The Babbling Brooks

Tim Hawkins Theatre

This pretty much covers it...

Obamacare #2

Stephen Crowder investigates public healthcare in Canada...

Obamacare #1

Response from Senator Max Baucus!

Wow, I received a response to my e-mail to the Senator in less than 24 hours! They must think we're stupid. It's the exact response I received to my e-mail regarding health care on June 12th...word for word. I still have the other response. Maybe a phone call is in order....

Letter to Senator Max Baucus

my e-mail to Senator Baucus today said this...

Are you kidding me??? I just heard that you, Senator Baucus, are proposing to exempt unions from taxation of health benefits should it be enacted for the rest of us. When are you going to start representing the citizens that elected you? You were not elected by unions, the Democrats, or the Obama administration. Stand up for what is right and represent what the people of Montana want. We do NOT want a health care system run by the federal government. We do NOT want our children and grandchildren saddled with back-breaking economic debt. We do NOT want our medical records digitized so that some government bureaucrat can look at them. We do NOT want to allow states the option of using federal taxpayer  money to provide health care to those who have entered our country illegally.That's right...it's our money, not yours. Stand up NOW, Senator Baucus and speak out. Get out of that back room and give us the details of the health care plans being proposed. Invite your fellow Senators from other parties to participate in the meetings and in the upcoming day-long "discussion" being aired on ABC. To not invite dissenting viewpoints and other ideas is like the author editing his own book. You'll see what you want to see and miss the errors. Come on Senator...you are a more honorable man than this.

American Capitalism Gone With A Whimper

Yes, there are more than a minority of us Americans who recognize what is happening in America.. Please take one minute to read this editorial. It is from Pravda...a major newspaper published in RUSSIA. Here is the link to the English version.

http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-0/

When you're done, sit and think about this for a minute, then send a letter to your senators and representative. Let them know what their vote should be on the upcoming issues of health care, taxes, etc. And think about where you want your vote to go next year when you elect your state and federal representatives. Do you really want the government running your bank, the car companies, your health care?

If the Russians can see it, why can't we???

Memo to Barack Obama #7

The following was reported today by ABCNews Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper...

POTUS on Sotomayor Flap: 'Nonsense' That 'Will Be Revealed for What It Is'

May 29, 2009 10:02 PM

NBC's Bri Wi asked POTUS about the Judge Sonia Sotomayor controversial quote from 2001 in which she said, "I would hope that a wise Latino woman, with the richness of her experiences would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

"I'm sure she would have restated it," the president said. "But if you look in the entire sweep of the essay that she wrote, what's clear is that she was simply saying that her life experiences will give her information about the struggles and hardships that people are going through -- that will make her a good judge. And you know, she was pointing out, in that same essay, that it was nine white males who passed down Brown vs. Board of Education, which is probably responsible for me sitting here.

"So, that's hardly the kind of statement that would indicate that she subscribes to identity politics," the president continued. "In fact, what she really subscribes to is the exact opposite. Which is the sense that all of us have life experiences and struggles. And part of the job of a justice on the Supreme Court, or any judge, is to be able to stand in somebody else's shoes, to be able to, you know, understand the nature of the case, and how it has an impact on people's ordinary day to day lives.

"And so her, as a Latino woman, part of her job is going to be to listen to the farmer in Iowa," he went on. "And you know, if he's upset about a farm regulation. And be able to understand how hard it is to farm. And what that means. And to be able to incorporate that into her decision-making. It means that she has an understanding of what a corporate CEO might be thinking. And she had those experiences as well. Having worked as a corporate litigator. That breadth of experience, that knowledge of how the world works, is part of what we want for a justice who's going to be effective.

"And I think that when she's appearing before the Senate (Judiciary) Committee, in her confirmation process, I think all this nonsense that is being spewed out will be revealed for what it is," President Obama said.

Mr. President...I've highlighted for you the portion of your statement that most concerns me. It's the part you have wrong. The job of a judge is not to determine the outcome of a case based on what the participants are thinking or feeling or what the impact on them is going to be. It is to determine the outcome of a case based on the application of the appropriate law. This is how we maintain a civil society.....by following the rule of law ("the rule of law means that people do not have to answer to the arbitrary decisions of governmental officials; instead, they guide their actions by what is prohibited by a clearly defined law. Freedom, therefore, means answering only to a well-defined, previously established law, rather than to the arbitrary and discretionary edicts of some", Friedrich A. Hayek -The Road to Serfdom). You should have learned this vital legal concept in law school, Mr. President. Perhaps you were absent that day???

A Note of Importance....

Yes, I know I am way behind on my blogging, but I'm working on getting caught up! In the meantime, this came into my Inbox and I wanted to pass it on.

My aunt sent me this and I am sharing it here because it's important reading. Please...take the time to read this woman's words and think about what is happening in America today. Some of you may think this woman is a "right wing extremist" or a "nut job" or whatever else you may want to call her. Let me say this...if she is, then so am I.

Pamela Geller began her publishing career at The New York Daily News and subsequently took over operation of The New York Observer as Associate Publisher. She left The Observer after the birth of her fourth child but remained involved in various projects including American Associates, Ben Gurion University and being Senior Vice-President Strategic Planning and Performance Evaluation at The Brandeis School .

By Pam Geller

I am a student of history.  Professionally, I have written 15 books in six languages, and have studied history all my life.  I think there is something monumentally large  afoot, and I do not believe it is just a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis.  Yes, these exist but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus.

Something of historic proportions is happening.  I can sense it because I know how it feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it.  Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about 10 - 15 years.  The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two.

We have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy.  Why?  We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth preserving.   Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate.  Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, school boards continue to back mediocrity.  Why?

We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election (now violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it wants marriage to remain between one man and one woman.  Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago?).  We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream

Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic.  To what purpose?

Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, Social Security is nearly bankrupt, as is Medicare and our entire government.  Our education system is worse than a joke (I teach college and know precisely what I am talking about.)   The list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth.  It is potentially 1929 x 10.  And we are at war with an enemy we cannot name for fear of offending people of the same religion who cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.

And now we have elected a man no one knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, let alone a town as big as Wasilla , Alaska .  All of his associations and alliances are with real radicals in their chosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary (Surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders?  No?  Oh, of course.  The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it.  Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter and $150,000 wardrobe is more important.)

I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now.  This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life.  In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different power structure.  Change is indeed coming.  And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again.

I thought I would never be able to experience what the ordinary, moral German felt in the mid-1930s.  In those times, the savior was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the average German knew next to nothing..  What they did know was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory and promises..  Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker.  And he smiled and waved a lot.  And people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his "brown shirts" would bully them into submission.

And then he was duly elected to office, with a full-throttled economic crisis at hand [the Great Depression].  Slowly but surely he seized the controls of government power, department by department, person by person, bureaucracy by bureaucracy.  The kids joined a Youth Movement in his name, where they were taught what to think.  How did he get the people on his side?  He did it promising jobs to the jobless, money to the moneyless, and goodies for the military-industrial complex.  He did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe , and across the world.

He did it with a compliant media - Did you know that?  And he did this all in the name of justice and .. . .. change.  And the people surely got what they voted for.  (Look it up if you think I am exaggerating.)  Read your history books.  Many people objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and made fun of.  When Winston Churchill pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker.  He was right, though .

Don't forget that Germany was the most educated, cultured country in Europe .  It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and universities.  And in less than six years - a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S. presidency - it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors.  All with the best of intentions, of course. The road to Hell is paved with them.

Since many of you enjoy senior citizen status or will sometime in the not too distant future, I thought you might be interested in this information.

IN GOD WE TRUST

Every body that is on this mailing list is either a senior citizen, is getting close or knows somebody that is.

Most of you know by now that the Senate version (at least) of the "stimulus" bill includes provisions for extensive rationing of health care for senior citizens.  The author of this part of the bill, former senator and tax evader, Tom Daschle was credited  today by Bloomberg with the following statement.

"Daschle says health-care reform "will not be pain free." Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them." If this does not sufficiently raise your ire, just remember that Senators and Congressmen have their own healthcare plan that is first dollar or very low co-pay which they are guaranteed the remainder of their lives and are not subject to this new law if it passes.

Please use the power of the internet to get this message out.  Talk it up at the grassroots level.  We have an election coming up in one year and nine months.  We have the ability to address and reverse the dangerous direction the Obama administration and its allies have begun and in the interim, we can make our voices heard!  Lets do it!

I am STUNNED and sickened by this...

 

(Thanks to The Drudge Report for the photos.)  

Tea Party

 

What did you do today? I stood up as an American to show my frustration, my anger, and my concern over what is happening to our country. John and I were at the Oklahoma City Tea Party held on the steps of the state capitol.

Hey, politicians! Are you listening? There was a mighty cry of protest across America today to stop the spending, stop the bailouts, stop the distribution of wealth, stop the earmarks, stop the lies, stop the taxation, stop tramping on the states. We are not an arrogant America. We are a proud America and we don't apologize for it. We don't apologize for the hard work or for the Constitution that made us the strong country we are. We expect you to honor that document. We expect you to remember that it is not a "living document" that changes with the culture. It is the foundation on which America was founded. Amid the united cheers of "USA" were united cries of "Vote Them Out". We mean it. We're listening and we're watching. We'll be calling. We'll be e-mailing. We'll be writing. If it doesn't stop now, you can expect to be gone when it's your turn for reelection. One more thing to remember... the people that were out in protest today are NOT radicals or the "right wing extremists" that the Department of Homeland Security and Janet Napolitano spoke about in their well-timed "leaked" report (and neither are returning veterans). The people I saw today are Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, old, young, rich, poor, upper class, middle class, students, plumbers, teachers, the retired, the disabled. Yes, some of them have admitted that they voted for Barack Obama and other Democrats, but this is not what they thought they were voting for. The Tea party wasn't organized by any organization or by FOX news (They are just the only ones who see this as a story. CNN covered it by arguing with a protester and NBC used obscene expletives to describe those of us that attended.) The tea party was organized by an ordinary citizen from the city. The speakers were not politicians or party officials. They were also ordinary citizens who read statements sent in by other ordinary citizens. We sang the Star Spangled Banner and we recited the Pledge of Allegiance with everyone holding their hand over our heart in respect for America.

I took the photo above about 30 minutes before the party started. I've heard crowd estimates from somewhere over 4000 to 6000. That was impressive considering it was at noon on a weekday and they had expected about 1500 to show up. Here's some of my favorite photos...

                            

So that was my day... what did you do today? And more importantly, what are you going to do tomorrow? 

 

Barocky Road

In honor of the 44th President of the United States, Baskin-Robbins has introduced a new flavor, "Barocky Road ".
Barocky Road is a blend of half vanilla, half chocolate, and surrounded by nuts and flakes.
The vanilla portion of the mix is not openly advertised and usually denied as an ingredient.
The nuts and flakes are all very bitter and hard to swallow.
The cost is $100.00 per scoop.
When purchased it will be presented to you in a large beautiful cone, but then the ice cream is taken away and given to the person in line behind you.
Thus you are left with an empty wallet, no change, holding an empty cone, with no hope of getting any ice cream.
Are you feeling stimulated?

Thanks to my friend, Gary S., for this :)

Memo to Barack Obama #6

A quote by the late Dr. Adrian Rogers (1931-2005), Founder of Love Worth Finding Ministries

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

Mr. President....are you paying attention???

 

Explaining the Stimulus Bill

My Aunt Jean sent me this explanation of the spendulous stimulus bill...Shortly after class, an economics student approached his economics Professor and said, "I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you explain it to me?" The professor replied, "I don't have any time to explain it at my office, but if you come to my house on Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I'll be glad to explain it to you." The student agreed.  At the appointed time, the student was at the professor's house. The professor stated that the weekend project involved his backyard pool. They went out to the pool, and the professor handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket the professor said, "First...go over to the deep end and fill your bucket with as much water as you can." The student did as he was instructed. The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the shallow endand dump all the water from your bucket into it." The student was naturally confused, but did as he was told. The professor explained they were going to do this many more times and began walking back to the deep end of the pool. The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we doing this?" The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to make the shallow end much deeper. The student didn't think the economics professor was serious, but figured that he would find out the real story soon enough. After the sixth trip between the shallow end and the deep end, the student began to worry that his economics professor had gone mad. The student finally said, "All we're doing is wasting valuable time and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this process is all over everything will be at the same level it was before. All you'll really have accomplished is the destruction of what could have been truly productive action!" The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile, "Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill."

The Words of Thomas Jefferson....Founding Father

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe .

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. 

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world. 

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. 

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. 

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. 

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. 

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. 

To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. (Jefferson said this in 1802)

And I say...Mr. Jefferson was a very smart man.

(Thanks to my Aunt Jean for sharing this with me.)

 

Change?

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Changefest '09 - Obama's Inaugural Speech

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

(You can turn the music off to watch the video by scrolling down and selecting pause on the music player.)

Inauguration Day

Did you watch? We did...and I hope that the grandsons got to watch at school. This is one of those historic moments that we remember throughout our lives and can tell you where we were when it happened. I am hopeful for the future because of some of the things President Obama has said and done between his election and this historic day. I am hopeful that he will govern from the center and not cater to those on the far left who want welfare for all and appeasement at the expense of defense. He made a lot of promises during the campaign and I think he now knows that he cannot fulfill most of them. I believe that he is a very smart man and a compassionate man. I truly hope we are on that road to you telling me "I told you so."

I hope you'll also take the time to thank President George W. Bush. I know there are a lot of Bush haters (those previously mentioned far left types), but the man kept us safe at a time when Americans were put in great danger on their own soil. He put his own reputation aside and made the tough decisions when they were required. He is not the demon in the economy mess...remember those Democrats who have controlled Congress for the last two years? I was appalled after the election when I saw voters being queried about who makes decisions in Congress and which party had the majority...Most of them put the blame squarely on President Bush and the Republicans when most of it belongs on the back of the Democratic leaders in Congress. You can leave a personal message of thanks for President Bush by clicking HERE .

Aljazeera and the US Congresswoman

One of the television stations received here in Fiji is Aljazeera. Muslim is the majority religion in Fiji. We have been watching now and then. As expected, it is heavily anti-Israel in it's coverage of the current situation in Gaza. But here's what really appalled me. A few days ago, Cynthia McKinney was on as a commentator. You may remember her as the US Congresswoman that tried to circumvent US Capitol security, then slapped an officer and complained that they should know who she is believing that because of her lofty position she should not be subject to any security rules. When charges were brought against her she cried racism. (I believe she lost the next election held in her home state of Georgia.) So, there she was on Aljazeera sympathizing with Hamas and bashing not only President Bush, but the United States of America. Yes, I know she has a right to say whatever she wants...but does she understand what has been sacrificed for her right to say it? I doubt it.

It's Very Sad...

but it explains a lot about how Senator Obama was elected. I wish Senator Obama only the best throughout his administration. Our country needs a great leader. But I think we are in for a rough ride. Our economy, our security, and our traditions are at stake. Click HERE to see what I'm talking about. It doesn't bode well for our future that so many of our citizens are so uninformed. I'm not saying that everyone that voted for Senator Obama was uninformed. I know there are those that believe in his value system and his economic policies. I truly hope that I am wrong and some of you will be telling me, "I told you so", in a few years.  

Election Day 2008

 So how was your day? Did you vote? John and I arrived at the polls before 6:00 this morning to get things set up for voting. We attended Election Judge training at the county courthouse about 3 weeks ago and were scheduled to work till 2:00 this afternoon. It was a great experience and it was good to see that citizens here in northwest Montana take their vote seriously. We had some voters that belong in other precincts show up where we were working and we had to send them elsewhere, most of them had to go to outlying towns. There was a handful of voters who thought they could come in today, fill out a new voter registration and vote in this election...not in Lincoln County...unless you go to the courthouse in Libby where they could then vote a provisional ballot. They were disappointed, but it was encouraging to see that about half of them said they'd go to Libby to vote today. That's a 140 mile round trip and...it was snowing today. I spent most of the day recording voter names in the ballot book, assigning a ballot number, and making sure that ballot got to the correct voter. That was a great place for me. In a place like the Tobacco Valley you see people over and over again...at the grocery store, at the post office, at their employment place and this gave me a chance to put some names with some faces. I even met a few neighbors (from Gateway) that I hadn't met before!

     

It snowed off and on all day. Looks like winter is starting to arrive. This is the first snow of the season in the valley, even though we've been watching it snow on the mountain tops for a few weeks. Here's what our new grass looked like when we got home...

  

Tonight....I'm tired! Looks like it's early to bed!

 

Memo to Barack Obama #5

Have you put this information out to the citizens of Virgina, Pennsylvania, Ohio...you know, those places where they mine coal? The coal that keeps thousands of people employed, the coal with which millions of people heat their homes, the coal from which much of the nations energy is currently produced...Just in case they haven't heard here it is....in your own words...

 

Oh, sorry Senator Obama, this particular clip doesn't include the last part of your statement...you know, that part about how our electric rates are going to skyrocket as a result of your energy policies. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't heard it in your own voice.

This is unbelievable!

I guess I missed this rally! He's promising what???????

 

Do people really believe this stuff?

Memo to Barack Obama #4

According to your campaign messages I am getting closer to being "rich" every day!

You said that everyone making less than $250,000 per year would be getting a tax cut, you were only going to raise the taxes of "rich" Americans. Then you said that everyone making less than $200,000 per year would be getting a tax cut, you were only going to raise the the taxes of "rich" Americans. Then your running mate, Senator Biden, said everyone making less than $150,000 per year would be getting a tax cut, you were only going to raise the taxes of "rich" Americans. Then Governor Bill Richardson who is on the campaign trail for you said that everyone making less than $120,000 per year would be getting a tax cut, you were only going to raise the taxes of "rich" Americans.

So my question to you, Senator Obama, is what will be your definition of "rich" tomorrow? I'm really wanting to know just whose wealth it is that you want to "spread around".

I'll be listening to see if I've made it into the "rich" category!

Memo to Barack Obama #3

I'll bet you didn't watch the Mike Huckabee special on Fox News today. As a matter of fact I'm sure you missed it, so I'd like to bring your attention to what he heard when talking with a high school student. She likened your "spread the wealth around" idea to her experience as a student. Let's say she's a hard worker. She studies hard and makes good grades. She and some other hard working students got an "A" grade on their last test. There's some students in her class who didn't work very hard, probably didn't study at all. They received a "D" grade. But hey! The teacher thought that wasn't really fair. So she took part of the "A" grades from the hard working students and gave it to the students who received the "D" grades. Voila! Everyone gets a "C". Oh yeah......that's fair!

Memo to Barack Obama #2

You, Senator Obama, and your socialist ideas are a threat to this country.  "Spread the wealth around" and "redistributing" sound a lot like....."From each according to his ability, To each according to his need." Karl Marx was wrong, too.

 

Governor Sarah Palin as Commander In Chief

I received the following information in an e-mail. I don't like to pass along information that can't be verified, so I did a little searching. This was first posted in a discussion forum on www.hannity.com . I was able to verify the information given in the first 3 questions as being completely correct and given that those are true...it follows that the other 2 would also be correct. So with that said I am sharing this here. I think it says volumes about the experience and competence of Sarah Palin and her ability to become Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces if it were necessary. 

(start of post from forum)

Question: What is America's first line of missile interceptor defense that protects the entire United States ?
Answer: 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard.

Question: What is the ONLY National Guard unit on permanent active duty?
Answer: 49th Missile Defense Battalion of Alaska National Guard

Question: Who is the Commander in Chief of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion of Alaska National Guard?
Answer: Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska

Question: What U.S. governor is routinely briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counter terrorism?
Answer: Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska

Question: What U.S. governor has a higher classified security rating than either candidate of the Democrat Party?
Answer: Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska

According to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets. She can be entrusted with our national security, because she already is.

(end of discussion from forum)

Let's not forget that Governor Palin has executive experience as head of a personnel system employing thousands of people and managing a budget of billions of dollars. The woman is smart. She is strong and she knows how to get things done. I'm not the least bit worried that she could find herself in the position of leading America. Are you???

What???

"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. 
I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it." 
                              -- Barack Obama 

Memo to Barack Obama.....

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20." Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his "fair share?" They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, "but he got $10!"
"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"
"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible....that would be you, Senator Obama.

Nancy Pelosi...

Is there somewhere we can sign this woman up for a brain transplant?

Sarah and Hillary...together...

Operation Chaos.....

alive and well in Montana :)