Nothing Certain but Death & Tax

President-elect Barack Obama warned in an interview earlier this month that "things are going to get worse before they get better" with the economy, but he continued with optimism pointing out that the crisis is an opportunity to rebuild the country, both structurally and culturally.

Today, I ran across this article detailing an announcement by Governor David Paterson of a proposed $121 billion budget this week, which includes taxes on things such as iPod downloads, taxi fares, and even soda!

Mom tax: 18 percent tax on non-diet soda; 14 percent tax on beer, wine and cigars; 22 percent tax for going out dressed like that; 24 percent tax for jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge because your friends did; 30 percent tax for thinking this city is made of money; 27 percent tax for using that tone with us. Those caught crying about taxes will be given something to cry about.
Beast tax: The ever-growing population of city canines will be taxed based on level of irritation. Dogs with expensive doggie jackets, 12 percent; small, yapping dogs, 18 percent; people who carry small, yapping dogs in bags, 45 percent. Disabled dogs that use those adorable two-wheeled chariots for their hind legs will not be taxed, since they are so much fun to look at.
Crazy tax: Crazy is no longer free. City residents caught rubbernecking when passing crazy homeless people will be taxed according to how crazy the act: sort of crazy, 14 percent (senseless cooing at pigeons); really crazy, 16 percent (senseless cooing at pigeons while naked); craziest thing I ever saw, 36 percent (knitting overalls out of pigeon pelts).
Fat and Phat tax: If you are obese, you will be taxed accordingly. If you still use the word "phat," you also will be taxed accordingly. If you still use the phrase "cool beans," they will foreclose on your home.
Gas tax: Anonymously passing gas on the subway, then feigning shock that someone would do such a thing, will no longer be free. One person passes gas, everyone on the train gets taxed. Better be careful; now people will notice when you lean.
Tourist tax: City residents can approach tourists at any time, for any reason, and demand a tax. Taking photographs in your neighborhood, asking for directions, not walking with a sense of purpose — just a few reasons to levy a tax. Should residents feel motivated, they can even pull over one of those double-decker buses and make the tourists take you anywhere in the city.

By: Jon Methven

---

"Our Constitution is in actual operation;everything appears to promisethat it will last;but in this worldnothing is certainbut death and taxes." - Benjamin Franklin

Obama Dress Frenzy: What Will HE Wear?!

While everyone is caught up in the madness of what First Lady- Elect Michelle Obama will wear to the Inaugural Ball, Obama has been playing it cool. Do you really expect anything less/more? He is one of the smoothest brothers to date. I'm tryna be just like him!......minus the political spotlight, haha!

But when it comes to his Inaugural attire, Barack Obama does not have the tedious chore at hand of reviewing sketch after sketch like his better half, Michelle. He will most likely go with his long time campaigner "dresser," Hart Schaffner Marx.

Either way...we know the brother will be sharrrrpp...with a few beautiful eye candies on his arm!

Exercise....Your Right 2 Vote Tuesday!

Friday was the most transcending and defining milestone in my life thus far! It was one of those days where nothing seemed to influence any negativity in my day. God even blessed what had recently been 50 and below degree weather to be a lovely 70 degree day: Sun shining, wind blowing perfectly, and people smiling from their souls! You could almost see the hunger in peoples' eyes for change....change we all need!

A change most people did not mind standing for hours in hopes of achieving; change our hearts and mind silently trust in Barack Obama to help lead us into.

My people stood strong. All shapes, sizes, hues. We stood our ground no matter the obvious intentional obstacles meant for distraction as we waited. We did this because they afforded us the right and instilled courage in a people. In November 1961: the Albany Movement. Most of us was not there to take Rosa's place or sit in a cell...and hardly any of us were so lucky to be a part of such a great movement as The March on Washington in 1963.

But in the year 2008 we represented a generation as thirsty as the ones that preceded us. And I joined 100s as we stood in line for over 5 hours.....

CHANGE PEOPLE...a Beautiful thing!

Hard Times: Layoffs Highest Since 9/11

The number of layoff announcements involving at least 50 workers rose in September to the highest level since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks seven years ago, the government said Wednesday. There were 2,269 mass layoff actions, up 497 from August, according to statistics released by the Labor Department. That was the most mass layoffs since the 2,407 in September 2001.

Overall, the number of initial claims for unemployment benefits related to mass layoffs rose by 61,726 to 235,681. That was the highest level since September 2005, after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, resulting in 297,544 claims.

The manufacturing industry pulled the most devastating numbers, accounting for 28% of all mass layoffs and 36% of unemployment insurance claims in September. More specifically, 19,278 of the 46,391 claims in that industry came from the transportation equipment sector.

"Most manufacturers are pretty secure," said Chris Kuehl, economic analyst for the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association. "But there's been a lot of action in the auto and aerospace sectors, such as the Boeing strikes and the low demand for cars due to the credit crunch."
Kuehl believes that layoffs at auto and aerospace companies, a large segment of the manufacturing industry, don't tell the whole story. "After all, the medical manufacturing and energy segments are gangbusters," he said.

It has come down to companies looking at the nice-to-haves and the must-haves, and the employees that are not essential will be up for review. You can count on a lot of hard-working, quality people losing their jobs if this pattern continues.



4:22pm Dow ends down 514 points, Nasdaq at 5-year low as weak earnings, slumping oil prices add to recession fears

Stunts & Shows: Will Obama's Camp Continue With Dignity?

As the weeks narrow down to the 2008 Presidential Election, the media is having a field day with all the back-handed accusations being made about Democratic Candidate, Barack Obama. Things are getting heated and the children are pulling out their best tricks.

Roland Martin, author of Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith and Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America views recent slander direct towards Barack Obama like:

Watching Sen. John McCain and top Republicans swing wildly in their
attempts to slam Sen. Barack Obama, with less than two weeks ago to go before
Election Day, is like watching an old fighter --clearly out of gas, his legs
turned to rubber, and all he can do is grab, hold, punch behind the back, just
anything to try to win.

It's clear that this race is no longer about political issues and what the candidates can bring to this nation come January. In fact, it's almost embarrassing to even think of what foreign nations think of us as a nation.

In the past two weeks, we've seen Minnesota Republican Rep. Michelle Bachmann make one of the most audacious statements ever, suggesting that Obama holds anti-American views, that other members of Congress have the same views, and that the media should launch a widespread investigation to ferret them out.

Who gives her the right to primitively attempt to define what being "American" is? How can one truly know when so many factors, due to government, impede on the "American Dream?"

On the other hand, you have McCain and Palin slamming Obama for essentially being a socialist. We shouldn't be surprised that it's come to this because we already had radio hosts like Lars Larson, Glenn Beck and others trying to paint Obama for months as being a Marxist.

---

Seriously, when will this stop? I can't be the only one who understands that crass accusations will not divert the attention away from the main thing wanted by the American people: Change. And statistics are proving that most people ::keeps fingers crossed:: have made up their mind as to which route to travel as we all journey on this road to progression.

Poor Palin: If She'll Stick Beloved Alaska...

Gov. Sarah Palin charged the state for her children to travel with her, including to events where they were not invited, and later amended expense reports to specify that they were on official business.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has charged the state $21,012 for her three daughters' plane flights. The charges included costs for hotel and commercial flights for three daughters to join Palin to watch their father in a snowmobile race, and a trip to New York, where the governor attended a five-hour conference and stayed with 17-year-old Bristol for five days and four nights in a luxury hotel.

In all, Palin has charged the state $21,012 for her three daughters' 64 one-way and 12 round-trip commercial flights since she took office in December 2006. She also has charged the state for hotel rooms for the girls.

Alaska law does not specifically address expenses for a governor's children. The law allows for payment of expenses for anyone conducting official state business.
As governor, Palin justified having the state pay for the travel of her daughters -- Bristol, 17; Willow, 14; and Piper, 7 -- by noting on travel forms that the girls had been invited to attend or participate in events on the governor's schedule.
But some organizers of these events said they were surprised when the Palin children showed up uninvited, or said they agreed to a request by the governor to allow the children to attend.

On August 6, three weeks before Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain chose Palin as his running mate, and after Alaska reporters asked for the records, Palin ordered changes to previously filed expense reports for her daughters' travel.
In the amended reports, Palin added phrases such as "First Family attending" and "First Family invited" to explain the girls' attendance.
"The governor said, 'I want the purpose and the reason for this travel to be clear,' " said Linda Perez, state director of administrative services.

When Palin released her family's tax records as part of her vice presidential campaign, some tax experts questioned why she did not report the children's state travel reimbursements as income.
The Palins released a review by a Washington attorney who said state law allows the children's travel expenses to be reimbursed and not taxed when they conduct official state business.
Taylor Griffin, a McCain-Palin campaign spokesman, said Palin followed state policy allowing governors to charge for their children's travel. He said the governor's office has invitations requesting the family to attend some events, but he said he did not have them to provide.

Keep Reading

---

Yeah Right! How convenient to just not "have them to provide." I keep convincing myself this Palin ordeal is a bad joke that has run its course way too long. Only to realize this is truly a contender running with a potential President of this Nation. Talk about harsh realities.

America a Melting Pot in Question: Muslim-Americans Speak

Everyone in America is experiencing some form of disconnection to what has been generally known/accepted as the American dream. Ultimately losing faith in the government they look to provide comfort and security during such socio-economic times as we live in today.

This fact is no different for Muslim-Americans who have had to defend their rightful place in America for years. The recent Presidential election does not dim the lights from being shone on these citizens.

Like many other Americans, the estimated 2.3 million Muslims living in the U.S. have been hurt by a limping economy, a problematic health care system and an unclear immigration policy. And the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have also hit close to home.

Fatema Biviji, 32, had never given much thought to politics until she received an e-mail earlier this year that said -- falsely -- that Sen. Barack Obama is a Muslim. The Internet hoax, its origin unknown, was apparently intended to tie Obama to terrorism and swing support to his opponent, Republican Sen. John McCain.

"I was so mad," Biviji said. "The premise of that e-mail is that a person's religion should decide a person's character.

"We're America, the melting pot, the land of diversity, and that Americans would be buying into that psychology [of the e-mails] was upsetting," said the New Jersey-born Muslim, whose parents are from India. "The e-mail offended my American ideals."

It can easily be seen how globally The United States of America has gained a reputation contrary to what their ideals on diversity and acceptance for all shamefully fails during the most vulnerable times. I agree with former Secretary of State, Colin L. Powell (R), in his most recent public endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama:

Those kinds of images going out on Al-Jazeera are killing us around the
world," Powell continued. "And we have got to say to the world, it doesn't make
any difference who you are or what you are. If you're an American, you're an
American."

Once Not Good Enough: Stimulus Checks

With the economy's "progressive" lump, lawmakers are under pressure to do more than what they have been doing in the past months to boost both the economy and the faith of the American people in their government.

According to CNN, "the chances have increased that Congress could pass a second stimulus package during its lame duck session following the presidential election." And the White House said again that President Bush would be "open" to ideas for a second stimulus package, although press spokeswoman Dana Perino added that the administration would want to see details first before signing on. The administration believes that many of the proposals being discussed would not stimulate the economy.

What's up 4 Discussion?

• Democrats are steady pushing for a second stimulus check, while Republicans insist on tax incentives/break.


• Democrats want to extend jobless benefits, increase food stamps and invest more money in infrastructure projects to create jobs in the near term


• Democrats have also called for a moratorium on foreclosures


• Republicans are suggesting a temporary reduction or elimination of the capital gains tax on stocks and lower income tax rates for companies that buy distressed assets


• House Republicans are also calling for purchasers of homes that are not primary residences to be entitled to the same capital gains exclusion as owners who sell their primary residences.


• Both McCain and Obama's campaigns, though different in most ways, call for suspending the income tax on unemployment benefits and temporarily exempting seniors over 70-1/2 from having to make any withdrawals from their IRAs and 401(k)s.

---

A second stimulus check could benefit the American people, however, don't expect anything to be final within the next few months. Whether another stimulus would harm more than help citizens is still in the air. While stats show that the first stimulus did increase consumer spending, it had no impact on consumers' savings or ability to pay down debt, neither of which is considered a short-term boost to economic activity.

So, don't hold your breath too long people!

Crossing Over For Change in 2008

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will be voting for Sen. Barack Obama, citing the Democrat's "ability to inspire" and the "inclusive nature of his campaign."

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell says he is voting for Barack Obama.

"I think he is a transformational figure, he is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama," Powell said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Powell said he was concerned about what he characterized as a recent negative turn of Republican candidate Sen. John McCain's campaign, such as the campaign's attempts to tie Obama to former 1960s radical Bill Ayers.
"I think that's inappropriate. I understand what politics is about -- I know how you can go after one another, and that's good. But I think this goes too far, and I think it has made the McCain campaign look a little narrow. It's not what the American people are looking for," he said.

----

This is definitely beneficial in gaining even more cross over appeal in America for Barack Obama. This Presidential election has superseded anything being remotely close to a Democratic or Republican straight ticket; for once people all across America have one need in common: unadulterated change. By any means necessary. Even if that means electing a Black man with direct African ancestry who bears a name reflective of dangerous terrorists, and whose had limited experience--having never been a prisoner of war!

The Best & Worst of Times

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...it was the spring of hope..."





Dickens could never have known just how prophectic these words would prove to be today in 2008. We witness some of the best of times as it pertains to science, justice & unity, and yes.....politics! The idea of there even being a chance (and that chance is great!) that an African-American man will be President of the United States is phenomenal and beyond anything most people ever imagined in this generation.

However, we can't overlook the fact that these are still the worst of times. Even as we are all excited about the Presidential election, we forget that

On any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are
homeless, according to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness
and Poverty.

Nor can we pretend that, according to the Department of Labor, over the past12 months, the number of unemployed persons has increased by 2.2 mil-lion and the unemployment rate has risen by 1.4 percentage points. Unfortunately, the unemployment rate is predicted to increase well into 2009.

And these are just a couple issues: We MUST use our Voice and Vote!