Monthly Archives: September 2018

Finally a Smart Tax

09 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in Taxes, Transportation

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I have never heard the Democratic nominee for Governor J. B. Pritzker say he wants to tax us a penny and a half a mile every Illinois car drives in Illinois. Oregon has been doing it for many years. I think they are rebated for the tax at the pump I pay when I visit their beautiful state.

Why the mileage tax and not the pump price? I think the last time our gasoline tax was raised I had a Ford van that got 14 mpg. Now I have a Cherokee that has gotten 33 mph on a trip from Southern Illinois. I drove on the road just as far but paid less than half the tax. (Gasoline tax is per gallon and not a percentage of the price.) Hybrids might use a gas like propane, hydrogen, or battery power as well as gasoline. They will wear down the roads just as much as my old van and pay little or nothing. Electrics will pay nothing.

I like to make trips to other parts of our diverse country so the GPS device would keep me from having to pay for the miles outside of Illinois. It would be a lot more honest than me trying to keep records. Most people might not be as honest. One of my friends drives to Michigan most weekends and takes longer trips a couple times each year. Without the device it would seem odd most of his mileage was out-of-state. In an average year, I may have about half of my miles out of state.

If we want good roads we must pay for them somehow and a gasoline and mileage tax is the only fair way to do it. It isn’t fair for non-drivers to pay for my good roads. I have wondered for years when all states would smarten up and do this. I admire this forward thinking idea for Illinois.

Ethics and Patriotism First

09 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in Politics, Uncategorized

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The Chicago Tribune asked its readers what the next governor will need to do. The journalist picked out a few representative ones which have previously been cited in this letters section. They are as follows: Do what is best for all, compromise, talk with-not at-people, invest in all of Illinois, cut redundant government bodies, fix pension mess, freeze property taxes, take care of the less-fortunate, term limits, and, of course, income taxes.

Suggested fixes have been proposed here for many months and years, but those people we elect don’t implement them. Why do we keep re-electing them if they don’t solve, but increase our problems.

The state finances are a mess and I have proposed how to fix them within ten years. All the problems can be solved if the people we elect have the guts to fix them even if they might not be in office after the next election. Doing what is right can be called “term limits” and not going what is right is called “staying in office.” Doing what is right doesn’t get them re-elected.

I bet enough of the voters will keep those who blame the other party or governor for letting the state’s mess continue. Senator John McCain is dead and buried. Wouldn’t it be nice if his aisle crossing, ethics, and putting his country (not his voters) first be our main reason to elect a person?

Quit Protesting and Do Something

09 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in Gangs, Violence

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I watched on WGN Channel 9 the protesters trying to close down an I-294 Ramp. One was shouting “Instead of arresting us, arrest the gangs.” The police get smeared by the people they are trying to protect when they arrest a shooter. People say he’s a good guy even if his tattoos say otherwise. People know who the gang members are, who did what, and where the guns are hidden. People know the location of the drug sales, where it’s kept, and who is involved.

If people told the police all the above, these are some of the likely outcomes: The police arrest the people and clog up the Cook County jail with hundreds if not thousands more. The police arrest the leaders only leaving battles for leadership and more violence. We might see retaliation by the gangs of the witnesses. Another possibility is the police won’t do much at any one time to avoid a public backlash. And then, of course, what happens when they get bail or parole and return to the neighborhoods.

Protest marches are good for the leader’s egos and reputation and for the church’s congregation. What needs to be done can and should be done in their homes, apartment buildings and neighborhoods: Quit protesting and do the work. Quit blaming others. Quit hoping others are going to fix the situation and peace on the street will happen. People and businesses don’t invest in crime-ridden neighbors unless they are willing to take the risk and charge sky high prices to make it worthwhile.

It is up to the people in those areas to solve their own problems!

Seek Answers Before November

09 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in Deficits, Economy, Taxes, Voting

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The average worker has had an 11% raise over inflation since 1977. The average CEO had that much last year alone. The average professional baseball, basketball, football, and hockey player got much more with the stars getting outrageous increases. Many CEOs make over a thousand times more than the median worker. Why aren’t the workers of America rightly upset?

The massive corporate tax cut that was to wend its way down to those median workers who desperately need sizeable raises didn’t make it. Less than ten percent have used the money to help their workers. Most directly or indirectly raised their salaries, increased their stock price using stock buy-backs, or purchased another company. Since almost 90% of our country’s wealth is owned by less than 1% of us, the massive tax cut did nothing for 99% of us.

The trickle down economic philosophy means the fire hydrant water floods into the fire hose but a trickle comes out the nozzle. If that happened at a fire people would demand answers. Why not now? If the economy is doing so well why are millions of workers getting little or no pay increases? Why are the workers on bicycles when the upper managers are in Ferraris? Newspapers, magazines, and TV have shown only a small interest in the situation. The administration and the Republican congress said their tax cut would help low and middle class Americans more than the rich before the cut and while campaigning. Why aren’t they asked why you aren’t being given raises like the upper managers and CEOs? Also ask who is going to pay for the massive debt and deficit of over 1.5 trillion this year. Those are good questions to ask. Let’s see if we get truthful answers.

Buy Now And Save

09 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in Economy, Trade Agreements

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Why will your next vehicle cost more? The new trade agreement with Mexico may add a few thousand more to your cost. Every Mexican working on the parts or final assembly will have their pay at least doubled to $16.00. Many make less than $8.00 per hour now. Imagine a Mexican worker getting more than $30,000 each year. They will live like drug lords at the American consumer’s expense.

The agreement may cut back on the number of parts from other countries like Japan, Guam (American possession), China, and Eastern Europeans like Poland. If the parts were currently made cheaper elsewhere they will be moved to Mexico raising the vehicle prices more.

As of Thursday, August 29, the Canadians have our negotiators over a barrel since the negotiating power expires tomorrow night. The Mexican agreement goes away tomorrow night. Congress requires all three to agree. It is all three or nothing and the Canadians know it. Let’s see how far they can push their Canada first policy. Even Republicans in Congress are beginning to rebel against his tariffs.

If I was going to buy another vehicle, I would buy one setting on the car lot now to save the increase caused by the great new trade agreement.

Can History Repeat Today

09 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in History, Politics, Racism

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Is it some kind of gigantic coincidence so many Nationalists have taken power or attempting to take their country’s leadership positions? Philippines, Poland, Venezuela, Russia, Turkey, Israel, and the United States among others have openly Nationalist leaders. Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Belarus, and a few others have growing movements and political parties hoping to take control.

Nationalism means it’s me against them. The ‘them’ is often other countries, but more likely some easily identifiable ethnic group. One of the oldest targets is Jews. It was Hitler’s choice to explain Germany’s ills. The current European bogey man is the Syrian refugees.

Here Nationalism is Muslims and brown-skinned people. Just as elsewhere, their use of ethnic groups is to stimulate fear and hatred in people they want the support of in their quest for power. When this dangerous Nationalism erupts from the depths of depravity responsible Americans and Europeans have been trying to eliminate. It reminds me of the rise of the Nazi Party.

Just because the current administration didn’t rise from the beer haus of Munich, but in four-star restaurants, hotels, and grand homes of billionaires doesn’t mean it isn’t as dangerous. The Nazi loyalty oaths of 1935 sounds like the loyalty demands Trump says he expects of his appointees. Numerous times he has raved he requires absolute loyalty of his people. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has incurred his wrath because he is an honorable man which conflicts with his loyalty to Trump. Many others have left because of their conscious overriding loyalty. Too bad a lot of Germans hadn’t written letters to the big German papers or contributed to books about Hitler in the early 1930s.