It is a known fact that republicans support the policy of "trickle down economics" which represent tax cuts that benefit the wealthy the most with the policy statement that it creates jobs. Of course it has failed to do that and does not even advance economic growth. Just ask George W. Bush.
Senator Landrieu, a native of Louisiana as I am supports tax breaks for the major oil companies that is really corporate welfare and has never produced one extra barrel or oil or a gallon of gasoline. Those tax breaks given big oil are used to give large bonuses to the elite executives. It started out with the 12-1/2% depletion allowance in the 50's nd 60's and like today, those tax breaks never helped America become less dependent on foreign oil.
Landrieu is also a supporter of opening up more land to drilling even though big oil owns, leases or rents thousands of acres of land where they have yet to spud the first well. The idea that large corporations such as big oil who make handsome profits needs tax breaks to stay in business and make money represent the conservative ideology of the republican party and in this case also Senator Landrieu. However Warren Buffett, a person who knows a lot about making money and business says taxes are not a hinderance to a company making money and staying alive.
This writer has been a supporter of Senator Landrieu at the voting booth ever since she entered politics and I believe her positives outweigh her negatives but she is dead wrong on the subject of this issue and she was dead wrong on her position during the BP oil spill when President Obama was trying to get to the bottom of that tragic accident that took the lives of 11 rig workers. The moratorium was the right thing to do, but the Senator did not like the idea even though the cause of that tragic accident was not know and of course no one connected with the BP explosion would admit guilt.
This writer worked in the service end of the Oil industry for over 34 years and I can tell you big oil needs no tax favors to stay in business or find and produce oil. I have seen the environmental disaster inflicted on Louisiana with on shore drilling for the past 40 plus years and the oil industry has yet to be held accountable for the damage. On shore drilling is controlled by the state and many of Louisiana's representatives who serve in congress also served in the state legislature when big oil was doing their environmental damage, including Landrieu but the legislature never held them accountable.
If one reads between the lines it seems like Louisiana's political leaders in congress and also for the state of Louisiana now want to apply any BP settlement to cure all past environmental problems caused by the oil industry. BP should be held accountable for the damage they caused and the oil companies in general who have destroyed our wetlands, marshes and etc., with their on shore drilling should be held accountable, not BP and they should be held accountable by the state of Louisiana.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Sunday, March 3, 2013
How President Obama Should Handle The Sequester Issue
If congress does nothing to end the sequester that they themselves are responsible for President Obama should start the cutting process with the defense budget. He should immediately cut the billions of dollars to the defense budget that was over the amount that he asked congress for and the joint chief's of staff said they did not need but was added on and passed by congress any way. No harm done there since those added billions are pure and simple "pork".
Then the President should use those same guide lines to cut every department. Every one knows that congress adds billions of dollars to every department's budget simply because that is how congress works to protect itself and do favors for those campaign contributions they receive.
The President should then use his powers of the Presidency so that other cuts he makes do no harm to the economic recovery, job creation, the middle class, social security, medicare and medicaid. The President has that inherit power to protect America and its people even if it goes against any sequester requirements.
Obama needs to stand tall and use his powers to over come the obstruction of the unAmerican ideology that is bent on self indulgence. Yes America, the President and his ideas and policy positions won the November elections and that is the way the country needs to go for his final term in office. It is also a time for the voters to stand tall and support the President.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Then the President should use those same guide lines to cut every department. Every one knows that congress adds billions of dollars to every department's budget simply because that is how congress works to protect itself and do favors for those campaign contributions they receive.
The President should then use his powers of the Presidency so that other cuts he makes do no harm to the economic recovery, job creation, the middle class, social security, medicare and medicaid. The President has that inherit power to protect America and its people even if it goes against any sequester requirements.
Obama needs to stand tall and use his powers to over come the obstruction of the unAmerican ideology that is bent on self indulgence. Yes America, the President and his ideas and policy positions won the November elections and that is the way the country needs to go for his final term in office. It is also a time for the voters to stand tall and support the President.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Louisiana's Little Boy Representative Steve Scalise Continues To Lie About Federal Spending
Times Picayune staff writer Bruce Alpert in a story dated Feb. 27 reported the following statement by Scalise and I quote: President Obama has reached a new low by using our military, first responders, food inspectors, and school teachers as shields to hide his continued wasteful government spending that has exploded over the last four years.
Little boy Scalise's statement that government spending has EXPLODED is one big hell of a lie and Scalise knows it. It takes a man to tell his constituency the truth and he has failed the test. His unAmerican conservative ideology will not allow the facts to get in the way when it comes to telling the truth.
In the same article Scalise said the President should be working with the republicans on the sequester. That is laughable since it was Scalise's party leaders who said they would not work with the President from day one and like a good ditto head conservative Scalise has jumped when they tell him to do so.
The fact of the matter is that federal spending has not EXPLODED on the President's watch. Obama's fourth fiscal year ends September 30, 2013 and when the numbers come in for the first four fiscal years total federal spending during that period will show an increase of less than 10%. Total federal spending at the end of George W. Bush's first four fiscal years increased 28%. The EXPLOSION the little boy Scalise was talking about happened on the watch of George W. Bush. But the bad news does not stop there. It started with the Reagan administration where total federal spending at the end of Reagan's eight fiscal years increased 75%. It continued with Bush 41 four fiscal years in office when his four fiscal years ended total federal spending increased 28%. Then democratic President Clinton brought sanity to the nation's fiscal health. In Clinton's eight fiscal years total federal spending increased 28% a even 14% for each of his terms. In George W. Bush's second fiscal term of four years total federal spending increased 33% which brought his two term increase in federal spending to 61%.
Is it any wonder why Scalise is so familiar with EXPLOSIVE spending. And the people of Louisiana, which I am one of should remember that Scalise, Jindal and Vitter all served in congress during the Bush 43 administration and were well aware of their EXPLOSION. They all rubber stamped Bush's policies
Its hell when you can not tell the truth that is supported by fact and turn around and outright lie. And to top it off their unAmerican conservative ideology want the Obama administration and the people to pay for the 20 years of record deficit spending and debt created by Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43. Does the stupid party have any one capable of obtaining wisdom and the courage to stand up and tell the truth?
Maybe, and just maybe the next time republicans lie about federal spending staff writer Bruce Alpert will put a note at the bottom of his article and point out the facts.
Note 1: Federal spending for the 20 years under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 increased 164%. Under Clinton in his eight years it increased 28% and is estimated that under Obama when his first full fiscal term is completed it will be less than 10% (that 10% is based on my calculation of what is known for his first three years.)
Note 2: See my previous commentary titled Federal Spending: Facts vs. Myth dated 10/31/09 which spells out the source of the above numbers.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Little boy Scalise's statement that government spending has EXPLODED is one big hell of a lie and Scalise knows it. It takes a man to tell his constituency the truth and he has failed the test. His unAmerican conservative ideology will not allow the facts to get in the way when it comes to telling the truth.
In the same article Scalise said the President should be working with the republicans on the sequester. That is laughable since it was Scalise's party leaders who said they would not work with the President from day one and like a good ditto head conservative Scalise has jumped when they tell him to do so.
The fact of the matter is that federal spending has not EXPLODED on the President's watch. Obama's fourth fiscal year ends September 30, 2013 and when the numbers come in for the first four fiscal years total federal spending during that period will show an increase of less than 10%. Total federal spending at the end of George W. Bush's first four fiscal years increased 28%. The EXPLOSION the little boy Scalise was talking about happened on the watch of George W. Bush. But the bad news does not stop there. It started with the Reagan administration where total federal spending at the end of Reagan's eight fiscal years increased 75%. It continued with Bush 41 four fiscal years in office when his four fiscal years ended total federal spending increased 28%. Then democratic President Clinton brought sanity to the nation's fiscal health. In Clinton's eight fiscal years total federal spending increased 28% a even 14% for each of his terms. In George W. Bush's second fiscal term of four years total federal spending increased 33% which brought his two term increase in federal spending to 61%.
Is it any wonder why Scalise is so familiar with EXPLOSIVE spending. And the people of Louisiana, which I am one of should remember that Scalise, Jindal and Vitter all served in congress during the Bush 43 administration and were well aware of their EXPLOSION. They all rubber stamped Bush's policies
Its hell when you can not tell the truth that is supported by fact and turn around and outright lie. And to top it off their unAmerican conservative ideology want the Obama administration and the people to pay for the 20 years of record deficit spending and debt created by Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43. Does the stupid party have any one capable of obtaining wisdom and the courage to stand up and tell the truth?
Maybe, and just maybe the next time republicans lie about federal spending staff writer Bruce Alpert will put a note at the bottom of his article and point out the facts.
Note 1: Federal spending for the 20 years under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 increased 164%. Under Clinton in his eight years it increased 28% and is estimated that under Obama when his first full fiscal term is completed it will be less than 10% (that 10% is based on my calculation of what is known for his first three years.)
Note 2: See my previous commentary titled Federal Spending: Facts vs. Myth dated 10/31/09 which spells out the source of the above numbers.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Understanding The Past Is Still The Key To The Future: A Continuing Story
The very first Civilization on earth, that began almost 6000 years ago by the Sumerians contained every aspect of civilization that we have today and more. Women played a major role in Sumerian life, in commerce, in the arts, they were managers of business and etc. Science and teaching also played a major role in the development of their civilization and every day life. History and written records that have been discovered confirm how advanced they were.
The Sumerians had a code of conduct for all aspects of life. A laborer should be paid a just wage, wages should not be with held from workers, teachers were held in high esteem, science was knowledge and the list goes on and on.
Now flash forward to the year 2013. We have a war against women who still can not obtain equal pay in the work place and are still considered unequal by many in congress and business. The working middle class has fallen behind the elite big time in wages, pensions are reduced, health care is reduced or eliminated while their CEO's are awarded millions in bonuses and other goodies. Business is given special tax breaks at the expense of the middle class.
Science and the benefits that flow from it are being challenged and in many cases denied. Of course we know science and the teaching their of is the life line to learning and progress. Every nation that has suppressed science and their teachings has experienced a dark period of time.
Our present civilization in the United States has regressed on the most improtant issues. All one has to do is look at the dismal record of congress, especially the republican ideology that drives their unAmerican behavior. Republican ideology has been substituted for science and its teaching. Raising the minimum wage for the average worker is not necessary and the beat goes on.
Our civilization is now going thru the Sequester notion because of ideology. If it takes place it will be a farther set back for civility and what we humans stand for and how we treat others, especially the average American. The Sumerian code of conduct for government, trade, commerce, science and life in general was superior than it is today in America because ideology pushes aside facts.
Will America's failure to learn from and understand the past doom our future. Is that outcome being played out before our very eyes and does it really have to come to that. The Sumerians believed man's fate was alterable and could be changed by man for the better or for the worse. Do our leaders today have the wisdom, courage and leadership to learn from the past and do what is required for civilization's future? Time will tell.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Special Note: Zecharia Sitchin in his Earth Chronicle Book, "When Time Began" spells out just how advanced the Sumerian Civilization Was.
The Sumerians had a code of conduct for all aspects of life. A laborer should be paid a just wage, wages should not be with held from workers, teachers were held in high esteem, science was knowledge and the list goes on and on.
Now flash forward to the year 2013. We have a war against women who still can not obtain equal pay in the work place and are still considered unequal by many in congress and business. The working middle class has fallen behind the elite big time in wages, pensions are reduced, health care is reduced or eliminated while their CEO's are awarded millions in bonuses and other goodies. Business is given special tax breaks at the expense of the middle class.
Science and the benefits that flow from it are being challenged and in many cases denied. Of course we know science and the teaching their of is the life line to learning and progress. Every nation that has suppressed science and their teachings has experienced a dark period of time.
Our present civilization in the United States has regressed on the most improtant issues. All one has to do is look at the dismal record of congress, especially the republican ideology that drives their unAmerican behavior. Republican ideology has been substituted for science and its teaching. Raising the minimum wage for the average worker is not necessary and the beat goes on.
Our civilization is now going thru the Sequester notion because of ideology. If it takes place it will be a farther set back for civility and what we humans stand for and how we treat others, especially the average American. The Sumerian code of conduct for government, trade, commerce, science and life in general was superior than it is today in America because ideology pushes aside facts.
Will America's failure to learn from and understand the past doom our future. Is that outcome being played out before our very eyes and does it really have to come to that. The Sumerians believed man's fate was alterable and could be changed by man for the better or for the worse. Do our leaders today have the wisdom, courage and leadership to learn from the past and do what is required for civilization's future? Time will tell.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Special Note: Zecharia Sitchin in his Earth Chronicle Book, "When Time Began" spells out just how advanced the Sumerian Civilization Was.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Rachel Maddow's Hubris: The Selling Of The Iraq War
Maddow's February 18 show concerning the Iraq war was a good account for those who did not follow the war at the time or the run up to that war. It is a story that should be told often so that America never forgets it was an unnecessary war, a war of lies and manipulation that took the lives of over 4400 American troops and wounded over 30,000, many who will never walk again without assistance.
Maddow's information concerning "curveball", "yellow cake", "mobil labs" and etc., has been known for several years now and is nothing new to the public who followed the war. Books have been written on the subject matter. The real story about the war was how the news media failed to do its job by failing to ask the important questions and because they let themselves be intimidated by the Bush administration. And of course they had the pro war military generals on their shows every night talking about Iraq's WMD.
This writer wrote a two part commentary over 5 years ago titled, "The Rosetta Stone To The War In Iraq dated 12/8/07 and 12/11/07 that was published here in "Politidose". I believe those two commentaries provide a more accurate account of the Bush administration's lies concerning Iraq's WMD, the alleged Al Queda-Iraq link and the U.N. inspectors in Iraq after the Gulf War of '91 and prior to the Iraq invasion of 2003. It is hard to believe that Maddow never even touched upon just a few items covered in those commentaries.
President Bush and V.P. Cheney did indeed commit an impeachable act with their lies and cover up and used our men and women in uniform to pursue a neocon un-American ideology. Our men and women in uniform go where the commander in chief tells them to go. They go without complaining, do their job well and obey orders and the President took advantage of the sacrifice that is required of them. The Cuban missile crisis of 1962 was a real threat to our nation and President Kennedy answered the call with a policy that worked and protected our men and women in uniform and at the same time protected our security. The Iraq situation was a flea compared to the Cuban elephant and Bush failed the test of a true leader. His lack of courage and true leadership has already been written in the history books and our men and women in uniform paid the ultimate price over WMD that did not exist.
This post written by John Lucia
Maddow's information concerning "curveball", "yellow cake", "mobil labs" and etc., has been known for several years now and is nothing new to the public who followed the war. Books have been written on the subject matter. The real story about the war was how the news media failed to do its job by failing to ask the important questions and because they let themselves be intimidated by the Bush administration. And of course they had the pro war military generals on their shows every night talking about Iraq's WMD.
This writer wrote a two part commentary over 5 years ago titled, "The Rosetta Stone To The War In Iraq dated 12/8/07 and 12/11/07 that was published here in "Politidose". I believe those two commentaries provide a more accurate account of the Bush administration's lies concerning Iraq's WMD, the alleged Al Queda-Iraq link and the U.N. inspectors in Iraq after the Gulf War of '91 and prior to the Iraq invasion of 2003. It is hard to believe that Maddow never even touched upon just a few items covered in those commentaries.
President Bush and V.P. Cheney did indeed commit an impeachable act with their lies and cover up and used our men and women in uniform to pursue a neocon un-American ideology. Our men and women in uniform go where the commander in chief tells them to go. They go without complaining, do their job well and obey orders and the President took advantage of the sacrifice that is required of them. The Cuban missile crisis of 1962 was a real threat to our nation and President Kennedy answered the call with a policy that worked and protected our men and women in uniform and at the same time protected our security. The Iraq situation was a flea compared to the Cuban elephant and Bush failed the test of a true leader. His lack of courage and true leadership has already been written in the history books and our men and women in uniform paid the ultimate price over WMD that did not exist.
This post written by John Lucia
Friday, February 22, 2013
MSNBC's "The Ed Show" Champion Of The Middle Class
Ed Schultz has been the one person who has focused on the plight of the middle class for the past two years. He has done so on his nightly show with the facts and charts and backed up sources. The disparity of income for the 1% over the middle class with charts speak with clarity on the subject matter.
Ed and his show were instrumental in helping President Obama win reelection. He and President Clinton were able to demonstrate to the American people exactly what the middle class has been up against and that Mitt Romney and the republican party if elected were not about to change the status quo. He also exposed the attempt by the republican party to supress the vote in several states during the November elections. That mobilized the voters to be vigilant, have patience and stay in line as long as it would take.
Ed Shultz continues to push the cause of the middle class and is articulate in his report of how the republicans in congress continue to obstruct the President and the country from moving forward. Ed and I have a lot in common as I wrote a past commentary here in politidose dated 11/23/07 titled Corporate America: Leaving The Average Ameican In The Dust. For those whose follow politidose, they know Ed and I are on the same page.
Written by John Lucia
Ed and his show were instrumental in helping President Obama win reelection. He and President Clinton were able to demonstrate to the American people exactly what the middle class has been up against and that Mitt Romney and the republican party if elected were not about to change the status quo. He also exposed the attempt by the republican party to supress the vote in several states during the November elections. That mobilized the voters to be vigilant, have patience and stay in line as long as it would take.
Ed Shultz continues to push the cause of the middle class and is articulate in his report of how the republicans in congress continue to obstruct the President and the country from moving forward. Ed and I have a lot in common as I wrote a past commentary here in politidose dated 11/23/07 titled Corporate America: Leaving The Average Ameican In The Dust. For those whose follow politidose, they know Ed and I are on the same page.
Written by John Lucia
Saturday, February 16, 2013
The Wisdom and Courage Of President Kennedy: A Continuing Story
President Kennedy said that our problems are man made and therefore can be solved by man. True leaders such as Kennedy had character, courage and wisdom to propose and make changes that addressed the true nature of our problems that man created. Our leaders today in congress, especially republicans and their leadership have no concept of character, courage or wisdom and as a result put themselves on a path to obstruction with an unAmerican ideology.
Republican leadership roles in the U.S. House and Senate under John Boehner and Mitch McConnell are actually void of any real leadership to move the nation and its people forward with solving the nations made made problems, especially the budget stand off they created themselves. They gave up that leadership position when they vowed not to work with President Obama. Their lack of character, wisdom and courage to serve the cause of the people and the nation has produced the use of outright lies in their talking points on almost every issue.
The republican expression of cutting spending, balancing the budget and creating jobs on the watch of democratic administrations and not applying the same standard to republican administrations has made the republican the "phony" party. Precedent concerning the past actually tells us that the nation and its people do better under democratic administrations and that includes balancing the budget, cutting spending and creating jobs and an economy that works better for all, especially the middle class.
Under the current administration the republicans in congress have done everything in its power to obstruct the President's policies and proposals because they have enough votes in the House and Senate to do so under the present rules. Character, courage and wisdom does not exist in their elite world of politics. During the administration of George W. Bush, they rubber stamped the policies that gave the nation and its people the second great republican depression and now want the people to pay for their corrupt demands and unAmerican behavior.
America has never seen as many man made problems as we have today due to the republicans determination to obstruct. Kennedy as a Senator and President knew how important it was to have character, courage and wisdom. He was a veteran of WWII and knew the meaning of sacrifice for the benefit of the nation and its people.
The problem with lacking those three virtues feeds on itself. There is no one inside or outside of congress in the republican party who is willing to say enough is enough and set a different course and scrap their unAmerican ideology. Worst of all today, is that some republicans are trying to express a different message but are not changing their policies or unAmerican attitude. This has been going on too long and America and its people deserve better. Republican Senator Marco Rubio in his response to the President's State of the Union address was the same old republican talking points, nothing to offer the people and complete disregard for the 2012 Presidential election which told the republicans their prescription for the economy stinks. Character, courage and wisdom is completly absent in the leadership of the republican party.
Republican leadership roles in the U.S. House and Senate under John Boehner and Mitch McConnell are actually void of any real leadership to move the nation and its people forward with solving the nations made made problems, especially the budget stand off they created themselves. They gave up that leadership position when they vowed not to work with President Obama. Their lack of character, wisdom and courage to serve the cause of the people and the nation has produced the use of outright lies in their talking points on almost every issue.
The republican expression of cutting spending, balancing the budget and creating jobs on the watch of democratic administrations and not applying the same standard to republican administrations has made the republican the "phony" party. Precedent concerning the past actually tells us that the nation and its people do better under democratic administrations and that includes balancing the budget, cutting spending and creating jobs and an economy that works better for all, especially the middle class.
Under the current administration the republicans in congress have done everything in its power to obstruct the President's policies and proposals because they have enough votes in the House and Senate to do so under the present rules. Character, courage and wisdom does not exist in their elite world of politics. During the administration of George W. Bush, they rubber stamped the policies that gave the nation and its people the second great republican depression and now want the people to pay for their corrupt demands and unAmerican behavior.
America has never seen as many man made problems as we have today due to the republicans determination to obstruct. Kennedy as a Senator and President knew how important it was to have character, courage and wisdom. He was a veteran of WWII and knew the meaning of sacrifice for the benefit of the nation and its people.
The problem with lacking those three virtues feeds on itself. There is no one inside or outside of congress in the republican party who is willing to say enough is enough and set a different course and scrap their unAmerican ideology. Worst of all today, is that some republicans are trying to express a different message but are not changing their policies or unAmerican attitude. This has been going on too long and America and its people deserve better. Republican Senator Marco Rubio in his response to the President's State of the Union address was the same old republican talking points, nothing to offer the people and complete disregard for the 2012 Presidential election which told the republicans their prescription for the economy stinks. Character, courage and wisdom is completly absent in the leadership of the republican party.
Monday, February 4, 2013
President Obama And The BP Moratorium
BP's guilty plea in the explosion of its Macondo well in 2010 that killed 11 workers and injured others proved that the President's decision was correct and that those elected officials from Louisiana in congress were wrong in opposing the moratorium. Those elected officials put the guilty party and the oil industry in general first and disregarded those who were killed or injured.
According to an article published in the Times Picayune of 1/30/13, BP's plea agreement was accepted by U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance along with BP's offer to plead guilty to 11 counts of felony manslaughter, one count of felony obstruction of Congress and a variety of environmental crimes. If it were up to those Louisiana officials in congress they would have let offshore drilling proceed before any investigation to find the cause of the explosion. The tragedy of this accident which took 11 lives would have taken a back seat because of those elected officials relationship with the oil industry. BP's plea agreement that was accepted was $4 billion.
President Obama stood tall dispite the personal attacks by those opposed to the moratorium and did the right thing for the people who suffered from the disaster. This writer wrote several commentaries after the explosion how the Times Picayune, the news media in general and elected officials never told the real story of what happened in April of 2010. This sad chapter in offshore drilling, BP's plea and the influence of the oil and gas industry has over elected officials should be a wake up call to the people who think they can trust those who are willing to lie and put peoples life and property at risks in favor of profit.
And to think, this is the industry who receives billions of dollars in corporate welfare in the form of tax breaks and loop holes thanks to our elected officials in congress who write the tax codes and grant these breaks. The people should also never forget the harm that the oil industry has done to Louisiana's environment with their onshore drilling which is controlled by the state of Louisiana. The damage done to Louisiana's wet lands, marshes and salt water invasion caused by the dredging of canals for oil industry operations have been overlooked by the state's regulators for the past 40 plus years and the industry has not been held accountable.
How long will the people of Louisiana tolerate this environmental carnage?
This commentary written by John Lucia.
According to an article published in the Times Picayune of 1/30/13, BP's plea agreement was accepted by U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance along with BP's offer to plead guilty to 11 counts of felony manslaughter, one count of felony obstruction of Congress and a variety of environmental crimes. If it were up to those Louisiana officials in congress they would have let offshore drilling proceed before any investigation to find the cause of the explosion. The tragedy of this accident which took 11 lives would have taken a back seat because of those elected officials relationship with the oil industry. BP's plea agreement that was accepted was $4 billion.
President Obama stood tall dispite the personal attacks by those opposed to the moratorium and did the right thing for the people who suffered from the disaster. This writer wrote several commentaries after the explosion how the Times Picayune, the news media in general and elected officials never told the real story of what happened in April of 2010. This sad chapter in offshore drilling, BP's plea and the influence of the oil and gas industry has over elected officials should be a wake up call to the people who think they can trust those who are willing to lie and put peoples life and property at risks in favor of profit.
And to think, this is the industry who receives billions of dollars in corporate welfare in the form of tax breaks and loop holes thanks to our elected officials in congress who write the tax codes and grant these breaks. The people should also never forget the harm that the oil industry has done to Louisiana's environment with their onshore drilling which is controlled by the state of Louisiana. The damage done to Louisiana's wet lands, marshes and salt water invasion caused by the dredging of canals for oil industry operations have been overlooked by the state's regulators for the past 40 plus years and the industry has not been held accountable.
How long will the people of Louisiana tolerate this environmental carnage?
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Paul Ryan's Mental Problem On Cutting The Federal Budget
It is time for Congressman Paul Ryan to resign and go back to civilian life. His mental faculty concerning budget cuts leaves a lot to be desired and his hypocrisy on the subject matter is matched by the Sunday news shows, CNN's economic reports, most cable news networks, especially Fox news and CNBC's Larry Kudlow, the worst of them all.
This writer will fill in Ryan's problem when he talks about federal spending and budget cuts and how the news media entertains his fairy tale rhetoric and misleads the American people. Myth is alive and well when republicans get together with the Sunday media programs. Lets examine the facts and put the myths to bed, its getting tiresome.
When it comes to controlling and cutting federal spending democratic administrations have the best record since 1980, thats a 33 year period and the administrations of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama did a much better job by far controlling and cutting federal spending than Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43. Those three republican Presidents did a good job of saying they would reduce federal spending and balance the budget but they hold the distinction of having the largest increase in federal spending in that 33 year period. (See notes below.) President Obama's administration has the smallest increase in federal spending in his first three fiscal years in office and President Clinton has the second smallest increase in that 33 year period. Federal spending under Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 increased dramatically and by a wide margin over Clinton and Obama. I use this 33 year period because that is the time frame republicans use to talk about federal spending. It should also be noted that Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 never balanced one federal budget in the 20 years they ran the country.
Ryan's problem mentally is his lies about federal spending increases under the Obama administration and the fact that Ryan and the republicans who controlled both houses of congress the first 6 years Bush 43 was President was silent while they over spent and turned Clinton's surpluses and balanced budgets into deficit spending the very first year of Bush's fiscal budget and for all of Bush's 8 years in office. Not once did they reduce federal spending or object to raising the debt ceiling. And at the end of Bush's last fiscal year the national debt had increased 105% on Bush's watch and he was the first President ever to have a single year deficit to top one trillion dollars and still holds the single year record of $1.4 trillion deficit.
Ryan and his party had a great opportunity to cut and reduce federal spending and balance the federal budget on their watch with Bush 43 at the helm and failed to keep the federal government's fiscal house in order as President Clinton did. Deficit spending, balanced budgets, the national debt and a small increase in federal spending was not a problem when Clinton left office. George W. Bush and the republicans in congress turned that into a national tragedy in just 8 short years and the American people are still feeling the effects.
So how did Ryan and the republicans deal with the disaster they left Obama and the people with. They vowed not to work with the President because they wanted him to be a one term President and did not want to see America do well again on the watch of a democratic President. Listening to Ryan and the republicans one would never know that no republican President has balanced the federal budget since "Ike" in 1960 but two democratic Presidents have balanced 5 federal budgets since that time.
Mr. Ryan and his party are not only the champs at unbalanced federal budgets but take the gold star for increased federal spending. And try this on for size: Reagan presided over the very first trillion dollar budget. Bush 43 presided over the first two and three trillion dollar budgets. It took the country 15 years to go from a one trillion dollar budget to a two trillion dollar budget, but it only took Bush 43 seven years to go from a two trillion dollar budget to a three trillion dollar budget. Is it any worder why Ryan and the republicans try to lie about the so called big spending democrats. When you are a phony, you are a phony, as simple as that.
Note: See the below past commentaries by this writer.
The National Debt: Betryal and Devastation dated 12/6/09
Federal Spending: Facts vs. Myths dated 10/31/09
President Obama's First Term in Office Has Been Positive dated 10/27/12
This commentary was written by John Lucia
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Sports Writer Mike Triplett: Saint Fairytales Are Alive And Well
Here is how Triplett started off his article in the Times Picayune of 1/25/13. "Sean Payton made a bold move on his second day back on the job. And he made the right move. Firing Steve Spagnuolo etc. etc." Triplett forgot to remind his readers that it was the same Sean Payton that hired Spagnuolo. How bold is bold. A really bold move would have been not letting bountygate take place.
Triplett seems to think a new coordinator who uses a 3-4 defense is the answer but hedges his bet a little by saying there is no guarantee. It is going to be fun to see what Triplett writes after a new coordinator is hired and his predictions for next season with Payton back on the field.
It is this writers opinion that the Saints football team lost more than a head coach this past season that will be reflected in their future record.
This commentary was written by John Lucia
Triplett seems to think a new coordinator who uses a 3-4 defense is the answer but hedges his bet a little by saying there is no guarantee. It is going to be fun to see what Triplett writes after a new coordinator is hired and his predictions for next season with Payton back on the field.
It is this writers opinion that the Saints football team lost more than a head coach this past season that will be reflected in their future record.
This commentary was written by John Lucia
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