It's Not One Direction - It's Wrong Direction, LOL.

So tell me this...  Are political ads supposed to excite you into voting, or are they there to turn you off from the opposing candidate?

I don't know about you, but I think I prefer political ads like this one.  Courtesy of Buzzfeed & Facebook, the music video below is a parody to One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful", featuring former Houston native, Colby Melvin, and starring alongside him, Quinn C. Jaxon, David Brackett, Brandon R. Brown and Jonathan Myers.  

Sure they're taking on Mitt Romney as they play around the pool, but it's the message that's important, right? LOL. Check it out, it's pretty funny, and hot too.

Are You A Republican That Hates Gays and Taxes?

Things We Can Do To Save The Environment - Issue No. 05: Pay the Carbon Tax

The Global Warming Survival Guide

Reducing carbon emissions around the world is one of the many "Things We Can Do To Save The Environment".  Giving credit to TIME,  I'd like to thank them for showing us the many ways we can meet these goals of saving our environment.  And yes, even one person can make a difference, and it starts with YOU! - Peter aka Blade7184
 

5. Pay the Carbon Tax

Everyone agrees that it's necessary to reduce carbon emissions around the world. There is less agreement over exactly how nations should go about achieving a more carbon-free planet. Hence, the environmental equivalent of Elvis vs. the Beatles: cap-and-trade carbon emissions, or impose a carbon tax on all users? With cap-and-trade programs, governments limit the level of carbon that can be emitted by an industry. Companies that hold their emissions below the cap can sell their remaining allowance on a carbon market, while companies that exceed their limit must purchase credits on that market. Carbon taxes are more straightforward: a set tax rate is placed on the consumption of carbon in any form—fossil-fuel electricity, gasoline—with the idea that raising the price will encourage industries and individuals to consume less. 

At the moment, cap-and-trade has the upper hand, since it serves as the backbone of the current Kyoto Protocol, and helped the U.S. reduce acid rain in the 1990s—but don't write off the tax just yet.  Supporters of the tax argue that a cap-and-trade system, especially one that would be global enough to mitigate the 8 billion tons of carbon the world now emits, would be too difficult to administer—and too easily gamed by industries looking to sidestep emissions caps. Cap-and-trade advocates counter that like all other flat taxes, a carbon levy would disproportionately burden lower-income families, who spend a greater percentage of their income on energy than rich households.

So which system will have the largest impact on carbon consumption? A 10% flat carbon tax might reduce the demand for carbon about 5% or less, according to an analysis by the Carbon Tax Center, an environmental advocacy group. That may not be enough. Businesses and governments haven't figured out how the two competing regimes can work together, but in the end, the world may need both.

Make sure to follow Blade 7184 every Tuesday for a new issue of Things We Can Do To Save The Environment.  Each issue is thought-provoking, informative and may hold the key to saving your children and grandchildren's future

Don't Judge, Because He Could Be The One Saving Your Life

The moment I saw this I loved it, and favored it!  Share away, because it's so true!

WTF Has Obama Done? - Issue No. 005 - Taxes

One of the most prominent issues of the current political climate are TAXES!  President Obama's Achievements on this subject are extensive, so I will be listing three today.  

As with my previous issues, I will come back to each category at a later time.  

When I read, and research all that our president has accomplished in the last 3 years, it is mind-boggling to me how much the Tea Party and Republican Party has lied, and continues to lie the American people.  I've even fallen into their traps in the past, but not anymore!.  I'm here to help fix that.

Today we will look at the president's broad policy and one targeted action (WTF-13).

WTF-11

Adopted Economic Substance tax doctrine.

A policy that states that tax changes must have significant economic justification, as a federal law.

It's called the "economic substance doctrine." It's a law that set a rule to prevent tax dodgers.  What it means is that people aren't allowed to find creative ways to avoid paying their taxes.

The measure is expected to generate a relatively small amount of new tax revenue, about $4.5 billion over 10 years, according to the the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. [Reference]

WTF-12

Cracked down on tax cheats (Exec Order).

On January 20, 2010, President Barack Obama ordered a new crackdown on federal contractors who don't pay their taxes. 

Obama signed an executive order telling federal agency chiefs to take steps to bar those companies from receiving new government contracts. The order also directed the IRS to review contractor filings to make sure companies are not lying about the taxes they've paid.  Obama said the practice is inefficient, wasteful and, above all, wrong.

"It is simply wrong for companies to take taxpayer dollars and not be taxpayers themselves," Obama said. "We need to insist on the same sense of responsibility in Washington that so many of you strive to uphold in your own lives, in your own families and in your own businesses." [Reference]

WTF-13

Temporarily suspended taxes on unemployment benefits.

When the economy deteriorated in 2008, Congress extended benefits, giving more money and setting longer time frames for the states with the highest unemployment numbers. The economic recovery bill that Obama signed extended those time periods again. Depending on circumstances, most people receiving benefits should get an extension, with the hardest hit states winning extended benefits through Dec. 31, 2009.

Unemployment benefits are normally taxed as regular income, but the bill exempted the first $2,400 of unemployment from 2009 income taxes.

"Today, I signed the unemployment insurance extension to restore desperately needed assistance to two and a half million Americans who lost their jobs in the recession.  After a partisan minority used procedural tactics to block the authorization of this assistance three separate times over the past weeks, Americans who are fighting to find a good job and support their families will finally get the support they need to get back on their feet during these tough economic times.  Now it’s time for Congress to act on more proposals that support our economic recovery, including passing critical aid to our states and support to small businesses.  Small businesses are the engine of job growth, and measures to cut their taxes and make lending available should not be held hostage to partisan tactics like those that unconscionably held up unemployment insurance." - President Obama on July 21, 2010 after the Senate passed an extension of unemployment insurance. [Reference-1, Reference-2]

Please make sure to read Issue No. 006 tomorrow as I continue with WTF-14
Everyday on BLADE 7184

An Open Letter To The People Who Hate Obama More Than They Love America

If this letter doesn't change you, or move you, I don't know what else will.  On my knees and crossing my heart to the God who brought me into this world, this letter is the damn-awful truth!   If you're a Republican this is directed at you,  If you hate Obama, this is meant to describe you, and if you're considering to vote for any of the presidential candidates currently running, let this open letter help change your mind.

Written by the Ministry of Truth, this was published on the Daily KOS, and I absolutely had to share it with the rest of of the world.  I'm so tired of people who wear the cross and promote their hatred beyond belief.  I highly condone this letter, as it is straightforward, honest and true.  If it sounds like we're mad, we have every right to be.  But do we hate you?  No, we are just embarrassed by you!

An open letter to the people who hate Obama more than they love America

    I meet you all the time. You hate Obama. You hate gay people. You hate black people, immigrants, Muslims, labor unions, women who want the right to make choices concerning their bodies, you hate em all. You hate being called racist. You hate being called a bigot. Maybe if you talked about creating jobs more than you talk about why you hate gay people we wouldn't call you bigots. Maybe if you talked about black people without automatically assuming they are on food stamps while demanding their birth certificates we wouldn't call you racist. You hate socialism and social justice. You hate regulations and taxes and spending and the Government. You hate.

     You like war. You like torture. You like Jesus. I don't know how in the hell any of that is compatible, but no one ever accused you haters of being over-committed to ideological consistency. You like people who look like you or at least hate most of the things that you hate. You hate everything else.

Now, I know you profess to love our country and the founding fathers (unless you are reminded that they believed in the separation of church and state), but I need to remind you that America is NOT what Fox News says it is. America is a melting pot, it always has been. We are a multi-cultural amalgamation of all kinds of people, and yet you still demonize everyone who is not a rich, white, heterosexual christian male or his submissive and obedient wife.

You hate liberals, moderates, hell, anyone who disagrees with Conservative dogma as espoused by Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. You hate em.

Well, here are the facts, Jack. If you hate the Government then you are unqualified to manage it. If you hate gay people more than you love America than you should take your own advice and get the hell out. There are several countries that are openly hostile to gay people, but they are full of brown people and you don't like them much either from what I understand. It looks like you are screwed, but that's not what I am here to tell you.

Continue reading after the jump . . .

Pandering To The Rich

This chart, courtesy of Mother Jones is really cool.  Only because it actually shows how much these Republican candidates are pandering to the rich.  And conservatives are right not to believe Romney, he lowers them the least.

According to the article, "The Tax Policy Center hasn't yet tried to score plans from Santorum, Huntsman, or Paul."  Which is okay, we don't need any more proof to know who these guys are catering to.

As the chart [above] shows, conservatives are right to believe that Romney isn’t to be trusted. Sure, he lowers tax rates on millionaires by 9 percentage points, and you may think that’s a pretty sweet deal for the rich. But come on. Newt Gingrich would lower them by 24 percentage points. (No, that’s not a typo.) Rick Perry lowers them by 20 percentage points. Herman Cain lowers them by 15 points. Frankly, Romney is hardly even trying here.

[source]

Quoted: President Barack Obama on Unfairness

"Keep in mind, when President Clinton first proposed these tax increases, folks in Congress predicted they would kill jobs and lead to another recession. Instead, our economy created nearly 23 million jobs and we eliminated the deficit.  Today, the wealthiest Americans are paying the lowest taxes in over half a century. This isn’t like in the early ‘50s, when the top tax rate was over 90 percent. This isn’t even like the early ‘80s, when the top tax rate was about 70 percent. Under President Clinton, the top rate was only about 39 percent. Today, thanks to loopholes and shelters, a quarter of all millionaires now pay lower tax rates than millions of you, millions of middle-class families. Some billionaires have a tax rate as low as 1 percent. One percent.

That is the height of unfairness. It is wrong. It’s wrong that in the United States of America, a teacher or a nurse or a construction worker, maybe earns $50,000 a year, should pay a higher tax rate than somebody raking in $50 million. It’s wrong for Warren Buffett‘s secretary to pay a higher tax rate than Warren Buffett. And by the way, Warren Buffett agrees with me. So do most Americans — Democrats, Independents and Republicans. And I know that many of our wealthiest citizens would agree to contribute a little more if it meant reducing the deficit and strengthening the economy that made their success"

- President Barack Obama at a speech in Osawatomie, Kansas on Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Must Watch: 99% vs. 1% - The Data Behind The Movement

If you've been having a hard time understanding the "Occupy Wall Street" movement, or you simply don't get this 99% they keep talking about, then I suggest you watch this video.  It's absolutely amazing. 
 
The Guardian put together this animated short which explains the distribution of wealth in this country.  Share it with those who need a better understanding of why we ordinary Americans are paying more taxes than the rich.  Doesn't make any sense, does it?

Must Watch: Where Do We Go From Here?

I could not say it better if I tried.

This poignant video is what democracy is all about.  Be proud that you're an American.  Be proud that you live in a country where this can happen.  

These people protesting are not our enemies, they are not terrorists.  They are firefighters, teachers, chefs, soldiers, auto-workers, office employees, I mean, the list goes on.  It is atrocious what these policemen are doing, beating and arresting people.  By the end of the year some of those same cops are going to be out of a job.  Is this how they repay those who are trying to help them?  They should have arrested those damn crazy nut jobs we call the Tea Party, with their guns waving and shit.  They were out protesting several months ago and no one did shit.

"I've been there around six times now. Two with a video camera, two with a still camera, and two just without a camera. Each experience has been unique - and I have to say - it makes it easier for me to have the camera - it gives me more focus there. But just getting lost in the crowd can be beauitful. I was there Friday night starting around 11pm and I believe there was the General Assembly going on - watching the process - they were organizing smaller groups - was beautiful - watching direct democracy in action." - Ed David

They Won't Give You Your Buses Back! They're Republicans.

For the past several weeks I have been driving down our through street and noticed several signs saying "Facebook / We Want Our Buses Back".  

I didn't know know what this was in reference to, so I asked my partner Ryan and he informed me that the children who live within 2 miles of any Spring, ISD school are no longer being picked up for school.  They took their buses away, and Facebook was the only way they knew how to spread the message across.

When I went online to investigate what was going on, I was dumbfounded by what I saw.  Article after article, news story after news story on this very topic.  Damn, where the hell have I been?  We pay taxes to this school district!

The school district use to bus students who lived past 1/4 mile to the schools. This school year, they decided they were going to the statewide accepted 2-mile distance, which puts most students in the "walking" category, unless they have a "hazardous route" (as defined by the same accepted policy. Problem is, this is a small, but very congested community, and even though the posted speeds are within their "safe" speed, no one drives that posted speed limit. They expect our kids to walk along Cypresswood, Aldine-Westfield, and other dangerous roads--not to mention past tons of sexual predators. Just last year, a teenage girl went missing right after she got off the bus, and hasn't been found yet! Their website (www.springisd.org) has the hazardous route info if you're interested. I think it's under the general information tab, then bus routes. The school district knew that anybody in their right mind that had another choice wasn't going to let their kids walk, which leads to a very horrible traffic congestion, which ticks people off even more. So we have even more dangerous situations with people driving worse because they're ticked at being made to sit through the same red light 2 or 3 times. I've seen people driving down the wrong side of the road and through fields on the road our school is on. Not to mention huge dump trucks and other construction type vehicles. It's just insane that they would think we'd let our kids walk around there. Some people don't have a choice and are forced to fear for their lives and their children's lives every day of school. They say they're doing this because of budget shortfalls. Well, part of that shortfall may be to do with the fact that our Superintendent supposedly decided a couple of years back that he needed to drive a $52000+ Porsch! Go figure!

Let's see... who's in control of the state legislature that passed this horrendous 2-mile law?  Hmmm, who's hurt our teachers, firefighters and policemen in this state?  But most of all, who's hurt our children by cutting financial aid and other services, that we as taxpayers help provide?  I'll give you one guess... Ricky Perry and The Republicans!

But guess what???  Don't blame them, because nothing is their fault.  Isn't that what they always say?

Quoted: Elizabeth Warren on Fair Taxation

Honestly, why can't all the Republican senators think like this brilliant woman?  If she keeps speaking like this, Republican Senator Scott Brown has his hands full come November, 2012.

Must Watch: You Really Didn't Miss Anything

Not interested in politics?  That's okay, this video is only 45 seconds of your day, just a mere 45 seconds of your life.  Pretty much what was said during the debate on Wednesday was... Taxes, Reagan, Taxes, Reagan, Taxes, Reagan...

 I swear, all of these guys are idiots.  You know what?  I take that back.  Jon Huntsman actually broke away from them on a few issues, but all that means, Republicans will only shun him.

Politics 101: Individual Income Taxes vs. Corporate Income Taxes

And all along you thought things were fair.  Really?  Really?  Think about it when you enter the voting booth next November.  There is no better way of comparing Corporate Income Taxes vs. Our Income Taxes, than this chart.  The statistics are taken from the Office of Management and Budget.

With a declining economy and unemployment still at a high 9.1 percent, if this country gets handed to the Republicans, you will see the Greatest Depression this country has ever seen, and our country turn into a third world country.  You can laugh all you want, but it's true.