"Congress stopped functioning about three years ago, and there is no indication when it will start functioning again. In other words, for the time being, tax reform is nothing but an academic subject."
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Mike Rogers on tax reform
Yesterday Yellowhammer posted this article: Rogers: Congress should completely throw out the Federal tax code. I left a comment on the article, which comment said,
National battle plan (2014)
On the Richard Dixon talk show yesterday, I indicated my 2014 battle plan.
The plan is to establish in the 6th Congressional district that my campaign has validity and to persuade the voters in the district about my platform to the extent that I win on June 3rd.
Prior to June 3rd, I will also endeavor to inform others elsewhere in Alabama and around the country about my campaign in the 6th Congressional district.
If I win on June 3rd, I think that will be a national news story, and that will help focus all the organizations and efforts going on around the country which are seeking to alter significantly how our governance happens in Washington DC. All the organizations that are at work have their own ideas and strategies. A win for me on June 3rd hopefully will result in and allow the exploitation of synergies.
My idea and strategy are that the 2014 elections become the linchpin whereby the incumbent Congress is forced by the voters to agree on a grand reform plan prior to election day in November. (It is possible that the grand reform plan would include a constitutional amendment, and, if it did, that there would not be certainty that the amendment would be ratified, but that possibility would still leave the great accomplishment that Congress confronted the problem and agreed on a grand reform plan.)
The 2014 elections would then become a referendum on the grand reform plan. If the voters think that Congress and their Representatives and Senators have done a credible job in the grand reform plan that Congress has proposed, that can be a significant factor for voters in deciding to vote for their incumbents. If Congress is not able to agree on a grand reform plan it presents to the voters before election day, or if the voters think the grand reform plan does not do enough for change and is too much preservation of the status quo, that would be a compelling reason to vote against incumbents.
The effectiveness of this national battle plan depends entirely on how publicized the plan is, and how credible will be the threat to the incumbent Congress if it does not agree on a grand reform plan or if the grand reform plan is deemed not a credible attempt at change and is too much preservation of the status quo.
Update 4/12: This past Thursday, Lawrence Lessig published in The Atlantic his idea of a "machine" to be built to achieve grand reform in 2016. His article is here. It says, "That battle will begin this year, with a smaller fund targeted in five districts across the country, for the purpose of seeing what works, and what the bigger campaign in 2016 would actually take." On June 3rd YOU can make the Alabama 6th Congressional district a spearhead in this battle.
Update 4/27: Is AL06 ready for May 1 launch of Lessig "Moonshot"?
Update 5/1: Lessig has launched
Update 5/1: A must listen podcast
Update 5/2: Dale Jackson says
Update 5/3: Yardies v. Tweets, a look ahead at Week 1
Update 5/4: Jim Rubens, Republican for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire
Update 5/5: Open letter to Laura Ingraham re AL 6th Congressional district
Update 5/6: AL.com editorial board candidate endorsements
Update 5/7: Possible Federalist Society discussion with the candidates
Update 5/8: SHATTUCK CALLS FOR VOTER UPRISING
Update 5/9: CONGRESS IS KAPUT
Update 5/9: Lessig talks about his super PAC on Radio Boston
Update 5/11: AL06 Talk Radio Call In Week
Update 5/13: Birmingham's Future For Young Professionals
Update 5/13: Vestavia Hills candidate forum
Update 5/14: Should AL06 be a wake up bell?
Update 5/14: Candidate evaluation exercise
Update 5/16: Video of 60 Plus & Rainy Day Patriot debate
Update 5/17: Politics of fear and hatred
The plan is to establish in the 6th Congressional district that my campaign has validity and to persuade the voters in the district about my platform to the extent that I win on June 3rd.
Prior to June 3rd, I will also endeavor to inform others elsewhere in Alabama and around the country about my campaign in the 6th Congressional district.
If I win on June 3rd, I think that will be a national news story, and that will help focus all the organizations and efforts going on around the country which are seeking to alter significantly how our governance happens in Washington DC. All the organizations that are at work have their own ideas and strategies. A win for me on June 3rd hopefully will result in and allow the exploitation of synergies.
My idea and strategy are that the 2014 elections become the linchpin whereby the incumbent Congress is forced by the voters to agree on a grand reform plan prior to election day in November. (It is possible that the grand reform plan would include a constitutional amendment, and, if it did, that there would not be certainty that the amendment would be ratified, but that possibility would still leave the great accomplishment that Congress confronted the problem and agreed on a grand reform plan.)
The 2014 elections would then become a referendum on the grand reform plan. If the voters think that Congress and their Representatives and Senators have done a credible job in the grand reform plan that Congress has proposed, that can be a significant factor for voters in deciding to vote for their incumbents. If Congress is not able to agree on a grand reform plan it presents to the voters before election day, or if the voters think the grand reform plan does not do enough for change and is too much preservation of the status quo, that would be a compelling reason to vote against incumbents.
The effectiveness of this national battle plan depends entirely on how publicized the plan is, and how credible will be the threat to the incumbent Congress if it does not agree on a grand reform plan or if the grand reform plan is deemed not a credible attempt at change and is too much preservation of the status quo.
Update 4/12: This past Thursday, Lawrence Lessig published in The Atlantic his idea of a "machine" to be built to achieve grand reform in 2016. His article is here. It says, "That battle will begin this year, with a smaller fund targeted in five districts across the country, for the purpose of seeing what works, and what the bigger campaign in 2016 would actually take." On June 3rd YOU can make the Alabama 6th Congressional district a spearhead in this battle.
Update 4/27: Is AL06 ready for May 1 launch of Lessig "Moonshot"?
Update 5/1: Lessig has launched
Update 5/1: A must listen podcast
Update 5/2: Dale Jackson says
Update 5/3: Yardies v. Tweets, a look ahead at Week 1
Update 5/4: Jim Rubens, Republican for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire
Update 5/5: Open letter to Laura Ingraham re AL 6th Congressional district
Update 5/6: AL.com editorial board candidate endorsements
Update 5/7: Possible Federalist Society discussion with the candidates
Update 5/8: SHATTUCK CALLS FOR VOTER UPRISING
Update 5/9: CONGRESS IS KAPUT
Update 5/9: Lessig talks about his super PAC on Radio Boston
Update 5/11: AL06 Talk Radio Call In Week
Update 5/14: Candidate evaluation exercise
Update 5/16: Video of 60 Plus & Rainy Day Patriot debate
Update 5/17: Politics of fear and hatred
Friday, April 4, 2014
Dr. Mathis is fatuous and stupid
Listen to this radio ad: http://yellowhammernews.com/nationalpolitics/mathis-lashes-four-ala-congressional-opponents-negative-radio-ad/
Pay attention to the use of the words "clean up Washington" and "to fix Washington, send a new kind of leader to Congress."
This is fatuous and stupid, for the reasons set out at length in the entry Debate video; commentary.
Pay attention to the use of the words "clean up Washington" and "to fix Washington, send a new kind of leader to Congress."
This is fatuous and stupid, for the reasons set out at length in the entry Debate video; commentary.
Why do people spend money on elections?
My campaign is about the "money monster" in politics and how to tackle that monster without abridging the right of free speech.
This week's Supreme Court decision in the McCutcheon case involved our own Alabama businessman Shaun McCutcheon. In the syllabus of the Supreme Court McCutcheon decision, the facts were stated that:
This week's Supreme Court decision in the McCutcheon case involved our own Alabama businessman Shaun McCutcheon. In the syllabus of the Supreme Court McCutcheon decision, the facts were stated that:
In the 2011–2012 election cycle, appellant McCutcheon contributed to 16 different federal candidates, complying with the base limits applicable to each. He alleges that the aggregate limits prevented him from contributing to 12 additional candidates and to a number of noncandidate political committees. He also alleges that he wishes to make similar contributions in the future, all within the base limits.The decision in the McCutcheon case prompted the national news networks to do "money in politics" stories, featuring, among others, the Koch brothers, and it all got me wondering about what the reasons are people spend money on elections.
I found this article to be informative, but don't know how much more there is to the story: Koch brothers plan big for 2014 – but what do Charles and David really
want?
The website of OpenSecrets says
Our Mission: Inform, Empower & Advocate
The Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the organization aims to create a more educated voter, an involved citizenry and a more transparent and responsive government.
In short, the Center's mission is to:
- Inform citizens about how money in politics affects their lives
- Empower voters and activists by providing unbiased information
We pursue our mission largely through our award-winning website, OpenSecrets.org, which is the most comprehensive resource for federal campaign contributions, lobbying data and analysis available anywhere. And for other organizations and news media, the Center's exclusive data powers their online features tracking money in politics - counting cash to make change.
- Advocate for a transparent and responsive government
The Center relies on financial support from a combination of foundation grants, individual contributions and income earned from custom research and licensing data for commercial use. The Center accepts no contributions from businesses, labor unions or trade associations. You can support the work of the Center directly by making a tax-deductible contribution through OpenSecrets.org.
Fundraising in the Alabama 6th Congressional district
This January 21st article reports that the fundraising for the first period ended December 31, 2013 shows the following amounts.
Brooke $320,000
DeMarco $360,000
Mathis $350,000
Palmer $250,000
Yesterday's McCutcheon decision
Yesterday, in a 5 to 4 vote, the United States Supreme Court, in McCutcheon v FEC, struck down overall limits on campaign contributions.
Will yesterday's Supreme Court decision mean that the Federal government will become even more NOT of the people, by the people, and for the people?
Will yesterday's Supreme Court decision mean that Congress will become even more dysfunctional and even more unable to do its job properly for the American people?
Peon Republicans need to know.
Will the 6th Congressional district candidates debate the above questions, and help peon Republicans find out about this?
Candidate Shattuck continues his demand that the other 6th Congressional district candidates answer his questions. See Answer the questions, 6th district candidates.
Candidate Shattuck continues his request that Senators Shelby and Sessions and Representative Bachus respond. See Time for Shelby, Sessions and Bachus to respond.
Will yesterday's Supreme Court decision mean that the Federal government will become even more NOT of the people, by the people, and for the people?
Will yesterday's Supreme Court decision mean that Congress will become even more dysfunctional and even more unable to do its job properly for the American people?
Peon Republicans need to know.
Will the 6th Congressional district candidates debate the above questions, and help peon Republicans find out about this?
Candidate Shattuck continues his demand that the other 6th Congressional district candidates answer his questions. See Answer the questions, 6th district candidates.
Candidate Shattuck continues his request that Senators Shelby and Sessions and Representative Bachus respond. See Time for Shelby, Sessions and Bachus to respond.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Time for Shelby, Sessions and Bachus to respond
On Matt Murphy this morning, I made further public statement of my charges.
I said that (i) the political class in Washington DC was the common enemy of peon Republicans, peon Democrats, and peon independents, (ii) the political class in Washington DC works at keeping the electorate divided and keeping Republicans and Democrats riled up and angry at each other, even hating each other, (iii) doing this aids the political class in Washington to preserve and fortify their entrenched position and increase their riches and power, and (iv) this is a major cause of a government in Washington DC that is not of, by and for the people, and a Congress that is dysfunctional and not able to do its job properly for the American people.
I further said Senators Shelby and Sessions and Representative Bachus are part of said political class in Washington DC.
It is time for Senators Shelby and Sessions and Representative Bachus to respond and say something to the voters in the 6th Congressional district, such as (i) Candidate Shattuck is speaking nonsense and the voters in the 6th Congressional district should disregard him completely, or (ii) what Candidate Shattuck is saying is against what the Republican Party stands for, or (iii) what Candidate Shattuck is saying is potentially harmful to the interests of the 6th Congressional district and the State of Alabama, or (iv) a more nuanced commentary on what Candidate Shattuck is saying.
I said that (i) the political class in Washington DC was the common enemy of peon Republicans, peon Democrats, and peon independents, (ii) the political class in Washington DC works at keeping the electorate divided and keeping Republicans and Democrats riled up and angry at each other, even hating each other, (iii) doing this aids the political class in Washington to preserve and fortify their entrenched position and increase their riches and power, and (iv) this is a major cause of a government in Washington DC that is not of, by and for the people, and a Congress that is dysfunctional and not able to do its job properly for the American people.
I further said Senators Shelby and Sessions and Representative Bachus are part of said political class in Washington DC.
It is time for Senators Shelby and Sessions and Representative Bachus to respond and say something to the voters in the 6th Congressional district, such as (i) Candidate Shattuck is speaking nonsense and the voters in the 6th Congressional district should disregard him completely, or (ii) what Candidate Shattuck is saying is against what the Republican Party stands for, or (iii) what Candidate Shattuck is saying is potentially harmful to the interests of the 6th Congressional district and the State of Alabama, or (iv) a more nuanced commentary on what Candidate Shattuck is saying.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Answer the questions, 6th district candidates
Only one candidate in the 6th Congressional district race is asking the right questions, and the other six candidates are clueless about what the right questions are.
I am the candidate asking the right questions, and trying to answer them.
At the televised Channel 13 debate on March 31st, I endeavored to raise the right questions. Some of these questions can be found at this link, and part of my efforts to answer these questions can be found at this link. See a video of the debate and read my commentary on the debate at this link.
For almost two months the other six candidates have displayed a complete lack of understanding about why the questions I am asking are the right questions that need to be asked in the 6th Congressional district election, and for which answers need to be given.
Demand of the 6th Congressional district candidates that they answer my questions, and tell them you will not vote for them if they do not answer the questions.
Also, see (i) Time for Shelby, Sessions and Bachus to respond; (ii) Yesterday's McCutcheon decision; (iii) Dr. Mathis is fatuous and stupid; (iv) National battle plan (2014), and (v) Mike Rogers on tax reform.
I am the candidate asking the right questions, and trying to answer them.
At the televised Channel 13 debate on March 31st, I endeavored to raise the right questions. Some of these questions can be found at this link, and part of my efforts to answer these questions can be found at this link. See a video of the debate and read my commentary on the debate at this link.
For almost two months the other six candidates have displayed a complete lack of understanding about why the questions I am asking are the right questions that need to be asked in the 6th Congressional district election, and for which answers need to be given.
Demand of the 6th Congressional district candidates that they answer my questions, and tell them you will not vote for them if they do not answer the questions.
Also, see (i) Time for Shelby, Sessions and Bachus to respond; (ii) Yesterday's McCutcheon decision; (iii) Dr. Mathis is fatuous and stupid; (iv) National battle plan (2014), and (v) Mike Rogers on tax reform.
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