, it can only lead to more unemployment and further erosion of the tax base. This creates more need for county services as revenues dry up, clearly an unsustainable situation.

Simply put, anywhere you look, there is just not enough money.

Fortunately, there is a permanent solution to Miami-Dade County’s economic problems which will also benefit every county resident and make Miami-Dade County recession-proof forever. The solution includes reducing reliance on tax revenues, while lowering and finally eliminating property taxes by 2015. MDC’s government can earn more revenue than ever before, by providing services which lower the costs of living for its residents.

The results of this solution will be massive job creation without subsidies, a stable and affordable housing market, and unprecedented prosperity as everyone’s costs of living are reduced. MDC will have a permanent budget surplus without cutting jobs or salaries.

The cornerstone of this solution is to create the Bank of Miami-Dade County, owned by the county and operated for the benefit of the people of MDC. This bank can be established at no cost to the taxpayers, and earn billions of dollars per year for MDC’s treasury, while saving MDC residents even more billions per year in interest costs.

A publicly-owned bank is not unprecedented. The State of North Dakota has owned a bank since 1918. North Dakota has the lowest unemployment in the U.S. (less than 4% compared to MDC’s 13+%), and a budget surplus of over $1 billion, because they do not rely on Wall Street for money. MDC can do even better.

Under the same Fractional Reserve regulations that govern all banks, the Bank of Miami-Dade County can create $900 of new money through loans, for every $100 of new deposits. Since the BMDC will not be encumbered by massive derivatives liabilities and bad loans, and will operate for the benefit of the people of MDC rather than Wall Street—the BMDC can make substantial profits by paying higher rates for deposits than it charges for loans. Thus we can have:

4% Certificates of Deposit, 6% for long-term IRA’s

2% fixed rate, 15-year mortgages (new and refinance) for MDC residents and businesses

6% credit cards

3% car loans

3% business and construction financing

2% student loans (new and refinance)

2% alternative energy loans

2% financing/refinancing for MDC government and school projects

and more.

Note that in the extreme case of paying 6% for deposits, and charging only 2% for loans, the bank can earn $12 per year for every $100 of deposits ($900 x 2%= $18, less $6 for the deposit).

If we consider just the County’s own receipts as deposits for the bank, over $70 BILLION in new money can be created and earn at least $2 BILLION per year for MDC’s treasury. At the same time, MDC’s people and businesses would save at least $4 billion per year in interest expenses, which is $4 billion more that will stay in MDC to drive the economy. This is $4 billion PER YEAR added directly to the net worth of MDC citizens.

This additional $4 billion per year can create $36 billion per year in new money, earning another $1.5 billion for MDC’s treasury.

Most deposits cost a bank nothing. But to build up real wealth for MDC’s people and the treasury, the bank can pay above-market rates for savings. By attracting only 10% of the deposits already in banks in MDC, the BMDC can create another $90 billion in new money, ENOUGH TO PROVIDE A $100,000 2%/15-YEAR MORTGAGE LOAN FOR EVERY HOUSING UNIT IN DADE COUNTY. This would earn MDC’s treasury another $1 billion per year. At the same time, the homeowners would save over $2.5 billion per year in interest. That money contributes directly to the net worth of MDC citizens and stays in MDC to drive the economy.

Earnings from the bank can replace property tax revenues for MDC. Starting with pro-rata property tax rebates in the first year, then lower tax rates combined with rebates, BY 2015 MDC’S PROPERTY TAXES CAN BE ELIMINATED.

The result of the foregoing will be 150,000 new jobs in MDC within three years. This eliminates unemployment in MDC. These jobs will be created by the private sector, without subsidies. Within six years, those new jobs will have created 100,000 more.

It seems obvious that 2% mortgages would save everyone money, create employment and boost the housing market. However, in light of recent history, it is natural to assume that 2% mortgages would cause another housing bubble. In fact, 2% fixed rate/15 year mortgages would do exactly the opposite, creating stability and affordability in housing. Prices will stabilize at levels which are affordable to buyers and profitable for builders.

The reason is simple. While a 2%/15 year mortgage will save over 75% of the interest compared to a 5%/30 year loan, the monthly payment is slightly higher on the 2% loan due to the shorter term. This limits the price of a home for which a buyer’s income qualifies. At the same time, low construction interest rates mean the builder can earn more money offering a better house for a lower price. Further, since the average interest cost on a 2%/15 year loan (due to the rapid principle reduction) is only 1% per year, home prices will remain stable long-term for future generations of home buyers.

There are much more important long-term economic benefits from 2%/15-year mortgages. To begin with, a family will save about $150,000 in interest per $100,000 of mortgage amount, and own their home 15 years sooner. This means that after 15 years, the monthly amount that would have been paid for the next 15 years for a 30-year mortgage is available for spending or investment. This can result in $250,000 in extra retirement savings.

Further, with a 2%/15-year loan, 11% of the principle balance is paid in the first two years. This effectively creates enough reserves to make another mortgage loan of the same size. This makes the 2%/15 mortgage plan self-sustaining.

Creating the Bank of Miami-Dade County will cost taxpayers NOTHING. Using the bank’s earnings to replace property-tax revenue returns $billions per year to the people and economy of MDC. Operating the bank for the benefit of the people saves more $billions per year for the people and economy of MDC.

MDC will never face a deficit again. MDC will be recession-proof forever. Unemployment in MDC will be the lowest in the world. MDC’s people will enjoy prosperity and financial security unparalleled in the United States. Miami-Dade County will be a model for the entire United States.

Farid A. Khavari, Ph.D., is a noted economist and author of nine books, including the classic Environomics and his latest, Toward a Zero-Cost Economy. He was a candidate for Florida governor on the 2010 ballot. His proposal to create a state-owned bank in Florida was adopted by gubernatorial candidates (including Democrats and Republicans) in seven states. Dr. Khavari has lived in Miami since 1977. For more information, see www.zerocosteconomy.com.

Pensacola, Politics

Philly’s Takes A Hit, Stimulates Economy

Some jerk(s) decided to create their own stimulus program by breaking into my ATM machine last night. They found out the hard way that the machine had no money in it.

They totaled the ATM machine finding that out. That, and they made a big hole in the wall and destroyed all three of my neighbor’s doors.

So from the prospective of some in Washington, we have some economic stimulus going on. An increase in capital investment (an ATM machine) and jobs for the construction trade (3 new doors and a wall  repair). Kind of reminiscent of Cash For Clunkers.

All that with no government intervention and without increasing the national debt.

ABC Channel 3 TV was on the scene. 🙂

http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_12791.shtml?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d0c52f36a6efb54%2C0

China, Economy, Energy, Florida, Media, Pensacola, Politics

Florida’s No-Energy Policy Is No Energy Policy

It’s not surprising that the St. Petersburg Times would come out with an editorial supporting the President’s about face on opening up 25 million acres of land off of Florida’s coast to oil exploration. They also thought that shutting down ALL oil drilling in the entire Gulf of Mexico by ALL oil companies was a good idea too! It reflects the knee-jerk reaction to pressure from the environmentalist lobby who, last I checked, does not produce energy.

Critics of the plan, like State Senate President Mike Haridopolos, are right to say that the Florida ban will cost jobs. It is preventing jobs from being created. Forget that ‘saved or created’ nonsense. This, like the rest of Obama’s economic policies are preventing jobs from being created and the economy from recovering.

Out of the lost wages and earnings, all of which BP is responsible for replacing, the Times did not give a number of jobs lost due to the leak. And didn’t BP put thousands of people to work (because of the leak) all over the Gulf coast to do the cleanup work? Sorry to say, but devastating hurricanes create jobs and work too! This is no more a justification for lax safety procedures than a hope for another accident. Point is, we can recover from accidents and disasters.

The jobs lost by extending this Florida waters moratorium another 12 years is real. Likewise, the jobs lost from our president and Ken Salazar putting the drilling moratorium in effect for all drilling in the Gulf in the wake of the 4/20 BP rig explosion was ignored by the St. Pete Times. But, that is to be expected of them.

It’s been 15 years since the Clinton administration put the kibosh on ANWR development, which would have long been producing energy by now had that not happened. Now we’re to wait twelve more years for Florida and the Eastern U.S. to use its resources?

Time is long overdue for an energy policy that gets some. In every area. How many new nuclear generating plants have opened in the last 20 years? How many new refineries have been built in the last 20 years? Did you know that 57% (that’s more than half for those of you educated in government schools) of our electrical energy comes from coal? How many new coal-fired electrical generating plants have been built in the last 20 years? So President Clinton made our nation’s only low sulfur coal reserves (the largest in the world) off-limits, handing China a monopoly. And banning oil development off our East and Gulf coasts, leaves OPEC to profit. Buying coal from China and oil from OPEC is not good for national security, nor is it a good energy policy.

Long story short. Unless you expect the energy industry to make environmental guidelines, don’t expect the environmentalists to make energy policy.

Link:    Shelving expanded gulf oil drilling is responsible course |  Oil spills kill jobs

Pensacola, Uncategorized

A Joe Bonamassa Encounter

My meet and greet with Joe Bonamassa. Thanks Joe!

Had the privilege of meeting my favorite guitarist, let alone favorite blues guitarist, today. And am psyched to be seeing his show at the Saenger Theater a few hours from now. Whether I will be the oldest fan there remains to be seen.

I had the chance to confirm what I had suspected, if not hoped for, today when I had my chance to talk to Joe. I remember seeing a young guitarist who was in the opening act at a Steve Winwood concert back in the early 90’s. This kid was around 15 or 16 years old. The opening act for Winwood was a group called Tesla. Like a lot of opening acts, I had never heard of them, but the guy I went with was there to see them instead of Winwood. I of course, being much older 🙂 was there to see Winwood.

Anyway, this young guitar player was amazing. He played way beyond his years. Seeing this video of Joe jogged my memory of the guitar player who guested with Tesla. Joe confirmed for me today that he did play Philadelphia and he did play with Tesla back around that time. So it seems I had my own back-to-the-future moment today. That was a rush. Tonight will be another.

Update 12/2/2010: Some stills from the show.

[nggallery id=27]

Pensacola

Joe Bonamassa Preview

Pensacola, fasten your seatbelts. JB is coming to town. If you’ve never heard about Joe Bonamassa, then you haven’t been keeping up with the Blues. Well that, and you haven’t been reading The Lunch Counter either.

At any rate, the best local review, or preview, of Joe Bonamassa’s show at the Saenger Theater tomorrow night, Dec.1, can be found in the IN Weekly in a piece called Tangled Up In Blues.

Check it out.

Link:  Tangled Up in Blues | inweekly.  |  Lunch Counter links and videos of Joe Bonamassa

Florida, Pensacola

Joe Bonamassa At Pensacola Saenger, Dec 1

I know I’ve posted an announcement like this before. But I have a couple of things to add, and, you probably haven’t bought your tickets yet. There’s still time. Visit Ticketmaster or the Joe Bonamassa website or the Saenger Theater website to get them. Buy 3 and get a fourth free.

At your next visit to Philly’s, pick up a flyer for the Saenger show. On the flyer there is an address and promo code that lets you download a free MP3 of Joe’s audio art. We now have two Philly’s locations in Pensacola. Our world headquarters at 3900 Creighton Road (850-969-0087), and our new location in the Milestone Shopping Center (aka Publix Shopping Center) at the intersection of Nine Mile and Pine Forest. The address there is 2166 W. Nine Mile Road (850-473-6780).

And speaking of Joe’s audio art, here is a sample from his show in Prague from a couple of weeks ago. The live version of Slo Gin.


Pssst. The free download is at JBONAMASSA.COM, promo code SAENGER

Don’t miss this show. A blues guitarist and artist like this comes around once in a generation. This is it.