The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to ever one in western Illinois and all readers of The Quill.
I'm a hope'n your spirits are high thus far this week fer we has a heap of things to be thankful fer.
Negative Thoughts
All and all, it's mighty dry around these parts, with the lack of moisture a cause fer much concern. Commodity prices are depressed and with a late planted-mature'n crop folks are think'n on frost possibilities. Other's talk of corn plants cannibalize'n themselves to reach maturity and resulting weak stalks with lodged corn as a possibility, if'n any wind develops. Corn that won't dry down and harvest into Thanksgiv'n and beyond also occupies some talk of possibilities.
Fer the most part if'n ya has a predisposition toward worry-there's plenty to focus on. As fer me and the boys we's a plan'n on let'n others have all the "worry" fun they chooses and take it as it comes accord'n to God's will.
Thoughts on life's worries can be found in Mark 4:19. The antidote to worry can be found in Philippians 4:6-7. I reckon it might be well to review a higher thought on the matter of worry by review'n those scriptures. Matthew 6:27,28 sez it well. It starts by say'n, "Which of you by worrying can add one cubic to his stature?"
Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day weekend is a come'n on us mighty fast. Many folk will attend various thresher reunions, flea markets, and events of enjoyment. Kinda like the last hurrah before serious fall work starts. Although, it appears there'll be plenty of time fer hurrahs before harvest starts this season. Seems the Farm Progress show in Decatur, Illinois was not able to demonstrate harvest'n practice very well.
Charlie Reese is a syndicated columnist known fer his conservative views. He was associated with the Orlando Sentinel from 1971-2001, both as a writer and in various editorial capacities.
Included here is his final column which is completely neutral, not anti-Republican or anti-Democrat.
545 People by Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but PRIVATE, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 555 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who WAS the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She WAS the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. (SCORE ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS!)
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 555 people who stand convicted--by present facts--of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 555 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 555 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red..
If the Army and Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan...
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 555 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Be sure to read all the way to the end:
Tax his land; tax his bed; tax the table at which he's fed.
Tax his tractor; tax his mule; teach him taxes are the rule.
Tax his work; tax his pay; he works for peanuts anyway!
Tax his cow, tax his goat; tax his pants; tax his coat.
Tax his ties; tax his shirt; tax his work; tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco; tax his drink; tax him if he tries to think.
Tax his cigars; tax his beers; If he cries, tax his tears.
Tax his car; tax his gas; find other ways to tax his donkey.
Tax all he has, then let him know that you won't be done 'til he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers, then tax him some more; tax him 'til he's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin; tax his grave; tax the sod in which he's laid.
Put these words upon his tomb, "Taxes drove me to my doom...".
When he's gone, do not relax; it's time to apply the inheritance tax.
Some other taxes we enjoy:
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit20Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharges Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge=2 0Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the ---- happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'
And I still have to 'press 1' for English!?
Well, me will be jiggered if'n Mr. Reese's words aren't surely food fer thought. I reckon the boys will spend some time debate'n all aspects of his last column, under some shade tree a enjoy'n some relaxation of the Labor Day holiday.
That's all fer this week, folks there ain't no more. Have yourself a good holiday a come'n up and where ever ya is, what ever ya be a do'in, BE A GOOD ONE!
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke