Venting Over VAT

VAT is the What? of today. What next? Okay we add 25% to the price of everything. Proceeds go to the federal government. That will be a great deal of money. But what about non-governmental spending. Overnight $2.00 milk will be $2.50. That $10,000 Obama-mobile will be $12,500. If each year you spend $30,000 on stuff, that stuff will now cost $37,500 - but more likely you will still spend $30,000 and simply buy $7,500 less stuff. (Probably even less given the current direction of our economy) GNP goes down. So too will other tax revenues - as we can assume the IRS take and percentages will not change (and still increase as forecast). More money to be spent by our most trustworthy, yet little respected (as per the polls) congressmen and senators - both D's and R's. What have they done lately to save Americans.

It is estimated there are over 24,000 staff members for 535 congressmen and senators. At an average of $76,000 per staff member that's $1,824,000,000. Yes, 1.8 Billion dollars. There is another $1,000,000 to run each office, and more for the research areas and other general staff support groups. Now we are over the 2.3 Billion mark. The Executive Branch in not in that figure, nor any of the NEW departments, like the Car-Czar command post. Have you heard anything about any of these areas having cut-backs? BUT - think of the benefits. With less staff to keep busy, not only could we save over $1 billion (that's much more than any savings the Obama team has yet to find) there would be less pork to produce, and less superfluous legislation concocted. With all the staff in place our House and Senate leaders still find it beneath them to actually read any of the bills to be voted upon. Mr. Waxman of Calif. is the poster child of that unfortunate habit - on a global warming bill he stated he did not have to read it, it was prepared by scientists.) Maybe he can't read. His diet must contain too many California fruits and nuts - Pelosi suffers from the same form of consumption.

This VAT talk is to help pay for the new health care program. Obama-Motors is about to manufacture the Obama-Ambulance, funded by the Obama-Bank, that will take Obama's nation of sick and needy persons to Doctors and Hospitals employed in the Obama-Health-Care-System that will continue to be sued by the nation's lawyers for any imperfections in the 'practice' of medicine in which they engage. All Obama abortions will be paid for and if you are a medical professional and performing abortions is against what you believe - well that's just tough - get over it - do it.

Would the cost of health care, as an aside, be helped by Tort Reform? What - yes Tort Reform. Who was that VP under Bush 41 - Quail? He was a leader for Tort Reform. Why no progress (and remember the Quail tomato attacks)? - because Washington runs amok with lawyers. There isn't a lawyer that wants to hear the term tort reform. They shudder at the thought. Throw a stone just about anywhere in Washington and there is a good chance you will hit a lawyer. Outside of Washington you need to aim more carefully. (This was once said about atheists on college campuses) Washington is a Club of lawyers, so it seems, insuring lawyers get more work (figuring what to do about the un-read bills passed by the over-staffed congressmen and senators - and how to sue to get judges to then finalize the legislation from the bench - more lawyers), and maintain an environment of well paid legal eagles. Reduce the lawsuits and many may be out of work - just lawyers though. That would not be good for the lawyers, but for Americans and our economy it would be just fine. What Obama is doing for Unions, lawyers do for lawyers everyday. Self-service to the exteme.

We regular working folk may not stand a chance. Keep praying.