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Sequestration: Stephen Moore and Robert Reich duke it out on CNN with Erin Burnett, a major crisis or a lot to do about nothing?

Tell Bob McDonell to Veto Virginia's Largest Tax Increase In History, so called TRANSPORTATION BILL

CALL BOB MCDONELL AND TELL HIM TO VETO THE TAX HIKE (SO CALLED TRANSPORTATION) BILL: Office: (804) 786-2211

The largest tax increase in the history of Virginia was just passed by our Virginia legislators. Republican Speaker Bill Howell and Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment (R) engineered a six billion tax increase on Virginians, in very tough economic times. The taxes were so outrageous, that the Republican Leadership needed the support of Democrats to pass it, even though Republicans have an overwhelming majority in the House and tied representation in the Senate.

You will see new taxes or increase in taxes on all of the following: sales tax, gas tax, diesel fuel tax, vending machine tax, personal property tax, hotel tax, internet tax, car tax, tangible property sale tax, and more!

Governor Bob McDonnell aggressively pushed and expressed support for this $6 billion tax increase plan. Bob wanted the tax increase so bad that he even made a deal with the Democrats to get the votes he needed by pledging to pave the way to implement Obamacare's Medicaid expansion, which will add an additional 400,000+ people to the Medicaid roles in Virginia.

But it is not too late! The bill is sitting on Governor Bob McDonnell's desk. Join here and tell Bob that you stand with other Virginians who oppose implementing the largest tax increase in the history of Virginia on the hardworking poor and middle class, especially during this bruising recession. Tell Governor Bob McDonnell to veto the largest tax increase in the history of Virginia - HB2313.

Chuck Hagel: The Libertarian Case For Obama's Pentagon Pick

With the recommendations of both President Obama and Colin Powell at his side, former Republican Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel should feel confident that he will be confirmed by the Senate as the next secretary of defense. While Hagel represents a welcomed foreign policy shift, there are multiple factors that suggest that both Hagel's supporters and opponents overstate the impact his confirmation would have.

In a recent post at the libertarian Cato blog, Christopher A. Preble gives his full endorsement of Hagel. Although Hagel voted for the Iraq war, argues Preble, he has admitted this error in judgement. Hagel would represent a restraint on Washington's interventionist tendencies, believes in engagement with the rest of the world, and supports free trade.

For the many of us — libertarians and non-libertarians alike — sick of perpetual war, open-ended military interventions, and increasing military budgets, Hagel would appear to be the foreign policy realist that Washington desperately needs. Hagel is "a decorated Vietnam war veteran, [who] understands war, and doesn’t take it lightly," concludes Preble.

But before libertarians and non-interventionists should cheer on a possible Secretary of Defense Hagel, the first rule of libertarianism and government should be applied — always be skeptical of politicians, especially the higher up the ladder you go.

While Hagel's resume and past words suggest that he is serious about restraining U.S. military power abroad, a closer look at Hagel's background reveals that he is very intimately intertwined in the establishment financial and military industries. While virtually unreported on by the media, Hagel serves on the Board of Directors of Chevron and Zurich's Holding Company, the Advisory Board of Deutsche Bank America, and is a Senior Advisor to Gallup. These are just a few of the mega-multinationals Hagel is connected to.

In other words, if confirmed, Hagel would have many, many conflicts of interests in restraining a Pentagon, policy of military interventionism, and levels of military spending that corporations like the many that Hagel represents benefit from. Call me a cynic, but it is nearly impossible to become Senator, earn prestige, and be nominated as Secretary of Defense without a willingness to sell your soul up the greasy totem pole of government power.

But then again, maybe I am too harsh on Hagel. No one would ever go broke underestimating the corruption of politicians and government officials, but perhaps it is my soft spot and desperation for restraining U.S. foreign policy that makes a possible Hagel nomination and confirmation so enticing. (READ THE FULL STORY HERE)

VA REPUBLICANS JOINTLY PASS LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN STATE HISTORY

In what may be his George H.W. Bush moment, and much to the chagrin of Virginia's conservatives, Republican Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, along with Republican VA House Speaker William Howell, endorsed the largest tax increase in the history of Virginia on Saturday.

On paper, the General Assembly passed a bill to raise taxes to fund transportation projects that is slated to bring in $880 million more a year in taxes, but the true cost to taxpayers is estimated to be "$1.13 billion per year in tax increases."


Regardless, it is by far the greatest tax increase in the history of the Commonwealth, surpassing the $442 million per year increase in 1986 and $680 million per year increase in 2004.

“This is a historic day in Virginia. We have worked together across party lines to find common ground and pass the first sustainable long-term transportation funding plan in 27 years," McDonnell, who also may have plans to run for president in 2016, said in a statement on Saturday. "There is a ‘Virginia Way’ of cooperation and problem solving, and we saw it work again today in Richmond."

Many conservatives in Virginia saw it as a "historic day" for other reasons. ( read the entire story here )

Paying Their Fair Share and the Same Rules Apply

I was duct-tapping my head last night when I heard Obama saying 'fair share' and 'same rules apply'.
And Obama would be right if he meant getting government out of the way by removing the regulations and policies that favor some financial activity over others and picks winners and losers financially.

Then people would all have the same rules and a fair share at succeeding through their hard work, not a fair share through some paying higher tax rates than others.

If I make more and pay the same percent as someone who makes less, then I still pay more aka my 'fair share'.

Obama needs to apply the 'fair share' rhetoric to the government not taking more than its 'fair share'. The government gets more than its 'fair share' from the American people through their salaries and business profits.

Obama, the ultimate Crony Capitalist, allows his buddy donor's corporations to pay no taxes. Tax loopholes sold to the highest bidder. And before you mention W. Bush, he was just as bad. And I attacked him then for the same actions.

The mistake people make, especially most but not all of the Occupy Movement, is thinking that all Wall Street, Conservatives, Republicans and Capitalism are bad and to blame for the financial crisis and income disparities.

When some of Wall Street and real capitalism is good, and Democrats and so-called progressives are just as bad and just to much to blame for the financial crisis and income disparities, while pretending to be anti-Wall Street.

And, Obama is the biggest offender of them all. He was backed and funded by Wall Street more than any other candidate in history.

And finally, real capitalism isn't bad, and what caused all the economic turmoil was crony capitalism also known as corporatism.

For the uninitiated, Crony Capitalism or Corporatism is a bastardized form of capitalism which isn't capitalism at all. It is when the government gets in bed with Corporations and makes rules and regulations that favor the corporations that fund their campaigns and give them slush money and hurt small (Mom and Pop) businesses. The government picks winners and losers, sometimes even among the corporations, based on favor through who pays the most or who their buddies are. Sometimes the government is paid to create private monopolies or public ones that hire their favored corporations to run them.

Its time for all of us 99% to stand up to the government and the crony capitalists, demanding they stop all the favoritism that robs our money tax through high taxes and government sanctioned corporate financial scams. This would give everybody a 'fair share' and make the 'same rules apply' through a true free market without government favoritism to the corporations who are the highest bidders. Not a fake 'fair share through more taxes giving the government an unfair share.