I was watching Biden and Obama this weekend and I was thinking how growing up in privilege has become a liability. I could never run for a democratic position because I didn't grow up in a poor, broken home. Obama and Biden both grew up poor and lived the American dream to get to where they are now (well, I heard Biden has a negative net worth, but whatever), and they were touting that all day. I'm in the minority, but I don't care about whether they were brought up poor or wealthy. Gosh, Biden's like 65 now - who cares whether he had a wealthy elementary experience?
California has a major budget crisis: ~15 bil under for a ~100 bil budget. We are pretty highly taxed now and sounds like our sales tax will go up 1% for 3 years to raise revenue. Californians sure like to spend money...sometimes I wish I didn't live in a democratic state. Although, Californians shouldn't have to spend so much time in purgatory because of how much they love the poor.
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Warren and Cheryl Cheney were telling me that because of the budget crisis in CA all government employees were going to be only making minimum wage. Don't know if/when it will happen, but interesting concept. Half-watching the DNC right now, and wondering if all the Obama supporters really understand/know what Obama's beliefs are. Lots of famous faces there. If you're a celebrity, you're automatically an authority on all things, including politics, I guess.
Yep, it's a big issue in Ca. They went to the federal min wage (6.55) which is way below Ca's min wage (8.00). It's a big deal for the DMV, and they were going to fight it. I don't know what's going on now, this was a week or two ago. A budget has to be signed this week or Arnold isn't going to the RNC next week.
The DMV was crying saying that the Governator doesn't understand how important these workers are, blah, blah. In instances like these it seems like the Dems don't look at the whole but rather the good of the few (mostly the poor). We just don't have the money - somebody has to get the shaft.
I had this interesting thought reading your blog this morning... I use it every morning for my devotions...
Neil Cavuto was interviewing Richard Dreyfuss at the DNC. Dreyfuss was suggesting that he actually feels compelled to pay more tax... perhaps not "compelled" but in any case he doesn't mind. Cavuto asks him, "So you're saying that we should be happy to pay more tax... can you explain yourself?" Dreyfuss says, let me ask you a question, "Do you want to have qualified firefighters and smart cops?" To this Cavuto just sort of tilts his considerable head... like a big dog looking at something really confusing... you've seen the look. Cavuto asks... what in the name of common sense does that have to do with what I'm asking you? Dreyfuss says if we don't pay cops and firefighters more we'll just have unqualified firefighters and stupid cops (I assume that's what he thinks of the ones we have now based on his statement.)
With regard to policemen and firefighters... I think they must be doing ok... I knew a firefighter when I first got out of college - he was 20 with no education (not desparaging him here he was a great guy, and smart... just saying he didn't have a college degree)and I was 24. He was making more then than I make now and only working about 10 days a month. I'm not saying it's not a hard and dangerous job... but... that's not be bad money - and the benefits are decent (read... over the top). Besides, the police and firefighters are calling me twice a week and asking for money, which I occassionally (are there really that many double letters in the word occassionally?) give them.
But back to Dreyfuss... I think we should start a movement... "Tithe to the Government" for those who feel strongly about it. My family tithes, and we give to missionaries and the building fund not only because we care deeply about these endeavors, but more importantly, we tithe because it's an admission that all we have comes from God, and we trust Him to be our provider. In essence we're giving back to Him what's already His.
We should begin to encourage Dreyfuss, and others of like mind, to tithe to the government. This would be over and above what they already pay in tax, which is imposed on us all whether we worship government or not. For many of these folks government is god. That is to say, the believe government is supposed to watch over them, meet their needs, give them health, and stop things like hurricanes from landing near their homes.
"Tithe to the Government"
Haha, I love that story - thanks for posting it. I think you should call Rush Limbaugh and suggest that the libs tithe to the government. He would love that.
I totally agree that the current firefighters, policemen, etc are not incompetent and that we would get better policemen if we paid them more. I think of teachers and education too. I don't see a correlation between competence and income with these jobs - you'd have to make a major hike in income to have an effect on the quality of people at these jobs. The puny 5% increases don't do jack.
I remember Huckabee set up a fund in Arkansas where people who thought they should pay more taxes could contribute to the fund. There ended up being $1200 in the fund, $1000 donated by one guy. I do think it's weird that people who think they should pay more in taxes decide not to. Why does everyone need to pay higher taxes for them to?
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