Kent Conwell's Blog - Posts Tagged "rick-perry"
Rick Perry, PPP
A couple weeks back, our own Rick Perry, PPP, (Professional Politician for President) tossed his Stetson in the ring for the top honcho of the country.
I don’t know how far he’ll go. I’ve no idea if he’ll even get the Republican nomination, and if he does, I have no idea how he’ll fare against Jimmy Carter the Second.
I’ve never met the man, but those who have say he is very charismatic. I don’t know about that, but I met Bush once at a Workforce Commission reception in Port Arthur. I can testify that guy is charismatic. Maybe not real smart, but—well, magnetic is a good word.
I did vote for Bush. Unfortunately, he left the country in worse financial condition than he received it. Despite partisan efforts to ignore the fact,
Clinton did leave us a surplus.
Of course, Bush was hit with a couple wars, which does cost a little more than an afternoon movie and burgers. And then he came up with a couple unfounded initiatives, a stimulus and Medicare drugs, that stuck us deeper in the hole.
As even the most fanatic of Republicans must admit, he, despite the reasons, started digging this hole of debt, and then the bizarre policies of Obama dug the hole even deeper and much faster.
Can Rick Perry solve our problems?
He hasn’t solved Texas’ deficit, but he won’t demean our country as the current POTUS. He won’t kowtow to other
countries.
But will he solve our problems?
Much was made about his August Prayer conference, but the fact is in the last eight or nine years, he earned $2.68 million and gave only $14 thousand to religious organizations. That is about one-half percent of his income while average Americans donated 1.2 percent.
And they call him an ‘evangelical’ candidate?
Excuse my cynicism, but I’ve got a nagging feeling the Reliant Stadium Prayer thing was more political than religious.
And then five or six years back, he tried to ramrod through the I-35 Trans-Texas Corridor that would have displaced thousands of farmers and ranchers, taking from them hundreds of thousands of acres at distressed priced. Citizens protested so vehemently that the project was dropped last year.
A couple years later, he came up with an executive order to vaccinate all sixth grade girls in the state against cervical cancer without parental consent. Oh yes, and the vaccine came from Merck, which was represented at the time by Perry’s former Chief-of-Staff.
Coincidence? Not hardly.
(You know why Perry, Obama, and others use the executive order, don’t you? It is a underhanded way to sneak a lousy idea around a legislature or congress that won’t go along with it.)
What about the Texas budget?
When Anne Richards left office, Texas had a surplus. George W and Rick Perry took us into the dizzying heights of 27 billion dollar shortfall.
While railing against federal waste and stimulus, Perry used the 6.4 billion of Obama’s stimulus money to help balance the last two Texas budgets. Oh, yeah. Almost forgot. Texas is paying higher taxes since he became governor.
I don’t have to tell you how hot it has been this summer, but Texas under Perry is holding on to millions of dollars slated to aid thousands of low-income and elderly folks pay for electricity.
The Dallas Morning News said Texas has collected $130 million to help those unlucky Texans to cool their homes, but has actually provided only $28 million, half of what they were providing ten years ago.
Why?
The budget shortfall--that he helped bring about. (tlk about Obama-Bush clone)
There’s a lot of political rhetoric out there, but here is truthful example of how Perry and politicians of both parties are kicking the unfortunate and old folks in the teeth.
Now, I didn’t know this, but according to the Beaumont Enterprise, in 2004 and 2006, Perry gave Countrywide Mutual $20 million to create 7500 jobs in Texas by 2010 or repay $834 for every job less than the agreed up total.
They failed, repaying Texas $6.04 million. Still, Countrywide came out with a tidy $13.9 million profit.
The flip side of that is that each job Countrywide created cost the Texas taxpayer $2,666.
It appears to me like many politicians, Rick Perry plays loose and careless with tax money.
Let me give you another example. When the governor’s mansion burned, Texas was about $11 billion in the hole. Since then, he has spent over $600,000 in public money to rent a sprawling estate in the hills outside of Austin.
Now, I wouldn’t want our governor to live in shack while the mansion is being rebuilt, but $600,000 is outrageous.
Considering the guy presently in the Oval Office, Perry might fit right in as president.
At least, we’d have him out of the state.
But then, we’d have Dewhurst.
rconwell@gt.rr.com
http://www.kentconwell.blogspot.com/
www.goodreads.com/author/show/13557.K...
www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPCK26
I don’t know how far he’ll go. I’ve no idea if he’ll even get the Republican nomination, and if he does, I have no idea how he’ll fare against Jimmy Carter the Second.
I’ve never met the man, but those who have say he is very charismatic. I don’t know about that, but I met Bush once at a Workforce Commission reception in Port Arthur. I can testify that guy is charismatic. Maybe not real smart, but—well, magnetic is a good word.
I did vote for Bush. Unfortunately, he left the country in worse financial condition than he received it. Despite partisan efforts to ignore the fact,
Clinton did leave us a surplus.
Of course, Bush was hit with a couple wars, which does cost a little more than an afternoon movie and burgers. And then he came up with a couple unfounded initiatives, a stimulus and Medicare drugs, that stuck us deeper in the hole.
As even the most fanatic of Republicans must admit, he, despite the reasons, started digging this hole of debt, and then the bizarre policies of Obama dug the hole even deeper and much faster.
Can Rick Perry solve our problems?
He hasn’t solved Texas’ deficit, but he won’t demean our country as the current POTUS. He won’t kowtow to other
countries.
But will he solve our problems?
Much was made about his August Prayer conference, but the fact is in the last eight or nine years, he earned $2.68 million and gave only $14 thousand to religious organizations. That is about one-half percent of his income while average Americans donated 1.2 percent.
And they call him an ‘evangelical’ candidate?
Excuse my cynicism, but I’ve got a nagging feeling the Reliant Stadium Prayer thing was more political than religious.
And then five or six years back, he tried to ramrod through the I-35 Trans-Texas Corridor that would have displaced thousands of farmers and ranchers, taking from them hundreds of thousands of acres at distressed priced. Citizens protested so vehemently that the project was dropped last year.
A couple years later, he came up with an executive order to vaccinate all sixth grade girls in the state against cervical cancer without parental consent. Oh yes, and the vaccine came from Merck, which was represented at the time by Perry’s former Chief-of-Staff.
Coincidence? Not hardly.
(You know why Perry, Obama, and others use the executive order, don’t you? It is a underhanded way to sneak a lousy idea around a legislature or congress that won’t go along with it.)
What about the Texas budget?
When Anne Richards left office, Texas had a surplus. George W and Rick Perry took us into the dizzying heights of 27 billion dollar shortfall.
While railing against federal waste and stimulus, Perry used the 6.4 billion of Obama’s stimulus money to help balance the last two Texas budgets. Oh, yeah. Almost forgot. Texas is paying higher taxes since he became governor.
I don’t have to tell you how hot it has been this summer, but Texas under Perry is holding on to millions of dollars slated to aid thousands of low-income and elderly folks pay for electricity.
The Dallas Morning News said Texas has collected $130 million to help those unlucky Texans to cool their homes, but has actually provided only $28 million, half of what they were providing ten years ago.
Why?
The budget shortfall--that he helped bring about. (tlk about Obama-Bush clone)
There’s a lot of political rhetoric out there, but here is truthful example of how Perry and politicians of both parties are kicking the unfortunate and old folks in the teeth.
Now, I didn’t know this, but according to the Beaumont Enterprise, in 2004 and 2006, Perry gave Countrywide Mutual $20 million to create 7500 jobs in Texas by 2010 or repay $834 for every job less than the agreed up total.
They failed, repaying Texas $6.04 million. Still, Countrywide came out with a tidy $13.9 million profit.
The flip side of that is that each job Countrywide created cost the Texas taxpayer $2,666.
It appears to me like many politicians, Rick Perry plays loose and careless with tax money.
Let me give you another example. When the governor’s mansion burned, Texas was about $11 billion in the hole. Since then, he has spent over $600,000 in public money to rent a sprawling estate in the hills outside of Austin.
Now, I wouldn’t want our governor to live in shack while the mansion is being rebuilt, but $600,000 is outrageous.
Considering the guy presently in the Oval Office, Perry might fit right in as president.
At least, we’d have him out of the state.
But then, we’d have Dewhurst.
rconwell@gt.rr.com
http://www.kentconwell.blogspot.com/
www.goodreads.com/author/show/13557.K...
www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPCK26
Rick Perry and the Great Ponzi Scheme
Seems like some folks are upset about Rick Perry’s assertion that Social Security is a Ponzi Scheme.
Now, I don’t know if I’m for Perry or not. I don’t trust him. He possesses many of the attributes of the consummate politician, both good or bad. That means nothing. There are only a few politicians I trust, and most of them are local folks. Even among the locals, there are those who put their own
agendas above those of the public.
So, when I say, let’s talk about his remarks, I’m not supporting him, although I believe if you look at his assertion with an open mind, you’ll be able to see his point.
I’m not trying to change your mind. Most of you are too wise for that, but I just want to explain his point-of-view.
First, just what is a Ponzi Scheme?
It is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to investors, not from actual profits earned, but from money paid by subsequent investors.
The scheme draws new investors by offering returns other companies can’t guarantee. These returns are short term and offer abnormal and consistent returns. When other investors see that old Joe Moneybags’ investment with ‘Pie in the Sky Mutuals’ is drawing twenty percent, they fall all over their own greed to get in on the action.
The only way for the scheme to continue is to entice new investors--continually--as in day after day—to feed on itself.
Most of you have heard of Bernie Madoff who scored billions off a long running Ponzi Scheme.
A la Perry, let’s compare his plan to our Social Security system, shall we?
Bernie: took money from investors with the promise that the money will be invested and made available to them later.
Social Security: Takes money from wage earners with the promise that the money will be invested in a ‘Trust Fund’ and made available later.
Bernie: Instead of investing the money, old Bernie spent it on nice homes and yachts.
Social Security: After depositing money in a ‘Trust Fund’, politicians borrowed from it to supplant monies for the General Revenue Fund, using it for general spending and vote buying.
Bernie: When the time came to pay the investors back, Bernie simply used funds from new investors to pay the older investors.
Social Security: When benefits for the older investors became due, politicians paid the old codgers with money taken from younger and newer wage earners.
Bernie: When Bernie’s scheme was discovered, you-know-what hit the fan. New investors scattered like quail. Money dried up.
Social Security: When Social Security runs out of money, politicians try to force taxpayers to send them more or they cancel or pare down benefits to all those who paid into it.
Now, there you have it. That’s the point Perry is trying to make.
If you can see a difference in a Ponzi Scheme and Social Security, I’d appreciate you let me know. I’ll even print your response (as long as it is printable).
Now the old boy in my high school chat group who put me on to this comparison added one more comparison.
I think it is interesting enough to repeat here.
Today, Bernie Madoff is in jail.
Today, politicians remain in Washington with fat medical and retirement benefits or have retired to bask in the fact they are rich as Croesus and have federal buildings and libraries named after them.
Does Madoff deserve prison?
Definitely! His actions were deliberate, bringing about devastating ruin to hundreds of lives.
What about the politicians who’ve taken from Social Security?
I don’t know about you, but I see a double standard here that has no place in our country.
What to do about it?
Term limits.
House members-three terms; Senate-two terms.
A keenly perceptive activist in the intellectual life of our country, Milton Friedman, once remarked. “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years, there would be a shortage of sand.
Ain’t it the truth.
rconwell@gt.rr.com
http://www.kentconwell.blogspot.com/
www.goodreads.com/author/show/13557.K...
www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPCK26
Now, I don’t know if I’m for Perry or not. I don’t trust him. He possesses many of the attributes of the consummate politician, both good or bad. That means nothing. There are only a few politicians I trust, and most of them are local folks. Even among the locals, there are those who put their own
agendas above those of the public.
So, when I say, let’s talk about his remarks, I’m not supporting him, although I believe if you look at his assertion with an open mind, you’ll be able to see his point.
I’m not trying to change your mind. Most of you are too wise for that, but I just want to explain his point-of-view.
First, just what is a Ponzi Scheme?
It is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to investors, not from actual profits earned, but from money paid by subsequent investors.
The scheme draws new investors by offering returns other companies can’t guarantee. These returns are short term and offer abnormal and consistent returns. When other investors see that old Joe Moneybags’ investment with ‘Pie in the Sky Mutuals’ is drawing twenty percent, they fall all over their own greed to get in on the action.
The only way for the scheme to continue is to entice new investors--continually--as in day after day—to feed on itself.
Most of you have heard of Bernie Madoff who scored billions off a long running Ponzi Scheme.
A la Perry, let’s compare his plan to our Social Security system, shall we?
Bernie: took money from investors with the promise that the money will be invested and made available to them later.
Social Security: Takes money from wage earners with the promise that the money will be invested in a ‘Trust Fund’ and made available later.
Bernie: Instead of investing the money, old Bernie spent it on nice homes and yachts.
Social Security: After depositing money in a ‘Trust Fund’, politicians borrowed from it to supplant monies for the General Revenue Fund, using it for general spending and vote buying.
Bernie: When the time came to pay the investors back, Bernie simply used funds from new investors to pay the older investors.
Social Security: When benefits for the older investors became due, politicians paid the old codgers with money taken from younger and newer wage earners.
Bernie: When Bernie’s scheme was discovered, you-know-what hit the fan. New investors scattered like quail. Money dried up.
Social Security: When Social Security runs out of money, politicians try to force taxpayers to send them more or they cancel or pare down benefits to all those who paid into it.
Now, there you have it. That’s the point Perry is trying to make.
If you can see a difference in a Ponzi Scheme and Social Security, I’d appreciate you let me know. I’ll even print your response (as long as it is printable).
Now the old boy in my high school chat group who put me on to this comparison added one more comparison.
I think it is interesting enough to repeat here.
Today, Bernie Madoff is in jail.
Today, politicians remain in Washington with fat medical and retirement benefits or have retired to bask in the fact they are rich as Croesus and have federal buildings and libraries named after them.
Does Madoff deserve prison?
Definitely! His actions were deliberate, bringing about devastating ruin to hundreds of lives.
What about the politicians who’ve taken from Social Security?
I don’t know about you, but I see a double standard here that has no place in our country.
What to do about it?
Term limits.
House members-three terms; Senate-two terms.
A keenly perceptive activist in the intellectual life of our country, Milton Friedman, once remarked. “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years, there would be a shortage of sand.
Ain’t it the truth.
rconwell@gt.rr.com
http://www.kentconwell.blogspot.com/
www.goodreads.com/author/show/13557.K...
www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPCK26
